2018 Chevy Traverse Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　

What's new

Fully redesigned with more passenger space and cargo capacityV6 is more powerful and fuel-efficientNew infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay/Android AutoPart of the second Traverse generation introduced for 2018

　　For 2018, the redesigned Chevy Traverse loses weight and gains power, passenger space and technology, along with a new luxury-level top trim. In this case, the big numbers are almost 400 less pounds to cart around and an extra 3 inches of legroom for the second-row passengers. Third-row legroom has also increased, offering more than the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. You'll be hard-pressed to find more passenger room without stepping up to a full-size SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse L 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$172/mo  for Traverse L

　　Traverse L

　　L 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $29,930 MSRPLS 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $32,100 MSRPLS 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $34,100 MSRPLS Fleet 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $32,720 MSRPLS Fleet 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $34,720 MSRPLT Cloth 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $34,600 MSRPLT Cloth 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $38,400 MSRPLT Fleet 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $35,145 MSRPLT Fleet 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $37,145 MSRPLT Leather 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $41,200 MSRPLT Leather 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $43,200 MSRPRS 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $42,100 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $44,500 MSRPPremier 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $47,400 MSRPHigh Country 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $52,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Along with the extra passenger space is an increase in overall cargo capacity. With 98.5 cubic feet of available space, the Traverse is tops in the class when it comes to interior space. It also has more room behind the third-row seat compared to other vehicles in its class. Interestingly, the dimensions of this year's Traverse have grown a bit, but its  fraternal twin, the GMC Acadia, actually shrank for its 2017 redesign. This marks the first time the two vehicles are sized differently.

　　This lighter Traverse carries over the same V6 from the last generation, but it gains 29 horsepower to make a total of 310 hp and is paired with a new nine-speed transmission. This pairing, along with some aerodynamic tweaks, improves fuel economy by about 3 mpg to a maximum of 21 mpg combined (18 city/27 highway). There's also a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it's only available on the sport-styled RS trim.

　　A bigger 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and OnStar (with a 4G connection and Wi-Fi) are standard across the range. Chevy's Teen Driver system — which lets you track the car, receive notifications if it's in an accident, and set limits on functions such as stereo volume — is standard equipment in the new model. Safety features such as blind-spot monitoring are available across more of the range now, and adaptive cruise control comes to the Traverse, although only to the top High Country trim.

　　Speaking of the High Country: Chevy is expanding the Traverse range to push up against near-luxury offerings. This new, leather-draped trim features LED headlights as well as all of Chevy's available driver aids and safety tech. There's also a special all-wheel-drive system designed to improve traction and control both on- and off-road compared to the other trim levels' optional AWD systems. Unfortunately, adaptive cruise and related safety features, such as forward collision alert with automatic braking, are limited to the top two trims.

　　That extended range of trims means the Traverse isn't just taking on traditional competitors such as the versatile Honda Pilot, fun Mazda CX-9 or practical Toyota Highlander. A 2018 Chevrolet Traverse High Country is priced above the top trims of most direct competitors and the entry-level trims for luxury SUVs, such as the sporty Acura MDX, classy Volvo XC90 or very German Audi Q7.

　　Still, whether Chevy can play with the heavy hitters of the luxury class won't be relevant to most buyers. The midlevel trims offer a competitive list of features and lots of passenger space all wrapped up in an appealing package. We'll have a better idea of just how the new Traverse stacks up once we get our hands on one, but based on what we know so far, this looks like a strong entry in the three-row crossover category.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.3 / 10

　　For 2018, Chevy's redesigned Traverse loses weight and gains power, passenger space and technology, along with a new luxury-level top trim. It should be an appealing choice for a three-row crossover SUV, but we won't know for sure until we get a chance to test one ourselves.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Chevrolet Traverse Premier (3.6.L V6 | 9-speed automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.3 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	8.5
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

7.0

　　The Traverse feels decidedly average. It has sufficient power, but it's no speed demon. The brakes have good stopping power, but they're without much pedal feel. Handling is acceptable. It's not a standout in the class in terms of performance.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The V6 provides a nice bit of thrust off the line when you put your foot down. You'll have to press on the gas when you're going up hills since the transmission prefers a higher gear for fuel economy. It covered 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds, average for the class.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　Brake pedal effort is light with a long pedal stroke, which makes for smooth and easy operation around town. At our test track, a simulated-emergency stop from 60 mph took 130 feet, a few feet longer than average for the class.

