2027 Chevrolet Traverse Engine, Performance and Fuel Economy at Webb Chevy Plainfield in Plainfield, IL

Webb Chevy Plainfield | (815) 436-2071 | 16140 S Lincoln Hwy, Plainfield, IL 60586

What engine is in the 2027 Chevrolet Traverse?

There is one powertrain and no decision to make. The 2027 Traverse runs a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, sending power through an 8-speed automatic. That is true whether you buy the $40,800 LT, the $49,100 Z71 or the RS.

A four-cylinder badge on a three-row SUV still surprises people on the showroom floor at 16140 S Lincoln Hwy. The output is what settles it. 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque is a genuinely strong figure for a midsize three-row, and it is standard on every 2027 Traverse rather than reserved for a top trim.

Starting MSRP shown. Excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Ask Webb Chevy Plainfield for current figures on a specific unit.

How does 328 horsepower feel on I-55 and I-355?

Merging is the honest test. The on-ramps around Plainfield and Bolingbrook do not always give you the runway you want, especially at rush hour heading toward Joliet. Torque is what solves a short ramp, and 326 lb-ft arriving from a turbocharged four-cylinder means the Traverse gathers speed without the driver flooring it and hoping.

The 8-speed automatic is the other half of that. On a steady I-355 cruise it keeps revs low, and in the stop-and-go grind on S Lincoln Hwy through town it shifts often enough to stay in the useful part of the torque band without hunting.

What fuel economy should Plainfield drivers actually expect?

Front-wheel-drive 2027 Traverse models carry EPA ratings of 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined. Step to the Z71 with all-wheel drive and the numbers read 20 city, 24 highway and 21 combined. City ratings are identical at 20 mpg, so the entire penalty for all-wheel drive shows up on the highway line.

Match that to your week. A commuter running I-55 or I-355 in long steady stretches lives near the highway number and will feel the 2 mpg difference between 26 and 24. A driver who mostly does school runs, Route 30 errands and short hops around Plainfield and Shorewood spends most of the tank in city conditions where both drivetrains are rated the same 20 mpg.

What can a 2027 Traverse pull out of a Will County driveway?

Properly equipped, the 2027 Traverse tows up to 5,000 lbs. That covers a lot of what actually gets pulled out of Will County driveways on a Friday afternoon: a small boat heading toward the Shorewood side, a pair of jet skis, a utility trailer or a compact camper.

Do not shop a tow rating from a brochure alone. Bring the loaded trailer weight and the tongue weight of the thing you plan to pull and the Webb Chevy Plainfield team will confirm the equipment the vehicle needs. If you want the service side of that conversation, the service line is (815) 230-6041.

Does the drivetrain change how the Traverse performs day to day?

Power output and transmission are identical across front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, so the difference is traction rather than thrust. The $2,000 all-wheel-drive box appears on the LT and RS order sheets, while the Z71 arrives with it fitted plus a raised ride height.

In practice the AWD advantage appears at low speed on a poor surface, not at highway speed on dry pavement. That is worth knowing before you spend the $2,000, and it is worth knowing before you skip it in a county where an unplowed side street in January is a routine event.

How does the Traverse powertrain compare with the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander?

If the Grand Highlander is on your list, the powertrain is the clearest part of this comparison. Chevrolet’s 2.5L turbo makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft. Toyota’s 2.4L turbo makes 265 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 310 lb-ft from 1,700 to 3,600 rpm. That is 63 horsepower and 16 lb-ft in the Traverse’s favor on the gas engines. Toyota’s counterpunch is the Hybrid MAX at 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft, which no Traverse matches, and a standard Hybrid rated at roughly 37 mpg city against the Traverse’s 20. Towing lands even at 5,000 lbs for both with the turbo engines, while Toyota’s standard Hybrid is limited to 3,500 lbs.

Traverse figures are Chevrolet published. Grand Highlander figures are Toyota published for the 2026 model year. One caution on the price row: the Grand Highlander starting figure already includes a $1,495 destination charge and the Traverse LT figure does not, so add destination to both before you call one cheaper. Call (815) 436-2071 and we will print a side by side sheet with destination on both columns.

Where can I drive one around Plainfield?

Webb Chevy Plainfield had 20 units of the 2027 Traverse in stock as of August 10, 2026. Ask for a route that includes both S Lincoln Hwy traffic and an interstate ramp, because that combination tells you more in fifteen minutes than a lap around the block does. Note that Webb Chevy Plainfield and Webb Chevy Oak Lawn share inventory, so call (815) 436-2071 to confirm which store has the unit you found online.

This article is part of the full 2027 Chevrolet Traverse guide from Webb Chevy Plainfield. Read the complete overview at https://www.webbchevyplainfield.com/2027-chevrolet-traverse/.

Key takeaways

• One powertrain across the lineup: 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, 328 horsepower, 326 lb-ft of torque, 8-speed automatic.
• Front-wheel drive is rated 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined.
• Z71 with all-wheel drive is rated 20 city / 24 highway / 21 combined, so the whole penalty lands on the highway figure.
• Maximum towing is up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped.
• City fuel economy is 20 mpg regardless of drivetrain, which matters for short-trip Plainfield and Shorewood driving.
• The $2,000 all-wheel-drive option applies to the LT and RS, and the Z71 includes it with a raised ride height.

Frequently asked questions