The 2023 Chevy Traverse Is The Un-Minivan Family Hauling Champion 

@@naveenthemachine sure, but gets the job done. And like I said, space is a priority for those who consider a vehicle like this (aside from maybe final transaction price).

You can't throw a rock without hitting one of these things out here in Michigan, lol

@@tednugent1100 yeah I remember seeing a ton 10+ years ago, even in California. But now living in the PNW, it seems they are few and far between. Shame really, definitely is/was a value alternative to those wanting lots of capacity.

Every other house has these where I am. When I travel, I'm relieved.

@@tednugent1100yes!

My wife has a current body style acadia. I know these are not the most exciting vehicles, but the 3.6 has good power, and it handles very well.

@@caseyhall9896 My wife finds the Traverse very exciting after 16 years of driving minivans. It's all relative, lol.

The GM like this with the 3.6 engine has that annoying and distinct engine whine sound. One guy on my street had the 2015 Traverse which is the same as this car and could always hear him coming and going b/c of the engine whine

Believe it or not, GM does actually revise their engines and fix things. The LFY is an updated LFX, which already had all the timing chain fixes implemented since at least 2012. Unfortunately, the problematic LLT was still used in the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave up until the model changeover in 2016/2017. The new model engines are very reliable and smooth running.

@@keithf8649 Thanks. When did the LFY debut, and was the new LFY used in passenger sedans like the Lacrosse and XTS?

@@3stinkos The LFY debuted in the 2018 Enclave and Traverse, and is only used in those models. It is tuned for a broader torque band in lower midrange compared to other 3.6 versions, with the torque peak at 2800 compared to 4800-5300 on typical LFX applications such as the Lacrosse and XTS you mention. Other currently produced 3.6 equipped models are using the "LGX" code engine, which is actually a different block with bigger bore spacing for a larger displacement, and also featuring cylinder deactivation.

Cabin look very high country! Out of modernization

No Same timing chain issues but can’t expect less from Garbage Motors

Compared to what? The LFX fixed all the issues in 2012. The LLT was still used until the model changeover, but now all new 3.6s no longer have timing chain issues

@@reyperez3424 thanks for the heads up

Traverse isn't a minivan though...

Lol. Give me a minivan that tows 5000 pounds, then I'd be happy to bask in that minivan glory :)

@@Ja8888 As a matter of fact, MB's Metris is rated to tow "up to 5000 lb," but the last time I checked, a heated steering wheel (my wife's sole demand) was not on the option list.

We drove minivans for 16 years. Our Traverse rides and drives much better, can actually handle what it is rated to tow, gets pretty much identical mileage in the real world, and cost about the same while maintaining better resale value. It does give up interior space and versatility of course. But it does have a spare tire, something some minivans no longer have. Minivans used to be great values that could be had for thousands less and drove better than SUVs, but that's not really the case anymore with unibody CUVs. I initially wanted a Sienna AWD but couldn't even buy one without paying a huge markup and waiting over a year.

@@plmn93 Glad to hear you're satisfied with your choice. That's how EVERYONE should feel following a car/truck purchase! I have extensively driven my father-in-law's Enclave (Buick's version of the Traverse), and it's a very pleasant vehicle. It is marginally quieter than my Grand Caravan; GM's 3.6L V6 feels a bit stronger than Chrysler's Pentastar.; and the larger tires on the GM platform look better and improve handling & stability, especially on the highway. But for my wife and me, those advantages aren't sufficient to offset the practicality of an on-demand, fully-flat cargo area. In fact, the Dodge-Chrysler minivan formula has always hit our sweet spot, so when our GC reaches the 10-year/100K threshold (whichever comes second), we'll likely pony-up for a Pacifica AWD. For every aspect our lifestyle, it strikes us as the perfect road-going compromise. Cheers!

@@dano7145 Honestly I liked our 4th gen Grand Caravan better than our 5th gen T&C, which had a lot more luxury features but also rode harsher and creaked and groaned and rattled incessantly. Still, up until the past two years it served us well. The Pacifica seems to be a much more solid vehicle from what I've driven of it, but when you get into an AWD you are at CUV prices if not above. The Traverse has much less cargo space, mainly because the seats only fold down halfway instead of all the way into the floor, but the people space is pretty similar (actually a bit larger than our old T&C by volume) and it can still haul 48" wide sheets. Both have their pros and cons, nothing is perfect. If you do go with a Pacifica, check to see that it has a spare tire. That is an option now and most I looked at didn't have it. Rare as flat tires have been for me lately, I still wouldn't want to risk relying on a can of fix-a-flat or dealing with a tow truck while hauling my family.

I think that knowing Toyota the grand Highlander will be a grand disaster 😂. I wouldn’t bother waiting for that. You’re better off reviewing the Korean twins over and over again because the fact they are class leading on new levels will never get boring I can’t wait for everyone to be disappointed with Toyota. They will screw this up badly. I just know it I would blindly go telluride or palisade before even looking at the grand Highlander. Even if I saw it while inside a telluride or palisade, I’d just snuff and shrug it off since it’s already class leading anyway

@@naveenthemachine Toyota owners have one of the higher rates of satisfaction with their ownership. Is that what you mean?

@@ALMX5DP owner satisfaction has nothing to do with this conversation. I’m just saying that knowing Toyota, the grand Highlander will be a catastrophe. We’ll see what happens but don’t be surprised if you end up being disappointed

This suv feels so cheap and outdated. I would love to say that kia/hyundai are better but I feel it's just cosmetic. Both have more buttons than needed on the center console amd drive trains that cannot be trust. I really think people need to be willing to downsize into a crv or rav4 as I find them to be far superior vehicles.

@@naveenthemachine it has everything to do with it. If a product has a high satisfaction by its owners, that is a huge point to use for arguments about its relative success or failure.

On paper I was sure the Pilot was the way we were going to go. But its seats are low to the floor. At 6'3" the only seat I can comfortably sit in is the driver's seat, since it's the only one below an Elite with height adjust. It also had more road noise and a harsher ride than the Traverse. My wife said it drove like a truck and dismissed it quickly. It didn't help that the dealer wanted $3K over sticker and estimated the wait would be months long. We were able to drive a Traverse off the lot for $8K less than a comparable Pilot. I like Hondas but I'll gladly put up with a boring interior for that kind of savings. Don't look too far into spec sheet numbers, manufacturers tend to game those. In person the Traverse easily felt the roomiest of any of them. Drive them yourself and make your own determination.

So I did some measuring. The Pilot cargo area is 6" shorter, 4" narrower, and 1" shorter at the minimum dimensions. Yet Honda claims more volume. Maybe they have it or maybe they are gaming the numbers, either way the Traverse appears to have significantly more usable space. It feels like it too.

They're selling over 100K of them per year. Much more available than Tellurides, Highlanders, and Pilots right now.

This platform and the Buick Enclave are the same and are the same in wheelbase. The GMC Arcadia and Cadillac XT6 are built on same chassis but have a shorter wheelbase.

I'd LOVE that

Then it would just be.... a minivan

@@mujjuman exactly people don't think.

@@mujjuman Minivans don't tow 5000 pounds, most don't have AWD, and none have ground clearance.

@@plmn93 Very true. If you need a vehicle that does all of that, then just get.... a crossover like this Chevy Traverse. If specifically need a minivan to do all of the above then get a.... Toyota Sienna.

Isn't the Enclave quieter? Buicks are known for their "quiet tuning". Brian noted 74 decibels in the Traverse. That's 2X as loud as 70 db, which most luxury cars attain.

@@sprague49 - this version of the Traverse I would bet is equal to the Buick Enclave Avenir because its the top of the line High Country. I had never noticed the 20mph louder engine. That 3.6 liter even on my 2017 Equinox is quite quiet evwn with 100k on the odometer.

We looked at everything but an Atlas (bad history with VW) and drove most of them. My wife liked the Traverse best and I was surprised I liked it too. I don't expect to get 300K out of it, though. We usually sell at around 100K.

I agree, I'm not a fan either but I think thats the whole point of this "trendy" new design

I like it. Keeping them low allows them to be brighter without blinding oncoming drivers. As opposed to my F-150 that has terrible night visibility while also blinding oncoming drivers because the low beams are mounted so high. Now that the IIHS is holding companies accountable after decades of poor headlight design, I hope to see more like this.

Many hybrids (that aren't phev) are also rather pathetic on economy. In this day and age, engines should be doing well into the 40s and 50s in mpg. I feel that big oil has kept their thumb on any real progress in ICE efficiency. Now, their plan is biting them in the ass with countries banning them for BEVs.

Toyota dealers are asking for a $3K addendum for the Highlander Hybrid and up to a year wait. We got $5K off our Traverse and drove it home the same day. The Highlander made no sense whatsoever.

It's cheaper for manufacturers to program a Chinese LCD than to design and manufacture physical gauges. Yet they can sell the LCDs for more money because people are conditioned to believe they are premium.

He said under 55,000

I played around with a Telluride that had lane centering. Pretty cool, but not nearly good enough for me to trust it. And if I can't trust it, it's little more than a gimmicky party trick.

Just sounds like someone can't drive to me

Compared to the Palisade the traverse is larger and drives and rides better. It's also available and Chevy dealers are dealing discounts instead of adding addendums.

No, that was the older version. This is basically the same one from the Impala, which has been reliable.

The timing chain issue was a bad supplier. Anything after 2011 or so is clear of the timing chain issue. I have a 2017 V6 Equinox with the same engine as this Traverse. I have had 100k trouble free miles to date.

​@David Dill that's good to know because so many people been telling me don't get it but I think they're going off the old version

It easily passes 125. Stock tires are rated for 130.

You will need the warranty with the Korean twins. They are not good cars. When something does break they won’t cover it.

@@user-tb7rn1il3q you’ll need that warranty with the GM as well, only problem is it’s too short

I suppose if you dont mind getting the engine replaced a few times, sure

@@D0NTsmokeCRACK The 3.6 is bulletproof.

Hyundai and Kia are notorious for weaseling their way out of warranty repairs. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

@@EmmyJune212008 I hope so too

Headlights can perform better down low without blinding oncoming drivers with glare. I hope it catches on. These work worlds better than the ones on my F-150, whose low beams are about as high up as they could possibly put them.

Can the sienna tow 5000 pounds?

@@Ja8888 how many traverse owners are actually towing 5k lbs? Towing at the limit in this would be miserable too.

And 5k~15k dealer markup, 2~6 months wait... Yes it's super mediocre, but you are not the only smart guy on earth either

@@shangqiwu2090 lol paying dealer markups is on you. We waited 3 months for our Sienna to avoid paying $10k adm.

@@ShaiyanHossain Hello Sienna fan boy, like I said, you waited 3 months to get it after all... Your reply seemingly supports that comment...

Oddly there is as Alcantara is a brand, so faux suede made by other companies is an imitation of the original :)

@@AAutoBuyersGuide So is an imitation of an imitation.😂 Thanks for the clarification.

These will easily go 200K with regular oil and filter changes. From new you'll want to change the timing chains, sprockets, guides, and water pump at the 100K mark. And don't rev it out after every takeoff. It's not an M3.

Pilot is just as bad, transmission problems plus modern Honda quality and reliability isn’t even that good anymore, just get a Toyota instead

Methinks your outdated information is problematic

Wrong 3.6, the old one had timing chain problems which have been fixed.

But at same time, auto repair shop loves those engine$$$$

timely oil changes is the key here. if the timing chain is dodgy change it before it causes issue. Would I buy it? No. There is many better choices.

The 3.6 is bulletproof. The timing chain issue was fixed years ago.

He's just quoting Car Wizard, who was talking about earlier versions. If you can be anything, at least try to be original.