Just ahead of the Chicago Auto Show, Chevy has just unwrapped a new 2018 Traverse RS. While it’s still no Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, it’s also barely a special model. Touted as a performance model, it also little of that. Late last month, we talked about the Buick Regal TourX, and it looks a lot more attractive to us now.
The RS badge on the Traverse RS is a little confusing, it reminds us of the dark era of Chevy throwing SS onto anything and everything. While the RS doesn’t exactly come with many expectations behind it, Chevy is starting to make us glaze over with the overuse. What’s also deceiving is when you hear RS, you think Tahoe RST, so big engine, right? Not exactly.
This Chevy Traverse RS is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine that makes only 257-horsepower at an unspecified rpm. It puts out slightly more torque at 295 ft/lbs of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Truth be told, this is really more of a looker than a doer, in terms of being sporty. It comes with a blacked out grille, window trim, roof rails, and bowtie to improve the looks. It’s also not bad when it comes to fuel economy, Chevy says it will get 20 city/26 highway miles to a gallon of fuel.
One huge downside to this is that, if you wanted AWD or RWD from your crossover, you are out of luck with the Traverse RS, front-wheel-drive is your only option. This would definitely make us lean towards the Buick TourX instead.