Family Road Trip in a Chevy Traverse

Thanks to Brian Harris Chevrolet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, my family had the use of a 2011 Chevy Traverse to test out and review. As soon as I pulled into the driveway with this crossover family vehicle, both of my teens set to work checking out the interior for comfort and convenience.

There are a few crossover vehicles on the market right now, and I do like this contemporary version of a station wagon/minivan, but when I check out a vehicle, I want to find out what makes it appealing for the family who likes to travel. I’m not interested in what’s under the hood, but what’s on the interior. For me, gas mileage is important, along with warranties, but I like to be comfortable when I drive. Fortunately, what’s under the hood in the Traverse is dependable for families.

We took the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse on a variety of road types, from highways to gravel roads. The ride was so smooth, my copilot fell asleep in the passenger seat. We set out one afternoon in search of the legendary Louisiana crater in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. After driving around the back roads of this Louisiana parish, we passed over a dip in the highway near the St. Helena Parish fire department headquarters. This was the edge of Louisiana’s only known crater site. After having a family science and geology lesson for the afternoon, we headed back home, listening to XM Radio in the front seat while the kids were able to listen to their own station with their headphones. I also enjoyed the USB port for my iPhone.

The Chevy Traverse isn’t just for family road trips, but also great for visiting the golf course. I took a drive to The Bluffs Golf Resort in St. Francisville, and carried along the golf clubs, which fit just right in the back of the Traverse. The best part about putting cargo in the back – the one touch open and close of the rear gate. No more trying to jump up to catch the handle to pull down and close the rear of your vehicle.

I found the Chevy Traverse to get decent gas mileage during our review, at around 23 mpg during our drive, which is good for this class of vehicle. Here are some of the highlights of the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse:

• Four-wheel independent suspension system
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• Family of 17-, 18- and 20-inch wheels
• Second-row Smart Slide seat feature, for easy access to the third-row seats
• Rear-seat entertainment system with second-row controls
• Six standard air bags, including side curtain air bags that deploy over all three seating rows
• OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Direction Download, eNav (with navigation system) and Automatic Crash Response
• XM Satellite Radio including NavTraffic real-time traffic feature (with navigation system)
• Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity
• Cruising range of more than 500 miles (800 km)
• Towing capacity of 5,200 pounds (2,358 kg).

While the 2011 Chevy Traverse is an efficient family vehicle, it is also roomy enough inside to fit seven adults, with plenty of legroom thanks to the adjustable middle row bucket seats. There was quite a bit of storage inside the vehicle, and the spaciousness, along with the interior comfort makes this vehicle a luxurious ride for the road trip loving family. This vehicle has an MSRP starting at $29,370.

Special thanks to Brian Harris Chevrolet for providing this vehicle for review purposes. Be sure to follow Brian Harris Chevrolet on Facebook and Twitter.