I'm sure Dodge wishes it could have the three-row crossover market to itself, but Chevrolet is going to try for its own share of the pie with its 2009 Traverse, which debuts with the excellent Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook platform this fall. If its sister wagons are any indication, the Traverse is going to be formidable.
Said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager, "We think the Traverse is the right vehicle at the right time. It has great looks, utility and safety, with a driving experience typically found in smaller vehicles. But it delivers this with three rows of seating—including a third row that fits adults—and class-leading cargo space."
Journalists who have driven the new family of GM crossovers give them universal praise. All offer generous three-row space in a shell nearly as large as a full-size SUV. However, since they roll on a four-wheel independent suspension system attached to a unibody frame, they ride and handle like tall sedans. Which, in essence, they are. Lower ride heights make them easy to enter and exit; especially for kids or aging adults.
Styling splits the difference between the squarer Acadia/Outlook and the flowing lines of the Enclave. A large version of Chevrolet's trademark crossbar grille, as seen recently on the Malibu, looks bold and elegant while a light upturn in the rear window line hints at upscale wagons from BMW. Available 20-inch alloy wheels fill out the fenders.
All Traverse models will come standard with a 3.6-litre DOHC direct-injected V6 engine that produces 286 hp and is connected to either the front or all wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. StabiliTrak electronic stability control, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and tire pressure monitoring will be available. Expect fuel economy to mirror the Enclave at 16/24 mpg city/hwy.
It has taken Chevrolet a little longer than its siblings to put together a world-class crossover, but at least it put all of the right pieces in one nicely-styled package. Whether you're enjoying life after kids or just starting your family, the Traverse will be a great choice when it goes on sale later this year as a 2009 model. Prices are expected to begin around $27,000.
This article is courtesy of www.car-data.com .
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