New 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

As if the crossover segment couldn’t get any better, the all-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse shows up to the party with better fuel economy, cargo space and standard horsepower than the competition.The Traverse seats up to eight people in three rows of seats. Tilt the second row of Smart Slide chairs forward to access the rear bench seat, or fold the rear bench and the captains seats forward for optimal cargo space. With 116.4 cubic feet, the Traverse has more space than the Honda Pilot, Ford Flex and Toyota Highlander. The Traverse also has the best fuel economy of any eight-passenger crossover with 16-17 MPG city and 23-24 MPG highway. That equates to a driving range of 528 miles—45 more than the closest competitor, the Honda Pilot.

Cargo space and fuel economy are two very important traits for a crossover. However, the Traverse still has much to offer. Try a standard 3.6-liter, 281-horsepower V-6 six-speed automatic transmission, something the Highlander and Pilot don’t offer.   

Available in four trims, LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ, the Traverse has a plethora of options to choose from. The LS comes equipped with 17-inch wheels, CD/MP3 player, automatic headlamp control and a three month trial subscription to XM® Satellite Radio.  The 1LT offers 18-inch wheels, rear park assist, power driver seat, “Spotter” mirrors for enhanced blind zone visibility and real-time traffic data with XM® NavTraffic.   The 2LT adds a rearview camera, power liftgate, tri-zone climate control, 10-speaker Bose Sound System, rear audio controls and Bluetooth connectivity. The LTZ has 20-inch wheels and heated/cooled eight-way power front leather seats. Touch screen navigation, DVD rear seat entertainment system with 5.1 surround sound, dual skyscape sunroof and trailering package are optional. 

All trims come with one free year of General Motor’s OnStar® service. Add that to dual-stage frontal air bags, head-curtain side-impact air bags for all three rows and front-seat-mounted, side-impact pelvic/thorax air bags. A five-star frontal and side-impact crash test rating means that the Traverse is serious about safety.

The all-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is so good that it almost makes too much sense. Anyone who says that you can’t have too much of a good thing never drove the Traverse.