What is the best year for a Chevrolet Traverse?

The 2021 (85 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) and 2023 (75 complaints, 8/10 safety, 7 severe) Traverse are the cleanest years on record. Avoid the pre-2021 era, where complaint counts exceeded 200 every year from 2010 through 2020. Note that 2024-2025 ticked back up to 121 and 164 complaints — the improvement wasn't fully sustained. The 2021-2023 window is the safest range for used buying.

How much does Chevrolet Traverse insurance cost?

Traverse insurance averages around $2,393/year — roughly $199/month.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer cheaper to maintain?

The Traverse is cheaper to maintain by $76/year — $656 versus $732 for the Ford Explorer. However, the Explorer has a higher reliability score (7 vs. 6), lower major repair probability (14% vs. 18%), and significantly lower repair frequency (24% vs. 43%). On total maintenance value beyond annual dollar cost, the Explorer holds a meaningful edge.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Chevrolet Traverse?

Major repair probability of 18% is the second-highest in the three-row segment, and reliability score of 6 is below the class average. Extended warranty is worth considering for most used Traverse models, particularly any purchased from the 2010-2020 era of consistently elevated complaints.

Is the Mazda CX-5 expensive to maintain?

The CX-5 averages $447/year in maintenance — $74 below the compact segment average of $521. Its 9/10 reliability score is above the class average, major repair probability of 8% is well below the 11% norm, and repair frequency of 28% is below the 30% class average. One of the strongest ownership-cost profiles in the compact class.

What is the best year for a Mazda CX-5?

From available data, 2024 (38 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) and 2025 (22 complaints, 10/10 safety, 5 severe) are the cleanest years on record. Complaint data for 2015-2022 isn't available in our dataset, so those years can't be assessed directly. Early years 2013-2014 had higher complaint counts and are best avoided.

How much does Mazda CX-5 insurance cost?

CX-5 insurance averages about $1,947/year — roughly $162/month — the most affordable among compact SUVs with full data.

Is the Mazda CX-5 or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $18/year cheaper — $429 versus $447 for the CX-5. The CX-5 has higher reliability (9 vs. 8) and a lower major repair probability (8% vs. 10%). The RAV4 costs slightly less per year; the CX-5 carries a better long-term reliability profile.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Mazda CX-5?

Major repair probability of 8% — well below the class average of 11% — and a 9/10 reliability score make extended warranty unnecessary for most buyers. Self-insuring is the better financial decision.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Mazda CX-5

Two three-row SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Chevrolet Traverse if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

Buy the Mazda CX-5 — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-5
Annual maintenance	$656	$447winner
5-year total cost	$3,280	$2,235winner
Reliability score	6 / 10	9 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	18%	8%winner
Cargo space	97.6 cu ft	—
Starting price (new)	$42,300	$29,990winner
Best years to buy	2013, 2021	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-5
RepairPal score	6 / 10	9 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	257.3	106.6winner
Years to avoid	2018, 2019, 2025	2014, 2025
Value retained · 3 yr	73.5%	78.5%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	51.7%	62.1%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	37.6%	53.2%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-5
Engine	19.9%	12.8%winner
Electrical	8.1%winner	23.1%
ADAS	8.3%winner	8.5%
Brakes	4.5%winner	7.6%
Steering	11.9%	2.0%winner
Fuel system	2.0%	1.6%winner
Tires/Wheels	1.4%	1.3%winner
Glass/Windows	1.1%winner	14.4%
Airbags	20.3%	1.6%winner
Lighting	—winner	2.5%
Seatbelt	2.4%	—winner

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Chevrolet Traverse	Mazda CX-5
Avg annual premium	$2,393	$1,947winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Chevrolet Traverse

$656/yr maint · 6 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Mazda CX-5

$447/yr maint · 9 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Traverse costs $656/year to maintain — $83 above the three-row segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 43% is slightly above the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 6 is below the segment average of 7, and major repair probability of 18% is well above the 13% norm. It trails the three-row class average on most ownership-cost metrics.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →