Short romance with Chevrolet Traverse

When you gaze around this beautiful country, you see many things such as palm trees, golden sand… and a billion Sport Utility Vehicles. They are as common as mud and every respectable car manufacturer makes one. We have grown to like them, much in the same way you grow to like the mole on your wife's face. You don't actually like it at all, but it's there on her chin, so you have no choice really.

Let's get one thing out into the open right away: SUV's are all as horrible looking as each other. It looks like they have all been designed by the aesthetically inept. But nothing else carries your kids, groceries and pet giraffe better than them.

So, is the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ any good? With a double front grille and its smiling headlights, the Traverse wants to be liked. It's a big shaggy dog looking for a home. So on the plus side, this one is not so bad looking. A cute front and evil looking back give it some interesting character.

Step inside and, at first glance, the two-tone cabin isn't great. But nothing is jarring. Or offensively ugly.

The big Chevy — 5,206mm long, 1,991mm wide and 1,846mm tall — has so much room inside that you can probably go for a jog in it. A quick look behind and the Traverse seems to stretch on forever. There's enough space for a family of six and their luggage, and if you drop both rows of seats, you get 3,296 litres of room.

The high-seating position gives you a commanding view of the road so, once you settle in, it's very comfortable in there, allowing for a good driving position as everything is adjustable.

Outward visibility has been compromised by the rear view mirror which is positioned far too low and the fat A-pillars don't help either.

A 3.6-litre direct-injection V6 powers the big Traverse. It does a blinding good job, too. In fact, the engine is so keen and rev-happy, that it would make perfect sense to see it in the middle of some sportscar. Once it starts going there's no stopping it. It drives like a saloon and on a long open stretch of road you tend to forget you are hauling 2,233kg.

Even if you touch 160kph, the car remains stable and rides comfortably, despite low(ish)-profile 20in tyres. It leads the segment on power too, but loses out to the Prado in torque, though you'll forgive it thanks to the peaky nature of the Traverse's V6.

Facts

Driven by Imran

Start mileage 2,050km

Recent cost Fuel. (Dh105 for a tank!)

Average fuel economy 15mpg

Highs Roominess and comfort

Lows Fuel economy

HOT SEAT

The GT-R is an astounding car, so I thought the warm feeling I was getting in my nether regions while driving had something to do with raised adrenaline, or testosterone levels. Or something.

I was wrong. The seat heater was switched on. The button to turn it on is placed next to the driver's seat and completely out of view or reach. I must have switched it on accidentally while getting in the car. Not pleasant. (By Amit Benjamin)