2009 Chevrolet Traverse

If you're in the market for a well-priced, smartly designed crossover, check out the all-new Chevy Traverse

By Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Low price, roomy interior, towing capacity, pep

The Bad: Heavy, relatively poor fuel economy

The Bottom Line: A stylish people-hauler takes on Toyota's Highlander and Honda's Pilot

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

The new '09 Chevy Traverse is a prime example of the problems General Motors (GM) faces as it struggles to survive. The Traverse is a very attractive vehicle, a well-designed crossover SUV with available all-wheel-drive, many handy features including three-row seating for up to eight people, and excellent fit and finish. Its one of the models GM execs cite when they contend the company can now compete with the best that Honda (HMC), Toyota (TM) and Nissan (NSANY) have to offer.

But is the $30,000 Traverse the vehicle GM should be coming out with in the midst of a financial crisis? Not really, unless you figure the price of gasoline is going to stay under $2 per gallon indefinitely. Chevy claims the Traverse gets the best mileage in its segment, but it weighs 5,000 lbs. and even with front-wheel drive is only rated to get 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. Knock off 1 mpg if you go with all-wheel drive.

Worse, from GM's standpoint, the Traverse is very similar to three other crossover vehicles the company already sells, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook, which means GM has to spend money on four dealer networks and marketing programs, instead of one. The extra cost puts GM at a distinct disadvantage to rivals such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-9, and Ford Flex. In this day and age, making four slightly different versions of the same vehicle seems anachronistic.

That said, if you're shopping for a stylish, versatile SUV with excellent car-pooling capabilities, the Traverse is definitely worth a look. If GM were forced to pare down from four models to one, the Traverse would probably be the keeper. Its styling is based on the hot-selling Chevy Malibu sedan, and it has a much bigger dealer network and a different mix of standard features that make it less expensive than its siblings. According to the Power Information Network (PIN), the Traverse's average selling price is just $30,973, well under the average of $38,599 for the '09 Buick Enclave, $34,396 for the GMC Acadia, and $32,615 for the Outlook. Plus, through Feb. 2, GM is offering a $750 cash rebate on all four '09 models.