A plush three-row that trades on deep discounts and a hushed cabin, but the 2018-2024 generation carries a documented transfer case weakness. Multiple owners report the same failure: the case splits catastrophically at highway speed, dumping fluid and stranding the vehicle, sometimes with only 30k-70k miles on the clock. When it works, you get adult-sized third-row space, a genuinely quiet ride, and dealer incentives that undercut Honda and Toyota by thousands. The catch is you're rolling dice on a known mechanical fault, and mismatched tires accelerate the failure. The all-new 2025 redesign swaps the V6 for a turbo four and starts fresh on a new platform, so the old gremlins shouldn't follow, but there's zero long-term proof yet. Buy used and you're gambling; buy new and you're hoping Buick learned its lesson.
The Traverse is GM's maximum-space-for-minimum-money play, genuinely the roomiest three-row at this price, with a third row adults don't hate. The catch: pre-2024 models earned a brutal reputation for 9-speed transmissions that slip and fail between 40k and 60k miles, a pattern too consistent to ignore, while the 2024 redesign's turbo-4 is already drawing early complaints about powertrain and electrical issues in its first year. If you need cavernous space on a budget and plan to trade before 100k, it delivers; if you're keeping it long-term, the Pilot and Highlander cost more for a reason.