　　

Steering

7.5

　　There isn't a lot of steering feedback compared to class leaders, but it's not far off from what most would expect in a big, comfy three-row crossover. There's good on-center return as well as a chunky wheel to wrap your hands around and a lot of assist at low speeds, which is a benefit in parking lots.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　The Traverse changes direction well enough, with a moderate amount of body roll movement due to its size and soft suspension. We weren't expecting a sporty driving experience out of the Traverse, but class leaders such as the Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-9 feel more composed.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　Low-speed drivability is good, with smooth acceleration control and relatively quick shifts from the nine-speed automatic transmission. The auto stop-start feature is one of the less intrusive systems on the market, but unfortunately it can't be disabled.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　If you're looking for comfortable and quiet family transport above all else, the Traverse should be on your short list. Its relatively hushed cabin has enhanced appeal thanks to the top-notch ride quality and pleasant seats in all three rows.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The driver's seat has sufficient bolstering with lots of lumbar support. The basic seat adjustments are all that is needed to get comfy. The second- and third-row seat bottoms are a bit flatter but still comfortable enough for long rides. There's enough legroom in all three rows offer for average-size adults.

　　

Ride comfort

9.0

　　The ride comfort is excellent and well-suited to long highway trips. The tires provide additional cushion against smaller, sharper impacts. And larger bumps are sorted out by the suspension, which is tuned to be compliant without being floaty.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　No noticeable rattles or squeaks, and road noise is minimal. At 75 mph, there's just the slightest hint of wind noise over the side mirrors, which is easily drowned out by the stereo. The V6 is a bit noisier at full throttle than the optional four-cylinder, but it's not a persistent sound.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The climate system cools the large cabin well. But there are a lot of buttons, and the rear climate controls are buried deep in the touchscreen. The heated steering wheel and front seats warm at an acceptable rate but could use more intensity. The seats lack GM's usual split-heating mode.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　There's ample space inside the Traverse for adults in all three rows, getting in and out is a cinch, and the center stack controls are easy to use. But some of our editors found the driver's footrest to be in an awkward position, and rear visibility is limited due to large rear pillars.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　The buttons and knobs on the center stack are logically arranged, but the touchscreen is a bit of a reach. The infotainment menus are easy to get used to almost right away. Some may find the steering wheel buttons hard to locate without taking their eyes off the road.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　Despite its SUV ride height, the Traverse doesn't require that much of a step up to get in. Average-size adults will be able to slide in and out without a problem. The door openings are large, and the gap between the second-row captain's chairs allows for easy access to the third row.

　　

Driving position

6.5

　　The driver's left footrest may not be situated ideally for some, leading to uncomfortable leg positioning while driving. Some of our editors had issues; others didn't notice. The steering wheel offers plenty of tilt-and-telescoping extension, though, and a nice, high commanding driving position.

　　

Roominess

9.0

　　First, second and third rows are more than sufficient for adults, with plenty of legroom, headroom, elbow room and shoulder room across the board. This cabin is one of the biggest in the segment, and regardless of seating position, you can stretch out quite a bit.

　　

Visibility

6.5

　　Forward visibility is acceptable with average-size windshield pillars. Rear over-the-shoulder visibility is terrible, though, with the seats and giant pillars blocking the rear view. Blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera and rear parking sensors are all standard on this trim, which helps.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　The build quality is acceptable, but it feels a bit low-rent for this price point. Many of the buttons look as if they could come from a Chevy Sonic that's half the price. It's even worse when you put the Traverse up against a comparably priced Honda, Mazda or Volkswagen rival.

　　

Utility

8.5

　　There is abundant space for adults, child seats, water bottles and whatever else you can think of. The Traverse is one of the largest vehicles in the class. And it pays dividends on the inside, where there's plenty of room for passengers or cargo of almost any kind.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　There are big door pockets, a large center console, decent-size cupholders, and plenty of little places to put phones, water bottles and miscellaneous pocket-size items. Small-item storage is good, but segment leaders such as the Pilot have a larger center console space and bigger cupholders.

　　

Cargo space

9.5

　　Behind the third row, the Traverse has 23 cubic feet of cargo space, which is excellent. With both rows folded, the Traverse has a massive 98 cubes. That's 10 cubes more than the Honda Pilot and the Ford Explorer and 20 more cubes than the Mazda CX-9. The trunk load height is average for the class.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　There's plenty of space for car seats of almost all sizes in the second and third rows. The second row has easily accessible LATCH points in the captain's chairs and single top tethers on each seat. The third row is sufficient for two more child seats. For any more space, you'd need a full-size SUV.

　　

Towing

7.0

　　Our test vehicle was only capable of towing a modest 1,500 pounds. If you add on Chevy's Trailering package, that number increases to a more respectable 5,000-pound tow rating. That's right in line with three-row crossover rivals.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　A standard Wi-Fi connection, a high-quality upgraded sound system, and easy-to-use voice controls give the Traverse an edge in this category. Optional safety equipment provides an acceptable experience, but you have to spring for the mid- to high-level trims for access.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The 10-speaker Bose audio system turns up nice and loud without any distortion. Navigation has a clear screen with clear directions, but the map is relatively small compared to the size of the screen. Satellite radio is included for the first three months of ownership, which is typical at this price point.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Apple CarPlay worked well during our test, as did Bluetooth and USB integration of other devices. Songs indexed quickly. But if you have a big library, not all playlists will display right away. CarPlay and Android Auto are standard even on the base Traverse, which is a nice addition.

