Mega Bus

A three-row mid-size SUV trying to look and feel bigger, the latest has size on its side but still lacks charisma.

- Joey Capparella

GENERAL MOTORS’ FULL-SIZE SUVs are so successful that Chevy is borrowing from the Tahoe design on the latest Traverse. This mid-size threerow was already larger than many of its peers, and the blunt new front end and square shoulders may conjure some of that Tahoe sales magic.

The Traverse lineup also now includes a Z71 trim with all-terrain tires, adaptive dampers, a torque-vectoring rear differential, and a 1.2-inch lift. The sporty-looking RS is at the top end. For $55,595, it gets 22-inch wheels and blackout trim, plus standard Super Cruise. The more basic LS and LT trims target the heart of the three-rowSUV market, and the Traverse’s core mission hasn’t changed much. Above all, this remains a utilitarian family bus.