Interior

The Traverse’s interior has nearly as many options as the menu at a Cheesecake Factory. You can choose between seven- or eight-passenger seating. The seven-seat model has captain’s chairs in the second row and an optional storage console between the two chairs. Although the extra storage is great, if you plan to have your kids in child-safety seats or booster seats in the second row, you shouldn’t get the console. This will allow you to have a passageway to the third row, and prevent you from having to remove a car seat every time someone needs to get back there.

If you do opt for the center console in the second row, the captain’s chairs slide forward into their collapsible bottom cushions. Sue was able to use the chairs’ Smart Slide system one-handed in her demonstration at the Chicago auto show; I had to use two hands to get the seat to move forward. I didn’t use this feature regularly because I had my daughters’ booster seats in the second-row seats.

The third-row seats are roomy enough for three real adults to fit back there. Trust me, I tried it, and although some of you may debate whether my 5-foot-2-inch stature qualifies me as a bona fide adult, I beg to differ (I just paid my taxes, after all).

With more than two-dozen places to store junk in the trunk — actually, they’re located throughout the crossover—the Traverse can easily function as a home away from home. I was especially appreciative of the cupholders in the rear doors’ armrests. They’re at just the right height for stashing my chai while helping my girls climb into the car. They’re also well-placed for the kids to use while buckled into their car seats.

I loved the three-pronged outlet in the back of the center console. It allowed my daughters to keep their Nintendo DS charged before “My Littlest Pet Shop” died along with my driving peace.
My one complaint with the Traverse’s interior is road noise. Engine noise wasn’t a problem, but road and wind noise were louder than I like in a car.

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

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key interior: Features

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