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:

• 

  Great buy - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By jerryg - August 22 - 4:06 pm

  Quiet and handles wonderfully. AWD performs great in deep snow and snow packed surfaces.Would not own a vehicle without AWD in the Chicago area. Engine powerful, but quiet. Yes, American car makers can make a geat car.

• 

  YOUVE COME A LONG WAY, BABY! - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jeff - August 7 - 10:50 am

  I drove this car several times before deciding to lease it. Previous car was a 2004 Toyota Highlander with 149,000 miles. It fit like an old pair of shoes. Rode great and still got 23 miles to a gallon on the highway. I have had the Traverse for just about 1 month and have driven1200 miles...great size, easy to drive, and so far a pleasant surprise. Mileage in general driving is in the 21mpg range. I have taken 2 highway trips and the mileage for the first was 28 at 72mph. The second was 25.7 at 76 -78 mph. Wish I could give more info, but only so much you can learn in 1200miles. Chevy has stepped up their game!

• 

  2018 Traverse is perfect size - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Spruce - July 16 - 4:08 pm

  First of all I needed to special order the 2018 to get the LT Leather trim level. This has the navigation and a 2nd row bench seat that I wanted and does not have the 2nd row captains chairs and sunroof, neither of which I wanted. Dealers are only buying the base level trim packages or the very highest price Premier ones and often ordering the SUV with a premium paint color which can add another $1000 to the cost of the vehicle. Handling is excellent and it rides like a car and not a truck - smoother than the Chevy Tahoe it replaced. The 2018 Traverse has more rear cargo space than the 2018 Tahoe or 2018 Suburban with their 3rd row seat and odd interior design. SUVs have become vans more than utility vehicles and so the Subaru with two rows has more cargo space than a full size SUV like the Suburban. Excellent visibility all the way around and the driver is not dependent on the side mirrors or video as with other SUVs. Rear camera display is exceptional and not only shows lines to indicate the path of the vehicle, it curves the lines when backing up and turning as when backing out of a parking space. Gas mileage on regular gas (not ethanol which kills fuel economy) is averaging 21 MPG with mixed driving. Acceleration is great when getting onto a freeway or when passing and the shifting is so smooth as to not be detectable. Feedback from the steering wheel is not as good as that of standard power steering with instead the electronic assist but it is much better than that of other SUVs I test drove, including the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. It took 7 weeks to order and receive the LT Leather but it was well worth the wait.

• 

  Best of the Bunch! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Ralph - June 14 - 7:30 am

  My daughter had asked me to find her a crossover with capt chairs in the middle, leather seats, dual sunroof, DVD player and rear camera. I test drove Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander & Sequoia, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Mazda CX-9. This Chevy Traverse won over all these in almost every category. She didnt like the style of Honda and Toyota. The Buick did not have a strong feel to it on the road. The Acadia was her favorite but I kept after her about the fluky transmission leaving her somewhere. The Mazda was my favorite by feel and tranny. We both drove the Traverse and were blown away by its responsive transmission and great ride. Try one out for yourself and youll see!

• 

  Long time Acadia owner buys 2018 Traverse - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By N. Manly - April 10 - 1:36 pm

  I bought the first year model (2007) of the Acadia and enjoyed it so well that I bought the Acadia upgrade in 2013. However, when the new Acadia upgrade came out in 2017, I was quite disappointed to see that they shrunk the size and rounded the body making it look less like an SUV. That being said, I was about to buy my third Acadia when I saw an article on the new 2018 Traverse. I was never a fan of the previous Traverse model but was very impressed with what I saw. The look was more to my liking and I was glad to see that instead of following the Acadia path, Chevy decided to increase the Traverses size. The cargo space in this vehicle is incredible! More room than my previous Acadia and more room than my friends Tahoe. I have only had the vehicle for 6 weeks but have driven 2,600 with no complaints. The 9 speed transmission runs very smooth, the road noise is minimal, the seats are comfortable and theres leg room to spare for all passengers. I purchased the Premier "Red Line" edition and think this is one of the most attractive SUVs I have seen in years. Lastly, I have been very happy with the fuel economy of this new model with an overall mpg of 21.7

