“Mummy” Blogger Victoria Mason Checks Out the Chevy Traverse

June 20, 2012 2:01 pm ET

This post is by Victoria Mason, a freelance writer and blogger. She is the founder of The Mummy Chronicles, a lifestyle blog and the review site, Mummy’s Product Reviews where she talks cars, green living and beauty.  She lives in the DC Metro area with her husband and three kids.

When you live in the DC Metro area you come to expect that almost every drive will involve some traffic.  Whether you are on the inner or outer loop of the beltway or out in the ‘burbs you are going to hit a creeping tangle of cars at some point in your day.  This is the price we pay to live in the nation’s capital, it seems so you might as well enjoy the ride.

Earlier this month I had the chance to drive a 2012 Chevy Traverse LTZ for a week.  I drove this crossover all over town with my three kids in tow and took it past state lines to visit a few friends.  While driving the Traverse I noticed two things.  First, this is one quiet vehicle.  Despite the Traverse’s size this seven-passenger vehicle can barely be heard upon ignition or as you are traveling through town.  Inside and out it makes very little noise.  The roomy cabin, full of entertainment from XM Radio to a passenger DVD player, is shielded from road noise too.  The only time I was aware of engine noise was when I kicked the car past 60 mph on the highway.  Second, the Traverse with its ability to hold more cargo than a Ford Explorer has more space than you think.  The split-folding seats in the second and third row make it fast and easy to store as you go or prepare for a bigger load.  I packed in a weeks’ worth of groceries for a family of five, an emergency car kit, a stroller, our farm share and three car seats without feeling cramped.

If there is one thing I have learned when it comes to driving in DC it is that comfort and quiet are key elements to enjoying the ride even when it comes to a crawl.