The transition from summer to fall is notoriously tough on passenger vehicles. Months of enduring scorching summer heat, long-distance highway road trips, and stop-and-go traffic can quietly take a heavy toll on your Chevrolet's key mechanical systems. For instance, extreme summer heat accelerates internal battery corrosion and evaporates vital battery fluids, leaving your vehicle highly vulnerable to starting failures when the first chilly autumn mornings arrive. A professional battery diagnostic test is a critical preventative measure that ensures your battery still possesses the cold cranking amps (CCA) required to start reliably every single morning. Furthermore, the unpredictable autumn weather in Illinois often brings sudden rainstorms and thick morning fog. Ensuring your visibility remains clear is paramount for school zone safety. Upgrading to fresh windshield wiper blades and topping off your washer fluid reservoirs will keep your windshield clear of falling leaves, road grime, and heavy condensation. At the same time, checking all major fluids—including engine oil, engine coolant, and brake fluid—is essential. Our certified technicians can inspect your fluid levels and consistency to prevent thermal issues or mechanical wear. Finally, a professional tire rotation and pressure check are essential; as ambient temperatures drop, your tire pressure will naturally decrease, making accurate inflation and even tread wear absolutely vital to maintaining traction on slick, leaf-covered streets.

For active families in Will County, spatial utility is not just a luxury—it is an absolute daily necessity. One of the most common questions we receive from parents preparing for the school year is whether the exceptionally popular Chevrolet Traverse features a flat-folding third row. The answer is a resounding yes. The Chevrolet Traverse is meticulously designed to maximize passenger comfort and cargo versatility. Its third-row seats fold completely flat into the floor, creating an expansive, flat loading surface that makes packing heavy cargo entirely effortless. This flat-folding utility is a complete game-changer when you are juggling a wide range of activities. Whether you are loading bulky football gear bags, large musical instruments like cellos, fragile science fair poster boards, or a week's worth of groceries, the Traverse adapts in a matter of seconds. Additionally, the Traverse features highly convenient smart-sliding second-row seats. This advanced seating system allows the second-row seats to slide and tilt forward easily, providing effortless access to the third row even if a forward-facing child safety seat is securely installed. This ensures that rear passengers can enter and exit the vehicle quickly during the chaotic morning drop-off rush at local schools.

With up to an class-leading 98 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume, the Chevrolet Traverse ensures you never have to leave anything behind. Ready to experience this remarkable family vehicle for yourself? You can explore our extensive selection of new SUVs online or stop by our dealership to test out the flat-folding seats in person.

Buckle-to-Drive Safety

This standard, highly proactive safety feature prevents the teen driver from shifting the vehicle out of Park for up to 20 seconds if the driver or front-seat passenger's seat belt is not securely buckled. It also automatically mutes the entire audio system until the front occupants are safely buckled in, reinforcing essential seat belt habits.

Customizable Alerts

Parents can set a predefined speed warning (selectable between 40 and 75 mph) that triggers visual and audible alerts if their teen exceeds it. Parents can also set an absolute speed limiter of 85 mph and configure a maximum audio volume limit to minimize distractions while driving to school or sports practice.

In-Vehicle Report Card

The in-vehicle report card provides invaluable insight into your teen's driving habits. Accessible via a secure PIN, the report card displays critical metrics such as distance driven, maximum speed reached, overspeed warnings triggered, and the activation of active safety systems like forward collision alerts or automatic emergency braking.

As shown in the comparison, the Chevrolet Traverse provides a distinct advantage for active carpools. Its maximum seating capacity of up to eight passengers—compared to the Ford Explorer's maximum of seven—means you have the flexibility to carry an extra student or team member without needing to coordinate a second vehicle. Furthermore, the Traverse offers a vastly superior third-row legroom of 33.5 inches, ensuring that older teenagers can sit comfortably in the very back without feeling cramped. In addition to passenger space, the Traverse absolutely dominates when it comes to raw cargo utility. With 98 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, it easily accommodates large instrument cases, athletic equipment, and backpacks simultaneously. The Traverse's standard 17.7-inch diagonal best-in-class infotainment screen also makes navigating busy routes via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto incredibly easy, keeping you connected and in control.

