PRICEY CROSSOVER OFFERS PLENTY OF ELBOW ROOM
Sporty family hauler seats eight and has ample cargo room for those trips to store to stock up
The Chevrolet Traverse remains a mainstay of GM’S crossover sales, providing city folk with a family-friendly crossover for those who need more space than the five-seat Equinox or Blazer, but don’t need the towing capacity (or fuel bill) of the Tahoe or Suburban.
It ranges in price from $36,098 for the base front-wheel-drive LS to $60,298 for the AWD High Country trim, and you can tack on another $1,900 for freight and PDI for any trim. Our RS tester started at $49,098, adding a dual panel sunroof for $1,685, Satin Steel Metallic paint for $495, and with the freight charge and a couple of other small-line items, it totalled $53,373.
The Traverse can seat eight in base LS and LT trims, but becomes a seven-seater in higher trims RS, Premier and High Country. Base models are frontwheel drive with optional allwheel drive, but AWD becomes standard in RS trims and above. V-6 power and a nine-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain.
Here are five things to know about the Traverse:
1 It looks sharp
This RS model is dressed in Satin Steel Grey with blacked-out trim, heavily tinted windows, and dark grey 20-inch wheels, so it looks stealthy and sporty, with a hint of menace. It has nice horizontal lines, a bit of a boxy shape and a few creases to make it seem muscular, where the last generation seemed flabby and bulbous. Best of all, it’s a simple, squaredoff shape that allows maximum practicality for a vehicle that serves as GM’S minivan substitute.
2 It has tons of space
The boxy shape pays great dividends in cargo and passenger space. Even with all seats up, the Traverse’s trunk manages a shopping-trip-worthy 651 litres. Drop the rear seats and 1,637 L of storage opens up, but note that on higher seven-seat trims this turns the Traverse into a very large four-seater. It offers a maximum of 2,781 L, and both rear rows split fold, so you can also carry long items.
There’s plenty of head, leg and elbow room in the two first rows and above-average third-row space. Accessing the third row is made easier on the passenger side thanks to a chair that flips and tilts while able to still keep an anchored child seat in place, though the driver’s side is just a conventional fold. Chevrolet has done an excellent job of cabin storage, especially in front where there is a deep and spacious cubby under the armrest, stable cupholder, and a divided tray for phones, keys, sunglasses, etc. But the coolest is the hidden compartment behind the touchscreen infotainment system.
3 Quality is a concern
At first glance the interior looks fine; the RS has contrasting stitching on the leather surfaces adorning the seats, armrest, door panels, and dash, and the eightinch touch screen is colourful and clear, and works well, too. However, the leather is quite rubbery, and the switchgear and knobs feel cheap.
4 It drives fine
Power is adequate, with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It doesn’t exactly leap off the line, but it is satisfactory when you need acceleration for highway merging and the like, and it cruises calmly and quietly once you reach highway speed. The ride is cushy without being sloppy, although it does wallow a bit after larger bumps and heaves.
It has a clear backup camera with 360-degree view, which is a relief because the rear window seems particularly tiny for such a large vehicle. The steering is light and makes it easier to manoeuvre this large crossover — it’s over five metres long, bigger than pretty much anything else in the segment.
Most trims are equipped with intelligent all-wheel drive that comes into play when necessary in auto mode, or it can be set to drive in purely front-wheel drive or locked all-wheel drive with the twist of a console knob. There is also a tow/haul mode that helps it manage trailers up to a max towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds).
5 It’s overpriced
While the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is exemplary at the practical tasks a family needs, the $53K price point of this mid-level RS model puts it up against top trims of competitors that offer a full suite of advanced driver safety and convenience features.
The Traverse lacks some advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise, and does not have memory seats or cooled seats, nor did it have a wireless charging tray.
Although there are flaws, the Traverse is still a good vehicle, with an agreeable driving experience, class-leading cargo space, good comfort and an excellent infotainment system.