When taking the family on a road trip or piling in the kids for a baseball tournament, you’ll need enough room for everyone and their stuff.
Utility vehicles such as the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe have lots of extra space but are very big and tough to maneuver sometimes. The Traverse is a wonderful blend of utility, comfort and drivability that screams suburbanite cruiser. This week is the 2018 Chevy Traverse all-wheel-drive High Country.
Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 mated to a nine-speed transmission. Power output is around 310 horsepower and is plenty of power to move this SUV quickly when needed. Traverse offers front- and all-wheel-drive options, as well as a 2.0-liter inline, four-cylinder option. Power delivery is somewhat flat and boring. Even under hard acceleration, the SUV runs forward without much drama. The nine-speed is totally fine for this SUV and doesn’t jump around all that much.
The Traverse was never a bad-looking SUV even from inception. Sure, it was a bit “minivan-ish," but it serves the purpose well and can be a family’s best friend. The most recent version of it is way better looking and takes some accents from the larger Suburban. The color of my loaner was called Iridescent Pearl Tricoat — a deep pearl white. It had really nice 20-inch wheels on the outside for the High Country trim level. If you opt for that trim, you’ll be treated to LED lighting on the outside and dual exhaust piping.
Jump inside to be treated to a well-made interior with stitched leather seats and centered by a touch screen with wireless car play or Android auto. It’s a wonderful place to spend time with soft leather and glossy back finishes. The steering wheel is thinner than some, with good feel. If your phone charges wirelessly, there is a spot at the bottom of the front console.
Rear seating can have bench or captain's chairs and is a good place for the kiddos, with plenty of space. Third-row seating is also adequate for kids and young adults. The only problem is that when the third row is up, the storage shrinks a good amount. With the third row stowed, the storage is a bonus and able to carry lots of stuff. I had the opportunity to carry a bunch of people and kids for baseball, and it was a wonderful vehicle.
On road, the Traverse is a good companion and able to be driven in all situations with no problems. The AWD option allows for foul weather conditions and rain. Its size is not a burden and will park in most garages and parking spots. I would assume even with front-wheel drive, the Traverse will be plenty capable in most weather situations. The drivability on the back roads makes it ideal for family trips when you have to drive to out-of-the-way destinations.
I highly recommend the Traverse for those needing a third row and size for a medium to larger sized family. MSRP for the High Country is $54,590. GM claims an average of 20 mpg for the V6, and I was able to maintain around 18 mpg, according to the onboard computer.
Will Chamberlain is a local freelance automotive journalist and full-time Realtor with eXp Realty in Beaver and can be reached at wchamberlain@pghcarguys.com.