2011 Chevrolet Traverse Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Chevrolet Traverse overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Traverse, and includes Chevrolet Traverse safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Another year, another short list of minor changes to the Chevrolet Traverse. For 2011, those include the addition of White Diamond Tri-Coat and Steel Green Metallic to the color chart, a new heated cloth seat option for the LT model, and the relocation of the USB port.

Feel free to take a moment to let this life-altering news sink in.

As has been the case since its debut in 2009, the Chevrolet Traverse can be had in any one of three trim levels, each available as a front-drive or all-wheel-drive model.

Shoppers who are on a budget or simply don’t care for a lot of extras will likely find what they’re looking for in the 2011 Traverse LS, which is equipped with typical convenience features like front and rear air conditioning; power windows, mirrors, and door locks with remote keyless entry; a tilt and telescopic steering wheel with cruise control; an audio system with complimentary satellite radio service; OnStar telematics with one free year of the Directions and Connections plan; tilt-and-slide second-row seats that add convenience and versatility; and automatic headlights.

For those seeking a Traverse with a few extra amenities, the LT might be a more suitable choice. This is where you’ll see 18-inch alloys in lieu of the LS’s 17-inch steel wheels, bits of leather trim in the cabin, a power-adjustable seat for the driver, heated side mirrors, a trip computer, and a rear parking aid. Fork over a little more cash and the 2LT option package adds a triple-zone automatic climate control system, second-row captain’s chairs, a Bose premium audio system with a USB port, a reversing camera, and a power tailgate. Options on the LT model include a power sunroof, a DVD entertainment system for second- and third-row passengers, and leather hides on the seats.

Still, you’ll have to pull out all the stops and go with the 2011 Chevy Traverse LTZ if it’s Bluetooth you seek. This top-level model bolsters the comfort and convenience factor with leather, front seats that are heated and cooled, remote engine starting, and a HomeLink universal remote, among other features. The LTZ also gets handsome 20-inch alloy wheels.

Drivers of the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse will be dependent upon a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine to get them where they need to go. Featuring direct fuel injection and complimented by a six-speed automatic transmission, the Traverse’s V6 cranks out a very respectable 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque when equipped with a dual exhaust system, or 281/266, respectively, when mated to a single-pipe setup. Fuel economy registers 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway for front-wheel-drive models, while all-wheel-drive Traverses deliver up to 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

From a reliability perspective, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse could be doing a better job of convincing people to switch to Chevy. Consumer Reports predicts that reliability will be above average with front-wheel drive and average with AWD. Our other source of dependability data, J.D. Power and Associates, also gives the Traverse an average predicted reliability rating.

Safety scores are unquestionably worthy of praise. Like last year’s model, the 2011 Traverse has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (models built after January of 2011). Results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash tests are almost as good, quite an achievement considering that the NHTSA has made its crash-test procedures more rigorous for 2011. Despite the modifications to the program, the Traverse receives a 4-Star frontal impact rating, a 5-Star side impact rating, and a 4-Star resistance to rollover rating.

Chevy continues to build one of the better large crossover SUVs currently available to non-luxury buyers. With competitive pricing, a V6 that’s more powerful and more efficient than the six-cylinder engines in the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, a relatively spacious third-row seating area, and a comfortable interior, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse has earned its spot high on buyers’ shopping lists. Now if Chevy could just knock it out of the ballpark on the reliability front, consumers wouldn’t need to look elsewhere for a family friendly crossover.

By Thom Blackett