The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse sports utility vehicle has a new look, a new powertrain, comes in two new trim levels and is also much roomier. It was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a day after its sister brand GMC unveiled its 2018 Terrain. “The all-new Traverse offers the ultimate in style and convenience for the segment, with the versatility customers need and a thoughtful, spacious design they’ll love,†said Alan Batey, president of General Motors North America and brand chief of Global Chevrolet. “It’s the midsize SUV designed to help keep you safe, comfortable and connected.†When it goes on sale this fall, it will be Chevrolet’s fourth updated crossover or SUV within a year’s time frame. It’s all part of an effort to further strengthen the brand’s crossover and SUV lineup. “Nobody in the industry offers a broader, fresher lineup of SUVs and crossovers than Chevrolet,†said Batey. “From the all-electric Bolt EV to America’s longest-running nameplate, Suburban, we’ve got something for every customer and lifestyle.â€
Exterior
Chevrolet says the Traverse’s new look is inspired by the brand’s full-size SUVs. It features premium cues including chrome accents, LED signature lighting and available D-Optic LED headlights. As we mentioned before, Chevrolet is adding two new trim levels to its 2018 Traverse: the RS and High Country. They were added to offer customers more choices for personalized appearance. The RS trim is sporty and seems to offer just what young consumers want. It features blacked-out exterior cues including a black chrome grille, black bowtie and 20-inch wheels. The High Country package, meanwhile, is described as luxurious and features premium content and technology, “including a unique interior trim featuring Loft Brown leather appointments with suede accents, 20-inch polished wheels, High Country badging, D-Optic headlamps, standard twin-clutch AWD and power-fold third row seats.†“The all-new Traverse blends Chevrolet’s characteristic SUV cues with capability and refinement,†said John Cafaro, executive director of global design for Chevrolet. “Inside and out, it offers style with a purpose.â€Interior
The all-new Traverse has a longer wheelbase than the current model and available seating for up to eight passengers. Chevrolet says that makes it stand out, they also say third-row legroom is expected to be the most spacious in the midsize SUV segment at 33.7 inches as well as plenty of space for passengers’ belongings in the new Traverse with max cargo room at 98.5 cubic feet. Greater storage options and larger bins are located throughout the cabin. When it comes to technology, Chevrolet says the all-new 2018 Traverse offers the latest in connectivity. That includes available 7 and 8-inch diagonal MyLink infotainment systems. The systems are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also an available OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, keeping passengers connected on even the longest of rides. There’s also a way for all passengers to keep their devices charged as all three seating rows feature USB ports which means there’s no need to fight over who gets to juice up their phone. Also available is wireless charging and steering wheel-mounted phone and audio control.Performance
The updated Traverse comes with a new 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The company says it will offer nearly 10 percent more horsepower than the current model and while EPA estimates were not available at the time of the vehicle’s unveiling, GM estimates the front-wheel drive 2018 Traverse will get 25 miles per gallon in highway driving. The new RS trim, meanwhile, features a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with more maximum torque than the V6. It’s also paired with the nine-speed automatic transmission.  Both engines feature new intelligent stop/start technology that saves fuel. Also standard on all models is a new system that allows drivers to select the vehicle’s driving mode based on road conditions. The system can be completely disconnected from the rear axle in the all-wheel drive models. Speaking of AWD, the High Country trim includes an Advanced AWD system which employs twin-clutch technology that Chevrolet says optimizes traction under every driving condition.Safety
Chevrolet is all about keeping its consumers safe and therefore made sure to offer a comprehensive suite of available safety technologies and adaptive crash-avoidance features with its 2018 Traverse. New available features include Surround Vision, D-Optic LED headlights, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Front Pedestrian Braking, Forward Collision Alert and Low/High-Speed Forward Automatic Braking. Standard on all trim levels is GM’s Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver. Rear Seat Reminder is a simple feature that does what its name suggests. It reminds parents to check their back seat before exiting the vehicle, designed to prevent the heartbreaking tragedies we often hear about in the news of children being left behind behind in hot vehicles. While it can’t detect whether children are in the back seat, it triggers the reminder if either rear door is opened and closed within a certain time frame before the vehicle starts. Teen Driver, meanwhile, keeps parents informed on what their teens are up to when they’re not behind the wheel with them, a 'report card' of sorts is provided to parents. It shows distance driven, maximum speed reached and whether alerts were activated during the teen’s drive. It also helps protect young drivers by not letting teens listen to music until all front seat occupants are wearing safety belts. It can even set a maximum volume limit for the radio and activate a speed warning if the teen is driving above a certain speed limit.Our Take
GM expects the new Traverse SUV will be more profitable than previous models because this is the first major redesign the Traverse has received and GM executives expect the fresh look to bring in new buyers. It also believes having the added trims will help. The all-new Traverse will be built at GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant. Pricing was not announced at the time of the unveiling, but Chevrolet says it will go on sale this fall.