As of this writing, Chevrolet does not offer a police version of the Traverse, nor is there word of any law enforcement packages for the all-new Chevrolet Blazer. In fact, GM/Chevrolet have yet to offer a crossover SUV to the police. Right now, the only GM utility offered to law enforcement customers is the Tahoe PPV – a full-size, body-on-frame SUV that’s larger, heavier, and less agile than a crossover.
And that makes us wonder if Chevrolet should fill this gap by offering a model like the Blazer or Traverse to law enforcement agencies, much like the Ford Explorer (called Police Interceptor Utility for the police) and Dodge Durango.
2019 Chevrolet Blazer
The Numbers
Among full-size crossovers from American automakers, the Ford Explorer is far and away the sales leader: sales of the Explorer and its police-specific variant totaled a cumulative 196,870 units in the first nine months of 2018. That’s almost twice as many as the Traverse and four times as many as the Durango.
Sales Numbers - Full-Size American Crossovers - Jan - Sep 2018 - USA
| MODEL | SEP 18 / SEP 17 | SEPTEMBER 18 | SEPTEMBER 17 | YTD 18 / YTD 17 | YTD 18 | YTD 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER | -0.68% | 18,769 | 18,898 | -1.62% | 171,416 | 174,247 |
| TRAVERSE | -8.15% | 10,969 | 11,943 | +20.41% | 106,998 | 88,864 |
| POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY | +11.65% | 2,578 | 2,309 | +2.69% | 25,454 | 24,787 |
| DURANGO | +6.06% | 6,583 | 6,207 | -5.96% | 49,541 | 52,681 |
Specifically, Ford’s Police Interceptor Utility saw 25,454 deliveries – which is roughly the units that Chevrolet is currently missing out on by not offering a police version of a crossover.
The GM Authority Take
While we understand that General Motors is aiming to boost profits by increasing ATPs (Average Transaction Prices) instead of focusing on the total quantity of units sold, offering police versions of the Blazer or Traverse is at least worthy of consideration. Even if only 1,500 units of a police-level crossover were to sell each month, that’s still about 10,000-20,000 units sales a year.
As such, GM could be at a competitive disadvantage by not offering a crossover for police duty. The unibody structure, high roof, increased fuel economy, and tight handling provided by a crossover are qualities not afforded by the body-on-frame Tahoe PPV.
So, should Chevrolet invest in offering a Blazer, Traverse or both for police duty? Tell us what you think by participating in the poll and commenting below.
Comments
It would be great, Ford is making like a bandit with the Explorer and Dodge is going to start now. GM should not only do both, the Traverse and the Blazer, but also the Silverado and Colorado.
They already use the Colorado Diesel for “beach police” down in Jersey. All the trucks do is drive down the beach with (some) police garb on and are on call should a crime actually happen.
Yes this is where police departments are going as the are efficient, and versatile.
I have a Neighbor who is an officer who loves his new Ford.
I firmly believe that Ford is gaining customers by offering the Explorer to police fleets. I know a cop who just bought an F150, and traded his wife’s Terrain in for an Ecosport. all because he loves his police vehicle (Explorer).
Ecosport really?
I agree. Maybe they should do a Police version of both.
Offer both models in addition to a police version of the Impala. In addition to offering upgrade for Police version offer those same upgrades to the public. Make the RST stand for something other than cosmetic.
RST should remain cosmetic… as should RS.
Performance upgrades should be offered in a package called RST Performance Package.
OK so what do you think the chance of the ever offering performance versions of these vehicles?
Alex the history of most RS models is cosmetics.
SS was the true proformsnce designation.
The few time TS was tied to
Roformance was like the first gen Camaro that coul be order with both the RS trim and SS profromance packages.
To me Vhevy has held true on the RS as a trim package.
That’s right. Which is exactly the reason I recommended to keep RS the way it is – an appearance package.
Just backing up what you said.
Nope, they’ll keep pushing that sloppy,expense, inefficient Tahoe PPV since ’97.
The Blazer maybe. It’s closer in size to the Explorer, which is one of the most popular police vehicles right now. Not to mention, although I like the Traverse, it doesn’t exactly scream “scary police car”.
GM should also look seriously at there CUV that you can take off the pavement/not off road /dirt roads (adventures-trailblazer) type. Not one can be configured for this way.
Blazer PPV and then, once the next gen Tahoe debuts, a new Tahoe PPV/Highway Patrol Car.
I’d also like the see a new four-door Alpha 2-based Chevy sedan to rival the Charger using all of the Camaro hardware and engineering. Then they can offer a PPV version of that too.