All-Weather Floor Liners

Autumn sports in Illinois often mean muddy soccer fields, wet cross-country courses, and damp gear. Protect your Chevy's original carpeting by investing in heavy-duty, custom-fitted all-weather floor liners. These liners feature raised edges that trap water, mud, salt, and debris, making them incredibly easy to remove and spray clean.

Organized Trunk Solutions

Keep loose sports equipment, school books, and musical instruments from rolling around during your daily commute. Utilizing heavy-duty cargo organizers, cargo nets, and collapsible storage bins helps keep everything securely in place, maximizes your available cargo space, and speeds up loading and unloading.

Emergency Roadside Kits

Be prepared for any unexpected delays by assembling a dedicated roadside emergency kit. Include essential items like heavy-duty jumper cables, a bright flashlight, a basic toolset, a first-aid kit, and warm blankets. You can easily order these specialized emergency items and accessories directly through our Parts Department.

At Hawk Chevrolet of Joliet, we understand that back-to-school season often brings a wide range of family expenses, from school supplies and textbooks to athletic uniforms and registration fees. To help our valued customers keep their vehicles in optimal condition without breaking the budget, we frequently offer a variety of highly competitive, seasonal service specials. By taking advantage of our dealership's rotating service coupons, you can secure significant savings on essential preventative maintenance tasks. We regularly offer bundled specials for oil changes, tire rotations, brake pad replacements, and battery installations. Every service at our certified dealership is performed by highly trained, GM-certified technicians who use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and genuine OEM parts. This ensures that your Chevrolet receives the exact care it requires to maintain its long-term reliability and fuel efficiency. Be sure to check our website regularly to view our current service offers before scheduling your appointment, or simply Call us at (815) 472-8001 to speak with a helpful service advisor today.

We recognize that local parents lead highly demanding lifestyles, especially as the busy school and sports seasons swing into full gear. To accommodate your hectic schedule, Hawk Chevrolet of Joliet has streamlined our entire service scheduling process to be as fast, simple, and convenient as possible. You can easily schedule your vehicle's back-to-school maintenance online in just a few clicks. Simply visit our website and navigate to our online service scheduler, where you can select your preferred date, time, and service advisor. You can also indicate whether you prefer to wait in our comfortable, modern lounge or utilize our convenient local shuttle service. For parents who need to stay productive, our customer lounge is equipped with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable workspaces, premium coffee, and refreshing beverages, allowing you to easily answer emails or finish up work projects while our certified technicians handle your vehicle's service. Our goal is to make your visit as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration allow you to seamlessly display your smartphone's navigation, podcasts, and school drop-off schedules directly onto the central touchscreen, keeping your eyes safely on the road while keeping communications hands-free.

Built-In Wi-Fi Hotspot

Available built-in 4G LTE or 5G Wi-Fi hotspots allow up to seven devices to connect simultaneously. Your students can easily complete online school assignments, stream educational content, or stay entertained on their tablets during long drives to away games.

OnStar Connected Services

With active OnStar services, you gain access to turn-by-turn navigation, automatic crash response, and remote key fob access via the myChevrolet mobile app. This allows you to preheat or precool your vehicle from your kitchen before setting out on the morning run.

Sometimes, the absolute best way to prepare for a successful school year is to upgrade your current ride to a newer, more capable vehicle. If your family is expanding or your daily driving requirements have drastically increased, your current sedan or compact crossover may no longer provide the space and utility you require. Fortunately, the diverse Chevrolet SUV lineup offers the perfect vehicle for every active family lifestyle. For smaller families seeking exceptional fuel efficiency combined with highly versatile interior space, the compact Chevy Equinox is an incredible choice. It delivers a smooth ride, modern cabin safety technology, and excellent mileage for daily commutes. For larger families requiring maximum space, the Traverse, Tahoe, and Suburban offer three rows of premium comfort, high towing capacities for sports equipment trailers, and expansive cargo areas. If you are considering upgrading, you can easily use our online trade-in advisor tool to estimate the value of your current vehicle. Applying your trade-in value toward a newer model can significantly lower your monthly payments, making a safe and modern SUV highly affordable.