2010 Chevy Traverse – My kind of car

by Charity Boozier

Good for family:

The Chevy Traverse is great for family driving and especially doing any traveling during holidays or summer vacations.  With the roomy and comfortable interior, any trip seems shorter than it actually is.  The three rows ensure that everybody has plenty of room for their legs, arms and “carry on” accessories such as books, crafts, etc.  Separate front and rear air conditioning keeps everyone cool and in control.  Mom and dad ride in comfort in the front bucket seats, driver’s side equipped with 8-way power adjustments. 

New for the 2010 models is the USB port in the front radio console.  The rear entertainment system is sure to keep anyone content for travel, short or long.  The wireless headphones are great for enjoying movies without disturbing all passengers, but the Bose speakers will certainly make any listening experience premium.

Safety:

One item of safety that is recently more important to me is the infant seat security as I have a new baby in our vehicles.  The Traverse is equipped with the LATCH system and is at an easy height to load and unload that carrier.  All rows have head curtain side air bags for additional peace of mind.  There are also front and side impact air bags.  If you happen to be traveling in a snowy, icy or slick terrain, the stabilitrak system with traction control provides additional traction and security.  I recently learned that the 2009 Traverse was the top safety pick for 2008 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Just one more feather in its cap.

Another safety item with small children or even adults is the back up camera system.  I personally really like these systems so I can see all the bicycles, toys, and other paraphernalia left in the drive before I run over it.  The screen for the camera is conveniently located on the rear view mirror.  Of course, we are familiar with the OnStar system, which brings peace of mind.

Driving and Comfort:

Personally, I really like the feel of the Traverse and how it handles on the road.  It is easy to drive and maneuver around town, fits well into parking spaces, and does not have a bulky feeling while driving.  The 3.6 L V6 engine has great power that can be compared to many of the V8 engines.

As a smaller person, I prefer a car that does not require a ladder to climb into and the Traverse is just the right size.  We took the Traverse on a short trip to pick up our daughter from grandma and grandpa and it was very comfortable and had a smooth ride in the city and on the highway. 

Finance:

Don’t worry about filling the gas tank daily for this car.  The Traverse gets a great highway mileage of 24 mpg and around 17 in the city.  The less stops I have to make, the better, so good gas mileage is very important to me.  The base price is just under $30,000 and options bring to around $39,000 for top of the line.