2019 Ascent is Subaru families have waited for
Subaru’s legion of loyal owners—many of them golden retrievers, if the brand’s commercials can be believed—patiently awaiting a family-hauling three-row SUV will welcome the 2019 Ascent, but the seven- or eight-seater doesn’t take up immediate residency at the head of its class, like other recent Subarus.
Still there’s plenty to like about the Ascent, not least of which is that it should erase memories of Subaru’s unfortunate first attempt at building a three-row, the bafflingly named and generally appalling 2006-14 B9 Tribeca, and the least that can be said of that is that it was malignant, not benign.
Starting with its name, everything about the Ascent makes sense. It’s an obvious step up for a brand that built a sterling reputation on safe, durable all-wheel-drive cars and SUVs. The Ascent fills a major gap in Subaru’s lineup, and does it with a slew of advanced features and an interior ready to carry more kids than anything else in the lineup.
It’s an almost surefire hit, but the Ascent doesn’t put competitors like the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas on the shelf.
Behind the Wheel
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring All-wheel-drive, seven-passenger compact utility wagon
Price as tested: $44,695 (excluding destination charge)
Rating: Three out of four stars Reasons to buy: Value; room; fuel economy; driver assistance features.
Shortcomings: Awkward mechanism to raise and lower third-row seats; cargo space.
How much?
Ascent prices start at $31,995. All models have all-wheel drive, a continuously variable transmission and 260-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder “boxer” horizontally opposed engine.
I tested a top-of-the-line Ascent Touring that was loaded with features like adaptive cruise control, touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, high-def digital rearview mirror, seating for seven, leather upholstery, power tailgate and more. It cost $44,695. All prices exclude destination charges.
The Ascent’s prices are in line with sevenand eight-seat competitors like the Traverse, Explorer, Pilot, Pathfinder and Highlander, but it frequently offers more for the money. That’s particularly notable in the Subaru’s standard AWD and EyeSight package of safety and driver assistance features.
Subaru builds the Ascent at its bustling plant in Lafayette, Indiana, alongside the Outback, Legacy and Impreza.
Competitive base prices
(Excluding destination charges) (Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models.)
Subaru Ascent Touring: $44,695 Chevrolet Traverse AWD LT: $41,000 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD: $44,915 Honda Pilot Touring 7-passenger: $44,720 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Limited Ultimate AWD: $41,300
Kia Sorento SX Limited V6 AWD: $41,790 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD: $45,365 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 Platinum: $44,260 Toyota Highlander Limited V6 AWD: $43,890
VW Atlas SEL 4Motion: $42,940 Source: Autotrader
Outstanding features
The Ascent is roomy and comfortable. My seven-passenger model provided plenty of head and leg room in all three rows of seats.
The controls are straightforward and easy to use, thanks to a touch screen, voice recognition, buttons and switches. My Touring model had brown leather seats, oyster leather on the dash, soft black trim and faux wood elsewhere. The center console provides plenty of storage. Standard equipment includes four USB ports and a somewhat baffling 19 cup and bottle holders. I never managed to find them all, or maybe I lost count, or got confused doing the math to divide 19 cupholders by seven passengers. I eventually decided I’d let the driver and five passengers have three drinks each, limiting the last passenger to a single drink just because I could.
The second-row seats slide forward for easy access to the rear seat.
Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assist features has become one of the brand’s hallmarks. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, front collision alert and automatic front braking. They all worked fine.
Safety features offered on high-end models like the Ascent Touring I tested include a high-def video rearview mirror, automatic rear braking, automatic high beams, blind spot and cross traffic alerts.
The ride is comfortable but sporty. Subaru tuned the Ascent’s steering and suspension to promote peaceful family drives, not enthusiastic jaunts in the countryside.
Competitive EPA fuel economy ratings
(Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models.)
All vehicles tested with regular gasoline
Subaru Ascent Touring: 20 mpg city/26 highway/22 combined.
Chevrolet Traverse AWD LT: 17/25/20
Ford Explorer Limited 4WD: 18/25/21
Honda Pilot Touring 7-passenger: 18/26/21
Hyundai Santa Fe XL Limited Ultimate AWD: 17/22/19
Kia Sorento SX Limited V6 AWD: 19/24/21
Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD: 20/26/23
Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 Platinum: 19/26/21
Toyota Highlander Limited V6 AWD: 20/26/22
VW Atlas SEL 4Motion: 17/23/19
Fuel economy good, power satisfactory
The Ascent’s 2.4L turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is among the smallest powering a seven- or eight-passenger SUV, but its output of 260 hp and 277 pound feet of torque are competitive. The V6s powering comparably equipped and priced versions of the Atlas, CX-3 Highlander, Pathfinder, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Kia Sorento, Pilot and Traverse all produce more horsepower, torque or both. Despite that, the Ascent’s acceleration and highway cruising performance compare well, probably thanks to a broad torque range from 2,000 to 4,000 and Subaru’s smooth and responsive continuously variable transmission.
The EPA rates the Ascent at 20 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway and 22 in combined driving. The combined figure tops comparably priced versions of the Traverse, Explorer, Pilot Santa Fe XL, Sorento, Pathfinder and Atlas. The Highlander matches the Ascent’s combined rating and the CX-3 leads the pack at 23 mpg. All the SUVs achieve their rated power and fuel economy using regular gasoline.
The downside
The mechanism to fold the Ascent’s 60-40 split rear seat is harder to operate than the best competitors’. While some family SUVs have one-touch releases to flatten the seats for maximum cargo space—useful if you’re carrying a child or a bag of groceries—that takes two free hands or a contortionist act with the Ascent.
At 17.8 cubic feet, the cargo space behind the third row is smaller than those in the Traverse, Explorer, Pilot and Atlas. The Ascent is more than capable of carrying seven or eight people, but not much in the way of luggage, athletic equipment or groceries for the crew.
Specifications as tested
Engine: 2.4L turbocharged horizontally opposed 4-cylinder boxer.
Power: 260 hp @ 5,600 hp rpm; 277 pound feet of torque @ 2,000-4,000 rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic Wheelbase: 113.8 inches Length: 196.8 inches Width: 76.0 inches Height: 71.6 inches Curb Weight: 4,603 pounds
Where assembled: Lafayette, Indiana Verdict
The Ascent is the vehicle a lot of Subaru owners have been waiting for. Newbies looking for a safe, economical family hauler will find it a good introduction to why the brand has been growing steadily for years.
Key features on vehicle tested
Standard equipment: Antilock brakes; stability control; front seat side air bags; curtain air bags; blind spot and cross traffic alerts; front seat side air bags; curtain air bags; head-up display; video rearview camera; automatic vehicle hold; hill descent control; power tailgate; three-zone climate control; four USB ports in center console and two in rear seat; adaptive cruise control; front collision alert and automatic braking; rear cross traffic alert and automatic braking; power sun roof; 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio; Bluetooth compatible; voice recognition; touch screen; Apple CarPlay; Android Auto; SiriusXM satellite radio; remote start; 20-in. aluminum wheels; power windows, mirrors and locks; push button start, LED headlights and fog lights; automatic high beams.
Options: None.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Mark Phelan is the Detroit Free Press auto critic. He can be reached at mmphelan@freepress.com.