Subaru Forester vs Chevrolet Trax

To create the 2026 Forester Wilderness, Subaru adds all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and improved angles of approach, breakover, and departure. Drivetrain modifications enhance traction, added underbody protection prevents damage when off-roading, and a full-size all-terrain spare tire is ready when you need it. Styling changes convey this model’s rugged capabilities, and Subaru outfits the interior for easy clean-up. All 2026 Forester models get a new center console design and updated protection for rear passengers in a collision.

Verdict: Push the new 2026 Forester Wilderness to its limits, and you’ll be impressed by its off-roading capability. But, even if you’re not planning to traverse challenging terrain, it is comforting to know that the Wilderness offers more competence than a typical crossover SUV when confronted with unexpected situations.

The Trax was launched for the 2015 model year as a no-frills subcompact crossover, designed to serve as basic transportation at an affordable cost. However, the Trax moldered in showrooms without any significant updates until the 2022 model year—when it was discontinued altogether.

But now the Trax is back in totally revamped, second-generation form. It's as big of a reimagining as you'll likely ever see in a car like this. The new Trax is bigger than before, more effort has been put into its styling, and Chevy has added the tech features that have become the norm since the original Trax was launched. Still the entry-level model in Chevy's lineup, the Trax sits below the Chevy Trailblazer, and takes aim at the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks, but it was also designed to retain owners of discontinued small cars like the Chevy Cruze, Sonic, and Spark, bridging the gap between car and crossover.

The redesigned 2024 Trax launches in LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and Activ trim levels. We sampled 2RS and Activ models on roads around Asheville, North Carolina.