Here’s Why The All-New 2024 Chevy Traverse Dropped A Gear
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The 2024 Chevy Traverse made its formal introduction in July, debuting an all-new third generation complete with new exterior styling, a revised trim level lineup, an overhauled cabin, new tech items, and a new powertrain. Interestingly, the new 2024 Chevy Traverse is equipped as standard with the GM eight-speed automatic transmission, while the previous generation was equipped with the GM nine-speed automatic transmission. Now, GM Authority has learned why the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse dropped a gear with the recent generation overhaul.
Typically, each successive automotive generation offers more than the preceding generation – more features, more power, and yes, more gears. This isn’t the case for the 2024 Chevy Traverse, with the third-gen equipped with the GM eight-speed automatic gearbox, as compared to the GM nine-speed automatic gearbox equipped by the 2023 Chevy Traverse.
To explain why the 2024 Chevy Traverse dropped a gear compared to the 2023 model year, GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft sat down with Traverse product planners. According to them, the GM eight-speed automatic equipped by the 2024 Chevy Traverse is essentially the nine-speed 9TXX, but with one less gear, making it what the planners call “a variant.”
The planners said that Chevy went this route due to the 2024 Chevy Traverse’s new turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 gasoline engine, which produces considerably more torque compared to the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LFY gasoline engine equipped by the previous-generation Traverse:
| 2.5L I4 LK0 | 3.6L V6 LFY | + / – LK0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspiration: | Turbocharged | Atmospheric | |
| Power (hp): | 328 | 310 | +18 |
| Torque (lb-ft): | 326 | 266 | +60 |
Engineers told GM Authority that the standard turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 gasoline engine pairs best with the GM eight-speed automatic transmission for this particular application, as “the eight-speed pretty much goes in line with that new engine to increase fuel efficiency and improved torque of the engine.” Indeed, opting to drop a gear in the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse was “a very conscious decision” on the part of GM.
As a reminder, production of the 2024 Chevy Traverse is set to kick off in December at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan, with the long-wheelbase variant of the GM C1 platform providing the underpinnings.
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What’s the mileage rating for the new drive train??? It must not be good or they would telling us.
Probably not certified by the government yet.
Look at fully com, and compare the Colorado’s. The L3B looks to be netting 10% better despite all the lifted models.
The Colorado’s EPA ratings I’m convinced we’re due to the EPA taking way too long so the reached an agreement with the EPA to nerf them, pay the higher gas guzzling fines and get product rolling. The new Colorado is doing excellent in fuel consumption.
I have to say they did an excellent job on the design of the new Traverse. Looks simultaneously sleek and rugged. I do wish they wouldn’t have abandoned their small diesel engine strategy though. My 2018 Terrain has the diesel and I average 47 mpg highway off a tiny (but very torquey) 1.6L.
Good thing it’s a beefed up 9T and not a beefed up 6T like Ford did for their transverse high-torque 8-speed!
The GM 9 speed transaxle was co-developed with Ford.
However, Ford opted to configure their version as an 8 speed. Reduced components was one of Ford’s reasons.
If you read carefully between the lines you’ll see the real reason they went from the 9-speed to the 8-speed: cost savings.
Looks like a mini Escalade for poor people like me. 👍
Most of the puny engine GM vehicles with the 9 speed rarely go into 9th gear ever by intent, because of low speed pre ignition fears. My terrain 1.5l will only actually go into 9th at 57mph with minimal throttle.
Strange engineering. Very strange.
Yes, it’s a highway gear, for the highway.
They should have reconsidered the weird C pillar design one more time, in my opinion.
It may add more structural rigidity for rollover protection? They never tell the consumer all the reasons why they do things.
A normally aspirated engine has a much flatter torque curve than a smaller displacement turbo engine, so who cares that it makes more torque under WOT? I rarely drive my ’19 Blazer V6 under WOT conditions, what I care most about is NORMAL driving GM, not balls to the wall. The 9 speed is a sweet tranny and the shifts are almost unnoticeable, can you say that about one with 11% less gearing? I doubt it. I’d say 2002tii, who pegged this as a cost reduction, was spot on and that GM is banking on no one noticing since there will be no V6 to compare to.
Sorry the opposite is true the smaller turbo engine has a flatter tq than the peaky NA v6 that it is replacing.
