Overview & Reviews

Many Americans have a real need for vehicles big enough to lug Joe Six-pack, his wife, their kids and their kids' teammates on the hockey squad. A minivan would seem like an obvious choice, but these people haulers are anathema for many parents. To fill this need, manufacturers have come up with large crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse that offer the best of both worlds: a minivan's passenger and cargo capacity along with an SUV's sheet metal.

The eight-passenger Traverse shares its platform with two other current GM vehicles -- the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia -- but it distinguishes itself by being the least expensive of the bunch. This Chevy isn't the quickest or most refined pick in the larger crossover segment, but it excels when it comes to roominess and ride quality. If these attributes are important to you, the Chevrolet Traverse may be an ideal companion.

Current Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse is a full-size crossover SUV that comes in three main trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ. Base LS models are pretty nicely equipped, with OnStar telematics, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and an audio system with a USB input and satellite radio. The LT trim is actually comprised of two sub-trims (LT1 and LT2) that add more amenities such as a power liftgate, triple-zone climate control and the MyLink infotainment interface. Springing for the LTZ adds upgrades like 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. Options include dual sunroofs, navigation and a rear-seat entertainment system.

Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 wedded to a six-speed automatic with manual shift control. LS and LT trims make 281 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The LTZ features a dual-outlet exhaust that boosts output to 288 hp and 270 lb-ft. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models are available.

Inside, the Traverse features a stylish two-tone color scheme with, depending on the trim, wood-tone and metallic accents. Seating in the first two rows is comfy, and the split-folding third row -- which tends to be pitifully cramped in many crossovers -- is easy to access and spacious enough for adults. We have a few minor quibbles, such as the compromised rearward visibility. But overall we find this Chevrolet to be a strong choice for those seeking a truly roomy hauler.

Used Chevrolet Traverse Models
The Chevrolet Traverse debuted for the 2009 model year. Not much changed for the next few years. These 2009-'12 models will lack some of the updates introduced for 2013, however. These changes included an exterior styling refresh, upgraded cabin materials and the new MyLink electronics interface.

User Reviews:

• 

  Still Loving my Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Rachel - August 24 - 2:39 pm

  I didnt think an American-made car could feel so luxurious. The interior is spacious and very comfortable with lots of leg room, even in the third row seating area. I love all of the storage compartments in the front drivers area too. The seats fold and move very easily to make more space for hauling when necessary. The back- up sensors and camera are great. My biggest complaint is the size of the buttons for turning A/C on or off, front or rear defrost on/off, etc. Theres a cluster of 8 buttons and if you dont know just where the button is youre going for, its a bit confusing and takes your attention from the road for a moment. Overall, fun to drive and Im enjoying it!

• 

  Quality for the Money - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Eric - August 24 - 12:47 pm

  Weve had our Traverse for over two weeks and it certainly shows the quality that American car manufacturers can showcase once again. We purchased a loaded 2LT and the ride quality is outstanding. The cabin is incredibly quiet, even with the sunroof opened. Our other vehicle is a 2007 PT Cruiser and the Traverse is doing nearly the same gas mileage of that small car! Were averaging 18.6 MPG with a heavy amount of in-town driving. When calculating the mileage with all the horsepower the Traverse has, I can see that if you are quick to take off at a green light, you can easily lower your MPG greatly. For the size of the vehicle, the fuel economy is good.

• 

  A few concerns - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By DParler - August 22 - 10:39 pm

  I bought this SUV over a Toyota Highlander because I could negotiate a better price & I had $3500 worth of GM card points to further reduce the price. I also favored this vehicle over the Highlander because (1) it seats 8, not 7 (2) it has greater cargo room, ESPECIALLY when the rear seat is up and (3) the seats split 60/40 so that one can go on vacation, comfortably seat 5, & still have room for luggage. As an owner, I have my concerns & disappointments. One of them is MPG consistently around 15.5 mpg. My wifes Sienna van gets 20 mpg under same conditions. You need to evaluate for yourself these "awkward features" ( 1) headrests (2)seat comfort & adjust ability (3) rear visibility.

