With the seating capacity of a minivan, the towing capacity of an SUV, the smooth ride of a large car and better than average fuel economy, the Traverse may well be the ideal compromise for customers accustomed to large SUVs.
From the front, the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse resembles the Chevrolet Malibu, an unbridled success for the brand. That bodes well for the 2009 Traverse, a full-size crossover utility vehicle with enough style, capacity and efficiency to impress buyers who need capacity, but must worry about today’s economics. With a starting MSRP of $28,990 for the LS, $31,545 for the 1LT, $34,250 for the 2LT and $39,810 for the top-dog LTZ, the pricing is more than competitive, but what about the all-important fuel economy?
Mileage figures for the 2009 Traverse are competitive, too. The EPA rates the Traverse at 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel drive version, 16 city/23 highway with all-wheel drive. Credit for at least some of these good mileage figures must go to the slippery shape of the Traverse, which boasts a segment-best coefficient of drag of 0.33.
With the vital statistics out of the way, we can move onto more truly impressive qualities of the new Chevrolet Traverse.
Under its hood, the Traverse is one of the first GM vehicles to use direct injection, a more efficient way of introducing fuel into the engine’s combustion chambers. The Traverse comes standard with GM’s 3.6-liter, direct injection engine, essentially the same used in Cadillac's CTS, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse is set up primarily for front-wheel drive (approximately 65 percent of the model mix), and all-wheel drive is an option. In models with single exhaust (LS and some LT models), the motor makes 281 hp and 253 lb/ft of torque (up from 275 and 251, respectively) while up market LT and LTZ trims get dual exhausts, which up the output to 288 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque. Initial impressions indicate the base engine has good power, and the more powerful dual-exhaust models are the way to go if you regularly pull a trailer. Towing capacity for the Traverse is an impressive 5,200 pounds, and it should be noted that 90 percent of the engine’s torque is available between 2,500 and 6,000 rpm.
The Malibu design influence is apparent throughout the Traverse interior. The dual-cockpit design up front and the handsome large gauges set before the driver are just two motifs taken from Malibu. The center stack cascades down toward the shifter and is tastefully decorated with silver trim. Illumination patterns also follow those of the Malibu. Materials used inside the Traverse are quite nice with an upscale look and feel with the most fancy being the two-tone color schemes combined with a second-row twin-bucket/center-console floor plan. Seven- and eight-passenger seating is available. The interior is roomy, and the seating is situated to create excellent legroom for all three rows. An available SmartSlide option for the middle row seats causes the captains’ chairs to glide forward with the pull of a lever, allowing good access to the surprisingly comfortable third row seats. The Traverse is not a minivan, but it certainly offers a lot of the utility associated with that body style.
At a press demonstration, the handling of the Traverse was judged by automotive journalists to be impressive. Chevrolet provided several 2008 Toyota Highlanders for comparison purposes, all of which pitched and rolled and squealed and beeped their way through the different handling demonstrations, exhibiting an overly aggressive stability-control system. On a demonstration course, the journalists found the Traverse to be far more confidence inspiring than the Highlander on uneven surfaces, high-speed corners, panic stops and while towing a trailer. They reported the Traverse ride quality was pleasant and perfectly comfortable, calmly absorbing bumps and transferring its heft from side-to-side with little roll and good composure.
The introduction of the Traverse may be darned near perfect. As Jalopnik.com notes, “Soccer moms across the country are about to turn in their leased Trailblazers and Yukons. They've seen budgets battered by gas prices, but they still have to have something that can tote the brood around. With seven- or eight-passenger seating, a tall ride height, generous cargo room and a fairly low load floor, the Traverse gives them a reason to drive back out of the Chevy dealership in something new — something new that isn't a minivan.”
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse meets a family need that no subcompact, economy car can, and Traverse does it with style, utility and efficiency. This is a crossover you can live with and love. What will you think? Call for a test drive today!
