Finding a family vehicle has never been easy. You need to find a model with plenty of space for the kids and their things, especially one that can grow with the kids. As a parent with two teenage kids, I know very well how as they get bigger, the things you need to move around with them get larger as well. What’s more, you want to find a vehicle that is safe, reliable, affordable, and fun to drive. Safety is also a big factor because you know that one day that little girl you’re ferrying around in a car seat will have a driver’s license herself. She’s going to start demanding the car keys so she can go places with her friends. So when you look at these criteria, you start seeing how the list of vehicles that check all the boxes starts to shrink pretty quickly. Fortunately, Chevrolet has the answer in the 2023 Chevy Traverse.
The Traverse is Chevy’s entry into the three-row midsize SUV category. If there was ever a vehicle that was intended for suburban families, it’s this one. Chevy introduced the Traverse in 2009, with a second generation following in time for the 2018 model year. The name makes sense since it provides a crossing point for family drivers who need more space than a compact SUV like the Chevy Equinox but want better fuel economy and easier maneuverability than a full-size model like the Chevy Tahoe or Suburban. The Traverse represents that sweet spot for many families.
What’s New for 2023
Last year, Chevy gave the Traverse a much-needed mid-generation facelift. This involved a new front end and exterior look that gave the Traverse a sleeker, sportier, and more aggressive profile. This carries over to the 2023 Traverse, with the addition of two new exterior paint colors, a stately Sterling Gray Metallic and a really hot Radiant Red Tintcoat.
The update on the Traverse also came with two changes that made it a solid choice for family drivers. First, Chevy made the suite of Chevy Safety Assist driver assistance features standard on all models of the Traverse. This means that things like Forward Collision Alert and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning are featured on the Traverse no matter which trim level you choose. These will make it safer for you and your passengers, as you can now better avoid collisions caused by changing lanes on the highway or rear-ending the car in front of you.
The other major change was the decision to make LED headlights and taillamps standard on the Traverse. LED lights are more energy efficient than other types of lighting, so they reduce the energy consumption on the Traverse. In addition, they provide a very high amount of lumens, so they will make operating the Traverse at night a much safer proposition.
For 2023, Chevy will be offering the Traverse with three special editions. These allow you to take the standard Traverse and give it a more interesting look. These special editions also come with some features that will also improve the handling and performance of your Traverse. The Midnight Edition and Sport Edition are available on the LS, LT Cloth, and LT Leather trims, while the Redline Edition is offered on the Traverse Premier model. This means you get the equipment and specifications that come with each of these trims, along with the features of the special edition that you choose.
Midnight Edition
If you like the color black, then the 2023 Chevy Traverse Midnight Edition is the model for you. This comes with a standard Mosaic Black Metallic exterior paint job. Chevy continues this tribute to the color black by including a specialized black ice grille, a set of black roof rails, and the black Chevrolet bowtie emblems on the front and rear of the Traverse. There are even specialized black Traverse badges! The Midnight Edition rides on a set of 18-inch gloss black-painted aluminum wheels. These have black center caps with black bowtie emblems as well. Chevy wraps these tires with all-season blackwall tires.
Sport Edition
If a total blackout isn’t really your style, you can always opt for the Sport Edition on the 2023 Chevy Traverse LS, LT Cloth, or LT Leather model. As its name makes clear, this is to give the Traverse an even sportier appearance. It starts with a black grille that replaces the standard gold Chevrolet bowtie logos with ones in black. It also has a set of black roof rails and black Traverse badges. Basically, the Sport Edition takes the features of the Midnight Edition but applies them to the other five paint options on the Traverse. This means that you get to choose between Iridescent Pearl Tricoat, Summit White, Black Cherry Metallic, Radiant Red Tintcoat, and Sterling Grey Metallic.
The Sport Edition also features a set of 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels with all-season blackwall tires. Just like the Midnight Edition, these tires have black center caps and black Chevy bowtie logos. All of this black trim allows the exterior paint color you choose to really pop.
Redline Edition
The Premier is the second-highest trim on the 2023 Chevy Traverse. It features a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System with an eight-inch HD color touchscreen and built-in navigation, adaptive cruise control, and a hands-free power liftgate on its trunk. The only model with more standard features is the top-of-the-line High Country.
The Redline Edition helps take the Traverse Premier to another level. It starts with a black grille with a specialized license plate applique unique to the Redline Edition. Chevy adds black mirror caps, door handles, window surrounds, and roof rails. There are also black-painted rocker panels and wheel openings with specialized black ice inserts. This model also features black Chevy bowtie logos and Redline decals, so you know you’re driving something special. You can choose every possible exterior color for the Redline Edition except Black Cherry Metallic.
The Chevy Traverse Redline Edition rides on a set of 20-inch gloss black-painted aluminum wheels with red accents. These come paired with all-season tires. Chevy even includes trailering equipment so you can better take advantage of the Traverse’s ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds.
The Redline Edition carries these incredible looks to the inside of your Traverse. The interior features luxurious jet-black leather. There is even a Dual Skyscape two-panel power sunroof. This allows you to bring the outside into your Traverse on a beautiful sunny day. As you can see, the Redline Edition really pushes the looks of the Chevy Traverse Premier to the limit.
Standard Efficient Performance on All 2023 Traverse Models
One thing that Chevy has done right is to make sure that you don’t have to pay a premium to get exceptional performance on your 2023 Traverse. This is because every Traverse comes with a powerful and efficient 3.6-liter V6 gas engine paired with a Hydra-Matic nine-speed automatic transmission. This has a dual-overhead-camshaft configuration, providing four valves for each cylinder. It also features variable valve timing and automatic stop/start to improve engine efficiency. This engine utilizes direct, high-pressure fuel injection to deliver up to 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the Traverse can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.8 seconds, with a top speed of 130 miles per hour. So, the Traverse is not just strong but also fun to drive.
Chevy has also taken steps to make the Traverse as fuel efficient as possible. If you choose a front-wheel drive model, you can get a combined fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon, while the available all-wheel drive Traverse averages 20 miles per gallon in combined fuel economy.
A Special Traverse, No Matter Which Model You Choose
If you opt for one of the three special editions of the 2023 Chevy Traverse, you will get a three-row midsize SUV with incredible looks. If you decide instead to go with one of the six other trims, you are still getting an SUV that is ideal for you and which I’m sure your family is going to find very special.
