Test drive Chevrolet Traverse
Six people are driving in a huge salon, and this is not a plot from a commercial. There is still one or two full-fledged seats in stock, and not only on the second, but also on the third row
Little blogger Yegor with a smartphone in his hand is looking for a dog in the car, launches a drone through a sunroof, builds a children's cave in the trunk and trolls parents with a rear view camera. In general, it does everything the same as its modern peers, using a large family car as a springboard for games. The idea for an advertising campaign for the Chevrolet Traverse crossover was prompted not only by life, but also by the desire to clearly oppose it to the brutal and purely masculine Tahoe, with which the novelty is quite capable of competing both in size and in price.
Six people are traveling in a huge salon, and this is no longer an advertisement. In the third row are an adult passenger and a five-year-old child in a child seat, with one more seat left in between. It is in a seven-seater configuration with separate second-row seats. There is also an option with a full three-seater sofa with a total capacity of eight people, but this may be unnecessary. Because it is extremely rare to carry so many people, and it will be much more interesting for children in the cabin with a convenient central passage to the gallery. What really matters in family travel.
However, the scheme with the placement of children in the second row, and adults in the third is also quite working. Firstly, the third row is complete even for a person 180 cm tall, and the middle row can be slightly moved forward. Secondly, the dashing reverse slope of the thick C-pillar significantly reduces the field of view, and this is critical for small passengers. Finally, ventilation deflectors in the ceiling and powerful USB charging sockets are also provided for the third row, so it is quite possible to hide from children in the "gallery" in a semblance of personal space.
In terms of space, the Traverse with a length of more than five meters with a three-meter wheelbase can only argue with the same Tahoe, but the frameless crossover has a more spacious and reasonable interior, and a separate staircase is not required to get into it. Finally, in this case, the three-row structure does not at all negate the trunk, which remains more than impressive even behind the backs of the "gallery" and, moreover, has a super-capacious underground, where a couple of suitcases of an airplane format fit.
The seats of the two rear rows fold in parts into an absolutely flat platform, and for this you just need to pull the long straps on the back side. They say that some of the first customers were very disappointed not to find third-row electric drives in the commercial vehicles, which they saw on the first democars. But their representation did not promise, although in the native American market this is an option from the category of mandatory.
Then there is another American story about 10 cup holders and bottle holders, but who said that families do not drink water or coffee in the car, and in the case of toddlers, they do not fill up the salon with baby bottles? The volume of the glove box corresponds to a well bucket, and in the box between the front seats, you can fit a number of tablets - just for the number of riders. Finally, there are eight USB ports in the cabin, which normally charge gadgets.
Traverse could well be recorded in the category of minivans, if it were not for the very decent conditions for a driver who does not feel like a bus driver, sits in a light car and has before his eyes absolutely familiar devices with pleasant display graphics among the wells of analog scales.
On the console is a colorful monitor of the media system with a clear menu, on which you can display half a dozen views of outdoor cameras up to a 3D projection of the car in the surrounding space. Below are the physical keys for controlling music and air conditioning, as well as a platform for wireless charging of the phone. From the usual passenger picture, only the transmission control washer is knocked out, with which you can turn on the four-wheel drive.
At the heart of the Traverse is a lightweight platform, on which the GMC Acadia and Buick Envision crossovers are also built, so the car is front-wheel drive by default. And in the literal sense: immediately after starting the engine, Traverse drives only the front wheels, and this is precisely the mode called Normal. The rear axle is connected by an electronically controlled clutch only when the 4 × 4 or Off Road positions are selected, which differ in the algorithms of the transmission and stabilization system, as well as in the sensitivity of the gas pedal.
On slippery surfaces, the Traverse with all-wheel drive is not much different from other modern crossovers - it quickly gives traction to the rear wheels, gently brakes the slipping ones. Although on steep bends you still have to be careful even with the generous plastic body kit - the ground clearance is a decent 200 mm, but the car has an extremely long base, and the units under the bottom do not have serious protection.
At the same time, the lack of a downshift does not bother at all. The thrust of the 6-liter V3,6 engine is ample, and the brand new 9-speed "automatic" gives a fairly wide range of gear ratios and does not fuss once more so that the engine can more easily drag the heavy crossover onto the slope. The main thing is to choose the right all-wheel drive mode and do not hesitate to press the accelerator. For example, on an unpaved slope, Off Road will be optimal, more actively using the rear wheels and allowing the necessary slippage.
Traverse is generally very good on unpaved surfaces, and in high-speed modes. You can even say it is comfortable - both on standard 18-inch and older 20-inch disks. But on asphalt, the powerful suspension only tolerates a smooth surface well, and on bumps it already unpleasantly shakes the rear passengers like some kind of truck. This is very annoying, forcing you to drop the speed in front of artificial irregularities, which, as it seems, should not be noticeable at all for such a large car.
That kind of character would be appropriate for a frame SUV, but with its sophisticated multi-link suspension, you'd expect more delicate behavior from the Traverse. Here's the handling without any frills: at moderate speeds, the Traverse is easy to understand and even obedient with an eye on the weight of 2,1 tons, and with more extreme maneuvers it behaves a little scary, at once losing both the sharpness of reactions and external composure.
It is clear that handling is not the main characteristic of a family car, but driving on bad roads with a hard surface on it will not bring pleasure. Another thing is the cruise mode on a good highway, in which the Traverse comfortably maintains a constant speed, the start-stop system does not annoy with inappropriate engine stops, and the driver does not struggle with the chassis, bypassing holes.
The lively V6 easily pulls the Traverse off the ground, accelerates the car with a pleasant growl and continues to spin with pleasure at track speeds. His character is very even, traction is good, and the box generally remains invisible - it changes gears so quickly and delicately. The 316-horsepower "six" paired with a 9-speed "automatic" suits this car just so that you do not have to complain about the dynamics, or frankly wish for something stronger.
In the States there is a less powerful two-liter engine, but we have no alternative, and the only drawback of this approach is only in higher tax payments. All other multi-seat crossovers fit into 250 hp, but the "luxury" $ 39 cost is not, and in this sense, the Chevrolet Traverse has some advantage.
The entry-level $ 39 Traverse LE helps the car escape the luxury list and initially offers a more powerful engine, 200-seater cabin and larger dimensions than the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer and Volkswagen Teramont. The base includes keyless entry, xenon headlights, cruise control and a rear view camera.
The eight-seater saloon is available for a surcharge in the more expensive LT version for $ 41, which already has an 250-inch media system, leather trim, electric seats, three-zone "climate", active noise cancellation system and even a digital rear-view mirror, broadcasting a picture from the camera. In addition - a pair of blind spot monitoring systems and an electric boot lid.
The most complete set with premium leather, seat ventilation and anti-collision systems will set you back $ 45, a reasonable price to pay for a large, powerful and well-equipped crossover. The list does not include only the branded hitch, although it is not difficult to imagine a car with a boat or a caravan trailer. Such a design will look more appropriate on the towbar of the frame Tahoe, while the Traverse has a reversing lamp taking the place of the hook in the rear bumper, and nothing can be done about this for certification reasons.
| A type | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 5189/1996/1799 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 3071 |
| Curb weight, kg | 2147 |
| engine's type | Gasoline, V6 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 3564 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | 316 at 6800 |
| Max. torque, Nm at rpm | 360 at 5500 |
| Transmission, drive | 9th st. АКП |
| Maximum speed km / h | 210 |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, from | 7,6 |
| Fuel consumption (city / highway / mixed), l | 13,6/7,8/10,0 |
| Cargo space, l | 651 – 2781 Feet |
| Price from, USD | 39 200 |
