2022 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 base Traverse L came with 18-inch wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels. Sharing a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, the Traverse aimed for a more blue-collar feel and slotted below the Chevy Tahoe in size.

Inside, the Traverse continued its restrained styling, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. The materials in the higher-level RS model were fairly good but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP. The interior offered above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows, with heated front seats standard on the RS and ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. Cargo space was a significant advantage, 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.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a more rugged and adventurous take on the standard Outback, with 9.5 inches of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles. The unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal set it apart. The roof rack and rail system could support a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin featured dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and standard all-weather floor mats.

The Outback Wilderness's interior was designed for durability and practicality, with waterproof rear seatback material and a waterproof cargo tray. The seats were comfortable, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way power adjustment for the front passenger. Rear seat room was generous, with plenty of space for knees, feet, and heads, as well as rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. The more robust roof rack could hold a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, making it perfect for outdoor adventures.

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. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, good body control, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel.

The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. This was average for the segment, with competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer offering higher towing capacities. The Traverse's AWD system, while capable, didn't provide the same level of handling improvement as some competitors' systems.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, giving it a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing on a mountainous route yielded 21.3 mpg. The engine was strong, but the continuously variable transmission (CVT) detracted from the driving experience with its droning and soft simulated gear changes. The Outback Wilderness came standard with all-wheel drive and featured a taller stance, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and 225/65R17 Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires.

The Outback Wilderness excelled off-road, with improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, a front skid plate, and available full underbody skid plating. It also had revised final-drive ratios for the CVT, allowing it to scramble up a 40% grade, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. On pavement, the Outback Wilderness felt quick but soft, with limitations imposed by its all-terrain tires. Off-road, it proved capable and adept at climbing and descending steep hills, crawling over boulders, and navigating narrow trails.

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 available on the Premier and High Country models. The Traverse also featured a power 60/40 split-folding third row on RS and higher trims.

Interior storage options were limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers. While the Traverse offered substantial cargo space, it sacrificed some practicality for rugged styling. A minivan would be a better choice for carrying lots of people or cargo, with a low floor and sliding doors making loading and unloading easier.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant simulated leather that prevented water and sweat from soaking into the seats. The front seats were heated, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way power adjustment for the front passenger. Rear seat room was generous, with plenty of space for knees, feet, and heads, as well as rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The rear seats were also heated, making them comfortable in cold weather.

The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. The Outback Wilderness featured waterproof seatbacks and a waterproof cargo tray, with LED lighting for the cargo area. The more robust roof rack could hold a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trim levels offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. While competitors offered larger screens, 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, which eliminated blind spots and improved rear visibility, and an optional HD surround-view camera system.

The Traverse provided 2 USB ports for each row as standard equipment, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models. The analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for stereo volume, tuning, temperature control, and defogger systems, most functions required the use of the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less responsive to natural voice commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto a better option for voice assistant functionality.

The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other Outback trims. However, it featured PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle while engaging in outdoor activities. This feature was particularly useful for active lifestyle enthusiasts.

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 adaptive cruise control only available on the top High Country trim. Other features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional extras.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The Wilderness also had steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology, available only on Limited and Touring trims.

The EyeSight technology proved effective at maintaining safe following distances and keeping the vehicle centered in its lane. The 2022 Outback Wilderness had not been crash-tested at the time of review, but the standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.