2013 Chevrolet Traverse

The Traverse's interior design has been a bit drab, in a class of vehicles that all seem to aim to provide a bit more flair than minivans. The cockpit design is still very simple, with a layout that's pretty much a halfway point between what Chevy uses in its full-size SUVs like the Tahoe and what's in its mainstream sedans like the Malibu. The materials have been updated with soft-touch surfaces for the instrument panel and the upper door trims. Chrome and silver accents, combined with contrasting stitching, add to the new details. At night, blue ambient lighting glows throughout the cabin.

Compared to its cousins, the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, the Traverse has neither the edgier design flair of the GMC nor the retro-curvy hints of the Buick Enclave. 

Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, but we've noticed that AWD versions do sap a little more power from the experience; as such, the Traverse feels quick enough for its intended family-hauling purpose. Ride and handling have been improved with new rebound springs in the front which helps with roll control. The Traverse will be able to tow up to 5,200 pounds.

The Traverse has pretty well-tuned, old-style hydraulic power steering, and for 2013 Chevrolet has made some changes—rebound springs and low-velocity shock valving—to firm up the Traverse's response to quick handling manuevers, yet keep its ride smooth. While we haven't yet put the Traverse through the paces in this respect, it likely won't make major advances from its previously ponderous manners. Expect ride quality to be a bit better, in any case.

The Traverse's front seats are plush yet supportive—as good as those in any other large crossovers or SUVs (now with a power passenger seat and adjustable front headrests)—and the adult-sized second row slides forward to provide access to the surprisingly comfortable (for kids) third-row seats. However, it does take a high step up to enter that back row. Second-row captain's chairs are also available, but they're really not any more comfortable than the bench perches and carrying capacity is then reduced to seven. In all, you might end up wishing for sliding side doors; it's not easy to clamber in there even with the friendly seating arrangement.

With 24.4 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row, and 12 cup holders, the Traverse is without a doubt a true family hauler. But the Traverse's long rear doors do have some disadvantages next to sliding doors, as they tend to make entry and exit (or loading of children into booster seats) challenging if you're in a parking lot with tight spaces—or in your own garage.

Folding the second and third rows down yields 117.5 cubic feet. As one last jab from the minivan side, the cargo floor in the Traverse does seem a bit high and in turn you don't have quite as much cargo space for large items.

The Traverse already had a tight, quiet cabin with excellent noise suppression and a remarkably smooth ride—plus solid, high-quality switchgear, an intuitive control layout, and clear displays. We expect all this to carry over to the 2013 model; but with suspension improvements the Traverse should keep road noise better at bay.

The Traverse includes standard parking sensors, a rearview camera system, hill start assist (to help you start safety on a steep incline), and head-curtain side bags with rollover mitigation technology. That's all in addition to the expected full roster of airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control.

On LTZ models (and optional elsewhere) the Traverse includes Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert—bpth features that provide alerts to the driver and may help avoid collisions.

Outward visibility hasn't been great as we've tested it in Traverse models—but all the camera system does help.

OnStar is also included in all Traverse models; it includes six months of Directions and Connections service, with Turn-by-Turn Navigation sent to the car by an operator, with no need to stop and input addresses. OnStar still includes Stolen Vehicle Assistance and an OnStar Mobile App for remote control of locking, engine starting, and remote viewing of vehicle information.

LT models add a few extras (and the LT2 package adds even more), while the top-of-the-line LTZ gets leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate controls, and a voice-command, screen-based navigation system.

New to the lineup for 2013 is the Chevrolet MyLink system, which includes a 6.5-inch color touch screen, enabling smartphone integration as well as easy streaming of Pandora and Stitcher internet-based entertainment (with your smartphone's data plan).