Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet's redesigned Traverse has a quiet interior, a very comfortable ride, and responsive handling, making it a viable alternative to full-sized SUVs such as the Suburban. It's also a competent challenger to established three-row SUVs. The 3.6-liter V6 engine supplies ample power and quick acceleration, and gets 20 mpg overall. Front and second-row captain's seats are comfortable, and the third row is roomy. An eight-passenger configuration is available. The infotainment system is intuitive. The manual sunroof shades are out of place in the $50,000 Premier trim. Only the top trims have forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Standard safety functions include a safety-focused teen driver feature and rear-seat reminder designed to prevent a small child from being left unattended in the Traverse.

The Traverse, introduced for 2009, is one of GM's impressive large, car-based, three-row SUVs. You'll find a spacious and quiet interior with a third-row seat roomy enough to accommodate adults. Seating for seven or eight is available. Handling is responsive -- especially given the Traverse's size -- and the ride is comfortable. Rear visibility isn't great, but clever extra mirrors reduce side blind spots. The smooth 3.6-liter V6 returned 16 mpg in our tests. It's mated to a six-speed automatic that sometimes hesitated to downshift; later versions have better transmission programming. A minor freshening for 2013 brought an improved infotainment system and a standard front-center airbag.