2021 Subaru Outback 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 typical 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 followed the same restrained approach, 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 price tag.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for 2020, retained a familiar and comfortable feel, reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior was fresher than the smaller Crosstrek, especially with the 11.6-inch portrait display available on Premium and above trims. Quality was evident in the materials, with Limited and Touring trims offering a luxury car impression. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green stitching, adding a touch of wildness. The exterior had high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, with a smooth and plain styling. The Outback's appearance remained largely unchanged, maintaining its identity as a lifted wagon, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 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 overall, with occasional rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twistier roads. The AWD system, which required manual activation, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel, but its impact on handling was not noticeable. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This powertrain struggled with the Outback's weight, making it slow and noisy. The XT models, available on Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing a significant performance improvement. The turbo engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the base engine. The Outback's handling was squishy, but it excelled as a long-distance cruiser with a comfortable ride and high ground clearance. Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system was proactive, always driving all four wheels and reacting quickly to varying torque split. The Outback's off-road capability was enhanced by X-Mode and additional driving modes on the Onyx Edition XT.

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 model, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 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 Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited, making a minivan a better choice for carrying lots of people or stuff.

The 2021 Subaru Outback had impressive ground clearance, allowing it to go anywhere larger vehicles could without the drawbacks. Inside, it offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive elements. Headroom and legroom were ample in all four outboard seating positions, with comfortable and supportive seats. Outward visibility was superb, thanks to thin pillars and lots of glass. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, push-button start and rear climate vents were standard only on higher trims, and the moonroof was bundled with expensive options. The Outback's best feature was the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds.

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, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the Traverse RS was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports as standard, but wireless phone charging was only available on Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. Despite this, the Outback's adaptive cruise control had four settings, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The optional navigation was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions, reducing its effectiveness compared to systems that also use radar.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (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. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only as optional extras.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. More driver assists were available on specific trims, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on higher trims. The Outback was a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+," earning top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and for headlights, and a "Superior" rating for forward emergency braking. The NHTSA gave the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.