There’s a lot to love about the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS. This three-row midsize SUV is roomy, sporty, and attractive. It could be right for your family.

As fast as automotive technology is moving, the Traverse might feel like it’s getting old. This SUV hit its second generation in 2018, which means it’s already getting a little older than expected. This three-row SUV has room for eight people and received a revamp last year, making it a little fresher than you might expect. It’s time to dig in and see what this Chevy SUV brings for your drive.

No Trickery Under the Hood of this SUV

Most of the SUVs we see in the market today offer some form of turbocharging under the hood, but not the Traverse. This three-row midsize Chevy SUV offers a strong V6 engine that delivers the power and trusted driving personality you desire. You’ll love the predictable power and the impressive suspension tuning that keeps everyone comfortable without being overly soft. The cabin is quieter than expected, with the benefits of active noise cancelation to keep you and your family happy on the road. This is an easy SUV to love and admire when you’re behind the wheel.

How Much Room Will You Find?

Open the doors to the Chevrolet Traverse RS, and you’ll see seating for seven or eight people, depending on the middle seat area. This space can offer either a three-position bench seat or a pair of captain’s chairs, depending on what you want to enjoy inside this SUV. There’s more than enough room for adults in all three rows. The legroom in the third row is 33.5 inches, which is much better than most other midsize three-row SUVs.

When you’re looking for the added benefits of cargo room and versatile storage options, the Traverse has what you need. The area behind the rear seat is 23 cubic feet which expands to an incredible 98.2 cubic feet of space with the rear rows folded down. When you need to take the whole family along for the ride, you’ll have 10 cup holders available, making it easy to put drinks wherever you need to.

The RS Trim Offers the Sporty Style

The Travers is pretty big on the outside, which translates to the fantastic interior room that you find for this SUV. This big SUV is just over 17 feet long, which is similar to most minivans. This size means you should look for a model with rear parking sensors to help you park this big SUV. The RS trim gives you a set of 20-inch alloy wheels along with an appearance package to make it look more stylish.

You’ll also find a set of roof rails on top of this SUV, making it easy to use the roof area for storage. Chevy added two new paint colors to the mix, giving us something more to enjoy in this SUV. These two pain colors are Radiant Red Tintcoat and Sterling Gray Metallic.

What Does the RS Model Add?

The trim-specific features of the Chevrolet Traverse RS give you the sportiness desired. You won’t find a separate powertrain, but you will enjoy the 20-inch dark aluminum wheels, blackout trim and badges, black roof rails, and black grille. Everything that’s standard on the LT Leather and LT Premium Package models comes in the RS package. The seating material is upgraded to offer Jet Black perforated leather upholstery with red accents.

This trim level also gives you the benefits of:

• Bose Audio – 10 speaker system, power amp, Richbass subwoofer, this is an excellent sound system for audiophiles
• Adaptive Cruise Control – This feature allows a driver to set and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. It automatically slows down or speeds up with the flow of traffic.
• Rear Camera Mirror – The view from the rear-facing camera is displayed on the digital rearview mirror. Unlike a traditional rearview mirror, the camera gives a clear view even when the Traverse RS is loaded to the roof in the rear
• Rear Pedestrian Alert – This feature monitors for pedestrians crossing behind the vehicle and alerts you to stop before hitting a person or obstacle.

What Comes at Lower trims of the Chevrolet Traverse?

As you would expect, the Chevrolet Traverse RS includes features from the lower trims to give you a full package of qualities that make sense for your family. When you choose this trim, you’ll find these items in your three-row Chevy SUV.

• Active aero grille shutters
• LED headlights with automatic high-beam controls
• Heated power side mirrors
• Deep-tinted rear privacy glass
• Keyless entry
• Push-button starting
• Rear wiper/washer
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Bluetooth
• Tri-zone automatic climate controls
• Six USB ports
• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Forward-collision warning
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic alerts
• Follow-distance indicator
• Teen Driver technology
• Rear Seat Reminder
• HD Surround Vision 360-degree monitor
• 8-way power driver’s seat
• 6-way power passenger seat
• Wireless charging pad
• Heated front seats

How Much Power Does the Traverse Offer?

The Chevrolet Traverse RS uses the same powertrain as the other four trim levels. This powertrain is a 3.6-liter V6 engine attached to an impressive 9-speed automatic transmission. You can tow up to 5,000 pounds when the Traverse is properly equipped with a towing package. The power delivery for this SUV is 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy numbers reach 18 city/27 hwy mpg in FWD models and 17 city/25 hwy mpg in AWD versions.

Should You Drive this Chevy SUV?

The Chevrolet Traverse RS sits right in the middle of the five trims offered for this three-row SUV. You’ll find more than enough great features to make it a useful and enjoyable vehicle to drive every day. Toss in the sporty appearance package of the RS trim, and you’ve got a vehicle that has a little of everything you want when you take it out for a drive. Will this be the right trim of the Traverse for you?