Comfort for everyone with space to spare- this is the phrase that we believe could be the mantra of the 2018 Traverse, and with good reason. This mid-size SUV is achieves spaciousness without trying too hard. We were offered the Traverse High Country edition, the top of the Traverse line. It is a perfect vehicle for the family, with quite a bit of power.
The interiors are premium to say the least, almost to the point of being luxurious. The Traverse features almost no hard plastics in its interiors, unlike typical American SUV’s, and almost everything is covered in beautiful jet black leather. This SUV was designed with comfort in mind, from the seats to the electronics. That is what we love to see in a family SUV. Although the High country can seat 7 people, it does not feel cramped at all, even with maximum occupancy. One among many reasons for this is that the middle row has been comprised of two seats rather than the usual three, with a gap separating the two seats ensuring that your passengers have plenty of space . The middle seats can be moved with a simple slide motion, making sure that getting out of the rear seats doesn’t feel like an acrobatic routine. The spacious trunk can be made even more spacious by folding the rear seats, which can be done with a push of a button. The trunk door even has a hands free opening system which can be activated by placing your foot on the laser projected logo on the ground directly under the trunk. The noise cancelling cabin ensures a quiet ride, so good luck pretending to not hear your kids screaming “Are we there yet?” from the back seat.
Aesthetics wise, the exterior is quite sleek, making it look rather aerodynamic for something of its size. Speaking of size, this SUV is big. Sure, it’s not as massive as the Ford F150, but quite big for a family car. We originally thought it would be a little hard for us to get used to navigating a vehicle this big, especially while parking, but we were wrong. What we said earlier about comfort even extends to the driving experience. The Traverse has cameras and sensors everywhere. The rear view mirror can be turned into a rear view camera by flicking up the mirror adjuster, offering you a clear and unobstructed view of the area behind the vehicle. You can also access a bird’s eye view of the vehicle (similar to the Santa Fe we had covered earlier) in the main display, which comes in handy during parallel parking. It also features a rear cross traffic alert that uses radar sensors alert you of approaching traffic behind the vehicle, and a lane change alert that warns you of other vehicles in your blind zones when switching lanes. The adaptive cruise control even lets you choose the distance you want to maintain from the vehicle in front of you. Thanks to the Intellibeam Headlamp technology, the traverse automatically switches to high beams in dark conditions and switches back to low beams when it detects oncoming vehicles. This is by far the safest car we’ve driven.
The electronics in the Traverse is quite impressive, not because they are very futuristic, but because they were things that we’d never realized we’d needed before. It has multiple charging and audio input ports and even allows for wireless charging, which we expect to become more common in the years to come. The center display screen can be moved up with a press of a button to reveal a secret compartment where you can store your valuables. The seat warmers and seat coolers make sure that you’re comfortable no matter the weather. The rear seats are equipped with a separate climate control system that can be adjusted from the front seats too.
With a 3.6L V6 engine powering the wheels, the Traverse has no shortage of power. Not many vehicles in this price range combine power and comfort quite as well as the Traverse does. However, it is does consume a bit of fuel, something you would expect from an American SUV. Furthermore, the ground clearance makes is less than ideal for off-roading. Then again, why would you buy a family SUV if your end goal is dune bashing?
What makes the Traverse special is not its power or its fancy interiors. Its strengths lie in the safety and comfort it offers for something in its price range. Everything in the Traverse feels so easy, so automatic, that we were left wondering how we had lived our entire lives without these tiny luxuries. Chevrolet really has paid attention to the little things, features that may not seem too important to a motorhead but would mean the world to someone looking for convenience, comfort, and efficiency. Starting at 195,000 AED, the High Country is definitely worth the money.
Editor : Rohit, Driveaholic
Photography/Videography: Chris Johnson, Driveaholic
