This 2023 BraunAbility Chevrolet Traverse First Drive wheelchair-accessible SUV offers minivan-like mobility in a trendier package.
More than 3 million Americans use a wheelchair full-time. You’d think there would be more accessible versions of the ever-popular SUV.
Sadly for fans of choice, minivans remain the most common platform for mobility conversions. They offer large, flat floors, sliding doors, and uncool images. BraunAbility has been putting wheeled folks on wheels for half a century.
It aims to offer a more compelling choice with its wheelchair-accessible conversion of Chevrolet’s big Traverse SUV.
Why so few wheelchair-accessible SUVs?
There are so few wheelchair-accessible SUVs on the market simply because there aren’t many that fit the requirements.
Myriad SUVs work as companion vehicles (where the wheelchair user is the passenger), but making one drivable is another matter. The vehicle has to have enough floor space for a driver to wheel in and turn around. Then they must either transfer to the driver’s seat or secure their chair behind the wheel.
Generally, only minivans offer that sort of flexibility.
A vehicle must be cost-effective for a conversion company like BraunAbility. It needs to be projected to remain in production for some time with no major changes. That’s because mobility conversion of an SUV requires extensive reengineering.
The process effectively cuts the unibody into two large pieces. This separates the floor from the rest of the structure so BraunAbility can lower and flatten it. That process unfortunately precludes the use of all-wheel or rear-drive models. The team must also reroute the exhaust, wiring, and brake and fuel lines.
And, of course, the build adds a ramp.
Reengineering the Traverse
Braun stuck with the front-drive version and engineered a floor that is rounded at the back. That allowed it to modify the Traverse to provide the necessary space. Access is via a cassette-style ramp installed under the right rear door.
BraunAbility rather spectacularly reengineered the door itself into a power-operated plug door. It moves out and back to provide a wide opening. BraunAbility was even able to preserve the Traverse’s towing capacity, which is as high as 5,000 pounds.
For all the changes, the 2023 BraunAbility Chevrolet Traverse maintains its style. Black body cladding extends below the rocker panels to help hide the changes in body height. There is more space between the top of the tire and the fender arches.
Still, that’s never a bad look for an SUV. Most remarkable is the fitment of the plug door. It closes flush to the body with panel gaps identical to a stock Traverse.
How it drives
The driving experience is also quite close to stock. The Traverse’s 310-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 has plenty of power to handle the weight of the conversion. With the driver’s seat raised along with the body, we expected exaggerated body lean.
It wasn’t; the BraunAbility conversion corners like any other Traverse. We did note more noise from the back of the vehicle. That’s no surprise given that so many noise-absorbing elements (seats, carpet) are missing.
A wheelchair user’s perspective
All of the MotorTrend editorial staff is ambulatory, so we enlisted the help of Julienne Dallara, a staffer with Abilities Expo, to evaluate the 2023 BraunAbility Chevrolet Traverse from a wheelchair user’s perspective. She noted that the underfloor ramp has a rather steep angle, even with the kneeling suspension.
That system uses a chain to pull the right-rear corner down to its bump stop. (The folding ramps used in van conversions provide a more gentle grade, but the Traverse’s plug door precludes their use.) Once inside, though, she thought the amount of maneuvering room was excellent. It was not quite as generous as in a van, however.
Our test vehicle didn’t have an accessible driver’s seat. But had it been, Dallara was sure she had all the room she needed. She could turn and transfer to a behind-the-wheel position. Both front seats detach and ride on wheeled platforms, so you can roll them out via the ramp. (They are similar to those seen in BraunAbility’s Ford Explorer from a few years ago.)
The platforms also have extensions that fill the footwell to provide a stock-height floor. Racks in the floor accommodate tie-down straps to secure wheelchairs into passenger positions.
Dallara also liked the lift-over height of the cargo bay, which she said was ideal for someone in a wheelchair.
She also liked that the third-row seat remains, as it provides a handy backstop for cargo. The seat can also be folded down to expand cargo space, just as in a stock Traverse.
Inside the cabin
That third row now serves as the back seat and is one of the elements engineered to accommodate ambulatory passengers. It’s reasonably comfortable, with climate controls and power ports intact.
That is something we can say about few third-row seats, even in large SUVs. The rear A/C blows through stock ceiling vents. Heat, though, comes through only a single hip-level register on the right side.
Build quality
In the past, we’ve seen some pretty shoddy mobility conversions. But how well BraunAbility assembled the Traverse impressed us. We liked that the new switchgear closely matched stock GM parts. Not all was perfect, however. The plastic housing the abbreviated center console (which can be repositioned according to the owner’s needs) looked rather cheap to us.
Our test car also sometimes had trouble recognizing when the key fob was in the vehicle. BraunAbility says relocating the sensors has since fixed that fault. Mostly, though, the 2023 BraunAbility Chevrolet Traverse felt fully realized. It could have rolled straight out of Chevrolet’s own factory.
Pricing and grants
Pricing is in line with accessible minivans. The Traverse 1LT lists for $38,440 as it comes from Chevrolet. The basic conversion adds $35,810, for a total of $74,250. But that’s before you add in the hardware that owners will need to drive. Think a transfer seat or hand controls.
Every mobility vehicle is effectively a custom build, so final pricing varies. The happy news is that the Traverse’s base price is right in line with BraunAbility’s minivans. They don’t charge a premium for that SUV cool factor. There are grants, manufacturer mobility programs, and tax deductions that can lower the price further.
We’re happy to see BraunAbility offering non-ambulatory folks a vehicle that is both stylish and on-trend. The final result keeps the stock styling and driving characteristics largely intact. Like any other Traverse, the BraunAbility conversion is a roomy, comfortable, and flexible hauler. Let’s hope it’s but the first of many more-compelling vehicles for those on wheels.
| 2023 BraunAbility Chevrolet Traverse Specifications | |
| Base Price | $74,250 |
| Layout | Front-engine, FWD, 7-pass, 4-door, wheelchair-accessible SUV |
| Engine | 3.6L/310-hp/266-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| Transmission | 9-speed auto |
| Curb Weight | 5,000 lb (mfr est) |
| Wheelbase | 120.9 in |
| L x W x H | 205.9 x 78.6 x 74.0 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 7.5 sec (MT est) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/Comb Fuel ECON | 18/27/21 mpg (est) |
| EPA RANGE, COMB | 524 miles |
| On Sale | Now |
