From a mechanical and architectural standpoint, it is essentially the same vehicle as GM's three other full-size crossover SUVs, the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia. It is differentiated by its suspension tuning as well as its unique exterior styling and interior design.
The Traverse borrows from the exceptionally handsome 2008 Chevy Malibu sedan to very good effect. The front fascia certainly conjures up the Malibu, and the interior even more so, particularly its trim and dashboard design.
Like the big crossovers it competes with - notably the Ford Flex, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot - the Traverse has no interest in looking like its thirstier brethren, the full-size, truck-based SUVs. While the Traverse comes on as strong and beefy, it is devoid of the usual macho styling cues evoking the rugged, truck-derived off-roader that has become shorthand for American gas guzzling.
Rather than bouncing off rocks and trees, the Traverse's forte is its ability to haul things, be they folks, lumber, boats, or campers.
When a vehicle is almost 17 feet long, as the Traverse is, ample interior space is not unexpected. What does get your attention is the way the Traverse's handsome interior uses that space.
The big Chevy will seat either seven or eight, depending on seating type. Two front buckets, followed by two rows of benches, give you eight seats. If you substitute captain's chairs in the second row, as was the case with the test vehicle, seating drops to seven.
Easy access to the third row of seats is afforded by sliding the second row forward. The second row is also adjustable fore and aft, meaning you can tailor it to the leg lengths of the second- and third-row passengers. This translates into league-leading third-row roominess.
The Traverse's interior also furnishes considerable storage opportunities. There's room for four carry-ons behind the third row, plus a big cargo bin under the floor. Fold down the second and third row of seats, and the cargo volume expands from an ample 20 cubic feet to an eyebrow-arching 117.
Towing is another strong suit for the well-powered Traverse. It will pull 5,200 pounds, which translates into a serious boat or camper, and is exceptional for a crossover.
Motivation is furnished by the new, direct-injection version of GM's excellent 3.6-liter V-6, which produces 281 horsepower when equipped with a single exhaust, and 288 in the more upscale models fitted with duals.
This kind of power is needed in a vehicle that weighs 4,720 pounds in front-drive form and 4,925 when equipped with all-wheel-drive. Thanks in part to direct injection, this engine produces pretty good fuel economy for a vehicle its size. The front-drive model I tested had EPA mileage ratings of 17 city and 24 highway. The all-wheel-drive version comes in at 16 city and 23 highway.
The Traverse drives surprisingly well for a big guy. Engine power is more than adequate, while ride, handling, and braking get high marks.
Although it's a tad stiffer than its Buick counterpart, the Traverse still provides a comfortable ride, a ride enhanced by the cabin's quietude and the seamless nature of the Traverse's six-speed automatic gearbox. Handling is sure-footed. The vehicle is composed in the corners, and evinces little in the way of lateral roll when encountering rough pavement. The steering is responsive, and the big antilock brakes shut things down promptly and without theatrics.
The Traverse models begin with a base LS model that starts at a hair over $28,000 and go up to the top-of-the-line LTZ that opens at a little over $38,000. The middling LT model I drove started at $33,515. (AWD tacks $2,000 on the sticker.)
There was, by the way, little middling about the LT's litany of standard equipment. It went on and on, touching all the principal luxury bases.
The Traverse does well in the safety department, too, equipped with antilock brakes, stability, and traction control, and a plethora of air bags. The vehicle received a maximum, five-star ratings for frontal and side crashes.
Chevrolet Traverse FWD 2LT
Base price: $33,515.
As tested: $37,960
(including shipping).
Standard equipment: 3.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic transmission, antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, frontal, side and curtain air bags, luxury touches like remote starting, tri-zone air conditioning, and rear seat audio controls.
Options: Include heated leather seats and DVD rear seat entertainment.
Fuel economy: EPAs of 17 m.p.g. city and 24 highway.
Engine performance:
Gutsy enough.
Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper,
five years/100,000 miles on powertrain.
The Ben Key: Four Bens, Excellent; Three Bens, Good; Two Bens, Fair; One Ben, Poor.
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