2013 Traverse: Family Place Gets New Face

 

"Offering a combination of best-in-class cargo space and room for up to eight, the Chevrolet Traverse was designed to be the perfect family gathering place for families on the go. And now, for the new model year, it boasts upgraded amenities and a fresh new look.

“The new Traverse is a family vehicle without compromise,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet Global Marketing and Strategy. “It is more capable than many sport-utility vehicles, with as much room as a minivan and better functionality than both. The Traverse is clever, capable and confident—and there when you need it most.”

It’s much more athletic-looking, too, thanks to a revised exterior design that’s also cleaner and more sophisticated, and the 2013 Traverse also introduces a new front-end appearance that will be used throughout Chevy’s family of crossover utility vehicles. Highlights include a more aggressive multi-bar grille, an imposing powerdome hood, redesigned headlamps, a dash of chrome, and flowing rounded corners that draw their inspiration from the look of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The brand’s designers also introduced some intricate new cues at the rear of the vehicle, accented by a revised license-plate pocket and taillamps. 

“We have injected a stronger presence into the Traverse exterior by focusing on the details,” said Phillip Zak, GM director of exterior design. “The small but important changes give it a more vibrant personality that more closely reflects the lifestyles of the families who rely on the Traverse to get them through their busy lives.”

In the cabin, those families will enjoy more soft-touch materials for a premium ambiance, with the driver benefiting from a new center stack that packs a color-touchscreen radio with a 6.5-inch screen as well as improved climate controls that are both easier to use and redesigned for an upscale feel. Chevrolet also made a noticeable effort to improve the overall attention to detail in the 2013 Traverse’s interior, adding further refinement.

The ultimate family-friendly feature—a rear-seat entertainment system—remains available on the 2013 Traverse, which also offers a new high-tech infotainment advantage: Chevrolet MyLink. It integrates owners’ smartphones to enable access to Internet music-streaming services like Pandora and Stitcher, while enabling hands-free calling through the Traverse’s audio system.

Further, it’s not just the new Traverse’s design that’s more similar to Chevy’s car lineup; the vehicle’s suspension gains notable changes—like front-strut rebound springs and new shock valving—that enables a smoother, more car-like driving experience. But the 2013 Traverse is no poser when it comes to pulling power. Holstering an advanced V6 engine that makes up to 288 hp, the Traverse is capable of towing 5,200 lbs." [Read more]