The Tq also comes in sooner.
Absolutely correct. The turbocharged engine will outperform the outgoing V6 in every way, provided that it is mechanically reliable.
If the torque curve of the 2.5L is similar to the larger 2.7L L3B engine used in the trucks, it will be a welcome replacement.
The L3B has a super flat and broad torque curve throughout the RPM range.
FWIW, I’m a long-time V8 guy with a ’71 GMC pickup with 350ci V8 and a 2023 GMC Sierra Elevation crew cab 4WD with L3B 2.7L Turbo, not a “bench racer” sitting in the bleachers.
Naturally aspirated engines do not make similar torque. They lack the greater than 100% volumetric efficiency that is possible with a turbocharged engine.
We are not in the market for any turbo charged vehicle. We currently have a Tesla, a 6 cylinder Honda Pilot, a hemi RAM. Tesla and Honda to be replaced with 2024 models.
Pilot will be replaced with another Pilot, best vehicle we have owned. Our Tesla with another Tesla or other EV, currently making shopping list. No Detroit EV on the list.
Hey Rick, why are you even on this site? GM hater?
Not a GM hater. Loyal customer for 20 years. Driven off by quality issues with Saturn Vue, Chevy Silverado, Chevy Suburban.
The RAM is my wife’s horse business truck. She left Chevy, attracted by the much more luxurious interior in the RAM and the much smoother full coil spring and air ride. It has been a good truck so far.
Tesla was the only full size EV around when we bought it.
Hoping GM, Ford and Stellanis can make price competitive, quality, reliable EVs and do the same with the ICE vehicles they keep making. We keep our eyes open, which is why we were early Tesla owners.
What’s with the sheet metal peaking up after the rear doors? The visibility is bad enough, now it is even worse. Besides it is ugly as well.
From looking at it, I would say the sheet metal is there from whatever large sedan the traverse shares a platform with. It would be the roofline on that. The pillar needs to be there, but typical SUV would cover it with the rear glass and probably have less of an angle to it. Some GM designer thought it was edgy looking, and it saved a bit of money sharing it directly.
I perfect that fin will disappear on future models if it’s not structural.
Looking at the location of the left rear door opening, the fin is likely hiding the inner structure upper attachment point for the seat belt.
In previous models, the line carried up to the roof and was less “fin” width in appearance.
A redesign as a gloss blacked out pillar instead of body colour, would be more natural and appealing.
Wining is not a win,lol. I now own a Collection of GM products with enough engineering miscues as a learning curve with making money dents in Colorado roof etc. I have experienced some junkies that GM ,has made and others that we’re all ok. They pay my pension. And HEARING AIDS. SO I buy the GM sorry that’s my outlook. WJM
In August 2021 I leased a 2022 MDX Advance model with $3,000 down payment and a 61,000 thousand MSRP for $767.00 per month. How does Chevy charge $1,300 per month with almost $4,000 down payment for a 2023 traverse high country with a $53,000 MSRP?
Its called poor resale value which GM is known for.
I’ve heard two different stories about this transmission. Either could be correct, or possibly NEITHER is correct:
#1 They physically removed one of the gears from the 9 speed to make it an 8 speed.
#2 They reprogrammed the TCM to ignore one of the 9 gears to make it an 8 speed.
I fully admit, like most, I know absolutely nothing about automatic transmissions, however, if they physically took something out, it might have been nice to use that space to somehow reinforce what’s already in there. (Assuming it needs it)
Its the second option. On alot of 9Txx applications (such as my Equinox 2.0t) the TCM skips 3rd gear when shifting in drive. The step between 2nd (3.31) and 3rd (3.01) is so small that it doesnt really make sense to use 3rd instead of going straight to 4th (2.45). The driver can still tell it to use 3rd with the L shift gate. However, my 2018 Enclave still shifts 1-2-3-4 in drive depending on throttle position. Even at the 6500+ shift point, its less than a 1000rpm drop, it would probably be faster to skip the gear because of the time spent shifting which is why the equinox skips this shift at 5500rpm. This new engine is based on the 2.7, so its probably shifting even sooner than the LTG in the Nox.
Does anyone know what kind of transmission the ’24 Traverse has? I know its the 8 speed but what is it? CVT? Other?