Compare the2025 Subaru AscentVS 2025 Chevrolet Traverse

The Subaru Ascent has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Traverse doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Traverse doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Ascent is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Chevrolet Traverse, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Traverse.

Both the Ascent and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Ascent’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Chevrolet Traverse:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Traverse doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the Traverse:

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Traverse. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Traverse doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Ascent’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Traverse:

The Ascent stops shorter than the Traverse:

The Ascent Premium’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Traverse LT’s standard 65 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Traverse’s (38 feet vs. 39 feet). The Ascent’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Traverse with 22-inch wheels’ (38 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (8.7 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Traverse Z71 (8.7 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Ascent is 7.7 inches shorter than the Traverse, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Ascent. The Traverse doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Traverse’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Traverse. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 21% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 13th.

The Ascent’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Traverse’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s exterior PIN entry system. The Traverse doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Traverse doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ascent to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Traverse doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Subaru Ascent has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Traverse RS/High Country.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the Chevrolet Traverse, based on reliability, safety and performance.