2009 Chevrolet Traverse: A CUV with a difference.

Byline: Tariq A. Almaeena

THE all-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse crossover utility vehicle (CUV) was recently launched in Middle East showrooms. This new entrant from the GMOs Chevrolet Division in the growing CUV segment is a force to be reckoned with.

I had the opportunity to put the vehicle through 150 km of city/highway driving in and around Abu Dhabi last month during my trip to the 2008 Abu Dhabi Motor show, and returned to Jeddah with the yearning for one of my very own.

With the muscle of a much larger automobile O and it is large enough to comfortably accommodate eight passengers O this vehicle drove with the fluidity and smoothness of a well-built passenger sedan. It handled the rough portions of my journey with the greatest of ease; sharp turns did not wrench the gut as is common in other CUVs in this class. Considering the quality of Jeddah streets and roads and the state of our traffic, many prospective vehicle buyers should flock to GM showrooms.

Mike Burton, the design director for this vehicle at Chevrolet, explained that a great deal of research had gone into the design and comfort of the Traverse to set it a class apart from its competitors.

OMany of the CUVOs details are typical on higher-priced vehicles, but the Traverse brings them to a level that is accessible to more customers,O he said.

And kudos to Burton and his team, for the Traverse lives up to all expectations with flying colors.

The big twin-port grille looks good on the Traverse, giving it a smooth yet still aggressive look. The aerodynamics of the Traverse, with a drag coefficient of 0.33, is made possible by details like the full width front air dam that improves fuel economy and reduces wind noise.

GM has put a lot of effort into the outside details, like 3.5mm door gaps that contribute to the CUVs quality appearance.

On the inside, the Traverse boasts the full array of equipment people expect in modern vehicles, like side curtain air bags for the full length of the vehicle, including the third row. One new feature of the Traverse is blind-spot mirrors. Rather than those expensive blind-spot sensors being offered increasingly on other vehicles that flash a light in the mirror when another vehicle is in your blind spot, the Traverse has a small wide-angle mirror embedded in the outer top corner of the standard wing mirrors. The wide-angle mirror gives the driver a good look at what has snuck in behind, and it works flawlessly.

And unlike most competitors in its class, the Traverse actually has some usable space behind its third-row seat.

In a car designed squarely around family needs, the functionality and comfort of the interior are of utmost importance. In order to deliver exceptional interior refinement and functionality, the Traverse designers combined a confluence of attractive design, cutting-edge technology and excellent attention to detail. Middle Eastern families will most certainly take to the tasteful styling, outstanding quality and detailed workmanship of the materials in the cabin.

Complementing the TraverseOs overall design, and marking it as a vehicle far ahead of its competitors, is a comprehensive roster of standard and available features catering for driver and passengers alike. They include a panoramic, power-operated sunroof, power-folding outside mirrors, a power-lift gate, heated and cooled front seats, a remote vehicle start system, a DVD entertainment system, rear ultrasonic parking assist and rearview camera.

The Traverse is available in Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or All Wheel Drive (AWD) and is powered by a new 3.6-liter V-6 engine with direct injection, which offers a satisfying balance of great performance and fuel efficiency. This engine generates a segment-leading 313 hp @ 6300 rpm and 389 Nm of torque at 3300 rpm.

The 3.6-liter engine is mated to an advanced Hydra-Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic transmission, which enables the Traverse to offer unsurpassed fuel efficiency.

The Traverse has a 360-degree safety system that helps protect passengers before and during a crash, including new anchor pretensions for outboard occupants. It is equipped with six standard air bags, two dual-stage frontal air bags for the driver and front passenger, and two seat-mounted pelvic-thorax side-impact air bags in the first row and two head curtain side-impact air bags that cover all three seating rows. The head curtain side air bags are among the longest air bags in any production vehicle.

With standard rear child security locks, Lower Anchors and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH) to firmly attach child safety seat for optimum child security in the back, the Traverse sets parentsO minds at ease.

Built by the good folks at the Chevy plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, ChevroletOs new 2009 Traverse was among the winners of the OTop Safety PickO designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety based on the organizationOs own extensive crash testing.

Its pricing is very competitive with other CUVs in its class and it is an impressive-looking vehicle as well. Get out to the nearest GM showroom and try one out for yourself. You wonOt be disappointed.

Copyright: Arab News 2009 All rights reserved.

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