Put Family First With the Chevy Traverse

June 16th, 2023 by

A white 2021 Chevy Traverse is shown from the front at an angle.

At their best, three-row SUVs are the ideal family vehicle, affording parents and kids all the cargo room, seating, features, and digital distractions they need to ensure domestic harmony. Some three-row SUVs, like the Chevy Traverse, are also packed with a full raft of advanced safety features, giving parents some important peace of mind when hauling their most precious cargo. Starting at just under $35,000, the Traverse is also one of the most affordable vehicles in the ultra-competitive midsize three-row category.

It is especially relevant for families who’d rather invest in their kid’s college fund than an exorbitant monthly car payment. These factors combine to make the Chevy Traverse a top performer in the category, giving families an enticing new option when it comes time to replace their beloved family vehicle. For Upstate New York families on the hunt for a reliable Chevy dealer near Troy, we here at DePaula Chevrolet welcome you to explore our fantastic selection of Chevy vehicles, including the thrilling Chevy Traverse. Before you come and experience our fantastic inventory in person, let’s take a look at why we think the Traverse is a perfect SUV option for large families on the go.

An Abundance of Standard Safety Features

Safety is an important consideration when you’re shopping for any vehicle, but it’s especially pertinent when you’re on the hunt for something that will serve as a home away from home for your growing family. The Traverse comes standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which includes a host of innovative tools one would expect from a modern family vehicle, from automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert to a following distance indicator, Intellibeam auto high-beam headlights, and more.

Navigating a busy parking lot after a kid’s little league game or family outing? Front pedestrian braking will go a long way in ensuring you don’t have any unfortunate run-ins. Too busy being the family peacekeeper to give the road your undivided attention? Lane keep assist with lane departure warning will keep you firmly planted between the white lines, allowing you to settle backseat disputes without impacting road safety.

A white 2023 Chevy Traverse is shown from the side after leaving a Chevy dealer near Troy.

Optional safety features on the 2023 Traverse include adaptive cruise control and HD Surround Vision, which uses a network of cameras to give drivers a full 360-degree view of the area around the car from a bird’s-eye view, making both parking and attaching trailers easier than ever. These safety and driver assistance features are great, but it’s the cutting-edge technology that sets the Chevy Safety Assist platform apart from the competition.

Unlike some safety and driver assistance packages, which simply monitor hand pressure on the steering wheel to determine if a driver is paying attention to the road, Chevy Safety Assist ups the bar with what’s known as a direct driver monitoring system (DDMS). Using a network of infrared cameras, the system monitors the driver’s face and eyes whenever the vehicle is in motion, sounding an alert if the driver faces away from the road for even a few seconds.

If the audio alert isn’t heeded, the DDMS will slow the car itself until the driver faces back towards the road. This system can’t be fooled nearly as easily as the hand pressure-based systems, making DDMS-equipped vehicles a much safer alternative to those lacking the technology. The difference between the two approaches is so stark that Consumer Reports has begun awarding bonus points to vehicles that use such DDMS tech when ranking advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) offerings.

These days, every automaker has rolled out its own proprietary ADAS. While these systems offer very similar features, they’re not all created equal, with some setups drastically outperforming others regarding driver engagement, ease of use, and other metrics. Chevy Safety Assist is among the best of these ADAS offerings, ranking second in a recent Consumer Reports analysis with an overall system score of 75 out of 100.

Ample Cargo Space

If there’s one area where the Chevy Traverse is a true standout, it would have to be cargo space. The three-row SUV consistently ranks as one of the roomiest midsize crossovers on offer, making it an exceedingly practical choice for families on the go. With 98.2 cu.ft. of max cargo volume when the second and third-row seats are folded, the Traverse is the undisputed leader in its segment according to assessments by both Cars.com and CarFax.com.

The Traverse isn’t just the favorite when it comes to max cargo volume; the versatile crossover even ranks first in cargo volume with just the third row folded (57.8 cu.ft.) and second when it comes to cargo room behind the third-row seat, coming in just behind on the Volkswagen Atlas with 23 cu.ft. of space. That’s enough room to stow up to six carry-on suitcases or plenty of sports equipment and a lot of groceries. The Traverse even ranks at the top of its class regarding first-row cubby storage, which earns the SUV some major points in the convenience department.

Cargo space has become a niche for Chevy, which also has the roomiest full-size SUV in the 144.7-cubic-foot Chevrolet Suburban. This focus on cargo space makes the Chevy lineup hard to ignore for any family in the market for a new three-row SUV, without even touching on the fact that the Traverse can seat up to eight passengers. The 2023 Traverse also features a generous amount of under-seat storage and a hands-free liftgate, which allows drivers to open the trunk by simply swiping their feet under the rear bumper. A godsend for any cargo-laden driver, thoughtful features like this make the Traverse such a sensible choice in the midsize segment.

An Array of Innovative Tech

Tech features like infotainment systems and connected service offerings have become the newest battleground across the industry. Nowhere is this more true than in family-focused three-row SUVs like the Chevy Traverse, where such features can mean the difference between a pleasant family outing and a no-holds-barred backseat cage match. It all starts with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System, an upgrade to the previous Chevy MyLink system found on most of the brand’s pre-2019 vehicles.

With the ability to connect to your smartphone via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or Bluetooth, the standard Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System gives drivers the opportunity to place and receive calls, control streaming media, and even access apps on their smartphone all through the standard 7-inch color touchscreen. Designed with an easy-to-navigate user interface that’s colorful and responsive, the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System doesn’t suffer from the frustrating lag on other infotainment displays.

This not only improves the overall user experience but also has a significant effect on safety, with less lag resulting in less distracted driving. Speaking of the touchscreen, the 7-inch display doubles as a secret storage compartment, sliding up to reveal a hidden cubby that serves as the perfect place to hide your smartphone, valuables, jewelry, or other big-ticket items. It’s not really a tech feature as such, but we appreciate Chevy’s commitment to ensuring that no space goes to waste in the midsize SUV.

A red 2021 Chevy Traverse RS is shown from the front at an angle.

Optional upgrades include OnStar In-Vehicle HD Streaming, which transforms the Traverse into an entertainment center on wheels with the ability to access a treasure trove of streaming services, including Hulu, YouTube, YouTube Kids, and more, which means no more eating through your data to keep the kids occupied on a long road trip. An available built-in Wi-Fi hotspot takes the SUV’s streaming capabilities to the next level, giving passengers the ability to access data, directions, and digital distractions on the go.

The interior is also packed with a full complement of handy USB ports, with six spread throughout the cabin. The two front-row USB ports can be used to connect the driver or front-seat passenger’s smartphone to the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System, with the two charge-only USB ports found in the second and third rows allowing passengers to keep their devices juiced up at all times.

A Family-Friendly Midsize SUV Like No Other

With a low starting price, best-in-class cargo room, advanced tech options, and a focus on safety, the Chevy Traverse might be one of the most well-rounded family vehicles on the market. The SUV manages to prioritize all those features that are so important in a family vehicle without inflating the price tag beyond the reach of the average household, hitting the sweet spot in a way that few other automakers have managed to replicate.

Combine these credentials with a powerful V6 engine that puts out 310 hp, impressive fuel economy at 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway for the front-wheel drive model, and comprehensive warranty coverage, and it’s tough to make a case against Chevy’s three-row midsize SUV. Want to see the Chevy Traverse for yourself? You can experience this exceptional SUV up close and personal right here at DePaula Chevrolet, where our friendly and knowledgeable team will show you firsthand everything this family-friendly traveler has to offer.