The Traverse, Chevrolet’s eight-passenger crossover, enters its second generation for 2018 with a complete restyling designed to make an already great vehicle even better.

With the makeover, prices for 2018 begin at $29,930 (plus $995 freight) for the base L model with front-wheel drive, and run as high as $52,100 for the High Country model with all-wheel drive.

In between are the LS ($32,100), LT Cloth ($34,600), LT Leather ($41,200), RS ($42,100) and Premier ($44,500) front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel drive is available on all but the L and RS models, and is standard on the High Country. The RS and High Country models are two new trim levels added for 2018.

Our test vehicle for this report was the LT Leather with front drive, with a list price of $41,200 and total delivered price of $42,540, including freight and $395 in options – the cost of the premium Cajun Red Tintcoat exterior paint.

Arguably one of the best of its class, the Traverse is a large crossover with lots of room for the family and their stuff.

Chevy calls the new Traverse’s exterior styling “bold and refined.” It’s not as rounded as its predecessor, but it still very much looks like a Traverse, which is a good thing. This is one of Chevrolet’s best vehicles of the past decade, and it didn’t need an entirely new look.

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The rear end has a squared-off look, which is probably the biggest styling change.

Some of the Traverse’s exterior styling was “inspired” by the big Chevrolet sport utility vehicles – the Tahoe and Suburban, Chevy says. Those include premium features such as chrome accents, LED signature lighting and available D-Optic LED headlights.

One thing that was retained in the new generation is the generous third-row space, particularly the legroom, which makes that seat just as comfortable for adults as for children. This is one of the few big crossovers that can achieve that. There is also ample cargo room and overall interior space.

As there is a host of new, improved and impressive new active safety technology on the market in general now, it’s essential that most of that also be standard or available on the new Traverse, and it is.

There are also a new split/folding second-row seat and second-row captain’s chairs that improve on the original Smart Slide feature for that row. That includes the curbside seat’s ability to tip up and slide forward, even with a forward-facing child seat in place, to provide easy access to the third row.

With the captain’s chairs in the middle row, included on our test vehicle, the Traverse seats seven, but access to the third row is easier because of the gap between the two middle-row seats.

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A new Traction Mode Select system is standard across the line. It lets the driver choose driving modes to match road conditions.

The standard engine is the 3.6-liter V-6, cranking out 310 horsepower and 266 foot-pounds of torque. It’s connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was the engine on our tester, and we had plenty of power for both routine interstate highway driving and some mountain roads we encountered during our week-long test.

The new RS model comes with a 257-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, also paired with a nine-speed automatic.

Special RS features include 20-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior cues, including a black chrome grille and black bowtie emblem.

EPA ratings for the V-6 are 18 mpg city/27 highway with front drive, and 17 city/25 highway with all-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter engine is rated at 20 city/26 highway.

The fanciest model – the High Country – has a long list of premium features, including unique interior trim with Loft Brown leather and suede microfiber accents, 20-inch polished wheels, High Country badges, D-Optic headlights, standard twin-clutch all-wheel drive, and power/fold third row seat.

A Redline Edition ($2,495) is offered on the Premier model. It brings black wheels with red accents, black exterior trim and bowtie emblems, a dual-panel power sunroof, a trailering package and more.

All trim levels come with active aero shutters, LED daytime running lights, keyless entry and push-button start, and three-zone automatic climate control.


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