• 

  What Minivan??? - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By RipNGo - August 19 - 8:29 am

  I had been a Minivan Mom for 7 years. I have three kids and each with two sports/activities. Loved my minivan but wanted something different. I looked at the Mazda Cx-9, Toyota Highlander, and the Honda Pilot. NOTHING compared with the Traverse!! It fits eight passengers with comfort, It is easy to drive (although I was somewhat intimidated at first), and handles like a car and much better than my Minivan. Attn: Soccer Moms out there looking to move into a Crossover. This is the SUV. Kids love it. PS I saved money by getting the LT1 model and had the dealership wrap the seats in leather and install the DVD. Came out beautiful!!!!

• 

  very nice - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By paulbier - August 18 - 7:05 pm

  traded in Ford Explorer for Traverse. I was very happy with my Explorer and thus far the Traverse is a much more enjoyable. The interior comfort & drive is nicer. I purchased the captains chairs for the second row. With 2 young children, it is much more efficient to access the 3rd row. getting just under 18 mpg city.

• 

  Not your Mini van any more - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jeff - August 17 - 8:18 am

  My family and I (3 kids) needed something that could fit our needs but we do not like Mini-vans. This traverse is IT! It looks like a crossover, handles like a SUV but has the features of a minivan. The room and captains chairs are great for the younder kids, the oldest loves having the rear seat to herself. My wife and I have room in front and it is a safe handling vehicle as well. Very good work went into this vehicle to meet the needs of the family of today.

• 

  09 Traverse LTZ AWD Thumbs up so far - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By stormin800 - August 14 - 10:20 pm

  Traded in my 07 Yukon Toy hauler and gas guzzler for this surprisingly fuel efficient roomy toy hauler. I have been very happy so far with the performance, handling and towing capacity. It is almost as roomy as the Yukon was inside from a driving and cargo perspective. All this with a 5-6 mile per gallon improvement. I am a big person,so I needed the leg room and seat support and the traverse has met this demand rather easily. So far, big thumbs up.

• 

  A little disappointed - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Nell - August 10 - 10:20 am

  Front headrests are VERY uncomfortable. The 2nd row (bench seating) can be moved forward and back, we thought this was great until we realized the the track it runs on creates a little crevice on the floor. Weve lost kids DS games in there not to mention the "stuff" that is getting stuck in there. Also when moving the seat to get to third row, it crushes the mat on the floor, it does not accommodate for that - bad design. The car drives great on the highway but does not shift down very smoothly making city driving a little jerky. We almost bought the Ford Flex and are having buyers remorse. Traverse still kinda looks like our old van on the outside.

• 

  gas guzzler - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By larry - August 9 - 5:08 pm

  Vehicles is easy and fun to drive. Easy to park and get in and out of. I only wish I had listened to some other reviews on the bad gas mileage. I was expecting to get at least 15 miles a gallon since it is rated to get 17 in the city. But I am so dissapointed I that I get 12-13 mpg in the city. I see others say that they get great gas mileage, and others say they are getting very bad mileage like me. So maybe I got stuck with one of the bad ones: (

• 

  Warning: Airbag Sensor Problems! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By PAW483 - August 6 - 11:05 pm

  We bought our Chevy Traverse LTZ on January 2, 2009. We bought this because it was very similar to our Cadillac SRX which was also fully loaded (and it actually has a real 3rd row!). We did some research and found that the safety rating was perfect and the airbag system was top of the line. We wanted this to be our family vehicle. However, within two weeks of our purchase we made a cross country trip to Chicago for a family members funeral (I dont fly and always drive.) Thats when I first notice our "CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM" warning light came on. Well, to make a long story short. This problem has happened 5 times and they have made repair attempts and the problem still occurs. (See Below).