The Traverse we tested is one step below top-of-the-line. I have spent time crawling around a base 2WD Traverse LS and, other than a rear differential (GM expects that well over half of all Traverses will be 2WD, limiting their ability to traverse…) and some creature comforts, it’s the same basic vehicle.

johnnycanuck,

I tend to agree with you on those sliding doored vehicles, but the market doesn’t. GM has never been able to do well with a minivan. And that’s just what these Lambdas are – “butch” vans without sliding doors.

Wait.

That was how GM used to be.

Harley Earl is crying.

The Buick – GMC dealership I drive past on my morning commute has fleets of new Enclaves and Acadias lined up hopefully / sadly on the front lot, all marked down to the low $30s. They’ve been sitting there for weeks. Nobody’s even driven one.

Badge engineering is unwise at the best of times. In times like these, it really doesn’t make any sense — because dealer markdowns and price incentives at the individual divisions are going to scramble the brand hierarchy and make Chevys cost more than Buicks.