Chevrolet Traverse

The 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 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 on lower trims. We like the intuitive infotainment system. 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. Also available are a system that monitors teen drivers and a rear-seat reminder designed to prevent a small child from being left unattended.

The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse rides on a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model, creating more rear passenger space. Motivation comes from a choice of a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine or from 3.6-liter V6, each paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Standard Traction Mode Select allows drivers to make real-time adjustments, tailoring the vehicle’s performance for the road, or even off-road, conditions. For safety, it will offer a suite of advanced features, including forward-collision warning, low- and high-speed automatic braking, pedestrian detection and braking, and lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. A teen driver system is standard, allowing parents to set certain restrictions and review driving performance.

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.