2012 Chevrolet Traverse Reviews

Reviews

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Good at the start, but can't trust it!

My wife and I owned a 2012 Chevy Traverse LS from February 2012 to July 2013. This was picked up after our 2010 Chevy Equinox ran into engine problems at 22,000 miles (burning through most oil by 3000 miles, tech bulletin for engine replacement came out after we traded it in.......). I have since traded it in for a 2013 Chevy Silverado as i'm now convinced GM can only build/make V8 and other larger engines reliably these days. We didn't want to go back to a V8, but as dependable as our 2007 Chevy Tahoe was over the years with no hiccups and we needed a truck, the choice for the Silverado was easy. Ok now that the history lesson is over, let's get to the Pros/Cons of the 2012 Chevy Traverse:

Pros:
- Very spaceous and comfortable. Our trip from Austin to San Diego was totally bearable in this vehicle.
- Great turning radius and decent handling. Much better than it's smaller Equinox counterpart. For as large as this vehicle is, it's like driving a car half it's size to me.
- AC/Heat ventilation in just the right spots. One thing that we didn't like in the Equinox was lack of ventilation in the back. We ended up getting a small electric fan in that situation. The front/back ventilation is just right in the Traverse.
- Decent gas mileage. On the above mentioned trip to San Diego I was surprised on how high I estimated the gas bill. Putting around town wasn't too bad, but of course not as good as a long trip down I-10.

Cons (explains my "can't trust it" title):
- Sluggish V6. If it wanted to get up and go, it would. If it didn't, wait a bit for it to catch up. I can remember many a highway/freeway entrances where we had to worry about getting enough speed to enter safely.
- Engine misfires starting at 28,000 miles. To amply this, driving in Texas in 100+ degree heat didn't help and seemed to be the times when it did this. This wasn't sitting idle though, but when entering a freeway or in the middle of traffic on one. Very intermittent though, so it definitely kept me on edge before it's eventual trade in. After researching online, I wasn't the only one with this issue. Multiple tech bulletins on the fuel system of this vehicle it appears. I will admit it ended up getting traded in before looked at unlike the Equinox. Multiple service visits on the Equinox (and my sister in law's Equinox bought a week before getting it's engine replaced on a tech bulletin) got me out of the Equinox for good.

Overall, it was an OK vehicle if you're just putting around town or are a slow freeway driver. Definitely a vehicle for a growing family. Maybe better luck with a V8 model?