Top SUV Models for First-Time Buyers

Quick answer: the 2026 Traverse as a tow vehicle The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is rated at 5,000 pounds properly equipped, and the trailering equipment is standard on every trim rather than an option you hunt for. The 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft on regular 87-octane unleaded, which is what makes that rating comfortable rather than theoretical. It still carries the family: seven seats standard, eight on the LT with the available second-row bench, and 22.9 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row. EPA estimates are 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined in front-drive and 20 / 24 / 21 with all-wheel drive. The Traverse starts at $40,800 before a $1,995 destination charge. George Nunnally Chevrolet stocks them in Bentonville. Call (479) 319-2494. A 5,000-pound rating puts a lot of NWA weekends in reach of a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse: a small travel trailer, a teardrop or hybrid camper, a pair of side-by-sides on a utility trailer, or a boat. What it does not do is answer the second question, which is whether the same vehicle still works as the family car on Monday. Here is what the rating actually covers here, and what to check before you hitch up. The Traverse research hub has the full set of pages. See Every 2026 Traverse in Stock How much can a Traverse actually pull? 5,000 pounds, properly equipped. That figure holds across the lineup because the trailering equipment is standard on every trim, so it is not a number that depends on which box you ticked at order time. The engine is what makes it usable. The 2.5L turbocharged four makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft, and torque is the part that matters on a hill with a trailer behind you. The specifications page has the full numbers, and the model overview is the plain-language version of the whole car. What a 5,000-pound rating covers in NWA More than most families need. A single-axle travel trailer, a teardrop or a hybrid pop-up sits well inside it, as does a ski boat on a single-axle trailer, and either one gets to Beaver Lake or a campsite at Hobbs State Park without drama. Devil's Den is the harder run, because the I-49 grades south of Fayetteville are the real test of any tow vehicle in this region. The honest planning number is not the trailer's dry weight, it is the loaded weight with water, gear and bikes on the back. Build in the margin and a Traverse handles a Northwest Arkansas camping season comfortably. If your trailer is a dual-axle bunkhouse and the loaded number is climbing past the rating, the Traverse versus Tahoe comparison is the right next read, because that is the step up this market usually makes. Do you need to option anything? For the tow rating itself, no. Trailering equipment is standard across the range, which is unusual in this class and worth knowing before you start pricing packages on a rival. What is worth optioning is what makes the miles easier. Super Cruise, the hands-free driver assistance system, is standard on the High Country and RS and available on the LT and Z71 through the Enhanced Driving Package, and a long haul down the interstate is exactly where you notice it. The trim levels page shows what each rung includes. What towing means for people and gear This is where a three-row earns its place over a truck. The Traverse seats seven as standard and eight on the LT with the available second-row bench, and it holds 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.6 behind the second and 98 cubic feet with both rows folded. That is a full family plus a week of camping kit, before the trailer is even attached. Weight still has to be watched: GVWR is 6,173 pounds and an LT front-drive weighs 4,504 pounds at the curb, which leaves roughly 1,669 pounds for people, cargo and trailer tongue weight combined. That is the number that quietly decides how much you can pack. The cargo and seating page breaks the space down row by row. Which Traverse suits a towing family in NWA? The LT is the volume answer and the only trim that seats eight, opening at $40,800 before the $1,995 destination charge. The Z71 adds all-wheel drive as standard, 18-inch all-terrain wheels and 7.8 inches of ground clearance against the standard 6.8, which is the trim for gravel campground approaches. The RS and High Country are the equipment-led rungs and bring Super Cruise as standard. Cross-shopping? The Traverse versus GMC Acadia comparison covers the closest relative, and the Traverse versus Equinox page is the one to read if you are still deciding whether you need a third row at all. Browse Traverse LT and Z71 Stock Schedule a Test Drive Hitching up in NWA Bring the trailer and we will weigh the real question with you. We are at 2700 SE Moberly Ln, a couple of minutes off I-49, and the run south from here is the same road your camper will see, so a test drive tells you more than a spec sheet does. The 39-foot turning circle is the other thing to try in our lot, because campground loops are tighter than interstates. Ownership questions are worth asking on the day: the maintenance schedule covers service intervals, and towing does change how often some of them come around. When you are ready, value your trade or get pre-approved. 