The fashion-conscious won’t hesitate to tell you that driving a minivan is akin to wearing white socks with black shoes (unless you’re Michael Jackson circa 1985). Both serve a function but have the aura of hopeless uncool.
Still, many families need the larger space that until recently was only available in minivans. With the Corporate Average Fuel Economy restrictions imposed on automakers by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and all the drama now surrounding General Motors, it’s fair to say manufacturers won’t gamble with anything less than a sure bet of a large car.
Enter the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, a crossover that has seating for eight and a style more high-level SUV than minivan. Industry watchers bet the Traverse will likely translate into some fairly high sales for the struggling automaker.
Built on the same platform as the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, the Traverse has plenty of familiar characteristics. Its exterior shares some of the broad, bold styling of the Acadia, but it boasts the Malibu’s front grille, and the dash — to me anyway — is reminiscent of the Acadia.
But don’t think the Traverse is a patchwork quilt of styles. It’s clear that Chevrolet’s designers took a lot of care when sketching out the Traverse. It’s got the lines of a luxury SUV that sweep and curve and some pretty jazzy extras such as tail lamps reminiscent of sports cars. Plus, Chevrolet has three optional trim levels so buyers can jazz up their rides even more.
The Traverse is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic that has manual shift control. Although the traction and stability control more than do their jobs keeping this 4,700-plus-pound crossover on course, the large size did take me some time to adjust to, especially in city traffic.
In fairness, that could be specific to me. Auto journalists have remarked that the Traverse feels plenty peppy, and size wasn’t an issue. I’d agree the Traverse is responsive in both handling and braking.
Besides the space, the Traverse has a towing capacity of more than 5,200 pounds. That’s a decent size for those wanting to take a trailer or boat on a family vacation. Add to this a five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29,990 you see why the Traverse is a “Consumers Digest Best Buy.”
