2010 Chevrolet Traverse By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net The Traverse is the fourth large-suze crossover introduced by General Motors, and the platform is the same for all of them.  The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook have already proved themselves.   But the platform is not the only plus side of this vehicle.  The Traverse is a seven-passenger  mid-sized SUV vehicle that can carry cargo.  The Traverse was introduced as a 2009 model and the 2010 model is unchanged.   Well, actually, they have added a USB input jack for this year.  I am not sure of anything else.

       The Traverse looks good and has an overall shape that is pleasing.  The distinctive touches of Chevrolet are still three, as can be seen in the taillights, the split mesh grill and the obvious gold bow-tie.  The Traverse probably would have broken sales records if it had not been for the downturn in the economy.  It is an affordable midsize SUV that continually ranks high in almost all rankings. 

The Traverse is a fairly unassuming family vehicle.  GM planned it as a replacement for their Uplander minivan, so it is somewhat non-descript except for its capabilities  A few may call the Traverse “stylish”, but it will not capture the eye of the average person. 

The interior of the Traverse is, shall we say, large?  Actually, it is really, really big.  There is a lot of space, even behind the second row seats.  It almost looks like it can carry as much of your stuff as a full-size SUV.  The second row is back far enough so that there is some decent leg room for passengers.  But if there is a need for more cargo area, the second row seats fold down flat.  There is a third row, but it might be a little tight.  Most folks will leave this third row seat down for the cargo area and simply use it if it is really needed.  The dashboard has been designed so that the gauges are housed in two configurations under a curved cowling look above the steering wheel.  They are easy to read and the controls are fairly instinctive.

The power plant for the Chevy Traverse is a 3.6 liter V-6.  It provides 281 horsepower, which is more than adequate for almost anything except heavy towing and heavy duty work trucks..  It is rated to tow a little over 5000 pounds, which should pull most boats or campers.  There is a slight bump-up to 288 if the LTZ trim level is chosen, but that is the top-of-the-line in trim levels.  Mileage rates are about 16-17 for the city and 23-24 for the highway.  The standard configuration is front wheel drive, but there is an All-Wheel Drive mode available.

The base trim level is the LS model, which starts about $29,700 MSRP.  The LT trim starts about $31,550, and the LTZ starts about $39,800.  All the standard features are present, such as anti-lock brakes, front and side airbags, full length curtain airbags, traction control, stability control, and tire pressure monitoring.  These are the obvious "make it look good so it will sell" items.  These are the safety features that protect the driver, the family members, and other passengers.  Other standard features include steering wheel controls, cruise control, a great audio system, and tilt & telescoping steering wheel.  Other features available include a rear entertainment system, leather seating, navigation system, heated seats, dual sunroof, and more.

There is a whole lot more I like about the Chevy Traverse, especially the smooth ride.   In spite of the economy, there will always be those who are looking for an automotive product that will meet their needs.  I think the Traverse will appeal to a wide variety of buyers, especially because of its capabilities.  It is a great alternative to a pickup truck for hauling, yet it can carry 6 or 7 passengers with ease.   It is going to be a winner.  Check it out at a General Motors dealership yourself.

(Alan Gell is an experienced automotive journalist, both in newspapers and radio.  He can be contacted by email at YELPED 50551@MyPacks.Net)