2012 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse was all-new in 2009, and the large crossover SUV has soldiered on with relatively few changes since. It rides on GM's Lambda crossover platform that also underpins the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. While the Traverse isn't quite as feature rich as its Lambda cousins at Buick and GMC, it still offers plenty of comfort and convenience features and a smooth, car-like ride.

The Traverse's front-wheel drive biased, unibody construction offers more interior space than traditional truck-based SUVs like its older and larger Suburban stable mate. All-wheel drive is optional. It competes with Ford  Flex crossover and indirectly with the 2012 Honda Odyssey and 2012 Toyota Sienna minivans. It offers minivan space efficiency without the stigma.

It is slightly longer than the Chevrolet Tahoe, but much smaller than the jumbo Suburban. Its 3. 6-liter V-6 engine with 288 horsepower, mated to a six-speed automatic, is plenty powerful and offers near-V-8 power levels. The 2012 Traverse gets a few new updates, but otherwise it remains the same basic vehicle it was at launch -- a comfortable, roomy, and relatively fuel efficient crossover at a reasonable price.

The Chevrolet Traverse continues on with relatively little changes. Dark Silver Metallic and Crystal Red Tintcoat are new paint options. LT models get power, heated, body-color, manual-folding outside mirrors. Driver's side mirror gets auto-dimming. LTZ mirrors get the same mirrors with added power folding feature. Last year LT models gained heated cloth seats and White Diamond Tri-Coat and Steel Green Metallic paint options.

The Transverse features Chevrolet's signature split grille to distinguish it from its Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia crossover cousins. The body is more rounded than the Acadia, but not as much as the Buick. Its softer styling may contribute to its greater popularity over the boxy Ford Flex. Two new paints have been added to the palette: Dark Silver Metallic and Crystal Red Tintcoat. Traverse 1LT and 2LT models get power, heated, body-color, manual-folding outside mirrors. The driver's side mirror gets auto-dimming. LTZ mirrors get the same mirrors with added power folding feature.

Chevy's full-size crossover offers minivan like room exceeding that of larger traditional body-on-frame SUVs. Its third row offers passengers decent leg- and headroom. It can be optioned with second-row captain's chairs for seven-passenger seating or a middle row bench to accommodate eight people. Heated cloth seats were added to the LT trim-level in 2011. 2LT and LTZ models come with tri-zone automatic climate control and it can be ordered on the 1LT trim with rear entertainment system. AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 playback is standard. A 10-speaker Bose audio system, Bluetooth, navigation, backup camera and USB port can be specified on certain trims.

The Chevy Traverse packs a 288-horsepower version of GM's direct-injected 3. 6-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic. In our Motor Trend testing of an all-wheel-drive Traverse, it hit 60 mph in 7. 7 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 16 seconds flat at 86. 4 mph, on par with other crossovers in its segment. Its handling is also competitive and outshines truck-based SUVs and minivans. The Traverse's ride is car-like, but its overall size can make it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.

The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is packed with most of GM's safety systems. It features head curtain side airbags for all rows, as wells as the standard array of front and side airbags, including pelvic-thorax seat-mounted airbags. StabiliTrak electronic traction control with rollover mitigation technology is standard. It comes with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The body structure uses high-strength steel and crumple zones to protect occupants. A tire pressure monitoring system is standard.