I have had the opportunity to spend a few (not enough!) days with the Chevrolet Traverse LT and this vehicle makes it difficult to determine where to start!
The first thing to say is that there is hardly anything that I would change about the Traverse. Keep in mind that this model has nearly everything you can put into a moving “family assistant”. The total package contributes to the $42,000.00 price tag but I would be hard pressed to find objections to this purchase.
The Traverse offers an “entry level” version that starts around $32,000.00 however go for the LTZ!
As you would expect, given the platform, the Traverse offers plenty of room for six (6) with easy accommodations for seven (7). The six or seven passengers will be treated to a luxurious interior of leather-faced seats all around, with the driver and passenger side having total control of position. This makes the traverse ideal for long trips as well as around town excursions. The exterior dimensions of the Traverse are smaller than one would expect making around town not a scary proposition.
The wonderful tan/brown/brushed aluminum interior with perfect stitching makes time spent in the Traverse a relaxing experience. I might have even bored the daylights out of my family when I topped our relaxing driving experience through Florida, off with the Spa station on Sirius XM Satellite radio. As we drove the Traverse through Blue Springs State Park in Florida, it really felt like we were driving through a jungle with the waterfall sounds playing through the Bose® speakers. The heated steering wheel was fabulous! Yes, we were in Florida during most of my time with the Chevy Traverse but we experienced lower temps during our trip to Florida than I had there in years. The steering wheel warmed my hands up instantly after getting in the car on chilly mornings. Of course the front seats are heated (and cooled) as well.
On the road the Traverse offers the driver and passengers all the infotainment options you could want, and, the heads up display and side aware mirrors keep the driver well informed. Driving the Traverse is a pleasure and the more I dove it the more pleasurable it became. That is something that can not be said about all vehicles.
When you’re looking for a roomy, comfortable and safe family friendly vehicle, there’s no doubt you’ll probably come across the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse mid-size SUV. It makes an impression like few other vehicles can, especially when you open the door and see how roomy it is!
Spaciousness comes standard with seating for up to eight people. There is space galore for passengers and all the things you need. Traveling anywhere with groups, those things quickly add up.
Excellent Safety Ratings
The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse received a coveted five-star safety rating, partly due to the StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System. This helps drivers keep the SUV stable in the roughest weather or road conditions. Other safety features include:
- Rear vision camera – for seeing everything behind you when backing up and maneuvering
- Side Blind Zone Alert – Helps the driver to always have good visibility on all sides
- Six air bags – including front seat mounted middle airbag to protect the driver and front seat passenger, curtain airbags for side impact protection and dual-stage air bags for extra security in a crash
- Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning
Another helpful option for owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Traverse is On-Star Auto Crash Response. This helps enhance safety. Even if you’re rendered unable to call for help, emergency aid is requested automatically on impact. It gives Traverse drivers a good feeling knowing this extra security travels everywhere they go!
First-Rate Styling
The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse features the latest in sophistication and elegance in its options. Prospective owners choose from optional amenities like heated and cooled leather seating, in an attractively designed ride. Standard creature comforts in the Traverse include:
- Large door handles, making opening and closing easier for everyone
- 12 cup holders so everyone has their own.. and then some!
- DVD screens for rear passengers to help calm the fidgets
- Smart-sliding second row seating with split-folding rear seats included
- All the latest technology including USB ports and Bluetooth ability, appealing to all technology-savvy occupants
- Key fob with remote link that lets you start the car from a distance so it’s the perfect temperature for passengers
- Athletic inspired look gives the Traverse a menacing look with a softly purring engine
This SUV Is Energy-Efficient And Sustainable
The MPG most owners experience is about 17 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. During my trip to Florida in the Traverse, I got an average of 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. FWD models give owners about 520 highway miles between fill-ups. Drivers who opt for the LS and LT versions find a 3.6 liter V6 engine for extra power. LTZ models deliver up to 288 horsepower, for those with a thirst for power. Raising my hand!
The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse is built with green, Eco-friendly goals in mind. It’s also created to be about 85 percent recyclable once owners decide it’s time to part with their Traverse. The 2014 Chevrolet Traverse is an excellent family vehicle.
In summary, if you are in the market for a vehicle of this type you really must test drive the Traverse.
Find a Chevy dealer near you and test drive a Chevrolet Traverse! You’ll love it!
Don’t forget to try out the Sirius XM Spa station. 😉
– Alicia
Some photos in this post courtesy of Chevrolet.
Thank you for sharing!! Great review – sounds perfect for all of us who feel like chauffeurs!
I’m raising my hand to the chauffeur! I’d love to be chauffeured for a week or so sometime instead of doing the chauffeuring.. but I can’t complain. Life is pretty great!
Do you know if you can get DVD systems put into the headrests of the Traverse? My kids don’t ever want to watch the same movie and we go on a lot of road trips. I checked the website but couldn’t find the information on the DVD things easily. We have budgetd about $40k for a new suv and this looks like a good candidate for us.
Great question. The Traverse does allow for a DVD systems to be mounted on the rear of the front seat head restraints and the kids each get a pair of wireless headphones. You can find more information and see photos of what that would look like here: http://www.chevrolet.com/traverse-crossover-suv/accessories.html – I’m with you on the kids not agreeing on what to watch during road trips. My kids are far apart in age and are a girl and a boy so it’s near impossible to find something they both want to watch.
We have a Chevrolet Traverse and love it. It holds a ton of stuff, the kids have lots of space in the 2nd and 3rd rows and like you mentioned, the heated seats are AWESOME! The Traverse is a perfect size for a family of 4 or 5 or even 6. If only we could get 4 DVD systems in the front and middle row headrests, we’d be set. 😉 I love your writeups. I keep thinking I’ll start a blog but I spend so much time reading blogs like yours too much to have time to start my own.
Thanks for the comment. I love your comment user name.. wehaveone. That’s great! It would be nice if you could have a DVD player for every child. I keep thinking that we’ll get through a road trip without having to put a movie on, but that doesn’t happen. The kids are pretty good for the first couple of hours on a road trip, then once ‘road trip bingo’ and ‘find the letter on the sign game’ (does that have a name?) gets old and I’m tired of listening to a combination of Justin Beiber and Coldplay to make both kids happy, I give in and ask what movie they want to watch. Good luck if you decide to start a blog. Feel free to email me with any blogging questions.
Thank you for the Traverse review!!! My husband and I have been looking at SUVs including the Chevy Traverse. I couldn’t agree with you more that the Traverse is a great SUV. It is so comfortable and the heated seats, DVD and safety features are top notch.
I’m glad you enjoyed my review. I loved driving the Chevrolet Traverse and think it’s a fabulous family vehicle.
We are in the market for a large suv – enough room for 4 kids and 2 adults and sports gear. Did the Traverse seem large for a mid-size suv or small to you?
Markd, the Traverse comfortably seats 7-8 passengers. The middle row seats two and the 3rd row seats three. I would say that the Traverse is a good size in the mid-size arena, not small. The body is not overwhelmingly large though so it doesn’t look or feel large.
We are thinking about ditching our minivan for an suv but just starting to look. The traverse looks great but I was wondering if the third row of seats is easy for a kid to get to without having to climb over a seat?
The 3rd row is really easy to get to because there is an aisle between the 2nd row seats! Also, the 2nd row seats fold down with the pull of a handle so that’s another way to get to the last row. There is a good photograph showing how the middle row seat folds down to access the 3rd row here: http://www.chevrolet.com/traverse-crossover-suv/interior-pictures.html