Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Audi Q7

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Audi Q7 which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

Both the Traverse and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Q7:

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Traverse 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Q7 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 101 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 67 more horsepower (328 vs. 261) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 273) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse gets better mileage than the Q7:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q7 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Q7 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Traverse higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi Q7 (4). This means the Traverse produces up to 5.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q7 every 15,000 miles.

The Traverse stops shorter than the Q7:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Q7’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi Q7 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Traverse has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Q7 (121 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q7.

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q7’s (39 feet vs. 41 feet). The Traverse with 22-inch wheels’ turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Q7’s (40.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q7 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q7 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Q7 can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 2.9 inches more third row legroom and 8.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Traverse easier. The Traverse’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Q7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Traverse RS/High Country’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q7 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q7 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Traverse has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Traverse has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Q7.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q7.

The Traverse offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Traverse is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Traverse and the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by almost five to one during 2024.