KBB Fall Showdown: 2019 Chevy Traverse Pitted Against 2019 Subaru Ascent

After dropping nearly 350 pounds and gaining a very large amount of passenger and cargo space inside, the Traverse is simply one of the best offerings out there in the “nearing full-size” hauler category for 2019. Sporting greatly improved looks, much better fuel economy, and many optional family-friendly features, it also has the excellent trait of a 5000-lb maximum tow capacity. We know that when customers first walk on the lot at Chuck Hutton, they may have already looked at a model that is known as a fierce competitor, so we really need to have our ducks in a row as far as knowing how they both stack up.

The experts at Kelley Blue Book were good enough to feature this exact rivalry between the two over the past week, showing just how the Traverse measures up compared to the Subaru Ascent. Many out there are appreciating the Ascent for its comfort, safety, sportiness, and practicality, and we think this is a pretty fair contestant to throw into the ring. A wide range of engines and trim levels that can pretty much accomplish anything you want are the main advantages that the testing team noticed right off the bat with the Traverse. The Traverse is the largest 3-row crossover in the Chevy lineup, and the very powerful 3.6-Liter V6 engine is a well-honed asset.

There has been more storage added in the Traverse directly under the infotainment screen, and the interior has been improved with a sliding second-row seat. The KBB experts recognized that if you “yank the badges” off the interior, you will be led to believe that you are situated in a higher-priced model. The Ascent is Subaru's first entry into the 3-row category, and the recipe is not at all shabby: a 4-cylinder engine, comfort, great safety features, and true versatility abound with this offering. A decent choice for the price, the major shortfall is that it does not quite have the full list of engine offerings that the Traverse rallies across the finish line within its arsenal.

Both vehicles have the 5000-pound tow rating, and come with Apple CarPlay, as well as Android Auto. It is nice that the Ascent flaunts USB ports for every row, and a whopping total of 19 cup holders. The Ascent ranked high with the KBB staff for simply being a ride ranking high in the comfort factor, but the combination of tech features, lavish interior, genius storage, and family-friendly features ultimately made the Traverse the better purchase choice! We are also proud of the 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and you'll immediately notice the benefits from an extra two inches of headroom in the 3^rd row, as well as a grand total of 20 more cubic feet than the Ascent in EPA Cargo Volume!