Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraxVS 2025 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Trax achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Subaru Crosstrek has not been tested.

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

	Trax	Crosstrek
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	183	222
Neck Stress	210 lbs.	267 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	99 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/94 lbs.	265/291 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 Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek:

	Trax	Crosstrek
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	405 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Crosstrek:

	Trax	Crosstrek
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	1.57 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	335 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.77 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	335 lbs.	714 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.57 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Trax’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Crosstrek’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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Trax is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Trax	Crosstrek
Zero to 30 MPH	2.7 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.5 sec	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Trax gets better fuel mileage than the Crosstrek Wilderness (28 city/32 hwy vs. 25 city/29 hwy).

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Trax stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	Trax	Crosstrek
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Trax RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (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 Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trax RS offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trax’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Crosstrek (106.3 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Trax is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Crosstrek.

The Trax ACTIV handles at .84 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 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 Crosstrek Limited (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The Chevrolet Trax may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Subaru Crosstrek.

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

Passenger Space

The Trax has .1 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

Cargo Capacity

The Trax has a much larger cargo volume than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (25.6 vs. 19.9 cubic feet).

Towing

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 Crosstrek can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Trax offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Crosstrek has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

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 Crosstrek’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

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

On extremely cold winter days, the Trax’s optional (except LS) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

The Trax was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2024. The Crosstrek has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Chevrolet Trax outsold the Subaru Crosstrek by 9% during 2024.

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