Having initially announced the Chevrolet Traverse at the 2019 Seoul Motor Show, GM has now officially launched the full-size crossover in South Korea to take on the new Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. Chevy’s full-size crossover arrives in South Korea under the “Super SUV” moniker, a reference to the Traverse having the most interior space in its class thanks to the biggest exterior dimensions.
To position the full-size utility in South Korea, General Motors is drawing on its vast heritage, starting with the 84 years of experience that Chevrolet has accumulated in making large SUVs. The bigger body size and interior space of the Chevrolet Traverse, along with the excellent towing capacity and advanced safety equipment, seek to attract customers who enjoy comfort for the whole family.
“The Chevrolet, the world’s first SUV in 1935, has long been the largest SUV in the US market, the home of large SUVs,” said President and CEO of GM Korea, Kaher Kazem, in a statement. “Traverse will appeal to discerning customers who want to express their personality and extend their life experiences with captivating designs and proven high-tech specifications.”
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse arrive in South Korea in the seven-seat interior configuration, the one in which the second row features independent captain’s chairs for two rather than a bench seat that seats three. A total of five models will be on offer, including three trim levels and two styling packages, as follows:
- LT Leather
- LT Leather Premium
- Redline
- RS
- Premier
Like their counterparts in North America, Chevrolet Traverse models for South Korea cradle the naturally-aspirated 3.6L V6 LFY engine mated to the GM 9-speed automatic transmission. The combination is good for 310 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, the models include selectable AWD, which allows the driver to switch between front- or all-wheel-drive based on driving conditions.
Besides offering the biggest and most comfortable passenger compartment in the segment, the Chevrolet Traverse also features a wide range of standard technology and safety equipment that allows it to set itself apart from the competition. These include the Rear Camera Mirror, which increases rearward visibility by 300 percent, and a central airbag that prevents the driver and front passenger from colliding and injuring each other during an accident.
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is now available across the Chevrolet dealer network in South Korea, with the units being imported from the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan – currently the only facility in the world where the Traverse vehicle is produced. With the addition of the full-size crossover, GM is looking to improve the image of the Chevrolet brand in South Korea while also taking advantage of the ongoing boom in large SUVs in that market.
Pricing for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse in South Korea is as follows:
- Chevrolet Traverse LT Leather: 45,200,000 KRW or $37,780 USD
- Chevrolet Traverse LT Leather Premium: 49,000,000 KRW or $40,950 USD
- Chevrolet Traverse Redline: 52,220,000 KRW or $43,640 USD
- Chevrolet Traverse RS: 58,100,000 KRW or $48,550 USD
- Chevrolet Traverse Premier: 58,200,000 KRW or $48,640 USD
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Comments
While the 3-row 6-passenger seating makes it the Chevrolet Traverse attractive, it’s unclear whether it can gain much of a following in South Korea given that they will opt for Korea’s Kia Telluride instead; Koreans are very loyal to Korean brands which means they will naturally buy a Samsung Galaxy smartphone over an Apple iPhone.
Most nations aside from US/UK are loyal to local brands. Furthermore Hyundai and Kia make decent cars so it isn’t as if Chevrolet is filling some market gap aside from Telluride being an odd name.
Traverse is a nice design and quality auto but Korea can’t be a profitable market for GM.