Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (August 2026), the Chevrolet Traverse typically lists for $39,529 against $39,598 for the Ford Explorer (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). the Chevrolet Traverse leads on NCAP safety (5.0★ vs 4.9★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the LS at $26,999 vs the XLT at $31,542; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Chevrolet Traverse LS ($26,999) faces the Ford Explorer XLT ($31,542); the most common trims on the market are the LT (58.8% of Chevrolet Traverse listings) and the XLT (34.4% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the HIGH COUNTRY ($50,987) faces the ST ($46,401). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Chevrolet Traverse | Ford Explorer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| LT FL | $24,069 | 0.4% | XLTMost popularCheapest | $31,542 | 34.4% |
| LSCheapest | $26,999 | 4.5% | LIMITED | $33,753 | 5.2% |
| PREMIER | $34,448 | 4.5% | TIMBERLINE | $35,559 | 2.6% |
| LTMost popular | $35,455 | 58.8% | ST-LINE | $39,241 | 18.2% |
| LT Z71 | $42,239 | 2.4% | ACTIVE | $39,512 | 16.9% |
| RS | $46,697 | 15.6% | PLATINUM | $44,977 | 6.6% |
| Z71 | $47,388 | 8.7% | STPriciest | $46,401 | 12.7% |
| HIGH COUNTRYPriciest | $50,987 | 5.1% | TREMOR | $54,725 | 2.0% |
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Chevrolet Traverse prices · Ford Explorer prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Traverse typical | Ford Explorer typical | Difference | Chevrolet Traverse MPG | Ford Explorer MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,270 | $45,161 | Ford Explorer +$891 | 21–22 MPG | 19–24 MPG |
| 2025 | $39,529 | $39,598 | Ford Explorer +$69 | 21–23 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2024 | $39,299 | $35,240 | Chevrolet Traverse +$4,059 | 20–23 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2023 | $30,403 | $31,995 | Ford Explorer +$1,592 | 20–21 MPG | 20–27 MPG |
| 2022 | $24,989 | $28,452 | Ford Explorer +$3,463 | 20–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2021 | $21,900 | $23,941 | Ford Explorer +$2,041 | 20–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2020 | $19,900 | $22,224 | Ford Explorer +$2,324 | 20–21 MPG | 19–28 MPG |
| 2019 | $17,508 | $17,429 | Chevrolet Traverse +$79 | 20–22 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2018 | $15,190 | $16,004 | Ford Explorer +$814 | 20–22 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2017 | $9,999 | $13,995 | Ford Explorer +$3,996 | 17–18 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2016 | $9,221 | $12,076 | Ford Explorer +$2,855 | 17–18 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2015 | $8,400 | $9,999 | Ford Explorer +$1,599 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2014 | $7,212 | $9,495 | Ford Explorer +$2,283 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2013 | $6,950 | $8,495 | Ford Explorer +$1,545 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2012 | $6,133 | $7,945 | Ford Explorer +$1,812 | 19 MPG | 19–23 MPG |
| 2011 | $5,500 | $7,500 | Ford Explorer +$2,000 | 19 MPG | 19–20 MPG |
| 2010 | $5,301 | $6,850 | Ford Explorer +$1,549 | 19 MPG | 15–17 MPG |
| 2009 | $6,120 | $5,948 | Chevrolet Traverse +$172 | 19 MPG | 15–17 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (August 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Chevrolet Traverse is cheaper: it typically lists for $39,529 versus $39,598 for the Ford Explorer (national medians, August 2026).
Which is safer — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Chevrolet Traverse averages 5.0 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.9 for the Ford Explorer. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists an average of 3.7 recalls per model year for the Chevrolet Traverse and 10.4 for the Ford Explorer — an edge for the Chevrolet Traverse. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Chevrolet Traverse LS typically lists for $26,999 vs $31,542 for a Ford Explorer XLT; the most common trims on the market are the LT ($35,455, 58.8% of Chevrolet Traverse listings) and the XLT ($31,542, 34.4% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the HIGH COUNTRY ($50,987) faces the ST ($46,401). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/chevrolet/traverse/vs/ford/explorer.
Dig deeper
Chevrolet Traverse — live listings & specs Ford Explorer — live listings & specs Chevrolet Traverse prices by year Ford Explorer prices by year Chevrolet Traverse MPG by year Ford Explorer MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.