I’d offer the Traverse & continue to offer the Tahoe. The Traverse would offer more room than Ford’s Interceptor. Ford is also significantly raising the Police Interceptor price for 2019. Because Ford feels that they don’t have competition?
I voted for the Blazer ,but it would not make a good High way pursuit vehicle , leave that to the Tahoe ! By the way ,Ford is going rear wheel drive ,for the next generation Ford Explorer !
As an Officer who drives an interceptor:
To start, I am a Chevy guy at heart through and through. I (we) hate the Ford Interceptor SUV, would choose the crown vic with 160k on it over the Explorer any day. They are slow and bulky, AWD isnt true and creates significant oversteer. Have gone through multiple steering boxes. We have one truck that is on its third transfer case which Ford blames on “tires that are different sizes” (not the case) one truck is on its second motor due to it skipping timing twice, somehow. The benefit is that Ford has no competition with this class. Many city agency’s will unfortunately not purchase the Tahoe for patrol (us as well) due to their size. Also, being that is it a “Utility Vehicle” they can be purchased through Capital budget not direct Police Budget, which saves agencies money. (Something else that can help Chevy)
As the owner of a Traverse and 2 Equinox, i would love to see Chevy get back in the game with this. The V6 is already significantly quicker than the Explorer and the vehicle is much more spacious. Finding a way to squeeze the 5.3 in there would be amazing as well. Would love to be on board to help design this!
Thank-you for your service and insightful comments.
I’m legitimately curious if that new truck-duty 2.7T in the 2019 Silverado could be tuned and adapted to police duty in these things. If it could at least match the power of the V6 and return much better fuel economy at idle (which I imagine you spend plenty of time doing), that alone could be a massive benefit to agencies. Not to mention the fact that turbos have torque down low in the rev range, a boon for getting started should you need to chase somebody down.
Curious to hear your opinions on that, Brendan. And thanks for your service.
Would be curious to feel this engine’s powerband. Very interesting thought. One thing to take in to consideration though is dealing with heat soak during those idle periods, which could effect long term reliability.
Yes GM should offer a Traverse PPV. Not a Blazer one though, that vehicle will be more in line with the Ford Edge not the Explorer or Durango. For sure still keep the Tahoe PPV it is still quite popular here in the south. And an Impala PPV isn’t a bad idea at all. Hell civilians aren’t buying them.
Why, with all the vehicles law enforcement has used over the years, I think it would be great. I have driven Chevy for fourty yrs and it’s one thing Chevy is know for is it ride quality and performance. The hours law enforcement put in riding I think they will very pleased with Chevy. Offer it to them what do you have to loose.
One would think the new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer would be a natural as it has the size and volume capable of replacing a sedan; it also has a bit more grunt than the Traverse as the Blazer has an optional 3.6L V6.
The Traverse also has a 3.6… though not the same one as in the Blazer.
Nah. Ford should come back with a redesign crown Vic CUV with a v6 or v8.
YES!!!
hell something has to have an old-school ride. Apparently (but hopefully not) the XTS is going away. What are people going to buy if they simply want a comfortable Hwy cruiser with great straight-line power, but they don’t give a rats a$$ about handling or image?
As an LEO, yes yes yes god yes. I’m so sick of our Chargers, everyone who has a Tahoe loves them but the state has decided they’re too expensive.
I think it would be wise, on many fronts, to offer a Traverse, new (large) 4 door sedan, and the next gen Tahoe, all with police packages. Friends of mine in law enforcement have nothing good to say about the Ford Explorer. GM can really gain a large market share with a legitimate replacement for the Crown Vic, a worthy SUV, and still offering an old school body on frame PPV. Local departments say the GM products are far more reliable, comfortable, and less expensive to operate. Also, the power trains are just better all around. A Traverse based unit would provide great capacity and less expensive operation for municipal agencies; a full size and weel powered rear drive sedan would give back many features often missed with todays options, and the Tahoe unit would remain a great option for highway, heavy duty, and offroad needs. GM…DO IT!
HELL YES! Get on the band wagon. It doesn’t take a scientist to figure this one out!
I’m a recently retired Chicago police officer. I must admit that the Ford explorer were the worst vehicle for police work. The leg room is horrible. Egress and ingress is just as bad. Outside of police work, I have met owners that expressed that they did not like the vehicle. Municipalities should give the travese a try because of the commodious advantage.
Hell yes on the Traverse! Maybe on the Blazer… Continue with the Tahoe and it’s next version.
The Traverse is a natural
I would love a traverse! Currently own a 2004 trailblazer (any hint Chevy may start making them in the states?) and want my next personal vehicle to be a traverse. If my department got them though, I’ll probably not get one as my current interceptor has just over 51k miles, I’m likely to retire in this thing. I imagine a traverse would be roomier, at 6’2, i find the ford Taurus to be cramped.
