Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraxVS 2024 Subaru Forester

Both the Trax and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Trax’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Forester’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trax’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Trax has a standard 760-amp battery. The Forester’s 620-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Trax is faster than the Subaru Forester:

On the EPA test cycle the Trax gets better mileage than the Forester:

The Trax has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Forester doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Trax’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Forester:

The Trax stops much shorter than the Forester:

For better traction, the Trax RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Forester (245/45R19 vs. 225/60R17).

The Trax RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forester Sport/Limited/Touring’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trax RS offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Forester’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Trax has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Forester doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trax’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Forester (106.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Trax ACTIV handles at .84 G’s, while the Forester Wilderness pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Trax ACTIV executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Forester Touring (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Chevrolet Trax may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 550 pounds less than the Subaru Forester.

The Trax is 4.1 inches shorter than the Forester, making the Trax easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Trax uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Forester doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Trax can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Trax can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Forester can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Trax’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Forester does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Trax and the Forester have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Trax is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Forester prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Trax’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 Forester’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically. The Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to lower them fully.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Trax (except RS) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Forester doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Trax was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Forester hasn’t been picked since 2006.