Autoblog - First Drive - Chevy Traverse.

[GMusa]

First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

At the Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet rolled out the fourth and hopefully final member of its Lambda crossover family, the new Traverse. By the way, according to Chevrolet the proper pronunciation puts the emphasis on the second syllable. Like its Saturn, GMC and Buick siblings, the new Traverse is a full-size vehicle that is almost the same size as the Tahoe. That means it has seating for up to eight occupants, although three in the last row is a bit of a squeeze.

GM invited the media out to its Milford Proving Ground last week for a first drive of the Traverse, which of course we attended on your behalf. We had the chance to sample the big CUV in several different scenarios against what the marketing staff consider its main competitor, the Toyota Highlander. We ran the Chevy and Toyota back to back on the ride road, the skid pad, a lane change and slalom course and while towing a 4,200-lb boat. Check out how the Traverse fared after the jump.

Check out full review & photos at link: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/30/f...verse-w-video/

[Timekeeper]

Nice write up. Glad to see it kicked the Highlander's bumber!!!

[xyagentguy]

Quite positive, indeed! Hopefully the materials will improve a bit before arriving, to at least be on par with the Malibu.

I know quite a lot of people have complained about the design, but I personally think it's pretty darn sexy. The back end doesn't "wow" me, but I think the front is very slick and overall I think it's easily one of the best looking vehicles in its price range.

Ya know, I may be the SOLE person to believe such, but now that the Acadia and quite possibly GMC entirely is getting the axe, I think the Outlook should get one more season. It's possible a lot of people will migrate from GMC to Saturn who were interested in an Acadia.

Wishful thinking?

[eurohazard]

Not sure why they used a Highlander to compare it to....a Honda Pilot would be a better match. The article said the Toyota Highlander's owner's manual calls for a 45 mph speed limit while towing! Holy crap....can anyone verify this?

Here's another GM vehicle with crappy side view mirrors. Otherwise, I love the Traverse.

[GMusa]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

Not sure why they used a Highlander to compare it to....a Honda Pilot would be a better match. The article said the Toyota Highlander's owner's manual calls for a 45 mph speed limit while towing! Holy crap....can anyone verify this?

Here's another GM vehicle with crappy side view mirrors. Otherwise, I love the Traverse.

You can look up owners manuals on the Toyota web site.. but you have to register with "MyToyota"... and you need a Toyota vehicle to register, they ask for the VIN # for the vehicle.

[xyagentguy]

Here's another GM vehicle with crappy side view mirrors. Otherwise, I love the Traverse.

The mirrors on the Traverse don't bother me much, nothing like the Vue.

[GMusa]

Originally Posted by xyagentguy

The mirrors on the Traverse don't bother me much, nothing like the Vue.

I like the mirrors.. i think they fit the design of the vehicle very well!!

[Sal Collaziano]

Great review.. This is a really nice truck.. I think these smaller SUVs are going to be a big enough hit that the full-size large SUVs will be forgotten about fairly quickly.

[red_rider]

Not bad at all, especially next to the Highlander. Now if there was only an option to replace the ugly dark trim with something body color, I'd really be impressed

[bigtime]

I'd like to see it compared to the ford flex. I am only guessing, but I bet the flex outsells the traverse - 2 to 1, maybe 3 to 1. I am not a fan of the ford, but its got that "look", like a bigger mini. People will prefer that "look" to the traverse I think. The traverse looks nice, but doesn't really do anything for me. Just one more CUV with pitiful MPG. Going from Pitiful MPG in an SUV to pitiful (lower case "P") MPG with a CUV isn't exactly what I call progress.

Going to be interesting to see where GM goes with the next traverse. Assuming they don't change names yet again. I mean how much bigger can that grill get? lol

[GMC-70]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

Not sure why they used a Highlander to compare it to....a Honda Pilot would be a better match. The article said the Toyota Highlander's owner's manual calls for a 45 mph speed limit while towing! Holy crap....can anyone verify this?

Here's another GM vehicle with crappy side view mirrors. Otherwise, I love the Traverse.

Have you seen the new Pilot? What was Honda thinking--it looks like something godzilla would have designed!

From a design standpoint --the Traverse trumps the Pilot hands down. Perhaps the Honda has something underneath the skin that trumps the Traverse?? But if looks are a first impression the Pilot is one ugly machine--but still it will probably sell well just on reputation alone and once they flood the market more and more people will accept the design as modern an trendy

[xyagentguy]

I'd like to see it compared to the ford flex. I am only guessing, but I bet the flex outsells the traverse - 2 to 1, maybe 3 to 1. I am not a fan of the ford, but its got that "look", like a bigger mini. People will prefer that "look" to the traverse I think.

I couldn't disagree more. I think the Ford Flex is gonna be very much polarizing. You'll either love it or hate it (I actually hate it, I think it's downright hideous).

On the other hand, while it might not knock people's socks off, I think MOST people will at least agree that the Traverse is attractive or even more than attractive.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by bigtime

I'd like to see it compared to the ford flex. I am only guessing, but I bet the flex outsells the traverse - 2 to 1, maybe 3 to 1. I am not a fan of the ford, but its got that "look", like a bigger mini. People will prefer that "look" to the traverse I think.

I like the look of the Traverse a lot - it's clean and very sleek. The interior is very contemporary and almost Scandinavian in design. However, I checked out a Ford Flex today and found it to be stunning. It's extremely well-appointed inside with more soft-touch surfaces that the Lambdas (save the Enclave) and is very low to the ground. The step in is very low and the rear door windows (and the door itself) are massive providing superior visibility. The seating was much better (read more supportive with higher second row cushions) to me than the Lambdas. I also liked the storage well behind the third row and the folding front passenger seat, features GM's crossovers don't offer. Those looking for a minivan alternative will find the Flex the better choice.

[eurohazard]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

Have you seen the new Pilot? What was Honda thinking--it looks like something godzilla would have designed!

From a design standpoint --the Traverse trumps the Pilot hands down. Perhaps the Honda has something underneath the skin that trumps the Traverse?? But if looks are a first impression the Pilot is one ugly machine--but still it will probably sell well just on reputation alone and once they flood the market more and more people will accept the design as modern an trendy

I am unlike 90% of the posters here (and I tend to forget that). Looks are not near as important to me. I know the Pilot matches up better to the Lambdas than the Highlander in size, dimensions, interior room alone. I didn't say the Pilot is better....I haven't seen a new one yet up close.

I will say I like the Traverse styling WAY more than the Pilot (or Highlander). The folks who designed the new Pilot obviously had a boner for Hummer branded vehicles.....and that was a big mistake.

Also about the side view mirrors......once again, the styling is fine. But just give a large rectangular piece of mirror, then form a smooth shell around it. I know the Vue mirrors are a throw back (in styling) to the old Buick mirrors, but at least they are big and useful. I'd take a Vue mirror over a Traverse/Malibu/G6/CTS styled etc mirror any day if I could pick and chose.

[vanshmack]

Originally Posted by xyagentguy

I couldn't disagree more. I think the Ford Flex is gonna be very much polarizing. You'll either love it or hate it (I actually hate it, I think it's downright hideous).

I totally agree. I saw one one the local Ford lot this weekend, and it looks like a giant, stretched Scion xB in person.