Traversing the country-side
Unladen, the Chevy rides stiffly. The fairly large P255/65R18 Goodyear Fortera tires do little to smoothen out the drive. The upside is that the CUV is impressively stable on the highway. The addition of 3 adults, luggage and a full tank of gas does wonders; the suspension compresses ever so slightly giving the shock absorbers and springs sufficient latitude to soak up road imperfections with ease.
Perhaps the most delightful surprise in driving the Traverse was the astonishingly precise steering and the strong brakes. Carving my way through the mountain passes was actually pleasant, mind-you it’s no MX-5, but for such a large hauler, it is very good. A firm brake pedal has long been a GM trademark and the Traverse is no different; pedal travel remains progressive and response is good and fade free even when scrubbing off 40 mph from 65 going downhill.
Cavernous is the word
The Traverse’s passenger quarters are, as stated, huge. The best served occupants are in the second row where the captain’s chairs offer plenty of comfort and tons of legroom. Up front, much is the same however the headrests are angled to far forward which strains the neck after a while. With the third row of seats folded away, trunk space is a monstrous 1,948 litres. Overall, fit and finish are good lagging behind Ford but far ahead of Chrysler.
For the price
Before returning the Traverse to its rightful owner, I gave it a serious once-over getting rid of all the sand inside and the dead bugs outside. A neighbour walked by and asked for my opinion of the vehicle; she owns a 2003 Caravan and should be replacing it soon. My answer flowed out and sounded something like this: I don’t love it but I certainly do not hate it.
The Traverse certainly does everything well but the as-tested price of close to $50,000 is somewhat of a turn-off. At this price, the tester should have AWD, the 20’ wheels and navigation. If this is the type of kit you are interested in, expect to pony-up over $57,000. At this price, sign me up for a more elegant Buick Enclave.
photo:Mathieu St-Pierre
Unladen, the Chevy rides stiffly. The fairly large P255/65R18 Goodyear Fortera tires do little to smoothen out the drive. The upside is that the CUV is impressively stable on the highway. The addition of 3 adults, luggage and a full tank of gas does wonders; the suspension compresses ever so slightly giving the shock absorbers and springs sufficient latitude to soak up road imperfections with ease.
Perhaps the most delightful surprise in driving the Traverse was the astonishingly precise steering and the strong brakes. Carving my way through the mountain passes was actually pleasant, mind-you it’s no MX-5, but for such a large hauler, it is very good. A firm brake pedal has long been a GM trademark and the Traverse is no different; pedal travel remains progressive and response is good and fade free even when scrubbing off 40 mph from 65 going downhill.
 |
| The Traverse’s passenger quarters are, as stated, huge. |
Cavernous is the word
The Traverse’s passenger quarters are, as stated, huge. The best served occupants are in the second row where the captain’s chairs offer plenty of comfort and tons of legroom. Up front, much is the same however the headrests are angled to far forward which strains the neck after a while. With the third row of seats folded away, trunk space is a monstrous 1,948 litres. Overall, fit and finish are good lagging behind Ford but far ahead of Chrysler.
For the price
Before returning the Traverse to its rightful owner, I gave it a serious once-over getting rid of all the sand inside and the dead bugs outside. A neighbour walked by and asked for my opinion of the vehicle; she owns a 2003 Caravan and should be replacing it soon. My answer flowed out and sounded something like this: I don’t love it but I certainly do not hate it.
The Traverse certainly does everything well but the as-tested price of close to $50,000 is somewhat of a turn-off. At this price, the tester should have AWD, the 20’ wheels and navigation. If this is the type of kit you are interested in, expect to pony-up over $57,000. At this price, sign me up for a more elegant Buick Enclave.
photo:Mathieu St-Pierre
Article Gallery