2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned in 2020, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. Its interior, especially in trims above the base, featured a modern 11.6-inch portrait display, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim, offering a fresh look compared to the outdated dashboard of the smaller Crosstrek. The Outback's quality was evident in its substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials, with higher trims offering a luxury car impression through two-tone leather upholstery. The Outdoor XT trim, with its water-resistant synthetic upholstery and lime green stitching, added a touch of wildness to the otherwise conservative design. Externally, the Outback's styling was smooth and plain, with high gray cladding for protection, and it maintained a lifted wagon appearance, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, though often seen as a glorified minivan, offered a stylish and appealing design with a light restyle for the model year. It featured new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with various appearance packages like the Redline Edition. The RS trim, with its blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, was particularly attractive. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrast stitching, a black headliner, and gloss black trim, though hard plastic surfaces were prevalent. The interior layout was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo and climate controls. Despite some road and wind noise, the Traverse provided a pleasant ride quality, especially on highways, and its handling was predictable and trustworthy.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.5-litre boxer flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination struggled with the Outback's weight, especially when loaded, resulting in slow and noisy performance. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving performance and refinement. The Outback's handling was designed for long-distance cruising, with a comfortable ride and excellent off-road capability thanks to its high ground clearance and proactive all-wheel-drive system. The turbo XT's fuel efficiency was slightly lower than the base engine, but the performance gains were worth the trade-off.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-litre V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for the Traverse's size, and the SUV's tow rating was 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped. The Traverse offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road, to optimize performance in different conditions. While the V6 engine could whine under acceleration, it was generally well-matched to the vehicle's bulk. The Traverse's fuel economy was rated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and it delivered a pleasant ride quality with firm road feel and compliant suspension. However, the Traverse's handling was softer at higher speeds, and its all-season tires were not particularly engaging.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive ground clearance, allowing it to tackle rough terrain without the drawbacks of larger vehicles. Inside, it offered 2,144 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 920 litres with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. The Outback's visibility was excellent, thanks to thin pillars and a low shoulder height. Storage options were plentiful, with large map pockets, bottle holders, and a handy front centre console. However, some features like push-button start and rear console climate vents were not standard on lower trims. The Outback's standout feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, providing easy installation of a roof rack.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS trim, offered seating for seven with captain's chairs in the second row, making access to the third row easier. The cabin featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated entry and exit. While the all-black cabin lacked ventilated front seats, the air conditioning system was effective. The Traverse provided generous legroom and headroom, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support. Cargo space was abundant, with 651 litres behind the third row, 1,637 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,781 litres. The Traverse also featured hidden storage compartments and well-designed door panels for additional storage.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared outdated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. However, it offered modern features like adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EyeSight system, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. While the system provided good semi-automated control, it relied solely on cameras, limiting its functionality in certain conditions.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LS model, with an 8-inch display on higher trims. It offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Traverse's voice recognition system was responsive and accurate, enhancing the user experience. Visibility was generally good, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system improved safety and convenience.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver and passenger airbags. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking were available on higher trims. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and rollover test.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received Good ratings from the IIHS in most categories but was rated Acceptable in the new side impact test and Poor for its LED headlights and seatbelt reminders. NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of review.