General Motors pulled the sheets on the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse this past July, showing off a wealth of upgrades and changes over the preceding second-generation crossover. As GM Authority was the first to report in May, one of the big changes for the 2024 model year is the addition of the new Chevy Traverse Z71, an off-road-oriented trim level that’s ready to hit the trail. Notably, the Chevy Traverse is the first unibody vehicle to wear a Z71 badge.
Historically, Chevy’s Z71 lineup has consisted solely of body-on-frame vehicles. Currently, the Bow Tie brand offers a Z71 package or Z71 trim level for the Chevy Silverado 1500, Chevy Silverado HD, Chevy Colorado, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and, in international markets, the Chevy TrailBlazer SUV. Critically, all of these models ride on top of a body-on-frame platform, unlike the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse (and Traverse Z71 trims), which is based on a unibody construction.
For those readers who may be unaware, a body-on-frame vehicle mounts the body components on top of a separate chassis, the latter of which cradles the powertrain and related pieces. By contrast, a unibody construction combines the body and chassis into a single architecture, making the body and chassis more or less the same thing.
The advantages of a unibody construction over a body-on-frame platform are numerous, and generally include lower weight, improved crash safety, and sharper handling dynamics. Body-on-frame vehicles, however, offer their own advantages, especially when it comes to off-roading. Body-on-frame vehicles tend to flex a bit more, which allows the chassis to twist and contort to meet variations in an uneven surface. Body-on-frame vehicles are also quite tough and rugged, and can be more easily modified for greater clearance.
Although the 2024 Chevy Traverse Z71 is a unibody vehicle (GM C1 platform), it’s still well-equipped to handle some light off-roading. Upgrades over the rest of the Traverse lineup include unique dampers and an extra inch of ground clearance, as well as a wider track and 18-inch wheels wrapped in a set of all-terrain tires. There’s also a skid plate and red tow hooks up front, while the unique front fascia was designed for an improved approach angle. The twin-clutch all-wheel drive system was also optimized for traction on off-road surfaces.
As a reminder, the 2024 Chevy Traverse cradles the turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 gasoline engine, rated at 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Production will take place at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan.
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Comments
Offroader phooey.gm scam to make a buck. I paid $350 for so called off-road tires on a Silverado, phooey, theses tires where no off-road tires, Goodyear would not call them off-road tires, called gm and was told to pound sand those are the tires you paid for. Looking up the retail price of the so called “off-road” and highway tread the price of the highway was actually $7 more per tire. Sales manager gave me a refund when the parts manager told him those are not off-road tires. Same “off-road” tires came on my employer purchased Colorado W/T advertised as highway tread at no additional price. The only place you want to off-road this is your paved driveway.
People mistakenly only look at the tread. Look at the tire size prefix and load range. If the tire size number starts with “P” that means it’s passenger vehicle rated. If it starts with “LT” that means light truck and it is at least 6-ply. You can also load at the load rating, it will either be a number (pounds per tire) or a letter, which increases as the load capacity increases. You can find the specifics online. Also look at the max psi inflation printed on the sidewall, if it’s 35-44 that’s a passenger tire, LT tires can typically be inflated to a much higher pressure. Tread is important but it’s only half of the equation. You can have great tread and still have a soft light duty tire which is fine for snow. I am not an expert nor is this advice, I am just sharing what I have observed over the years.
That is funny you are still whining about this. I remember this when I bought my truck with the Z71 package and off road tires. Wrangler did designate them in the off road category on their website and in certain publications. Some of you just expected to get some type of hybird MT/AT tire (which lets be honest you would never use and just thought it looked cool) so you started raising a fuss. They were an upgrade with more aggressive tread and sidewalls over stock (not a ton more aggressive but more aggressive none the less). Just because you wanted to run and put BFG’s on everything to look cool doesn’t mean they were mis-selling you anything. How many years has this hurt your feelings?
Did not want mud tires. The GY A/T well only gm calls them A/T tires sucked in the snow, actually dangerous no traction on acceleration and be very careful braking or you will go in the ditch. Got a set of cheap Kuhmo H/T 51 and what a difference normal winter performance.
All show and no go. What is definition of “off-road” ? A dirt road that is not paved or running the Baja 1000? It’s like the old fwd Monte Carlo being a performance car.
I don’t think unibody and Z71 will work well.
For most of the SUV’s on the market, “off-road” simply means the potholes in the parking lot of your local mall.
I mean let’s be fair though, no ones running the Baja in a Silverado Z71 either. Z71 is no where close to being a hardcore offroad package on any Chevy. Below is off the Chevy site for a Silverado 1500 Z71 package, it’s not much. You get basically the same stuff on a Z71 Traverse. It’s meant to get you around the ranch, or to a rustic campsite, that’s all. And this Traverse will probably do that fine. If it was marketed as a ZR2 it’d be a different story
Z71 Off-Road suspension with Rancho™ twin tube shocks
Hill Descent Control
Skid plates
Heavy-duty air filter
All-weather floor liners with Z71 logo
LT and RST models include 18″ Bright Silver painted aluminum wheels, 18″ all-terrain blackwall tires and a Protection Package that includes Chevytec spray-on bedliner and rear wheelhouse liners
LTZ models include 20″ all-terrain blackwall tires and Chevytec spray-on bedliner
May require additional optional equipment
97% of Z 71’s never even see a dirt road
I don’t think unibody and Z71 will go together well.
