Inline-4 turbo upgrade

[Tristana]

A couple days back, I was talking to someone who just took their 2019 Traverse High Country on a long trip through Illinois and Iowa. She said it handled great on the highway, averaging 26.7 mpg while cruising at 75-85 mph. She is not really sold on the idea of switching to an inline-4 turbo, especially after owning multiple Traverses and even a Corvette. She's wondering if anyone who made the switch can share real-world differences. Now this thought came into mind right now because I'm thinking of doing the same for my 2020 Traverse and I'd love to get some inputs on people who already tried it. TIA.

 

[MultiVersed]

I get where she's coming from. I've driven both, and while the turbo-four is peppy, it just doesn't feel as smooth or effortless as the old V6 on long drives

 

[Captain Sammie]

Why does it feel like such a gamble to switch to an inline-4 turbo when the V6 has proven itself so well on long trips and highway performance?

 

[damianjiggy]

From what i've seen, sticking with the V6 on the Traverse usually gives better highway power and smoothness, especially for long trips and towing. The inline-4 turbo can improve fuel economy a bit, but some say it feels less responsive under load and on steep grades. Realworld differences often come down to whether you prioritize fuel savings or overall performance and drive feel