Durham Wheels by Jim Robinson ~ Carguide Magazine Metroland Newspapers

GM is supposed to be going away from the minivan, but is it really?

New to the Chevrolet lineup is the 2009 Traverse CUV . While Traverse shares much with the Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet’s version looks more like a 4X4 SUV when it is, in fact, a minivan.

And that’s the clever part of the Traverse. It has all the seven- or eight-seat passenger utility of a minivan, while having that rugged SUV look that remains in vogue these days.

There are four models (LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ) separated primarily by trim. All four share one engine, GM’s ubiquitous 3.6 litre V6 with variable valve timing. In the LZ/1LT/2LT it produces 281hp and 266 lb/ft. the topline LTZ gets a slight boost in powerto 288hp.

The Traverse has a six-speed automatic transmission and comes standard in front wheel-drive (FWD)or optional all-wheel drive (AWD).

Fuel consumtion on the 1LT FWD as tested is 12.7L/100km (22mpg) city and 8.4L/100km (34mpg) highway.

The Traverse will tow up to 2,041 kg (4,500 lb).

With four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, the Traverse 1LT comes standard with anti-lock brakes and StabiliTrac, GM’s take on stability control. A battery of airbags is standard, as is front and rear air conditioning, cruise control, power lock and windows with lockout protection, tilt/telescope steering wheel, and eight passenger seating with second row “Smart Slide” flat folding 60/40 seats and third row 60/40 folding bench seat.

The Smart Slide is very easy to operate. In addition to the second row seat that travels along a track, there is a level that lets the seat back flop forward. In addition, a pull strap lets the seat tumble forward. The third row also folds flat. As it does, the headrests tuck under to create a level cargo floor that can stow up to 3, 311 litres (117 cu ft) of cargo. What people in the back row will love are the three vents at floor level that send hot or cold air to the feet. For those who have ever travelled to hockey practice in the back row of a minivan, this is a godsend.

Eight-passenger seating is standard on the LS and 1LT and optional on the 2LT. On the 2LT and LTZ (optional on 1LT) second row captain’s chairs are fitted for seven-passenger seating.

The base LS pricing starts at $36,260 with the 1LT at $37,255. STarting price for the 2LT is $41,760 and the LTZ is $50,250.

The LS comes with 17-inch painted  aluminum wheels, 18-inch machined alloy wheels are found on the 1LT and 2LT and 20-inch bright aluminum wheels are fitted to the LTZ.

My tester had the 18-inchers with six lugs giving it a real SUV look.

Depending on model, there are a number of options like three entertainment systems in addition to the standard AM/FM/MP3/CD with six speakers. At the top of the option chain are heated/cooled perforated front leather seats and a dual sunroof. The only option fitted to my tester was the $515 rear view camera with rear view mirror display. When you the Traverse into Reverse, a camera on the rear liftgate is activated. It sends the image to a screen iimbedded in the rear-view mirror. While it is a smaller than a conventional centre stack mounted monitor, it is actually easier to use because you can look straight ahead and use both outside mirrors and the image in backing up at the same time, instead of having to look down and swivel your eyes back and forth. And speaking about the outside mirrors, each has a small convex mirror at the outside rim. It gives a very wide-angel view that allows the driver to see across one and two lanes of traffic for cars coming up on the inside or outside.

Other standard features on 1LT as tested included sonar rear parking assist, OnStar with turn-by-turn direction for a year and an audible/visual anti-theft alarm.

Starting with the base price of $37,255 the as tested price was $39,120, that including a $1,250 shipping fee.

What is noticeable is how the engine and sic-speed automatic respond. GM could have got away by using its tried-and-true four-speed but they didn’t. Not only does the Traverse get off the line more smartly, you notice at normal highway speeds there is no hunting up or down for the right gear and this is particularly true in cruise control mode. With the truly big wheels and its size, the Traverse is not a handrul to drive. The power rack and pinion steering is suprisingly responsive and a world away from the feel (or I should say lack of feel) of previous GM vehicles.

And while this not a true truck, the higher seating position does give a great view of the road ahead. It sounds funny but in the cut and thrust of Boxing Day shopping, I actually got a better of view of parking lots and where the open spots were.

I really like the Traverse especially in the 1LT model because it looks big and beefy without including lots of things I never use, like drop down DVD entertainment systems and buttons and switches for things I have to look up in the owner’s manual to find out what they are instead of them being intuitive. The other thing that stands out is how solid the body/frame is and how the independent suspension supports the weight of such a big piece while keeping the steering response and feel direct and communicative.

GM has learned the hard way that there’s a big difference between giving the people what they want instead of what GM thinks they want.

That’s why you’re seeing vehicles like the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Astra that are as good, and in some ways, better than the Japenese competitors.

With the time and effort it is putting into Chevrolet, you have to say GM is starting to Traverse its troubles and is emerging with a whole string of world class vehicles to come.

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