Writer Craig Conover from the Herald Extra set
out on a trip to see how the change from being what he called a “more
egg-shaped vehicle to a larger truck-like SUV” would affect the ride as well as
the interior regarding the Traverse,
as it now is one of the most spacious within its class. All of us here at the
Powerhouse recognize that the competition is definitely fierce in this
category, which consists of contenders like the Volkswagen Atlas and Subaru
Ascent, as well as longtime defenders like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford
Explorer.
Taking specific notice to the fact that sales for
us here at Chevy have increased each year for the past five, it is now evident that
the ultimate recipe for a unique family-toting vehicle is complete. Craig has
watched his family grow quite a bit over the last few years, and his oldest son
was currently looking for a larger SUV due to this growth. Cargo space is one
area where the Traverse
is clearly king, sporting 23 feet of space behind the third-row seat, 58 with
the third row down and a grand total of 98 cubes with both rows down.
The perfect test for the new car in this sense was
to pick up the kids and grand kids and take an afternoon drive before dinner.
They put the car seats in the second row, carrying out a plan to see how two
full-grown adults would fit, as one of them measured up to 6 feet, 3 inches
tall. With 33.4 inches of leg room in the rear seats, they all agreed quickly
that they felt it was more than any of the other third-row SUVS they had
driven. With all of this space at their disposal, they easily had room for a
stroller and the other odds and ends haplessly lugged around with a 4-year old
and baby in tow. The troupe felt that the second-row captain's chair with the
ability to slide forward and tip was ideal for allowing the rear occupants easy
access and easily check on the kids during the ride.
The engine providing power for the drive around a
mountainous area near Park City was the 3.6-liter V-6, which is the only one
the vehicle sports after last year's redesign. It produces 310 horsepower, and
266 lb-ft of torque, while being mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The leather interior, heated front seats, and a large 8-inch screen with
navigation and 4G LTE Wi-Fi on board allowed all passengers to use devices for
the entire afternoon, and all-wheel-drive was a great help during a bout of
precipitation.
Even though they did not get the chance to test
the Traverse
in all-out snow, the traction provided was sufficient, and gave them a
consistent sense of security along with agility. We hope any of you with a
growing business or family will test drive this spacious and capable new
offering: The Traverse is the 2019 model that U.S. News claimed
provides “the most cushioned of rides, and as user-friendly as it gets!”