2026 Traverse towing questions How much can a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse tow? 5,000 pounds, properly equipped, and the trailering equipment is standard on every trim. What engine does it use? A 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder rated 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft, running on regular 87-octane unleaded. Does towing change with all-wheel drive? The rating is 5,000 pounds properly equipped across the lineup. All-wheel drive is standard on the Z71 and available elsewhere, and it changes EPA estimates to 20 city / 24 highway / 21 combined against 20 / 26 / 22 in front-drive. How many people does it seat? Seven as standard, and eight on the LT with the available second-row bench. The Z71, RS and High Country seat seven. How much cargo is there with a full house? 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.6 behind the second, and 98 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. Which trim has the most ground clearance? The Z71, at 7.8 inches against the 6.8 inches standard elsewhere, and it comes with all-wheel drive and 18-inch all-terrain wheels. Is Super Cruise available? Yes. It is standard on the High Country and RS, and available on the LT and Z71 through the Enhanced Driving Package. How big is the Traverse to park and store? 204.5 inches long on a 121.0-inch wheelbase, 79.6 inches wide without mirrors and 69.6 inches tall, with a 39.0-foot turning circle. Where do I get a question answered that is not here? The Traverse FAQ page covers the common ones, or call (479) 319-2494 with your trailer's loaded weight and we will talk it through. Pricing is starting MSRP and excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees; the destination freight charge is stated separately and the dealer sets the final price. Trailering figures are maximums for a properly equipped vehicle and vary by configuration and equipment. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates and will vary with driving. George Nunnally Chevrolet · 2700 SE Moberly Ln, Bentonville, AR 72712 · (479) 319-2494

The RS is the trim most 2027 Equinox shoppers here are driving off in. The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox RS starts at $33,900 before destination, runs the 1.5L Turbo four with 175 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic, and returns an EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. It is the blacked-out version of the Equinox, and it is the trim we stock deepest right now. If you are shopping in Rogers, Springdale or Fayetteville and you want an Equinox you can drive home this week rather than order and wait, the RS is the one to come and look at. Here is what is on the ground, what the trim actually gives you over the LT, and who it suits. If you want the whole model first, the 2027 Equinox overview covers both powertrains in one read. Quick Answer 2027 Equinox RS from $33,900 before a $1,995 destination charge 1.5L Turbo, 175 hp, eight-speed automatic 25 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg, front-wheel drive All-wheel drive adds $2,000 The RS is the deepest-stocked 2027 Equinox trim on our lot What is in stock Most of the 2027 Equinox inventory on our lot is RS, with LT alongside it. That matters if you are cross-shopping in Springdale or Fayetteville, because it means colour and equipment choice rather than a single car and a take-it-or-leave-it conversation. Every one runs the same 1.5L Turbo four at 175 horsepower with the eight-speed automatic, and that eight-speed is a 2027 change worth knowing: it is now standard on front-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option, and the full specifications carry every figure with its source. Browse what is on the lot on the Equinox inventory page. What the RS does well It looks considerably more expensive than it is. Black mirrors, black moldings, black emblems and black badging, a flat-bottom steering wheel, standard 19-inch wheels with 20-inch machined wheels available, and an available two-tone black roof. Park one next to a base compact SUV and the difference reads from across the lot. Cargo is unchanged at 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.5 folded, which the cargo and interior guide turns into what actually fits. Underneath, it is the sensible Equinox everyone already knows. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard, as is the 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. More than 15 standard driver assistance features come along, including the six-feature Chevy Safety Assist package, which is the set that does the work on the I-49 stop-and-go between Rogers and Fayetteville; the technology and safety guide goes through each one. 400 miles of range on a 14.8-gallon tank means the Springdale commute goes most of two weeks between fill-ups. Honest trade-offs The RS is a styling trim, not a capability trim. The engine, transmission and towing are identical to the LT, so if you want more than 175 horsepower, no Equinox trim gives it to you. Towing is 1,500 pounds properly equipped across the range, and running costs are the same too, which the maintenance schedule lays out. The ACTIV costs exactly the same $33,900 and spends the money differently, on all-terrain tires and a uniquely tuned suspension. If your weekends involve gravel county roads or a boat ramp rather than