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 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.