My family just returned from visiting my extended family in Virginia. It took us almost 10 hours to get there by car because we stopped a couple of times and there were a lot of traffic jams. Fortunately, GM had loaned us a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse mid-size SUV for the trip. It was the perfect family car. My sons were asking if we could keep the “our favorite that you have reviewed so far” car by the end of the trip. I wish! (Actually, we’re not quite ready for an upgrade. We just bought a Chevy Cruze two years ago that we are perfectly happy driving. The fact that we’re so pleased with our Cruze is why I requested the Traverse. I’m “looking ahead” to our next car purchase.)
Different things stood out to the various members of my family regarding the Chevrolet Travese. My husband Reggie is practical so he appreciated the gas mileage (EPA-rated 24 mpg on the highway). It cost less than $100 in gas to travel to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia round-trip. Meanwhile, our sons enjoyed the technology – air-conditioning controls, dvd player and charging usb ports for their second-row use. For me, the main two highlights were space and safety features. Let me elaborate…
Space
I don’t like tight spaces so I especially loved that the interior of the car was so roomy. Our car seated up to 7 passengers comfortably. On the way to Virginia, we used the extra space to easily store our luggage and travel gear. While in Virginia, my family (of 4) was able to take 3 relatives with us when needed without being “squished”.
Safety
I was most excited about the various safety features on the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. In addition to the rear view camera system that is standard on most car models today, there were several other notable safety features. The car has cameras and sensors that let you know when you’re getting too close to the vehicle in front of you with its Forward Collision Alert. Another feature, the Lane Departure Warning, let you know when you are entering another lane without using a turn signal. The visual cues on the dashboard and the audible beeps definitely keep the driver alert. There are even Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic systems that use radar to watch driver blind spots in order to provide visual indicators (i.e. alerts on the side-view mirrors) and audible warnings to help prevent crashes.
I appreciated the safety features on the ride down to Virginia but I was especially grateful for them on the ride back to NYC. Reggie, our son Michael and I were all sick on the way home. Our stomachs hurt from eating too much good southern and seafood. (Note: It’s not the best idea to go to a seafood buffet the day before an anticipated 8 hour car ride. What were we thinking?!) Since we were not as attentive as normal, I was so happy to have the visual and audible safety features to keep us alert!
In any event, if you are looking for a family-friendly mid-size SUV, consider the Chevrolet Traverse. With its easy-to-use technology and reasonable (value-wise) price, it’s a great pick. You can get more information on the Traverse and other Chevrolet models at www.chevrolet.com.
Thanks to GM/ESI for the loan. As always, all opinions are my own.