pavement, take a look at that one instead. And 19- or 20-inch wheels ride firmer than smaller ones do. If you are also weighing the electric one, gas vs EV settles that honestly. The full trim comparison puts all six 2027 configurations side by side. Who this configuration is for Buy the RS if you want the sharpest-looking Equinox on the school run in Rogers or Springdale, you are covering paved miles rather than gravel, and you want heated seats, a heated wheel and the big screen without stepping into a bigger, thirstier SUV. More questions are answered on the Equinox FAQ page. Look at the ACTIV instead if your driving includes unpaved surfaces, or the LT at $33,900 less the styling package if the look is not what you are paying for. Add the $2,000 all-wheel drive if the Ozark ice storms are a yearly worry; EPA combined moves from 27 to 26 mpg. See it, drive it We are at 2700 SE Moberly Ln in Bentonville, a short run up I-49 from Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville, and an easy drive from Siloam Springs. Come and drive an RS back to back with an ACTIV; the two are the same price and settling that question takes about twenty minutes. Call (479) 319-2494, browse 2027 Equinox inventory, get pre-approved before you come in, or book a test drive. Everything we have published on the model sits in the 2027 Equinox research hub. Frequently asked questions How much is a 2027 Chevy Equinox RS? From $33,900 before a $1,995 destination charge, or $35,900 with all-wheel drive. What is the difference between the Equinox RS and LT? Styling, not mechanics. The RS adds black exterior trim, a flat-bottom steering wheel, 19-inch wheels with a 20-inch option and standard roof rails. Both use the same 175-horsepower 1.5L Turbo and eight-speed automatic. What gas mileage does the 2027 Equinox RS get? An EPA-estimated 25 mpg city, 29 highway and 27 combined with front-wheel drive, and 26 combined with all-wheel drive. Do you have 2027 Equinox models in stock near Rogers? Yes, and the RS is the trim we hold deepest. Check current stock on the Equinox inventory page or call (479) 319-2494. Can I finance a 2027 Equinox before I visit? Yes. Get pre-approved online in a few minutes and arrive knowing your terms. The payment calculator will model a term and a down payment.

By the George Nunnally Chevrolet team · Published August 13, 2026 Quick answer: the two four-wheel-drive systems in the 2026 Colorado The WT, Custom and LT are rear-wheel drive with four-wheel drive optional, and that system is single-speed: no low range. The Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 come with four-wheel drive standard and a two-speed transfer case, which is where low range lives. Every 2026 Colorado uses the same 2.7L TurboMax turbo four-cylinder: 310 horsepower, 430 lb-ft, eight-speed automatic. The trim decision is about hardware under the truck, not power. Trailering, properly equipped, is 7,700 pounds on the WT, LT, Trail Boss and Z71, and 6,000 pounds on the ZR2. Six trims, $32,400 to $50,700 before a $2,095 destination charge. George Nunnally Chevrolet keeps both systems in stock. Call (479) 319-2494. If you are shopping a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado in NWA, the four-wheel-drive question is really two questions, and most buyers only ask the first. Yes, you can get four-wheel drive on any trim. No, it is not the same system on every trim, and the difference is a low-range gear that three of the six trims have and three do not. Here is what that changes, and which one your driving actually calls for. The Colorado research hub has the full set of pages if you want to browse first. See Every 2026 Colorado in Stock What does low range actually do? A two-speed transfer case adds a second, much shorter gear set. In low range the engine turns far more times for every turn of the wheels, which multiplies torque and lets the truck creep at walking pace with the brakes barely involved. That is what you want easing a boat trailer down a wet ramp, climbing a loose gravel pitch, or crawling over something. Single-speed four-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels but keeps one gear ratio. It is genuinely useful on a slick road, a muddy field entrance or an iced-over morning, and it is the system most buyers here need. It is simply not a crawling tool. The full specifications page lists the drivetrain by trim if you want to confirm what a given truck on the lot has. Which 2026 Colorado trims get it in NWA? Three of six. The Work Truck, Custom and LT are rear-wheel drive as standard with four-wheel drive available, and that optional system is single-speed with no low range. The Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 are four-wheel drive standard and carry the two-speed transfer case. That maps cleanly onto price. The WT opens at $32,400, Custom at $33,545 and LT at $36,000, all before the $2,095 destination charge. The Trail Boss, at $40,500, is the first rung with low range, then Z71 at $44,600 and ZR2 at $50,700. The all-trims comparison puts every rung side by side, and the model overview is the plain-language version. Is single-speed four-wheel drive enough for NWA roads? For most people here, yes. The county gravel between Centerton and the Beaver Lake arms, a wet grass field entrance, an ice-glazed I-49 on-ramp in January: all of that is traction, and traction