Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 Chevrolet Traverse

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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:

	Ascent	Traverse
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-16 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	3.3 sec	1.9 sec
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.6 sec	1.4 sec

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Chevrolet Traverse:

	Ascent	Traverse
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	234
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	35.9%
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	160/266 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Ascent is safer than the Traverse:

	Ascent	Traverse
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Compression L/R	22/22 pounds	472/270 pounds
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Chevrolet Traverse:

	Ascent	Traverse
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	64
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	73 lbs.
Hip Force	274 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	113
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	518 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	346
Hip Force	637 lbs.	721 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Traverse is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Warranty

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ascent second among upper midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Traverse isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

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

	Ascent	Traverse
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.4 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.6 sec
Top Speed	130 MPH	125 MPH

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse AWD (19 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/24 hwy).

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.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ascent	Traverse
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches

The Ascent stops shorter than the Traverse:

	Ascent	Traverse
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	131 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.2% to 45.8%) than the Traverse’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Ascent more stable handling and braking.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Traverse High Country AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

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).

Chassis

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

Cargo Capacity

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Ascent retains 50.27% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 48.14% resale value of the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $1216 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Traverse isn't recommended.

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