2027 Chevrolet Traverse Performance, MPG, Towing and Payload

For 2027, every Chevrolet Traverse leaves the factory ready to tow. The Trailering Package is now standard equipment across the lineup, so the Traverse’s maximum 5,000-pound trailer rating^§ is built in rather than ordered in — no option box, no upcharge, no waiting on a specific build. That rating covers mid-size travel trailers, utility setups and recreational boats on Southern California highways.

Behind the number is a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic. Peak torque arrives at 3,500 rpm, which is where towing actually happens — low in the rev range, pulling a loaded trailer up a grade rather than chasing a redline. Families heading for mountain getaways near Ontario, where Mt. Baldy sits roughly fifteen miles north, get that pull where the road starts climbing.

^§ Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.

Riverside Chevrolet stocks the 2027 Traverse at 8200 Auto Center Drive, serving drivers across Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Corona and Eastvale. To see one in person, browse our new Chevrolet Traverse inventory or call our sales team at (951) 643-7003.

2027 Traverse Engine, Transmission and Drivetrain

Every 2027 Chevrolet Traverse — every trim, every drivetrain — uses the same turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder. There is no engine decision to make within the lineup, which simplifies shopping considerably: the LT makes exactly what the High Country makes.

^§ Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.

This turbocharged four produces more horsepower and more torque than the naturally aspirated V-6 that powered previous Traverse generations — a rare case where downsizing an engine added capability rather than trading it away. The eight-speed automatic uses Electronic Precision Shift and holds its gear under load rather than hunting, and Tow/Haul mode adjusts the shift schedule when a trailer is attached.

Front-wheel drive is standard on the LT, RS and High Country; all-wheel drive is available on those three and comes standard on the Z71. The available all-wheel-drive system sends power rearward when it detects slip, which matters more on a wet boat ramp than on a dry freeway. There is no premium-fuel requirement anywhere in the lineup.

Cited Source: Chevrolet — 2027 Traverse model page: powertrain output, drivetrain availability and standard towing capacity | Kelley Blue Book — 2027 Traverse recommended fuel grade

What Is the 2027 Chevrolet Traverse’s Fuel Economy?

EPA Ratings and Tank Capacity by Drivetrain

Front-wheel-drive models are EPA-estimated at 20 MPG city and 26 MPG highway, for 22 MPG combined.^‡ All-wheel-drive models are EPA-estimated at 20 MPG city and 24 MPG highway, for 21 MPG combined.^‡

^‡ EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.

Where the All-Wheel-Drive Penalty Shows Up

The detail worth noticing is where the gap sits. City economy is identical at 20 MPG either way — adding all-wheel drive costs nothing in stop-and-go traffic on Magnolia Avenue or the surface streets through Corona. The entire difference shows up on the highway, where the all-wheel-drive Traverse gives up two miles per gallon, and one MPG combined. For a shopper weighing traction against fuel cost, that is a narrower trade than most three-row SUVs offer.

All-wheel-drive builds also carry a larger 21.7-gallon tank against the front-driver’s 19.4 gallons, which offsets part of the efficiency difference on a long run.

Automatic stop-start contributes to the city figure by shutting the engine off at a full stop and restarting it when the brake is released, which is where a turbocharged three-row SUV would otherwise waste the most fuel.

What to Expect While Towing

A towing caveat belongs here: EPA ratings are measured without a trailer. Pulling anything close to 5,000 pounds will move real-world economy well below these numbers, which is normal for the segment and worth budgeting for on a long haul to Big Bear or out past Fontana.

Cited Source: Chevrolet — 2027 Traverse front-wheel-drive EPA estimates | U.S. EPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov — city, highway and combined ratings for both drivetrains | iSeeCars — 2027 Traverse fuel tank capacity by drivetrain

To see how the Traverse has rated across model years, see our Chevy Traverse MPG guide.

How Much Can the 2027 Chevrolet Traverse Tow?

Towing Capacity and Tongue Weight by Trim

The 2027 Chevrolet Traverse tows up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped^§ — and for 2027, properly equipped is how it arrives. The rating holds across all seven configurations. Choosing front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive does not reduce it. Choosing the LT instead of the High Country does not reduce it. Trim and drivetrain change what the Traverse feels like, not what it pulls.

^§ Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.

Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer puts on the hitch ball, and Chevrolet caps it at 500 pounds — ten percent of the maximum trailer weight. Chevrolet’s guidance is to keep tongue weight between ten and fifteen percent of the loaded trailer weight, which is the range that keeps a trailer tracking straight instead of wandering.

How the Z71 Changes the Hardware

The Z71 is the one trim that changes the hardware underneath the rating. It runs the Advanced Twin-Clutch AWD system, which actively distributes torque between the rear wheels, along with Terrain Mode, Hill Descent Control, frequency-based suspension dampers, a skid plate, red tow hooks and 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. None of that raises the tow rating — it changes the surfaces on which you can reach it. Launching a boat off an unpaved ramp or pulling a trailer up a gravel access road is where the Z71 earns the difference.

Cited Source: Chevrolet — 2027 Traverse trim equipment and standard towing capacity | Chevrolet Trailering Guide — Traverse trailer weight ratings and 500-lb maximum tongue weight | GM Authority — 2027 Traverse maximum trailer weight by trim and drivetrain

Shoppers weighing the Traverse against the segment’s other three-row options can compare the details in our 2026 Chevrolet Traverse vs. Honda Pilot breakdown. For a full look at how the four trims differ in equipment and price, see our 2027 Traverse trims and pricing guide.

