Mechanically, the biggest change with the Traverse currently lurks underhood, where a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 - essentially the same engine found in Cadillac's CTS - lies coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Like its siblings, the Traverse is set up primarily for front-wheel drive (approximately 65 percent of the model mix); all-wheel drive is optional.
In Lambda-spec, the direct-injection V-6 produces 281 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque in LS and LT forms; LTZ models - breathing via a dual exhaust system - yield 288 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. That's better than the older 3.6-liter V-6 found in the 2008 Acadia, Enclave, and Outlook, which managed to deliver 275 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque (2009 models will get the same direct-injected V-6 as the Traverse). Yes, those figures are down from the 304 hp and 273 lb-ft in the CTS, as a result, we're told, of a restrictive airbox and a longer exhaust.
Compared to the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook trio, we found the new engine adds a bit more power and torque to the Traverse's launch, but we were more impressed with the revised calibration of the six-speed. No longer does the gearbox seem to hunt around under acceleration; rather, it quickly - and smoothly - downshifts to move you around. Even when towing - a possibility, given the 5200-lb trailer capacity - the transaxle doesn't seem to jump around too sporadically.
Although the suspension was specifically tuned to deal with the Traverse's mass and tires, the ride isn't completely dissimilar to that of GM's other Lambdas. There's perhaps a little less float compared to the Enclave, but the Traverse drives like any of the other GM crossovers. That's not a bad thing, given it soaks up broken surfaces fairly well and manages to have sharp turn in - at least for a large utility. We did note a bit of wind noise at 70 mph - more so than in the deathly silent Toyota Highlander, for example - but overall, the Traverse remains calm and collected in everyday driving.
One compromise buyers may have to make is in the area of fuel economy. Even with the Traverse sporting a sleek exterior (it has a drag coefficient of 0.33) and the direct-injection engine, it still weighs in at just under 5000 lbs, prompting mileage to take a bit of a hit. The front-wheel-drive Traverse is rated for 17/24 city/highway mpg. Although that's thirsty, it's slightly better than the 16/24 offered by the similar 2009 Ford Flex - and it's certainly an improvement over a full-size SUV.
We're told pricing - and content levels - should be close to that of the Outlook (somewhere in the low $30k range) when the Traverse hits showrooms this fall. Given the nearly identical pricing, specifications and drive qualities to the other Lambdas, we'd expect buyers to cross-shop among the four by means of style - again, so they don't have to compromise.