Never Settle for Uncool: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse’s Truck-Inspired, No-Nonsense Design

As we dig deep into the car ads and digital listings nationwide here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, it is not uncommon to see SUVs and pickup trucks on sale for under six figures! As prices are currently jumping everywhere you look, many buyers would love the opportunity to find a way to cut that price in half, and still be able to buy a sweet 7 or 8-seater that rides high. We were thrilled that Chevy realizes many families aren’t too excited about minivans, which gives the new Traverse potential to become your driveway’s next best thing.

Purchasing a vehicle these days may feel like too hefty of an expense, but we can all agree that public transportation still leaves leaps and bounds of functionality to be desired. The new Traverse offers up a front-wheel drive vehicle with seating for up to 8, an amazingly crisp 6-speaker sound system, a power liftgate, and a 17.7-inch LCD infotainment display with Google capability baked in. A 360-degree HD camera system included as standard along with adaptive cruise control are other huge advantages the Traverse boasts over the competition.

The entry-level trim rides on 18-inch rims, all-season tires are wrapped around them, and a handy spare is included in the trunk! The 20-inch wheels are available with the Midnight Edition, which also nicely darkens out the window trim. Power is now supplied by a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine which cranks out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse has a cool choice of available colors, with Summit White, Mosaic Black Metallic, Sterling Gray Metallic, and Lakeshore Blue Metallic
available at no extra cost.

Recent technological advances have made a huge difference in crowded urban areas, as features such as intersection automatic emergency braking and pedestrian and cyclist braking will step in immediately to help you avoid damaging outcomes. The LT trim steps things up nicely with extra features such as wireless phone charging, and Iridescent Pearl and Radiant Red Tintcoat paint hues. The off-road-ready Z71 package offers up the trail-tackling confidence of extras such as all-terrain wheels, a beefed-up suspension, a burly trailering package, and all-wheel drive.

The RS trim makes a return to front-wheel-drive but increases the size of the wheels to 22 inches, while also adding the hands-free Super Cruise advanced driver-assistance system along with Bose audio and the rearview camera mirror. The Autoevolution bloggers put the Traverse to the test and then claimed the LT trim as their favorite, which arrived smartly and decked out in a Lakeshore Blue Metallic exterior, all-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, and the atmospheric enjoyment of the panoramic power sunroof.

The Car and Driver staff praised the 2024 Chevy Traverse for its “incredibly spacious interior, excellent 3rd-row confines, and awesome braking feel.” Their test drive also led them to claim that the addition of Super Cruise gives the vehicle the sharpened edge it needs to muscle in on rival territory properly. The Traverse’s steering also provided these experts with a very engaging and truck-like quality, along with a family-friendly and comfortable ride. When equipped with the optional Trailering package, the Traverse can tow up to 5,000 lbs, and it ranks among the most cargo-friendly SUVs in its class with over 97 cubic feet of space.

Best-In-Class Towing + Root-Roving Mobility: Meet The 2025 Chevy Tahoe

The “continuous craze for truck power” is no surprise to us here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, as the ability to haul, tow, and traverse your way confidently when needed is always a bonus. Muscular and solid are traits that define a good deal of our fleet, and the Car and Driver staff was ready to dish out an abundance of praise for the full-size 2025 Chevy Tahoe.

It arrives poised and confident at the table with plenty of room for hauling cargo and passengers, along with a towing capacity that positions it at the top of its class. Its burly and capable powertrain options leave no room for the sluggish or weary, with two V8s and a diesel inline-six rounding out its admirable bag of tricks. The Z71 model is equipped to handle the toughest challenges the trail has to offer, and the Tahoe's three rows comfortably seat up to 8.

A large infotainment display dominates the dashboard, and it's poised at the ultimate angle for quick visual access. Those in the rival camp such as the Ford Expedition, Jeep Wagoneer, and Nissan Armada offer similar features, but the Tahoe offered this testing crew excellent on-road manners as well. If it doesn't have quite the XXL size to meet your fancy, its sister Suburban is poised and waiting to haul more of whatever your load consists of.

The dashboard is revised for 2025 with a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, along with an 11.0-inch digital instrument cluster. The V8 offerings are the same as last year, with the inline-six boasting a power boost of up to 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. Towing aids have grown to be more of a much-needed help to the driver than ever imagined in years past, and one new one for the Tahoe this year closely monitors the trailer tire's condition.

The suspension has been fine-tuned to offer more long-term comfort, and air springs are now available on the RST trim. Some very cool new wheel options that are available across the entire lineup, with the 24-inch designs being the largest ever mounted. Here it is stated that the RST and Z71 models seemed to offer the best value, with the RST serving up the same variety of aggressive stances that made the Blazer so popular. The Z71 trim offers a very rugged appearance, four-wheel drive as standard, and the off-road equipment to properly tackle the outer limits you've had your eyes peeled on Google Maps for!

The 6.2-liter V8 offers a very handy extra 65 horsepower on deck, and both models are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Z71's 20-inch wheels wrapped with all-terrain tires are the ideal set for crawling over roots and ruts, and the underbody skid plates are a necessary form of prevention for the many obstacles that off-roading can serve up. The Z71 that this crew had access to had air spring suspension which allowed it to quickly raise or lower the ride height for a full-fledged assault of the great outdoors.

The rear-wheel drive and pleasantly rambunctious 5.3-liter V8 equip the Tahoe to brandish the notable 8400-lb towing capacity. The 6.2-liter V8 only shaves 100 pounds off, with the diesel showing up in a formidable 3rd place at 8200 lbs. Most buyers who select the Traverse have the “long weekender” in mind, and a very wide center console offers ample storage for the bring-along companions such as cool beverages, the connected devices, along with purses or backpacks.

Ready, Set, Rugged! Checking Out 2024 Chevy Colorado’s Full-Loaded Drive Modes for Extreme Terrain

“Midsize mania” is a quite understandable summertime mood swing when it comes to trucks here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse! Our Silverado line offers amazing performance, excellent towing capacity, and stellar reviews from the industry’s high-accredited experts. The 2024 Chevy Colorado pickup now introduces more changes and updates, and the GM Authority staff featured some tips for driving mode performance on their blog this week. 

The conditions you're tackling can change from minute to minute, and if you are already dead set on off-roading, you pretty much may have already had eyes a bit larger than your plate! Once you’re in Driver Control Mode, you can turn the knob directly to the left of the shift lever and click through all the available modes on the Colorado. Just have your spotter fix their gaze on the infotainment display, which will provide icons and info on each mode. 

The following are a few useful snippets of information about how each mode can aid you in trawling, crushing, or ascending your way to the perfect off-the-grid journey!

Normal Mode: This is where you’ll fire up each morning with some tunes and a warm coffee, and where the Colorado resides by default. It is only not active at startup when you are already in Tow/Haul Mode, which carries over within 4 hours. It’s for everyday conditions and on-pavement driving, with excellent comfort levels and the trademark Colorado grippy handling.

Off-Road Mode: This mode provides the “true gold” of trail-conquering ability and allows you to take on loose surfaces at medium speed. This lets you tackle snow, mud, gravel, dirt, and well-maintained trails with confidence and chiseled ability. This mode makes intricate tweaks to the steering, shift points, and pedal response, while also loosening the Antilock Brake System to alter the truck’s all-important stopping distance. The Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control System is also modified to make the truck more stable and cook up more traction for off-pavement endeavors.

Terrain Mode: This offers enhanced off-road performance for expert-grade situations such as rock crawling. It engages one-pedal driving and adjusts the aggressiveness of brake response when the vehicle is in low gear. It also provides the handy feature of holding onto an upslope while the accelerator is pressed again so you won’t pitch backward down the incline. Urgent scenarios such as an overheated transmission or brakes will cause you to return quickly to Normal Mode. 

Tow/Haul Mode: This is the mode where the hard-working American gets to have their cake and eat it too, with everything under the sun seeing intense adjustments to get the tougher-than-tough jobs done! The pedals, steering, transmission shift points, ABS, ESC, TCS, and Trailer Sway Control all see their functions modified to offer up segment-leading stability and control while lugging a heavy trailer behind. This mode stays snugly activated for four hours after the pickup is shut down, after which steering things back to “normal.” 

Baja Mode: This mode is included only with the Colorado ZR2 and is under strict orders to be switched rapidly off once the truck again hits asphalt! This mode edges in and boosts responsiveness at very high speeds to pave the way for supersonic driving over terrain that would otherwise be too hot to handle. Hard dirt, ultra-loose gravel, and packed sand are all fair game with this mode, which does an excellent job of taking an already great truck and making it a force to be reckoned with when the urge to conquer your corner of the wild takes over.

Hauling Into the Dark-Hued Haze: 2025 Silverado HD Custom Debuts Blackout Edition

We have been thoroughly enjoying the tail end of the spring season here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, as it offers us many fresh faces, walk-ins for test drives, and opportunities to educate people about the benefits of owning your small slice of the nation’s best car brand! The 2025 Chevy Silverado HD has been on many truck lovers’ radar for the first half of the year now, as everyone is eager to learn more about any changes making an already great rig more capable and appealing. 

There will be new standard tech on some trim levels, a brand new Silverado HD Trail Boss edition, and many more goodies to eagerly assault the summer’s now-scorching asphalt. The Custom Trim Level will also offer a brand-new factory-installed Custom Blackout Package, which evokes a decadent tone while starting things off with 20-inch High gloss Black painted wheels. You also get to dance on dusk’s side of things with black badging, a black steering wheel emblem, black tailgate lettering, and a black bowtie available with the multi-flex tailgate. 

This is the first time black wheels have ever been available on the HD’s Custom trim level! The 20-inch high gloss black wheels are a brand-new design cooked up specifically for 2025 model-year vehicles, which requires selecting the black tailgate lettering decal when the standard tailgate code is ordered. This Custom Blackout Package replaces the once dealer-installed “Dark Essentials” Package, which was previously on Chevy Silverado HD’s Custom trim level. 

It can still be optioned on the High Country, LTZ, ZR2, LT, and WT trim levels. The Dark Essentials Package does not provide a change in wheel offering but still slaps on some very cool extras such as Black Silverado nameplates and Black Custom High Country badges. You’ll also be cruising with “candle-lit sentiment” courtesy of a very cool black bowtie and a black tailgate with CHEVROLET lettering. The 2025 Silverado’s Trail Boss package will also give those who are constantly experiencing wanderlust to flex a bit harder with extra off-road and aesthetic details. 

Production for next year’s model is currently scheduled to fire up in late July as the GM Flint plant in Michigan. The experts on duty at the Car and Driver staff spent a bit of time with this terrific truck and were thrilled about its proven diesel powertrain, and very high-tech trailer-assistance features. Anyone who has a long list of things to tow and abundant cargo to haul will find favor in this hard-working gem. They also pointed out the extreme value of the Convenience Package, which offers a 10-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, LED cargo-bed lighting, and remote start.

The 6.6-liter V8 is heartily rated at 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque, while the brawny Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V8 cranks out 470 horses and 975 lb-ft. One fun and quite burly figure regarding the Duramax is that it effectively double the standard gas engine’s max tow rating, which polishes its luster considerably! A larger 13.4-inch touchscreen is standard on the LT, LTZ, Trail Boss, High Country, and ZR2 models, with all of them also offering an integrated wireless smartphone charging pad.