2022 Chevrolet Traverse Review and Test Drive
Chevrolet improves its family-sized three-row crossover SUV, but not enough.
Christian Wardlaw
Review QuickTakes:
With greater attention to detail, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse could be one of the best models in its segment. But, it's surely one of the biggest. By way of explanation, and at the risk of delving too deeply into the inner workings of car companies, the 2022 Traverse reflects the constant battle between the product planners who want to build the very best SUV they can, the accountants who need to minimize costs and maximize profits, and the marketers who, at General Motors, need to distinguish Chevys from GMCs, Buicks, and Cadillacs. In other words, the Traverse unnecessarily lacks refinement, seemingly to ensure that it doesn't infringe upon the similar but premium-positioned Buick Enclave.
In turn, it is harder for the Traverse to attract customers who may find rivals in the segment to be higher in quality, a better value, more technologically advanced, more stylish, or all of the above. And while Chevrolet improves the Traverse for the 2022 model year, the refresh is a relatively tepid one.
The 2022 Traverse got a light update that includes new headlights, taillights, grille styles, and wheel designs. Chevy canceled the base L trim level, making the LS trim the new entry point. When you get a 2022 Traverse with the optional Dual SkyScape sunroof panels, the one over the rear seats now comes with a power-operated rather than manual sunshade.
In terms of technology, the 2022 Traverse gets several updates. The automaker's Chevy Safety Assist collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems is now standard on all Traverses, and other safety features are more widely available than before. The infotainment system also adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Chevrolet offers its family-sized crossover SUV in six trim levels, each equipped with a standard 310-horsepower V6 engine. They include the LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country. Base prices range from the mid-$30,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Lansing, Michigan, factory that builds it to your local dealership. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
For this 2022 Chevrolet Traverse review, I test-drove the RS in Southern California. It came with AWD and a Dual SkyScape sunroof, bringing the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) to about $48,900, including the $1,395 destination charge. Chevrolet provided the vehicle for this Traverse review.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Chevrolet Traverse Review: The Design
When you choose the Traverse RS, you get an appealing package of equipment combined with the ever-popular blacked-out exterior approach, including a set of 20-inch, 12-spoke, dark-finish alloy wheels. The treatment complements the Traverse's uncluttered exterior design, tailored body creases, gently swollen fender flares, and dark gray lower body trim. Black rear roof pillars give the impression of wraparound rear glass, making it appear as though the roof is floating. The 2022 Chevy Traverse RS is a good-looking SUV.
Inside, that same sense of simplicity guides the overall interior design and control layout, but some attempts at dressing up the cabin fall short, while other flaws may leave you bewildered. For example, the Traverse is perfectly packaged to give American families a comfortable and capacious vehicle for long road trips. Yet the front upper door panels are covered in hard plastic, which is unkind to elbows propped there during hours-long slogs on the freeway. As a result, my left elbow got sore during a week spent driving the Traverse.
Overall, the Traverse RS seems a little cheap inside. From the quality of the materials and instances of inconsistent build quality to strange details like the aqua-colored "eyebrows" arching over the temperature adjustment knobs on the triple-zone automatic climate control panel, it doesn't convey a sense of value or thoughtfulness like some of the competitors in the segment. The all-black interior with red stitching also doesn't offer much contrast, perhaps magnifying the problem.
Chevrolet equips the Traverse RS for cold weather, including heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard equipment. It also has power-adjustable front seats, including height for the front passenger. Together with the SUV's roomy interior, these features ensure driver and passenger comfort, though it would be great if ventilated seats were also available for this trim level. At least the Traverse's outstanding air conditioning quickly chills the interior.
It would also be great if you could get a second-row bench seat with RS trim, but instead, it comes only with captain's chairs. As a result, families of five will need to keep at least half of the third-row seat raised. In turn, that reduces cargo space and the Traverse's appeal as a road-tripping machine. There is plenty of room in the second row, but the captain's chairs feel a little flat and too reclined, so comfort is sub-optimal.
Christian Wardlaw
Accessing the third-row seat is easy for several reasons. First, the pass-through between the captain's chairs is generous. Second, the rear door openings are large. Third, the second-row Smart Slide seats move well out of the way, even when you have a child safety seat installed in that location. Adults should have little trouble getting into and out of the third-row seat.
Moreover, as long as the people assigned to the captain's chairs are willing to slide forward, the third-row seat offers enough leg and foot room to accommodate grown-ups. Still, like most of its rivals, the Traverse's rearmost seating location has a flat cushion mounted close to the floor, so there isn't much leg support, leading to discomfort in no time.
In-cabin storage reflects thoughtfulness on Chevrolet's part. For example, the infotainment screen motors up to reveal a hidden compartment, a neat trick that more automakers should emulate. In the second row, Chevy carves cupholders, shelves, and bins into the door panels, creating easily accessible storage spots for kids. Finally, behind the third-row seat, you'll find a sizable underfloor compartment designed to carry all manner of things from groceries to sports equipment.
The cargo area is generous, too. Behind the third-row seat, the Traverse supplies 23 cu.-ft. of cargo space, expanding to 57.8 cu.-ft. with the third row folded flat. The maximum cargo capacity is 98.2 cu.-ft. These are impressive figures, though it bears mentioning that to fold the third-row seats flat, you need to make sure you've moved the captain's chairs forward a little bit, or you won't be able to collapse them entirely.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Chevrolet Traverse Review: The Technology
The Traverse's simplicity extends to its technology. In the dashboard's center, you'll find either a 7-inch or an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, underlined by a volume and mute knob, tuning buttons, a Home button for the infotainment system, and a button to power the screen up for access to the hidden storage compartment.
On the RS's 8-inch high-definition screen, the Home display shows navigation, stereo, and phone information. Swipe right, and large icons with clear explanations offer access to the system's menus. Alexa Built-in's natural voice recognition is fantastic, the technology responding quickly and accurately to all of my testing commands, including the more difficult and obscure ones. The infotainment system's screen might not be as large as what you might find in segment competitors, and the RS's seven-speaker Bose premium sound system may not impress audiophiles, but otherwise, this technology is terrific.
Not only is the user experience excellent, but the system also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services via OnStar, including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Satellite radio and connected services come with short complimentary subscriptions, after which you must pay a monthly or annual fee. The system also includes Teen Driver, which allows parents to program vehicle settings and track how young drivers use the vehicle when they're away from home.
The Traverse RS test vehicle also had a surround-view camera and a camera-based rearview mirror function that dramatically improved visibility. They pair with a set of rear parking assist sensors and a rear cross-traffic alert system, both standard on all but the base LS, to make the Traverse easier to maneuver. Unfortunately, the test vehicle's driver-side mirror suffered from distortion that made vehicles in the adjacent lane look taller and narrower, causing driver double-takes for the first few days in the SUV.
For 2022, the Traverse gets standard Chevy Safety Assist. This collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems equips the SUV with automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.
The Traverse comes with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors starting with LT trim. These features are optional on LS trim. The Traverse RS upgrades the SUV with adaptive cruise control, an automatic emergency braking system that works at higher vehicle speeds, and a rear pedestrian detection system. These features are optional on the Traverse LT with leather seats.
Chevrolet knows that some of its customers don't like these safety systems, so you can adjust them or turn many of them off if you'd rather not use them. I evaluated the SUV with everything turned on and, where possible, set to a normal or medium sensitivity level. In my experience, the driving assistance tech is accurate and subtle enough that it doesn't cause significant irritation, encouraging its continued use. Unfortunately, the Traverse does not offer a semi-autonomous system that pairs adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, let alone General Motors' (GM) advanced Super Cruise technology.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that the Traverse earns Good ratings in all crash tests except for a new side-impact assessment, for which the SUV receives an Acceptable rating. However, as I wrote this review, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Chevrolet Traverse Review: The Drive
You can have your 2022 Chevy Traverse with any engine you want, as long as you want a 3.6L V6 making 310hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission powers the SUV's front wheels unless you choose the optional AWD system. And even with AWD, you can run the Traverse in two-wheel drive if you prefer. In addition, Normal, Snow, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul driving modes are available, and the Traverse has a 5,000lbs. towing capacity when the SUV is properly equipped.
The V6 engine provides adequate power and good acceleration but whines when revved. Some people might like this, while others may wish for more significant noise suppression. It's hard to fault the automatic transmission, though, or the 20.9 mpg the Traverse returned on the evaluation loop. I test-drove the SUV with the AWD system in Automatic mode and the powertrain in Normal mode, and beat the official EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving.
When you're driving in town, the Traverse communicates minor bumps, cracks, and holes in the road in a firm manner. At the same time, the SUV can feel a little soft over surface features such as speed humps, drainage dips, and driveway aprons. If you don't watch your speed, you can scrape the SUV's front air dam on the ground.
That softness is also evident when driving on undulating pavement, such as on a winding country or mountain road. There isn't much body roll in curves, and the Traverse's suspension doesn't allow the amount of lateral weight transfer that can produce passenger head toss in many SUVs, but you'll definitely feel the Chevy's floaty ride. In addition, the RS model's 255/55R20 all-season tires don't encourage enthusiastic driving. However, if nothing else, the Traverse is predictable, giving its driver confidence.
On highways, the Traverse's ride and handling traits excel, but the amount of wind and road noise detracts from the driving experience. The Traverse isn't as quiet and refined as its platform-mate, the Buick Enclave, and that's no accident. Remember what I said about GM's need to distinguish the Chevy from the more upscale Buick? Failing to take steps to quell the amount of noise in the cabin is one way to do that.
Christian Wardlaw
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse a Good SUV?
The Chevy Traverse is a good SUV, offering more interior room than many of its rivals at a competitive price. In addition, the Traverse has satisfying acceleration, a comfortable ride quality, and trustworthy handling. However, a Traverse isn't adept off-road, with only 7.5 inches of ground clearance. Also, it can come across as cheaply outfitted, a reminder of Chevrolet's status as the mass-market brand under the General Motors umbrella. But if you don't mind its occasional lack of refinement and need lots of passenger and cargo space in a crossover SUV, the 2022 Traverse is worth consideration.
