Category: Motoring

The Chevrolet Traverse delivers a smooth, confident and quiet highway ride. Its V6 engine provides adequate performance, but lacks low-end punch during authoritative passing maneuvres at any speed, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency reports

Large crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs) have become the vehicle of choice for many large families. And it is easy to see why, as these crossovers offer plenty of room for passengers and their belongings, as well as the availability of all-wheel drive to get them confidently to their destinations in foul weather conditions. Among these new-age station wagons, the Chevrolet Traverse stands as a sensible choice.

Among the Traverse’s many attributes is its very spacious interior that can seat up to eight passengers. Or, with the second- and third-row seats flipped down, it can provide a cavernous 116 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The cabin is attractive, too, benefiting from last year’s refresh that brought more harmonious styling along with a standard rearview camera and Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment interface. The latter controls a wealth of audio, navigation and phone functions through a simple touchscreen.

There are other good choices for a large crossover. The Ford Flex, with its more traditional wagon-like styling, is a funkier take on the same theme and definitely worth checking out, as is the more athletic-handling and nearly as spacious Mazda CX-9. And if one is willing to drop down a bit in size, the Hyundai Santa Fe impresses with its all-around excellence. But with its handsome styling, enormous cabin and impressive day-to-day functionality, the Chevrolet Traverse more than holds its own in the current population of family-friendly crossovers.

Body Styles

With seating for up to eight passengers, the Traverse is classified as a large crossover SUV. It is offered in three basic trim levels — LS, LT and LTZ — but the LT is subdivided into 1LT and 2LT versions.

Standard features on the LS Traverse include 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, roof rails, cruise control, front and rear air-conditioning, keyless entry, full power accessories, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split-folding third-row seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a trip computer, Bluetooth, OnStar telematics, a 6.5-inch touch screen display, a rearview camera and a six-speaker audio system (with a CD player, USB/auxiliary audio inputs, satellite radio and HD radio). There are also dual USB charge-only ports on the rear of the center console.

Stepping up to the 1LT trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors, remote ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood-grain interior trim and an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustments. On top of that, the 2LT tacks on an auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirror, a power lift gate, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and the MyLink infotainment interface (which includes voice control, Bluetooth audio connectivity and smartphone radio app integration).

The range-topping LTZ trim includes 20-inch wheels, a blind-spot monitoring system, a rear cross-traffic alert system, forward collision-alert system, lane-departure warning system, power-folding mirrors, second-row captain’s chairs (reducing seating capacity to seven), leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustments, driver memory functions, an eight-way power front passenger seat, ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Some of the upper trims’ features are available on the lower trims as options; for example, the forward collision alert and lane-departure warning systems are optional on the 2LT. Also available, depending on trim level, are a navigation system, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a dual-panel sunroof and a rear-seat DVD entertainment center with A/V inputs and a 110-volt household power outlet for gaming consoles.

Powertrains and Performance

Powering most Chevrolet Traverse models is a 3.6-litre V6 that produces 281 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The LTZ trim features twin exhaust outlets that increase output to 288 hp and 270 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission, but buyers can choose front-wheel or all-wheel drive. In Edmunds testing, an all-wheel-drive LTZ sprinted to 60 mph in a class-competitive 8.1 seconds.

The EPA estimates fuel economy at 19 mpg in combined driving for the front-drive Traverse (17 city/24 highway) and 19 mpg combined (16 city/23 highway) for the all-wheel-drive model; both are average results for V6 crossovers in this class.

Safety

Standard safety features on all Chevy Traverse models include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, a rearview camera, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags for all three rows. OnStar is also standard and includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen-vehicle assistance and turn-by-turn navigation.

An inboard driver-seat side airbag that helps protect front occupants from colliding into each other in the event of a side impact is optional on the LS trim and standard on all others. Rear parking sensors are standard on all versions, except the base LS. A blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring system is standard on the LTZ, as are forward collision-alert and lane-departure warning systems. The latter two are optional on the 2LT.

In Edmunds brake testing, a fully loaded LTZ with all-wheel drive required just 119 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is better than average for a family-oriented three-row crossover SUV. In government crash tests, the Traverse earned a top five-star rating for overall performance, with five out of five stars given for overall front-impact protection and five stars for overall side-impact protection. The Traverse also fared well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, in which it got the highest rating of “Good” in moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength tests.

Interior Design

The Chevrolet Traverse features a spacious and attractive interior. Most touch points are decently padded, and GM’s recent attention to improving materials quality has helped the Traverse look and feel more premium than in previous years, especially the LTZ.