What’s Included in the Standard Trailering Package

Buyers cross-shopping three-row SUVs often ask whether an aftermarket hitch delivers the same capability as factory equipment. The honest answer is that a hitch is only one part of towing. The cooling, charging and camera hardware that lets a vehicle pull 5,000 pounds repeatedly — not once — is engineered in at the factory. On the 2027 Traverse, all of it is standard.

Camera integration is what makes hitching a one-person job. Through the standard 17.7-inch touchscreen, the driver toggles between the standard rear view and a close-up Hitch View, so there is no spotter required and no guessing at the last six inches.

^¶ Driver-assist and safety systems are supplemental aids and are not a substitute for safe, attentive driving. Their effectiveness depends on weather, road, and traffic conditions and other factors. Always obey traffic laws and stay attentive to the road. See your owner’s manual for system details and limitations.

Cited Source: Chevrolet — 2027 Traverse standard trailering technology and infotainment display | GM Authority — Trailering Package content and standard availability across the 2027 lineup

Understanding 2027 Traverse Payload Capacity

Why Chevrolet Does Not Publish a Single Number

Payload is the weight the Traverse carries, as opposed to the weight it pulls: passengers, cargo, roof loads and the trailer’s tongue weight all count against it. Chevrolet does not publish a single payload figure for the Traverse, and that is not an oversight — the number genuinely changes with the build. All-wheel drive adds hardware and curb weight. Larger wheels, a sunroof and upgraded seating each subtract a little more.

The spread is real. Curb weight runs from roughly 4,504 pounds for a front-drive LT to about 4,793 pounds for an all-wheel-drive Z71, and every pound of that difference comes out of what the vehicle can carry. Two Traverses on the same lot can carry meaningfully different amounts.

How to Calculate Your Real Margin

The figure that applies to a specific vehicle is printed on that vehicle’s door-jamb label, and it is the only payload number worth planning around.^§ Do not try to work it out by subtracting curb weight from a published weight rating — those figures are per-configuration and the arithmetic will mislead you.

Before you hitch up, work the math in the right order: start from the door-jamb label, subtract everyone riding, subtract what is in the cargo area, then subtract tongue weight, which can run as high as 500 pounds at the maximum trailer rating. What remains is your margin.

^§ Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.

Cited Source: Chevrolet Trailering Guide — how tongue weight counts against vehicle weight ratings and where the trailering label is located | iSeeCars — 2027 Traverse curb weight by configuration

Our sales team can pull the door-jamb figure for any 2027 Traverse on the lot before you commit — contact us and we will check the specific unit you are considering.

For seating layouts, cargo volume behind each row and interior storage, see our 2027 Traverse interior space and technology guide.

Common Questions About 2027 Traverse Performance, Towing and Payload

Can the 2027 Chevrolet Traverse tow a travel trailer or boat?

The 2027 Chevrolet Traverse tows up to 5,000 pounds with its standard trailering equipment, which covers single-axle travel trailers, pop-up campers, personal watercraft trailers and ski boats. Always calculate the combined weight of passengers, cargo and tongue weight to stay within safe limits.

Is all-wheel drive required to reach the 5,000-pound towing limit?

No. Front-wheel-drive models carry the same 5,000-pound maximum rating as all-wheel-drive models. All-wheel drive adds traction for launching boats off slick ramps or driving over unpaved surfaces — it does not add towing capacity.

What is the maximum tongue weight on the 2027 Traverse?

Chevrolet rates the 2027 Traverse for a maximum trailer tongue weight of 500 pounds, which is ten percent of the 5,000-pound maximum trailer weight. Tongue weight should sit between ten and fifteen percent of the loaded trailer weight, and it counts against the vehicle’s payload rather than its towing capacity.

How does adding all-wheel drive affect payload capacity?

All-wheel drive adds mechanical hardware, including a rear drive module, which increases the vehicle’s curb weight. Because payload is what remains after curb weight, an all-wheel-drive Traverse generally carries slightly less than an equivalent front-wheel-drive build. Check the door-jamb label on the specific vehicle for its exact figure.

What technology helps with hitching a trailer on the Traverse?

The 2027 Traverse includes Hitch Guidance and Hitch View^¶ on the standard 17.7-inch touchscreen. Hitch Guidance overlays dynamic alignment lines on the rear camera view, and Hitch View provides a close-up angle on the hitch ball, so one person can line the vehicle up with a trailer coupler without a spotter.

^¶ Driver-assist and safety systems are supplemental aids and are not a substitute for safe, attentive driving. Their effectiveness depends on weather, road, and traffic conditions and other factors. Always obey traffic laws and stay attentive to the road. See your owner’s manual for system details and limitations.

Cited Source: Chevrolet — 2027 Traverse towing capacity and trailering technology | Chevrolet Trailering Guide — maximum tongue weight and recommended tongue weight range

Experience 2027 Chevrolet Traverse Capability in Riverside

Specs establish what a vehicle can do. A test drive establishes whether it does it the way you want. Our team can walk you through the trim lineup, demonstrate the Hitch View camera, and pull the door-jamb payload figure on any unit you are considering.

Visit Riverside Chevrolet at 8200 Auto Center Drive, Riverside, CA 92504, or call (951) 643-7003 to talk specs with our team today. For drivers in San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Corona and Eastvale, we are a short drive down the freeway.

Disclaimers

^‡ EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.

^§ Maximum towing and payload capacity figures are based on properly equipped vehicles and vary by configuration. Do not exceed any weight rating. See your owner’s manual and the vehicle’s door-jamb label for specific capacities.

^¶ Driver-assist and safety systems are supplemental aids and are not a substitute for safe, attentive driving. Their effectiveness depends on weather, road, and traffic conditions and other factors. Always obey traffic laws and stay attentive to the road. See your owner’s manual for system details and limitations.