2010 Chevy Traverse - A Versatile Crossover

The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse is part of the new generation of large crossover SUVs making traditional truck-based SUVs look clunky and undesirable. At the same time, vehicles in this class are more stylish than minivans and far more fuel and space efficient than truck-based SUVs; the Traverse makes an excellent family vehicle. The Chevy Traverse offers a sedan-like ride with the cabin space and utility of an SUV. With its well-equipped interior the Travers can hold up to eight passengers. An efficient, direct injection 3.6-liter V6 engine is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse comes in three trim levels: the LS, the LT and the LTZ. For 2010, the Chevrolet Traverse can now be equipped with a USB port. Besides this, there are no other significant changes for 2010, which is not surprising considering the Travers was brand new for 2009.  Fuel economy numbers are less than your average family car. However, given the Traverse's spacious interior and eight-passenger capacity, the fuel economy is quite good. The Chevy Traverse shares its powertrain and platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. It offers seven- or eight-passenger capacity and plenty of cargo space. The Traverse offers distinctive styling and a purportedly sportier driving experience than its GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave siblings. Competitors include the Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Veracruz.  EPA Fuel Economy for the 2010 Travers is 17/24 mpg (city/highway), with all-wheel drive, those numbers drop to 16/23 mpg, and a starting MSRP of $29,224 - $39,985.
 

Chevy Traverse Design

The 2010 Traverse sports the same stacked grille as the redesigned Chevy Malibu. The high beltline and tall roof are typical of most large crossovers, while the taillights recall Chevy's Camaro. A character line is located about a third of the way up each door, and the black front fascia is picked up along the sides by black plastic over the rocker panels. Up top, the Traverse has black roof rails and an available two-panel sunroof with a fixed rear panel and an opening front panel. The headlights start next to the grille and wrap around the front fenders. Horizontal fog lights mirror the headlights about six inches lower. A black air dam below the grille gives the front end a dark lower face. A peak at the center of the hood continues down through the grille and fascia, adding a touch of character. At the rear, the Traverse features dark tailgate glass that dips down toward the center. The tailgate lifts up and does not have separate opening glass. The center peak from the front is repeated here, as is the black lower fascia treatment. The total design of the 2010 Traverse is well thought out, smooth and stylish.

2010 Traverse Power

The Chevy Travers has excellent power with GM's best V6 engine, the dual-overhead cam 3.6-liter, which it puts out 281 horsepower. In the LTZ, the engine gets a dual exhaust, which raises output to 288 horsepower. Coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, the V6 is perfectly matched to the Traverse and allows is to handle well.  The 3.6-liter V6 also provides better fuel economy than you'll get in most truck-based SUVs.

Driving the Chevy Traverse

On the road, the Traverse is nimble like a family sedan.  The steering is direct and responsive, and the brakes are confident.  The ride is comfortable and much more stable than that of large SUVs.  The Traverse is large, though, so it can be bulky in parking lot and parallel parking maneuvers; it certainly takes some getting used to. Towing capacity is 5200 pounds, which means light duty towing such as a small boat. As a comparative example, the truck-based SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe can tow up to 9000 pounds.  Throttle response with the 2010 Travers is linear, with smooth tip-in. Shifts are also smooth, but the transmission is sometimes too willing to shift to the next gear, leaving you wanting for power for actions such as highway passing.

Traverse Cabin Features

Inside the Travers cabin, there is plenty of room, for both passengers and cargo.  The cabin is comfortable and straightforward to use. The controls are easy to reach and operate. Cloth or leather, the front seats are comfortable and supportive. Room in the first and second rows is plentiful, and the third row is bigger than most in this class. The Traverse's interior has bright gauges and plenty of beveled plastics. Parking assistance comes in the form of rear proximity sensors or a rearview backup camera. The center stack features a navigation screen or the radio, plus the climate controls. Radio has an audio input jack but no iPod interface. Getting in and out is easy because the Traverse sits lower than traditional truck-based SUVs. Visibility to the front is generally good, but the Traverse is bigger than it feels, so there are some blind spots. 

2010 Lineup

The 2010 Chevrolet Traverse is offered in LS, LT (1LT, 2LT), and LTZ trim levels, each with front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Traverse LS 2WD ($28,255) and LS AWD ($30,255) come with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, four-way manually adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, three-passenger split-folding second-row seat, three-passenger split-folding third-row seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, XM satellite radio, outside-temperature indicator, automatic headlights, roof rails, one year of OnStar assistance, and P245/70R17 tires on steel wheels.

Traverse 1LT 2WD ($30,810) and 1LT AWD ($32,810) add an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, heated power mirrors with turn signals, a trip computer, rear park assist, and P255/65R18 tires on alloy wheels.

Traverse 2LT 2WD ($33,515) and 2LT AWD ($35,515) models get three-zone automatic climate control with rear controls, second-row captain's chairs for seven-passenger seating, Bose 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer, rear radio controls, Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, rearview camera, remote engine starting, auto-dimming rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, and a power rear liftgate.

Traverse LTZ 2WD ($39,025) and LTZ AWD ($41,025) come loaded with leather upholstery, navigation system with voice recognition and real-time traffic information, rearview camera, heated and cooled front seats, four-way power front passenger seat, memory for the driver's seat and mirrors, heated washer fluid, and P255/55R20 tires.

Conclusions

The 2010 Traverse  offers a fine blend of sedan like comfort and drive along with SUV space and utility.  Overall, it is an excellent family vehicle. Safety features include dual front airbags, torso-protecting front side airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire-pressure monitor, traction control and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. Rear park assist and a rearview camera are optional. If you are in need of upper level towing capabilities a truck based SUV may be necessary, but if towing is not a priority the Traverse is an excellent alternative. View the official Chevrolet Traverse site for more research.