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Iredell County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina for years, and Statesville sits right in the middle of that growth. New subdivisions off Amity Hill Road and along the US-21 corridor keep filling up with families who moved in for the schools, the space, and the shorter commute into Charlotte or the Triad.
A move like that usually means more people under one roof than the old place had room for, at least during the transition. Grandparents helping unpack for a few weeks. A teenager's friend group that has not scattered yet. The 2026 Traverse seats 7 standard across every trim, and the LT trim adds an available 8-passenger bench seat for families who need the extra spot more often than not.
The 2026 Traverse's second and third row, built for a full house during a move.
The LT with the available 8-passenger bench seat gives a family in transition the extra spot without stepping up to a bigger, thirstier SUV.
Statesville sits at the meeting point of I-40 and I-77, which is a big part of why so many relocating families choose it in the first place. I-77 runs south toward Lake Norman and on into Charlotte, while I-40 runs east toward Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and the Triad's job centers.
That means a lot of new Statesville residents are not working in Statesville. They are commuting to it. A 3-row SUV that hauls comfortably on the interstate, holds highway speed without strain, and still has room for the kids' gear on the way to practice earns its spot in the driveway fast.
With 22.9 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, the Traverse handles the daily commuter bag and the weekend school-sports haul without anyone riding with a duffel bag on their lap.
Families settling near Lake Norman's northern reach around Statesville quickly learn the lake changes the morning routine. Wet boat ramps, dew-heavy grass at the marina, and the occasional ice storm rolling through the Piedmont foothills all call for a vehicle that puts power down without drama.
AWD is available on the Traverse LT, RS, and High Country trims, and standard on the Z71, which uses a twin-clutch AWD system with an auto-locking rear differential. It is a genuine mechanical step up from the AWD on the other trims, built for a family that actually uses the lake, not just looks at it from the deck.
The Z71's twin-clutch AWD system, standard on every Z71 built.
The Z71 for families who are at the lake most weekends and want AWD standard, not as an option they have to remember to check.
All four 2026 Traverse trims share the same 328-hp turbocharged engine. The difference is drivetrain, seating, and how much of the Iredell County commute-and-lake life each one is built around.
| Trim | Drivetrain | Seating | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT | FWD standard, AWD available | 7, 8-passenger available | Families who want the extra bench seat for a full house during a move |
| Z71 | AWD standard, twin-clutch with auto-locking rear diff | 7-passenger | Lake Norman regulars and Piedmont winter driving |
| RS | FWD standard, AWD available | 7-passenger | Commuters who want a sportier look on the I-40/I-77 run |
| High Country | FWD standard, AWD available | 7-passenger | Families who want the top trim's leather and 22-inch wheels |
Talk to McNeill Chevrolet about current Traverse availability and which trim is on the lot before you make the drive up US-421.
Back to topMcNeill Chevrolet in Wilkesboro sits about 45 miles from Statesville, a straightforward run up US-421 to I-40. Most Statesville families make the trip in under an hour, and it is a drive plenty of new Iredell County residents are already making for work or errands.
Yes. The LT trim offers an available 8-passenger bench seat configuration. Every 2026 Traverse trim seats 7 standard, which covers most families moving into the Statesville area with room for grandparents visiting from out of town.
Yes. AWD is available on the LT, RS, and High Country trims and standard on the Z71, which uses a twin-clutch AWD system with an auto-locking rear differential. That matters for families near Lake Norman dealing with wet boat-ramp mornings or the occasional Piedmont ice storm.
Statesville sits at the intersection of I-40 and I-77, which is exactly why so many families relocating for Charlotte-area or Triad-area jobs choose it. I-77 runs south toward Lake Norman and Charlotte, while I-40 runs east toward Winston-Salem and Greensboro, so a Traverse with real cargo room and comfortable third-row seating earns its keep on both routes.
The 2026 Traverse holds 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. That is enough for moving boxes during a relocation and enough for the weekly Costco haul once you are settled in.
Yes. McNeill Chevrolet has served the Statesville and greater Piedmont Foothills area alongside Wilkesboro for years, and the McNeill family has been in the car business since 1939. Many Statesville-area families make the drive up US-421 and I-40 for the same reason they choose McNeill for service after the sale.
Built on family since 1939, McNeill Chevrolet is an easy trip up US-421 from Statesville, North Wilkesboro, and the rest of Iredell County.