2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Subaru Ascent

The 2022 Subaru Ascent embraced the trend of blacking out exterior trim with its new Onyx Edition trim level. This version featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The Onyx Edition's sporty appearance was a significant departure from the previous models. Inside, the Ascent Onyx Edition offered a gray two-tone StarTex synthetic leather upholstery, which was water-repellant but had a tendency to trap sweat. The interior also featured metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels, creating a modern and sporty ambiance.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and a fresh look for the front bumper. The RS trim, which was tested, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's design was praised for its crisply tailored lines and tasteful details, making it one of the most appealing vehicles in its segment. Inside, the Traverse RS had black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, a black headliner, and gloss black trim. The interior design was simple and logically laid out, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo controls.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, and it averaged 20.5 mpg during testing. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, providing brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent also had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and came with Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, 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. The Traverse had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered Snow and Off-Road driving modes. The V6 engine provided adequate power for the Traverse's bulk, and it returned 20.9 mpg during testing. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride quality, making it suitable for both urban and highway driving. However, it had more road and wind noise than preferred and felt disconnected from the road at higher speeds.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, but the third-row seats were best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. The second-row seats were easy to load, and captain’s chairs were available. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS trim, could seat up to seven people with second-row captain’s chairs. The Traverse RS had power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row seats featured a Smart Slide function, making it easier to access the third-row seats. The Traverse offered 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet with both rows folded down. The Traverse also had a hidden storage compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The system’s voice recognition technology needed improvement, and the Onyx Edition's standard stereo speakers lacked sonic quality. Additional technology features for the Touring trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Traverse Premier and High Country trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. Both infotainment systems supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system was available with navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and Alexa Built-in. The RS trim came with a Bose premium sound system, but it was not impressive. The Traverse’s voice recognition system was quick and accurate, and the digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were appreciated features.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in all evaluations except for rollover resistance, where it earned four stars. The Ascent came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance technology, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. However, EyeSight had issues with direct sunlight and lacked refinement in its adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights, automatic high-beam assist, and available blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.

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 Traverse LS had an optional Safety Package, while higher trims came with additional features like adaptive cruise control, higher-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear pedestrian alert. The Traverse Premier and High Country trims featured a vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS had not rated the Traverse’s headlight or driving-assistance systems, but it received top "Good" ratings in collision-related tests except for an "Acceptable" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse at the time of writing.