2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned for 2019, retained an older styling look, largely carried over from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru's decision to maintain the boxy, upright shape was likely because it resonated with SUV shoppers. The Base trim level looked plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact. The Forester's interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twisty roads. The AWD system, which required manual activation, could send torque to individual wheels but didn't noticeably improve handling. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, average for the segment.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT with manual mode and paddle shifters on certain trims. The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. The Forester's power felt adequate but lacked the thrust needed for highway merging and overtaking. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in poor body control and noticeable body roll in corners. The Forester's AWD system, standard across all trims, included X-Mode for different surfaces and hill-descent control on higher trims. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Forester handled mud and dirt better than most compact crossovers but wasn't suited for serious off-roading.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, providing 23.0 cubic feet with all seats up, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited compared to minivans.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also allowed for excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. It had more cargo space than some competitors but lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on the Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging wasn't available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only standard on the Premium trim and above.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the RS model was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had two USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country trims.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. The Sport trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while the Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The Forester's infotainment system was easy to use, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it got "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Traverse offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist only available on higher trims.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS, with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests, a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech, and a "Good" rating for headlights. The NHTSA gave the Forester a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side-crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.