It’s not quite a Tahoe, but the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse often gets compared to one. This midsize crossover can seat up to eight people (with the optional front bench seat) in three rows, has four passenger-friendly doors, and is built on GM’s well-received Lambda unibody platform that it shares with Buick’s Enclave and GMC’s Acadia crossovers. This nifty family hauler might not be able to tow like the big boys, but owners can expect a smoother ride and better handling properties than the typical dedicated SUV. Additionally, the Traverse packs 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind its surprisingly roomy third-row seat and 116.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded – that’s folded, not removed, like some crossover utes out there.
Chevy’s classy CUV is again anticipated to be available in three trims, the base LS, midlevel LT and the high-end LTZ. The LT is further divided into the 1LT and the feature-rich 2LT. All trims carry enough goodies and doodads to satisfy the demanding owner, but the lack of a V8 or even a turbocharged V6 has been the source of some head-scratching from reviewers and tire-kickers alike. In any case, this commuter-friendly ute is available with full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) on all three trims and has traditionally been designed to duke it out with Ford’s gizmo-laden Flex and Explorer, Honda’s priced-right Pilot and Mazda’s agile CX-9. The 2012 Traverse, with no significant changes expected until the 2013 model year, may not be the most high-tech, nimble or inexpensive crossover out there, but in 2011 it was named Best Midsize Crossover for the Money by U.S. News and World Report.
As in 2011 only one engine, a 3.6-liter variable-valve-timed (VVT) V6, is available for the 2012 Traverse lineup. Combined with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, the V6 puts out 281 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, will tow 5,200 pounds when properly equipped and is expected to get 17 mpg city/23 highway in the standard front-wheel-drive configuration and 16/23 in AWD versions. Along with questioning the insistence on offering only the six-banger, a number of owners and reviewers of the 2011 versions find the 6-speed transmission to do strange and not-so-wonderful things on the highway when trying to merge or pass in automatic mode. With luck enough of these complaints, at least regarding the Traverse's transmission woes, have reached GM’s ears to effect a few tweaks for 2013 trims.
If there’s one thing that owners and reviewers alike agree upon, it’s the fact that the 2011 and, therefore, the 2012 Traverse offers enough standard creature comforts to make the daily commute or the long drive to grandma’s tolerable, if not downright pleasurable. The base 2012 Traverse LS, for instance, ought once more to boast standard 17-inch steel wheels, a roof rack, and a rear spoiler on the outside, with cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, reclining second-row seats and simulated alloy cabin trim and accents adorning the roomy cabin. Standard comfort and convenience amenities, meanwhile, are anticipated to include remote power door locks, as well as power windows and exterior mirrors, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, cruise control, front and rear air conditioning, front and rear floormats and OnStar Directions and Connections navigation and communications service. Entertainment is expected to be via a single-CD player with six speakers, auxiliary MP3 input and XM satellite radio with a 3-month complimentary subscription.
Moving up to the midlevel 1LT will likely result in standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated outside mirrors, and rear parking sensors, while the even more upscale 2LT sports a power rear liftgate, rear-view camera and tri-zone climate control. Additionally, the Traverse 2LT is expected to once more pack 10 Bose Premium speakers, with subwoofer, as well as auxiliary iPod integration and Sun Sensor automated climate control and interior lighting adjustment.
Expect the top-shelf LTZ trim to again boast standard 20-inch painted alloy wheels (judged to give a slightly harsher ride by owners and reviewers), leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a universal remote garage door opener and memory for driver's settings. Added audio and communications gizmos will likely include a standard USB connection and Bluetooth hands-free communications technology.
Options for the 2012 Traverse lineup are expected to include many of the standard goodies found in the higher trims for the LS, as well as trailer-towing equipment available across the spectrum. The 1LT should additionally be eligible for the available dual-panel power sunroof, rear-seat DVD entertainment, eight-passenger seating with front-row bench seats, remote engine start, upgraded wheels and roof rack crossrails, all either standalone options or available via various packages. The upscale 2LT ought once again to be available with DVD-based voice-activated navigation, while the LTZ is expected to once again offer an available second-row center console with storage.
Standard safety features for the 2012 Traverse lineup should once again include four-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control (with GM’s touted StabiliTrak system), front side-mounted airbags and three-row head airbags. The OnStar emergency services and communications system, featuring airbag notification and stolen-vehicle tracking, is once more expected to be in the 2012 Traverse lineup, as well as daytime running lights, blind-spot mirrors, dusk-sensing headlights and a post-collision safety system. The 1LT and higher trims also should again include standard turn-signal-integrated mirrors and a remote antitheft alarm.
Owners of the 2011 Traverse complain not only about its sometimes balky transmission and lack of V8 or turbo power, but also about its less-than-distinguished gas mileage, as well as a few low-budget cabin materials. Finally, rearward visibility is a common complaint heard from owners, though the rear-view camera system that’s standard in the 2LT and LTZ and available in the 1LT largely mitigates this problem. Owner kudos, on the other hand, go out to this midsize crossover’s plethora of standard features, decent ride, competent handling, and interior comfort. Exterior styling, though largely a matter of taste, also seems to be a positive with the majority of Traverse owners. Finally, the 2012 Traverse is anticipated to go on sale later in the summer.