is what single-speed four-wheel drive is for. An LT with the four-wheel-drive option covers a Northwest Arkansas year comfortably. The line moves when you launch a boat. Prairie Creek Recreation Area and the other Beaver Lake ramps off AR-12 get slick and steep, and backing a loaded trailer down one is exactly the job low range was built for, especially with the truck's Terrain mode, which is set up for steep hills and crawling and can apply the brakes itself for climbing control. If your weekends look like that, start at the Trail Boss. The ZR2 and Trail Boss page covers the hardware in detail, and the towing and payload page has the trailer ratings: 7,700 pounds properly equipped on the WT, LT, Trail Boss and Z71, and 6,000 pounds on the ZR2. What stays the same across every trim? The powertrain, which is unusual and makes this decision cleaner than it looks. Every 2026 Colorado runs the 2.7L TurboMax turbo four-cylinder at 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft through an eight-speed automatic, on regular 87-octane unleaded. One engine across the whole lineup means nobody trades power for gearing when they step up. The body is common too: crew cab only, with the 5-foot short bed and seating for five. Every trim gets the 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, an 11-inch digital driver display, Chevy Safety Assist, blind-spot monitoring and front and rear cross-traffic alert. The bed carries a mid-position tailgate rated to support 500 pounds, a built-in measurement tool and cargo bed lighting, with a 120-volt outlet available. Fuel economy does move with drivetrain: EPA estimates are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined for a 2WD WT, Custom or LT, 17 / 22 / 19 with four-wheel drive, and 17 / 17 / 17 for the ZR2 ( fueleconomy.gov). What the off-road trims change beyond the transfer case Ride height and grip, mostly. The Trail Boss adds a 2-inch factory lift on top of the two-speed case. The ZR2 goes further with a 3-inch lift, 33-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, Multimatic DSSV dampers and electronic locking differentials front and rear, which is why its trailer rating sits lower than the rest of the range: it is tuned for a different job. Cross-shopping the segment? We keep the head-to-heads current against the Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger and the GMC Canyon, which shares this truck's bones. Browse Trail Boss and Z71 Stock Schedule a Test Drive Buying a Colorado in NWA Drive both before you decide. We are at 2700 SE Moberly Ln, a couple of minutes off I-49, and we stock the LT and the Trail Boss alongside each other precisely because this is the question people arrive with. Ten minutes in each answers it faster than any spec sheet, and the step from LT to Trail Boss is smaller than most buyers expect once the four-wheel-drive option is priced into the LT. Bring your trailer if the ramp is the reason you are asking. Prefer to read in Spanish? Lea precio y versiones. When you are ready, value your trade or get pre-approved before you come in. 2026 Colorado four-wheel-drive questions Does every 2026 Colorado offer four-wheel drive? Yes, but in two forms. The WT, Custom and LT offer it as a single-speed option over standard rear-wheel drive. The Trail Boss, Z71 and ZR2 have four-wheel drive standard with a two-speed transfer case. Which is the cheapest Colorado with low range? The Trail Boss, at $40,500 before the $2,095 destination charge. It also brings a 2-inch factory lift. Is there more than one engine? No. Every 2026 Colorado uses the 2.7L TurboMax turbo four-cylinder, rated 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft with an eight-speed automatic, and it runs on regular 87-octane unleaded. How much can a Colorado tow? 7,700 pounds properly equipped on the WT, LT, Trail Boss and Z71, and 6,000 pounds on the ZR2. What fuel economy should I expect with four-wheel drive? EPA estimates 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined for a four-wheel-drive Colorado, against 19 / 24 / 21 for a 2WD WT, Custom or LT. Your figures will vary with driving. Does the Colorado come in anything other than a crew cab? Not for 2026. The lineup is crew cab only with the 5-foot short bed, seating five, and the truck measures 214 inches long and 84.4 inches wide including the mirrors. What does the warranty and first service look like? Three years or 36,000 miles basic and five years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain. The maintenance and reliability page has the service intervals. How did it do in crash testing? NHTSA gives the 2026 Colorado four out of five stars overall, and the rating is the same for rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. Where can I ask something not covered here? The Colorado FAQ page answers the common ones, or call (479) 319-2494 and we will check a specific truck for you. Pricing is starting MSRP and excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees; the destination freight charge is stated separately above and the dealer sets the final price. Trailering figures are maximums for a properly equipped vehicle and vary by configuration and equipment. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates and will vary with driving. George Nunnally Chevrolet · 2700 SE Moberly Ln, Bentonville, AR 72712 · (479) 319-2494