I don’t think unibody and Z71 will work well.
Meant to disguise the fact that the soccer mom vehicle is now powered by 4 cylinders.
No different than the Pick Up Trucks being powered by 4 bangers and they appear to be selling quite well.
Not only are the four cylinder pickups selling well, they’re also delivering very solid levels of performance.
Isn’t the Silverado W/T ONLY available with a V8 only in Mexico?
Exactly, I can respect the fact that everyone will not see it that way, but gm did a good job with the Horsepower and Torque applications.
Only because gm is ramming them down customers throats. I have never noticed a $2000 “discount” for accepting the base engine before gm came up with this scam. I have also noticed when gm offers the $2500 “customer loyalty” it only applies to the base engine equipped units. My 2014 Silvy LT with a MSRP of 43k was better equipped than todays 60k equivalent People are sucked in because the salesman play the payment the payment game and that takes you to the lesser equipped 4 cyl trims. What are people to do 4cyl or no cyl .
They are marketing to try and get people like you and Joe B. who have no idea how an engine is actually designed and used in applications (hint, pretty much gone are the single designation engines, they are global and diverse) to get out of your silo and try one. When you do those people who scream V8 or nothing for power are surprised at the levels of power and over a wider range they offer. The 2.7 beats the 5.3 in most cases and offers a better driving experience daily with a very robust package that will last.
They hope offering a little money on the hood will get you types to maybe just drive it, then it can open the door to other future smaller engines that will help keep ICE engines around. Maybe the next 6.2 becomes a small displacement turbo 8 or large turbo 6 and so on. They sell well and are well reviewed, they don’t have to cram it down anyone’s throats, they just want to open the eyes of the stubborn and dated purchasers…
No better fuel economy unless you puppy it around the city. If it is so great why is it not in the RST, LTZ, High Country, SLT or Denali. When they first came out no dealers stocked any for a test drive, they all said we are not ordering any because we do not want to get stuck with them and none are available within 200 miles.
To clients that don’t need a real truck
gm tried the 4banger in the traverse back a few years in the rs package…lasted 6 months, to many complaints about turbo whine and underpowered. they stopped making them in the 4 and have been using the 3.6 ever since. Just some more lipstick on a pig. “Light off road duty, ” another way to say parking in a field for a picnic, same place you can take the vette or family grocery getter.
I would not take anything without a frame and separate cab/bed off road unless it’s just mud. But if you get stuck and need to be pulled out, what are you going to hook the chain/winch to??In my opinion you are asking for a bent vehicle that is not easy to fix if at all. But I do like the refreshed style.
Wow, if that isn’t a dated and incorrect statements. Jeep, Land Rover and countless others would like to have a word. A unibody is inherently strong and has no problems being winched or pulled out (or doing the pulling). You don’t think a frame can bend and is difficult to fix?
LOL, I’m just used to real, heavy duty pickups we used for farming and construction work. None of your examples count. But yes, ladder truck frames are much easier and cheaper to straighten than a unibody. Talk to a local body shop they will tell you much easier it is to total a unibody vehicle compared to a vehicle with a real frame.
It’s just about the look. Everybody knows that. Where I live in flat land Long Beach, MS there’s lots of “off road” Range Rovers, Discovery’s, Jeeps, Z71s and so. The extent of those vehicles off road use matches what I suspect is the driver’s capabilities – they park in the dirt and gravel lot at the popular restaurant / tavern. 🙂
Came here for the comments…figured it would go about as well as when the new Blazer came out. LOL
Blazer is nothing but a Camaroish looking Equinox
A 4 cylinder? Where’s the V8? I thought GM wanted to attract male buyers with this?
Have a look at 4Runner, Bronco and Wrangler, neither of which offer a V8 (extremely limited production Wranglers notwithstanding) while selling to a male dominant audience.
Not sure about that, around here Jeep drivers are about 50% women. Male drivers here go for pickups. Broncos and Forerunners are considered grocery getters.
You may not be sure, but I am.
Here’s how it typically works: the more off-road capable trims skew toward male, while the less capable are more even male-female. This still doesn’t change the fact that the customers of the three models we’re discussing are predominantly male.
I guess it depends on where you are. Men here drive cars and trucks and women drive crossovers.
Rubicon here I come!
Do I trust GM to excute the unibody for those spend money on z71 unibody not really . In theory it can work though . This isn’t advertised as Tahoe off roader . It could do some off roading in theory.