If you haven’t yet set foot in a Chevrolet Traverse, or in a Buick Enclave, a GMC Acadia or a now-defunct Saturn Outlook for that matter, you probably don’t realize just how spacious this SUV is. GM might prefer calling it a crossover, which sounds more environmentally friendly. Whatever.
Just how much interior space do you really need? In the Traverse, you can opt for either 7- or 8-passenger seating configurations. Either way, and if you look at the numbers, you get more cargo space with all seats folded down than in a bigger Chevy Tahoe, at 3,297 litres versus 3,084.
V6 engine hard at work
GM’s corporate 3.6L V6 and a 6-speed automatic compose the only powertrain offered in the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, and frankly, I don’t see why some other journalists mull over offering a V8 in this rig. Okay, maybe for greater towing capacity; it stands at 5,200 lbs for this truck, while the Tahoe can pull up to 8,500.
The 3.6L engine actually sounds and feels livelier than in other Lambda-platformed SUVs I’ve driven since their intro in 2007. This particular Traverse cooked, displaying a willingness to downshift quickly and keep the V6 in the meaty part of its power band. With 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, you’ll never feel a shortage of muscle despite the Traverse’s 4,800-lb (2,200-kg) curb weight.
Don’t get too excited, though, as this remains a high-riding SUV/crossover/mammoth, not a Camaro. What the Traverse excels at is offering a solid and composed ride, even over wrinkled paved surfaces. As for fuel economy, we finished up the week-long test with an average of 12.8L/100km.
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| The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse feels solid and is totally enjoyable on the road. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
Just how much interior space do you really need? In the Traverse, you can opt for either 7- or 8-passenger seating configurations. Either way, and if you look at the numbers, you get more cargo space with all seats folded down than in a bigger Chevy Tahoe, at 3,297 litres versus 3,084.
V6 engine hard at work
GM’s corporate 3.6L V6 and a 6-speed automatic compose the only powertrain offered in the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, and frankly, I don’t see why some other journalists mull over offering a V8 in this rig. Okay, maybe for greater towing capacity; it stands at 5,200 lbs for this truck, while the Tahoe can pull up to 8,500.
The 3.6L engine actually sounds and feels livelier than in other Lambda-platformed SUVs I’ve driven since their intro in 2007. This particular Traverse cooked, displaying a willingness to downshift quickly and keep the V6 in the meaty part of its power band. With 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, you’ll never feel a shortage of muscle despite the Traverse’s 4,800-lb (2,200-kg) curb weight.
Don’t get too excited, though, as this remains a high-riding SUV/crossover/mammoth, not a Camaro. What the Traverse excels at is offering a solid and composed ride, even over wrinkled paved surfaces. As for fuel economy, we finished up the week-long test with an average of 12.8L/100km.
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| The only engine offered is a 3.6L V6, which does the job. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |