2009 Chevrolet Traverse: Living large in SUV

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

As an eight-seater, the Traverse can certainly haul people and stuff, and its interior materials and workmanship are top-grade.

Peter Bleakney

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

It's somewhat telling that one of the best vehicles in General Motors' lineup is a full-sized eight-seat crossover. But before we all start wagging our fingers, it must be noted that large vehicles have their place too, and if you gotta go big, the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, starting at $35,620 (before incentives), has a lot to offer.

This is the fourth CUV to be spun off GM's Lambda platform. The boxy Saturn Outlook and butch GMC Acadia debuted in 2007, followed by the luxurious 2008 Buick Enclave, which won Best SUV/CUV over $60,000 at the 2007 AJAC TestFest.

These were breakout vehicles in that they marked a turning point for GM. Interior quality leapt from ouch to ooooh, and right out of box they exhibited surprisingly good dynamics and high levels of refinement. They were the first GM offerings in a long time that needed no excuses.

So what's different about the Traverse? To these eyes, it's the best looking of the quartet. The rakish snout, swept up belt-line and crisp proportions give it an athletically svelte look. It's a good visual trick, however, as this CUV is XXL. Measuring 5,207 mm from stem to stern and 1,991 mm across, my front-drive1LT tester ($38,220) positively dwarfed our Mazda5. Which makes the Traverse a pretty effective tool for hauling numerous humans and their stuff.

The airy cabin feels massive, with plenty of legroom for second-row passengers, and the 60/40 third row bench is a cinch to access thanks to the clever Smart Slide second-row bench that accordions forward with a touch of a lever. Twin second-row captain's chairs are optional.

Behind the quite habitable last row is a class-leading 691 litres of cargo space. Fold the second- and third-row flat and you're looking at a whopping 3,296 litres – again, more than its non-GM competitors.

My time with this domestic dromedary coincided with an overly ambitious landscaping project, so the Traverse was put to good use with trips to the building supply store, landfill site and rental centre. Ah, but there were times when I wished for the lower lift-in height of a minivan. As did our Golden Retriever.

All 2009 Lambda crossovers get an upgraded 3.6 L V6 featuring variable valve-timing and direct injection, so the Traverse debuts with 281 hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque. Dual exhaust models see a bump to 288 hp.

Mated to a six-speed auto, this front-drive CUV had plenty of guts and exhibited the Lambda dynamic traits I've always appreciated: crisp, well-weighted steering, good body control, comfortable ride and fine on-road isolation.

The extra grunt of this new engine seems to have eradicated the "hunting" between fifth and sixth gear prevalent in earlier Lambda CUVs I've tested.

All four Traverse trim levels (LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ) are available with all-wheel-drive, although GM predicts only 35 per cent of customers will go for the $3,000 upgrade.

The dual-cowl interior design echoes that of the Chevy Malibu. It's pleasingly simple, and the materials and workmanship are top-grade.

The 1LT (tier-two of the Traverse hierarchy) gets 18-inch alloys, rear park assist, leather multi-function wheel, Driver Information Centre, heated mirrors, eight-way driver's seat and some extra external bling.

This is on top of the standard six airbags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control, cruise, tilt/telescope steering, XM satellite radio and OnStar. Special mention goes to the excellent standard CD/MP3 audio that sounds better than many mega-buck name-brand upgrades I've heard.

The only option on this tester was the $515 rear-view camera, which displays its image on the left portion of the rear-view mirror. Pretty much a necessity in my opinion, as the back of this brute is in another county, and the pinched rear windows seriously impede vision.

Much appreciated are the convex top-outside corners of the side-view mirrors that pick up the blind spots.

A glaring oversight here is the unavailability of heat in the fabric seats. If you want warm buns, you have to move up to leather, which is not even an option on the base model. GM should revisit that decision pronto.

Despite that hiccup, the Traverse impresses with a sense of quality that complements its utility. With the $550 Trailering Equipment package, it will tow 2,359 kg (5,200 lbs). Decent fuel economy too for this class of vehicle – I saw 12.8 L/100 km, or 22.1 miles per Imperial gallon, on my watch.

Traverse's major domestic competitor comes from Ford. The cubist 7-seat Flex cleaned up at AJAC's TestFest, garnering both Best New SUV/CUV ($35,000-to-$60,000) and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. The Ford has a richer interior and more compliant ride, but doesn't feel as sharp as the Chevy on the road.

Not to be overlooked here is the 7-seat, 273 hp, 3.7L V6 Mazda CX-9. While not as spacious inside as the Traverse, the GS FWD starts at $37,995 – with heated front seats, thank you.

General Motors is currently offering a $6,500 "cash delivery allowance" on all Traverse vehicles. It's a buyers market out there.

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