2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback had a familiar and comfortable interior, reminiscent of older Subaru models, but with a fresher design. The analog gauges, steering wheel, and seats maintained their traditional forms, while the interior, especially in higher trims, featured a bright and sharp 11.6-inch portrait display surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The Onyx Edition XT test car showcased gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green contrast stitching, adding a touch of flair. The exterior design remained smooth and plain, with high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, and a few chrome accents. The 2021 model introduced a new brown paint option and standard adaptive LED headlights.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, front bumper, grille designs, and redesigned aluminum wheels. The RS trim, which was tested, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's styling was considered appealing, with crisply tailored lines and tasteful details. The interior of the RS trim included black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, and gloss black trim. The materials were a mix of hard plastics and polished metallic accents. The design was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo and climate controls.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination struggled to move the vehicle, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo, resulting in slow and noisy performance. The XT trim offered a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing a significant improvement in power and refinement. The turbo engine's fuel economy was slightly lower, with an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway compared to the base engine's 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The Outback's handling was squishy, but its ride comfort and off-road capability were excellent, thanks to its long-travel springs, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and Subaru's proactive all-wheel-drive system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power for the vehicle's size, and the official EPA fuel economy rating for the AWD model was 20 mpg combined. The Traverse's ride quality was firm yet compliant, with good road feel in town and a comfortable highway ride. However, it exhibited more road and wind noise than desired. The Traverse handled well in the mountains, with limited body roll and predictable handling, but the RS trim's all-season tires and soft suspension response at higher speeds were drawbacks.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered impressive ground clearance, surpassing many larger vehicles, and provided 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. Visibility was excellent, and storage options were plentiful, including large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and cost savings. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls but was generally responsive and useful.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse's RS trim featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs reduced seating capacity to seven but provided a wide pass-through for easier third-row access. The Smart Slide function allowed the second-row seats to tilt and slide forward, even with a child safety seat installed. The third-row seat was suitable for adults if the second-row passengers cooperated, but it was less comfortable than in some competitors. The Traverse offered abundant storage, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 98.2 cubic feet with all seats folded, making it one of the roomiest SUVs in its segment.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared outdated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. Despite this, the system offered modern tech features like adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. 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 limited its functionality compared to systems that also used radar.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims received an 8-inch high-definition display. Higher trims also featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment systems supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system offered integrated navigation, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and more in-vehicle apps. The RS trim included a Bose premium sound system, but it was not particularly impressive. The voice recognition system was excellent, reducing confusion and frustration. The Traverse's available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were useful features, especially in parking lots.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium trims and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. A driver-attention monitor was standard on the Limited XT and Touring trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and received top ratings in all crash tests and for headlights. The NHTSA awarded 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.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the LS trim added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests but rated "Acceptable" in the new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse at the time of writing.