2013 Chevy Traverse Gets New Face, Upgraded Materials and Better Ride

Chevrolet is giving the Traverse a little refresh for the 2013 model with a new, cleaner face, better interior and more supple ride. 

The new front end is basic but handsome. It is hard to call it stylish, but it will not offend anyone either.  The Traverse wears a three-bar grill with new headlights that are meant to look like the recently introduced Malibu. The hood has a slight power dome. In the rear, the Traverse has new tail lights. 

Where Chevy has really worked is on the inside. The 2013 Traverse has more soft-touch materials around the instrument panel and doors. There is more chrome trim, and the car has a new, 6.5in touch screen display with Bluetooth. The front seats now have adjustable head rests. Wood trim is standard on the LT and LTZ trims. Chevy claims that the Traverse will sit three adults in its third row giving it an eight passenger capacity. 

Power figures are the same for the 2013 model with 281hp on all trims but the LTZ that has 288hp. It will tow 5,200lbs. 

Despite looking exactly the same, Chevy claims that it has worked on the transmission controls to make shifts "quicker and more consistent."

The other big area that Chevrolet worked on the Traverse is the suspension. The springs and front struts have beeen re-tuned to give a more pliant, car-like ride. 

“The new Traverse is a family vehicle without compromise. It is more capable than many sport-utility vehicles, with as much room as a minivan and better functionality than both. The Traverse is clever, capable and confident – and there when you need it most,”  said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet Global Marketing and Strategy.