The rearview monitor and all infotainment functions are accessed via a 6.5-inch touch screen display in the dash, but the screen itself is mounted low in the driver’s sight line and requires a longer glance away from the road than we would like. The available MyLink interface, which allows smartphone radio app integration, features a clean layout and intuitive menu structure. Both on-screen and dash-mounted touch inputs are regularly slow to react, however, making the interface a bit frustrating. We’re also not fond of the small buttons for some climate controls or the USB port placement in a dash-top bin, where direct sun and high temperatures can bake electronics.

Front-row passengers will enjoy abundant head- and legroom, as will second-row occupants, but the middle row seat cushions are a bit low. Sliding those seats all the way back alleviates this issue, but that effectively kills third-row legroom. The slide release is also difficult to access. The narrow, flat third-row seats are easily deployed and stowed, though they are really suited only for kids and smaller adults. As is invariably the case with three-row vehicles, rearward visibility is almost nonexistent when you have a full crew on board, so the standard rearview camera is a huge help.

The Traverse scores points for its generous cargo capacity. Even with the third-row seats in place, the Traverse can carry up to 24.4 cubic feet of luggage. That figure jumps to 70.3 cubes with the rearmost seats folded flat and a cavernous 116.3 cubes with the second row stowed.

The new Jaguar XF medium-sized executive is now available in all of Jaguar Land Rover sub-Sahara Africa’s markets, boasting more ground-breaking technology such as Extended Navigation.

This feature, which combines two separate mapping packages offered for the first time as a single, integrated solution, will give Jaguar XF drivers an unprecedented trans-border navigation capability, allowing for safe and efficient travel across Africa.

According to the Operations Director of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), Nigel Clarke, “The XF continues to offer a compelling blend of style, performance and refinement, and the changes effected from MY14.5 – as these updates are known internally – it remains a car which will appeal to those who are used to the finer things in life.

“For these people, their time is one of the most important commodities and with Extended Navigation, they can use time even more efficiently by getting straight to where they want to go, with minimal delay thanks to exceptional intuitiveness and usability, not to mention an impressive array of features.”

As well as Extended Navigation, the MY14.5 introduces additional convenience features; including Rear Park Aid for Luxury derivatives, and Reverse Park Camera for Premium Luxury derivatives. All 3.0-litre diesel and 3.0-litre petrol models boast a rear spoiler as standard.

This rear spoiler will be offered as an option on the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre petrol models, while a full aerodynamic – which adds a revised front bumper, black grille with chrome surround, body-coloured rear valance and ‘R’ Style side sills – is also available. The Black Pack – available as a standalone or in addition to the Aero pack – adds further gravitas thanks to the gloss black side window surrounds, black grille/grille surround and black bootlid garnish.

As far as the interiors are concerned, Premium Luxury models can be enhanced with the Sport Pack; comprising heated and cooled electrically-adjustable (with a dual-position memory for the driver) sports seats in soft grain leather, bright stainless steel pedals, and Jet Morzine treatment for the headlining and the roof pillars.  A number of sound system and interior veneers are also available as well as a television tuner.

The MY14.5 XF range comprises eight models, with a choice of four engines – two turbodiesels (2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6), a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol with 177kW, as well as the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with 250kW and 450Nm.  The flagship of the range is the V8-engined XFR-S (405kW), offering a blend of exceptional performance along with superb dynamic ability. The 375 kW XFR remains available.

“The XF range has been the Jaguar brand’s mainstay for a number of years and with this latest round of changes will continue to do so. Extended Navigation is especially significant in the sub-Saharan markets, where it will give us a unique selling proposition,” Clarke said.

Pan Nigeria Limited has taken a giant step to bring the new auto policy into fruition by kicking off Peugeot 301 production and inaugurating the proposed site for Automotive Cluster Park. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO, who was at PAN Nigeria Limited headquarters in Kaduna, reports.

When the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr Ibrahim Boyi called on the Federal Government late last year to create the enabling environment that would guarantee huge foreign investments to support Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution Plan, especially in the auto sector, little did the public know the inherent benefits of such  call.

The  government yielded to the call by approving the National Automotive Development Policy.

With this government’s gesture, Boyi and a few others in the automotive sector see the policy as an opportunity to put the nation on the pedestal of vehicle-producing nations.

Earlier this year, Boyi promised to reposition the moribund PAN Nigeria Limited towards retaking its number one spot in the auto industry.

Last Tuesday, the company sent signals to other players in the sector of its readiness to reclaim its lost glory.

PAN Nigeria Limited kicked off the industrial assembly of new Peugeot 301 and inaugurated the proposed Automotive Cluster Park site.

The epoch-making event was attended by the former Head of State,  General Yakubu Gowon, during whose tenure the company was opened over 40 years ago.

Vice President Namadi Sambo who was supposed to lead the ceremony was represented by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr  Olusegun Aganga.

Aganga, while praising PAN Nigeria for keying into the automotive policy, said no nation can develop by relying on importation.