• 

  Works great for a specific segment - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By TraverseReviewGuy - February 21 - 9:22 pm

  Had my 2015 Town and Country in the shop and had to rent a vehicle for the week. Closest thing they had that was similar in size was the 2017 LT Chevy Traverse. The vehicle has TONS of room, and overall was a very smooth and comfortable ride. Im not sure why people are complaining about the acceleration. If buying one, I would go into the purchase decision knowing that I am buying it for safety and cargo capacity, not acceleration. With nearly 300 HP, it accelerates just fine. No, you wont blow a sports car away, but it will handle basic driving tasks just fine (i.e., city driving and passing on the highway). That said, the vehicle falls very short in terms of modern technology, as well as some basic amenities most family oriented vehicles seem to have. The center console seems intrusive and not really functional. The cargo door does not automatically raise or lower itself, and there doesnt seem to be a way to control this from the drivers seat either. The center entertainment console looks like it is a 1st generation console; possibly from the early 2000s. The gauge cluster gives you trip information and mileage, thats it. No distance-to-empty, which even our 2011 Sonata (base model) has. The rear view camera seems a bit slow to respond, but works okay. Climate control seems lacking, though is very effective. For example, there are climate control knobs for rear passengers, but if theyre kids (in our case), they cant reach them. In our mini-van they can reach them fine. No dual-zone controls for the driver / passenger either. With that said, the air-conditioning and heating works excellent. Overall, I cant imagine anyone buying this SUV unless they were only concerned with cargo capacity. Unless you step up to the Premier level, the vehicle is simply out-classed by competitors (my opinion).

• 

  Poor quality - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Cory Juntunen - January 8 - 8:12 am

  Owned for 2 weeks and noticed I have a roof rack rail that has bad finish as well a a spot on interior door panel that has a spot where color is off. Contact dealer and was told it would not warranty. Called gm and was told the same. There also a spot on dash than looks concerning, as well as two drip spots on exterior pain. GM does not stand by warranty or quality of their products. If you purchase one do a very close inspection of entire car to find blemishes because they wont fix once you take it home.

• 

  A good size and ride vehicle. Real gas guzzler - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By GerryC - November 21 - 8:06 am

  It is a good vehicle, but has several things that are very annoying. The first one is the gas mileage. In city traffic, on busy streets, youll get around 12 mpg. Strictly highway the best I ever got is just under 24. Another item I dont like is that the AC Circ mode turns off every time you turn the key off, having to be reset every single time. Another item I dont like is the location of the roof column in the front of the vehicle. it obstruct the visibility and small items, like pedestrians can be blocked by it. I liked the ride and the idea that the leg room in the second of seats can be adjusted to to accommodate passengers in all 3 rows.

• 

  dont buy if you have car seats . . . - 2016 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Heather Young - October 22 - 11:23 am

  If I had only sat in the back seat of this car before purchasing it I would have passed on it. The placement of the seat belts on the 2nd row captains seats is TERRIBLE. It is nearly impossible to get a car seat in and buckled. Also, the placement of the seat belt make a ride in the 2nd row captains seats uncomfortable for an adult as they are too far inside the seat and they arent flexible. Some engineer designed this without thinking about the usability. I have tried complaining to GM and they dont seem to do anything. I have complained to my service department and the manager is "trying." The service manager told me I am not the only 1 with issues about the 2nd row seats. Seriously, dont buy this car unless and until they fix the issue.

• 

  Wow Toyota & Honda Just Got Beat - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Karl - October 6 - 12:36 am

  The Chevy Traverse just beat Toyota and Honda. The Pilot and Sequoia are cars I test drove and hated. My friend talked me into test driving and I fell in love. The Traverse has a gorgeous interior. The design and suspension are elegant. The transmission is a bit hesitant on the downshift but other than that its sexy. This car has beautiful function all throughout it. The cargo is nice. If you get the chance by American its the way to go.