Definitely yes!!!! I dont know why chevy has decided not to do such a thing… but if anyone from chevy is reading this YES! MAKE A TRAVERSE PPV, its definitely worth noting and taking action on.
Here is how this would work.
Camaro and Tahoe for pursuit vehicles.
Blazer for patrol vehicles.
Traverse for support vehicles.
This line up would cover most needs.
The Traverse is just not needed for daily patrols. It would make for a great K-9 unit.
I can’t wait to buy one at the auction in a few years due to cheap parts and good looks (looks amazing with graphics and lightbar).
Full sized RWD sedan. Get rid of CAFE so they can start building CARS again and stop with the poor handling top heavy CUVs. CUVs only exist to dodge fuel economy requirements imposed on “cars”. It’s stupid that it was meant to decrease fuel consumption and only served to increase it.
Full sized RWD sedan. Get rid of CAFE so they can start building bigger CARS again and stop with the poor handling top heavy CUVs. CUVs only exist to dodge fuel economy requirements imposed on “cars”. It’s stupid that it was meant to decrease fuel consumption and only served to increase it.
Absolutely GM should offer all Police Depts. the Chevy.
Give them the Trax instead with a twin turbo under the hood and AWD.
Who cares. Another weak article.
It’s a tricky branding issue. If cops were driving Chevy’s — you’d be like shouldn’t they have a better GM product? If they’re driving Cadillacs we then ask if that’s really necessary? And would posh people want to associate with cop cars?
Strictly from a branding point of view I’d say any cop car HAS to be a GMC. It just ‘feels’ right. Next I’d consider creating a GMC vehicle ONLY for the police, based upon their needs.
Years ago, the only police vehicles were Chevy and Dodge. Why Chevrolet dropped out is strange. I drove the Chevy and Dodge patrol cars for years. Great performance in both. Should they get back in the game? Definitely YES. Owning a Camaro and new Equinox I can say They have come a long way in performance and technology.
Yes because you would have less found on road dead if they had chevys. Heartbeat of America all the way
I had commented earlier thinking only the Traverse needed a cop variant, but after thinking about it more, the Blazer would make a great patrol vehicle with the Traverse as a K9 car, or a patrol vehicle.
I’m a GM retiree after 34+ years and have never understood why we got mostly out of the public safety vehicle business (not counting the Holden PPV) when the hardware is already there??? It’s great publicity if you ask me. Yeah, I know the Tahoe is there and that’s great, but the volume is low on those.
I remember when we owned a 1993 Celebrity that had all the 9C1 upgrades that were available to the general public at the time. That car rode and drove GREAT. Handled like a dream, and just felt tough. Extra coolers and cooling fans, bigger brakes, bigger radiator, tires and wheels. Loved that car, and drove it for 150k+ miles.
Does anyone know if the 3.6 as it is, is a robust enough design to take the punishment of being a cop powerplant?
Ford exploer police interceptors had exhaust recall. For leaking exhaust fumes into cab. Not acceptable at all, this wouldnt be an issue of consern for Chevy. Due to superior quality in vehicles. Chevrolet put the model T into extinction. Forcing ford to shut down for 8 months. Then to compete again came the model A. Chevy has always been best. Not the cheapest, the BEST.
Everyone is missing the point they are both gm products if you read the headline it asked traverse or the new blazer not this that and the other thing blazer or traverse that’s it
Why not a Cadillac CT5/CTS interceptor for highway patrol?. With that also add the Impala for a cheap PPV, an Blazer for inclimate cites (Minneapolis) , continue Tahoe with optional 6.6 power . A luxury car for PPV duty?, works for BMW and Benz all the time.
They also should make an Impala Police package with a 5.3 again. I loved The 2007 Impala SS. The same car as the Police interceptor. It was pretty much a sleeper car
ABSOLUTELY.
There are great things going on with composite molded-in aramids (Kevlar), GM could take the lead on being an innovator and protect police lives.
I’m a recently retired LEO. I think the Blazer will be too small. The Traverse would make a good edition to the Tahoe PPV. In my state the Tahoe is not common because it’s about $3k more expensive than the Explorer Interceptor. Completion would be good for Ford. I hear Ford is significantly increasing their prices.
Yes Chevy should offer a Blazer or Traverse as a PPV. I would much rather see Chevy make another powerful PPV like the box style Caprice/Impala from the 80’s. Build them in the United States not over seas like they did the last PPV
I would love to see a version of the Blazer as a police interceptor. Love the looks of this vehicle. Please GM. Let me demo for you at my agency.