He boasted that Nigeria can be the biggest auto industry in Africa if the policy is well harnessed.

Aganga explained that President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration is not only to assemble vehicles but rather produce them.

“We want to turn iron to vehicles; we want to turn rubber to tyres and make Nigeria the hub of automobile in Africa,” he said.

According to him, the moribund auto plants have got a new lease of life, courtesy of the auto policy.

He reiterated the belief that more jobs would soon be created in the sector by the time spare parts are being produced locally.

“The response by foreign investors to the policy has exceeded our expectations, we urge Nigerians to patronise PAN and others. That is the only way we can develop our country. We must produce what we consume and consume what we produce. Anyone who is against this policy is against the people,” he said.

Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero said by the time PAN Nigeria Limited becomes fully functional, the multiplier effects of job creation and technolocal knowledge will be  immense for Nigerians and residents  of the state in particular.

The governor enjoined Nigerians to patronise the locally assembled vehicles.

“If we do not patronise our own products, who will? If we do not, how can we be among the biggest car producers? As for us in Kaduna, we have long keyed into purchasing Peugeot products,” he said.

Gen Gowon hailed PAN for resuscitating the “best car manufacturing company in Nigeria.”

He prayed the policy be sustained by succeeding adminidtration.

“Nigeria would be better for it if the policy is not truncated,” he said.

In his opening remarks, Boyi said the management was full of optimism and great hope for the future of the company, the automotive and Nigeria.

He said the auto policy has made it possible to reopen their industrial production for the Peugeot vehicles after six years of inactivity.

The re-opening, he said, had attracted the support of their OEM partners, Messers Automobile Peugeot of France and created a new window of opportunity for potential employment and re-engagement of our disengaged workers and also resuscitated the business of the largely moribund local component manufacturers.

“We are proud to state here, today our auto manufacturing plant remains the biggest and most comprehensive auto plant not only in Nigeria, but West and Central Africa. Ours will be the  benchmark for all incoming auto plants in Nigeria.

“We are also confident that AIDP will achieve its objectives of protecting local auto plants, promote local components manufacturing, attract investments into the auto industry and create hundreds of thousands of direct jobs in the sector,” he said.

PAN Nigeria Chairman Alhaji Munir Ja’afar announced that PAN has dedicated local parts park as contribution to the earmarked Automotive cluster parks as captured by the approved National Automotive Development Plan, last year.

Ja’afar said the idea of bringing together auto local content manufacturers under one umbrella as a cluster park within a manufacturing outfit, will no doubt, accelerate aspiration of growing the percentage of local content in output apart from the anticipated benefits of reduction in some unnecessary overhead costs incurred on amenities such as power, water, logistics and security as these costs will be shared among all.

He praised President Jonathan for the policy.

“We, the industrialists, have wholeheartedly agreed that the policies are meant for us to explore growth opportunities, increase our GDP and create employment for our citizens. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to jealously monitor the implementation of the policy and avoid policy flip flop as this is capable of dampening our morale and confidence,” he added.

He called on the Federal Executive Council to follow its directives with political will and ginger-up ministers and government agencies to patronise Made-in- Nigeria vehicles.

This, he said, was the only way the government could create market for the locally produced vehicles in addition to duty differentials recently introduced to encourage local production.

PSA Group Regional Director Eric Maydeiu said PAN factory remains the only one between Morocco and South Africa that is capable of producing products of quality following the more demanding standards of PSA.

Following Duster’s launch four years ago, the model has turned out to be a resounding success. Combined worldwide productions of Renault – and Dacia-branded Dusters have already reached one million vehicles worldwide.

The millionth Duster was made at Renault’s plant in Curitiba, Brazil, and will be delivered to a customer in the same country.

Duster is currently marketed in more than 100 countries and made in five factories across the world.

Not only is Duster one of the driving forces behind the Renault Group’s international growth, but it has also emerged as the best-selling Renault model worldwide.

“Duster is a truly global success story,” said Arnaud Deboeuf, the Renault Group’s Entry Programme Director.

“With Renault branding, it perfectly meets the demands of our international customers and is contributing to Renault’s expansion in emerging markets. At the same time, the Dacia-badged version sold in Europe and our Mediterranean Basin markets has succeeded in attracting a new clientele to the brand thanks to the styling and genuine all-terrain capability it delivers for an affordable price. Duster is definitely a model that is winning us new customers,” Deboeuf said.

Today, it is available in more than 100 countries, branded either as a Renault or a Dacia.

The Dacia-badged version has gain popularity with customers thanks to the cabin space it delivers for its price, as well as its all-terrain ability, a feature all the model’s buyers appreciate.

Total Duster sales continued to grow in 2013 to reach more than 376,000 units for the year.