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Chevrolet Traverse In Snow & Winter Driving? (Explained)

Driving through snow during winter remains one of the hardest things to pull off successfully as a driver.

However, if you can lay your hands on vehicles that can handle winter conditions, it becomes a lot less difficult.

The Traverse is one of the most popular, mid-size Chevrolet vehicle.

In this article, we discuss the Chevrolet Traverse in snow and winter driving.

Here is the short answer to whether the Chevrolet Traverse is good for snow and winter driving:

The Chevy Traverse is an agile crossover SUV and will do just fine in snow and winter. It is equipped with optional All-Wheel Drive and a host of other features that ensures safety and stability during winter.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse Good in the Snow?

Driving a Chevy Traverse through snowy roads won’t give you any worrying concerns. That’s because the Traverse has a strong build and a handful of driver-assist features that keep it stable, even in snow.

The Chevrolet Traverse has a 7.51 inches ground clearance, making it suitable for driving through snow of moderate magnitude.

What Features Will Improve Winter Driving?

There are several other features responsible for the Chevy Traverse’s effectiveness in winter driving.

Below is a list of the features that make the Traverse one of the better winter SUVs:

All-Wheel-Drive (optional)

The Chevy Traverse can be equipped with the All-Wheel Drive, which sends power to the four wheels in low-traction conditions.

This feature saves you some energy and essentially helps you traverse tricky road conditions during winter.

Stability Control

The Chevrolet Traverse comes with GMs signature StabiliTrak, which guarantees stability on arduous terrain.

It isn’t different from the stability control system in other vehicles; it just has a unique name.

When the road gets slippery, there is a chance that the driver loses control, and the vehicle ends up leaving its course.

The stability control stops that from happening by keeping your vehicle on track as long as you make sure to drive slow in the snow.

The StabiliTrak sensors monitor your wheel speed, throttle position, and steering angle to determine if the vehicle is on course.

However, it will only help you on icy roads as long as you drive at low speed and make sure not to accelerate too fast.

Traction Control System

The traction control system monitors the wheels’ road grip, especially on icy or slick roads.

If any of the wheels lose grip, the system cuts down the torque supply to the affected wheel(s) to help improved traction.

It also actuates the brake on the wheels, reducing the speed.

This is great for snow driving.

Anti-Lock Brake System

The Anti-Lock Brake system was introduced as far back as 1971 and has featured in several vehicle models since then.

The ABS automatically detects when a tire stops rotating and is headed for a wheel lock-up.

It then regulates the brake pressure until the wheel’s rotation becomes normal.

With the ABS, you never have to worry about the dangers of wheel lock-up when you are on a winter drive, if you use it correctly.

Electronic Brake-Force Distribution System

The EBD system is more like an improved version of the Anti-Lock Brake System.

It is also designed to prevent wheel lock-up, which could lead to a skid.

The system works by intelligently distributing the ideal brake force for each wheel.

When you are forced to brake hard in tricky winter conditions, the EBD is of no help, though. But it can help you as long as you drive at moderate speed.

Make sure to also read our article about 11 Chevrolet Traverse facts and statistics you should know.

Does A Chevrolet Traverse Have Snow Mode?

The Chevrolet Traverse has dedicated driving modes, including a snow mode for the Front-Wheel Drive models.

The snow mode is one of the features that distinguishes the Traverse as a top-tier midsize SUV for winter driving.

The snow mode functions by reducing the torque sent to your wheels for acceleration, which limits slipping and enhances stability on snowy/icy roads.

As you can see, you don’t really need snow mode if you can control your acceleration yourself.

Can You Install Additional Snow Gear on Chevrolet Traverse?

As much as it is a great choice for winter driving, the Chevrolet Traverse can have trouble plowing through heavy snowfall.

Getting extra snow gears can help to better equip your Traverse for such harsh conditions.

Listed below are some snow gears that could help with winter driving:

  • Snow Tires
  • Snow Socks
  • Snow Chains
  • Ice Studs
  • Snow Boots

There are snow gears for different vehicle models, so we advise that you get one that fits your Traverse perfectly. Consultants at your preferred snow gear shop can help you figure it out.

Also, it is important not to use snow gears in states where they are prohibited. So, before getting any extra gears, ensure that the local traffic laws permit them.

Also read our article about where the Chevrolet Traverse is made.

How Much Snow Can the Chevrolet Traverse Handle?

While the Traverse is excellent in most snow conditions, it is important to know just how much snow it can handle.

With a 7.51 inches ground clearance, the Traverse can handle up to 4.5 inches of snow or more, especially when it has AWD.

That is pretty good and is more than we can say for non-SUVs.

How Do Traverses Handle Low Winter Temperatures?

Chevrolet Traverses have a fuel injection system that ensures your car warms up faster, even during winter.

Ordinarily, you should have no problems starting your Traverse during winter, except you have a weak or dead battery.

Can Chevrolet Traverse Drive on Ice?

You can drive your Chevrolet Traverse through all winter conditions, including ice.

The AWD combined with Stability Control and Anti-Lock Braking features will ensure your Traverse doesn’t slip on icy roads.

However, given the Traverse’s ground clearance, it is important to drive carefully to reduce the risk of a roll-over.

We also have an article about the Chevrolet Trailblazer in snow and winter driving.

Does the Traverse Have 4WD?

The Chevrolet Traverse comes in different models, and none of them have the Four-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Instead, some models have the All-Wheel Drive, which is quite similar to 4WD and also distributes torque to all four wheels.

What About Older Traverse Models and Winter Driving?

The All-Wheel Drive has always been available since the Traverse debuted in 2009.

The 2009 model had an All- Wheel Drive option, Stability Control, and an Anti-Lock Brake system.

While the newer models are better suited for winter driving, older Traverse models can handle winter as well.

Do Traverses Need Snow Tires?

Snow tires will always give a vehicle an extra advantage on snowy/icy roads.

However, if you aren’t dealing with much snow, the regular all-season tires will work just fine during winter driving.

Snow tires will come in handy when you have to traverse extremely wet and icy regions. We advise that you get them, just in case.

Can You Mount A Snow Plow on A Traverse?

Snow plows are usually mounted on rail cars, pickup trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles.

They are not suitable for sedans, and they pose a very high risk to SUVs that mount them.

Mounting a snow plow on the Chevrolet Traverse is not advisable as it can lead to big problems in the long run.

However, if you have to get a snowplow for your Traverse, seek advice from expert consultants for the best, most fitting ones.

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