　　

Driver aids

7.0

　　Our test vehicle came with blind-spot monitoring and rear parking sensors plus the Driver Confidence II package, which offers forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, but no adaptive cruise). The systems worked well with a good amount of sensitivity. But getting all this safety tech can be pricey.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Speak clearly with commands like "Play artist U2" and the Traverse will have no problem comprehending. Change songs, switch radio stations, input navigation — you name it. Some commands took repeated attempts in testing. But once the menu structure is figured out, things go quickly.

　　

Which Traverse does zzdcar recommend?

　　We think the LT Cloth with the Convenience and Driver Confidence package (which is standard on the all-wheel-drive version) will give you everything you need. Between the LT's basic upgrades and the option package's suite of useful safety features, the LT Cloth strikes a good balance between cost and livability.

　　

2018 Chevrolet Traverse models

　　The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse boasts seven trim levels: L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier and High Country. These trims run the gamut from reasonably well-equipped to luxury SUV competitor. Most of these trim levels are fitted with a V6, but the sport-styled RS trim is unique in that it comes with a torquey turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

　　The standard engine for the Traverse is 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp, 266 lb-ft of torque) paired with Chevy's new nine-speed automatic transmission. Most trims can be had in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration.

　　

Traverse L

While it may be the base model, the Traverse L comes respectably equipped with LED running lights, xenon headlights, heated mirrors, 18-inch wheels and engine stop-start. Inside, you get cloth upholstery, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, seating for eight, a rearview camera, OnStar communications (with a 4G LTE connection and onboard Wi-Fi hotspot), Chevy's Teen Driver system, and a 7-inch MyLink touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

　　The L is only available in front-wheel drive and doesn't have access to most optional extras. It's a build-to-order trim, so you're unlikely to ever even see a Traverse L on a dealer lot.

　　

Traverse LS

Functionally, the LS trim will be the base trim you'll likely come across. The LS has the same equipment as the L, but can be had with all-wheel drive and a few optional extras, such as second-row tablet mounts with dedicated USB charging ports and a cargo management package.

　　

Traverse LT Cloth

Stepping up to the LT Cloth gets you second-row captain's chairs in place of a bench, reducing seating capacity to seven but improving accessibility and comfort. The LT Cloth also gets roof rails, mirror-integrated turn signals and a power-adjustable driver seat.

　　Two notable options packages are available for the FWD Traverse Cloth. The Convenience and Driver Confidence package adds rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a power liftgate, remote engine start, an upgraded 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a color driver information display, and heated front seats. It also includes some active safety features: blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. The Trailering package adds a trailer hitch and heavy-duty cooling system. Note that optioning the LT Cloth with all-wheel drive gets you the Convenience and Driver Confidence package standard.

　　

Traverse LT Leather

The LT Leather, in either front- or all-wheel drive, gets the Convenience and Driver Confidence package and adds navigation functionality to the MyLink system. It also gets some luxury upgrades. These start, as you might expect, with leather upholstery and continue with a 10-speaker Bose sound system, a 120-volt power outlet, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in rearview camera display, a top-down parking camera system, and a power-adjustable passenger seat. A panoramic sunroof is available as a stand-alone upgrade.

　　

Traverse RS

The RS trim receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (257 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque) and is only available in front-wheel drive. It is equipped much the same as the LT Leather, but with unique styling cues and accents, including 20-inch wheels and a blacked-out grille and bowtie badge.

　　

Traverse Premier

Near the top of the range, the Premier trim adds LED headlights, auto-dimming side mirrors, hands-free operation for the liftgate, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power-adjustable steering column, and driver-seat memory settings.

　　Major packages for the Premier include the Driver Confidence II package, which adds forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic braking as well as lane departure warning and intervention. There's also the Redline Edition package, an appearance package that blacks out all the chrome trim and adds the panoramic sunroof. Adding all-wheel drive to the Premier trim gets you the Driver Confidence II package, Trailering package and adaptive headlights.

　　

Traverse High Country

The range-topping High Country comes with all the Premier's goodies and adds a special all-wheel-drive system with an auto-locking rear differential, along with automatic high beams, the panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, a power-folding third-row seat, and unique interior leather upholstery. It can only be had with all-wheel drive.

　　

2018 Traverse Highlights

Trim: LLSLS FleetLT ClothLT FleetLT LeatherRSPremierHigh CountryL

　　

Base MSRP	$29,930
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$172/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles