This summer, my family and I have been exploring our surrounding areas with daytrips and vacation spots only a few hours from the New York City area. As a family of four without a car, I was excited to have the chance to test out the Chevy Traverse on a recent vacation to Shelter Island. Not only for the convenience factor, I wanted to see how the car stacked up to two car seats, suitcases, a portable crib, strollers, toys and whatever other random items that you “need” while on the road with a family.
As a crossover SUV, the roomy Traverse included three rows of seating where my husband and I sat upfront and the kids were in the second row. The third row could be used for additional seating or the seats could be folded back for extra storage. In fact, the Traverse has more space than many full-size SUVs with the most cargo space in its class. The third row seats are also renowned for their comfort and space, which isn’t always the case with this type of seating. We opted for the additional storage and loaded up the car for our three- hour voyage.
While on the road, we placed our destination address in the OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation system that guided us through parts of Long Island that we were unfamiliar with. Unlike most navigation units, the system in the Traverse gave us substantial warning when there were turns or if there was traffic ahead; offering alternative routes through its visual map and clear voice detection. It also recalcuated our route when we made wrong turns (happened a few times) and easily guided us back on our way.
In addition to the impressive navigation unit, I was in awe of the advanced technology in the Traverse that was created to make traveling even easier for families. The car comes equipped with a DVD entertainment system – for both CDs and DVDs – a USB Port to connect your MP3 player or music-loaded flash drive, Satellite Radio, and Bluetooth wireless technology where you can stay connected via the app to check diagnostics, contact roadside assistance, routine maintenance and more. We also love how the car featured a camera in the back that took a picture of the back for other cars, making it easy to park, make turns, etc.
Traveling the peak of summer also meant that we had to deal with blistering weather conditions. While in the car – and in-between various pit stops – I loved how the air conditioner went on instantly. This is a big deal -especially as my daughter instantly complained of the heat when we got back in the car. You can also control the temperatures from all of the seated rows so every passenger can be comfortable and cool based on their body’s needs.
In addition to these features, I also loved the look of the car and its sleek exterior. The car is available in a variety of colors (Black Metallic, Crystal Red Tincoat, Cyber Grey Metallic, Gold Mist Metallic, Twilight Blue Metallic, Dark Blue Metallic and White), so you can really customize your Traverse based on your families color preference. In addition to the modern technological offerings, the interior was so sleek – perfect for the modern family who wants style and functionality all in one.
Another big bonus for us was inclusion of 10 cup holders throughout the cabin. In between sippy cups, bottles, water bottles and so on, I loved that I had a place to store all of our beverages. The car also featured cool features like large door handles and rear air vents so everyone is comfortable no matter where they are seated.
Although I hate to think about accidents, they are prevalent on the road and the Traverse has several features to keep you and your family safe including StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System with traction control, designed to improve vehicle stability on most road surfaces, especially during emergency maneuvers, OnStar Directions & Connections with Automatic Crash Response, and six air bags, so that everyone is safe before, during and after an incident. These incredible features a way to ensure that your family is safe and protected while on the often chaotic road.
In between traffic, two naps from both girls, a pit stop and a potty break, we arrived at our destination. We were tired (or my husband and I were), but we were elated to have a car that offered us comfort, cool air and the guidance to get to our vacation safely.
For more information, please visit: http://www.gm.com/
Momtrends was not paid for this post. We were given the car on a loaner program for one-week.