Spacious, smart and affordable
The all-new Subaru Ascent is finally here and the brand thinks it has really cracked the code when it comes to threerow goodness.
The Japanese automaker has loaded this crossover full of tech and features that are designed to make life easier for families, but nothing tops the fact it has 19 cupholders. Apparently, that’s how you design a car from scratch for North America.
It is the biggest Subaru ever built, after all. It uses a stretched-out version of Subaru’s global platform that underpins the Impreza, Crosstrek and upcoming Forester. So much space Fortunately, it holds so much more than just cupholders, with a total of 2,449 L of storage when all rear seats are folded down. Behind just the second row is 1,345 L, while there are just 504 L behind that third row. It is worth pointing out that all of that cargo space is easily accessible, with a large, wide trunk opening and even hidden compartments that can store the cargo cover when it isn’t in use. It’s like the mansion in Clue: full of secrets and surprises!
It comes standard with a second-row bench seat or two captain chairs. The bucket seats are comfy and spacious and kids can use the grab handles to pretend they’re in the international space station! Premium offerings Adding to that otherworldly feel is an interior that can feel surprisingly premium. Subaru really stepped up its game in higher-trim models that arrive with upscale leather appointments and even luxurious-feeling wood trim in fully loaded models. Lower trim models feature textured accents that look cool but feel a bit rough.
But opt for one of those higher-end models and you get so many treats, including rear sunshades and the brand’s first ventilated seats. On the road The Ascent’s interior is wellsuited for family life, but the powertrain and handling are up to the task as well.
Under the hood is a new turbocharged 2.4-L four-cylinder boxer engine that makes 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It’s the only engine option available, which helps simplify things for buyers, and it’s pretty good. It packs a good amount of torque and power, which is enough to allow for nice highway speed passes. It’s enough to make you forget about the six-cylinder options in other three-row crossovers, but not the turbocharged sixes found in the Ford Explorer or Flex or the V8 in the Dodge Durango (although those are very thirsty engines).
In typical Subaru fashion, it’s paired with a continuously variable transmission and allwheel-drive system and both do a solid job of staying out of the way. The CVT seems tuned to give a smooth feeling of acceleration off the line from a stop, but while in motion, provides a good kick down to get to passing speed quickly.
Expect this powertrain to deliver the fuel mileage and range. It earns up to 9 L/100 km on the highway and 11.6 L/100 km in the city, as models riding on 18- inch wheels get better fuel economy than those riding on 20s (Subaru’s first time offering a car with that size), but the tank is plentiful, delivering a range of more than 800 km. It’s not exactly the class leader in terms of fuel economy, but considering that the vehicle doesn’t use premium fuel, it’s not a bad option if you’re concerned about your fuel budget. Naturally, those fuel economy figures will drop when the Ascent is used for towing, especially as you creep toward the vehicle’s 5,000-lb limit. There is a handy tow-stability assistance system, though. The safety BEEP Subaru boasts a solid track record with the IIHS and in terms of safety ratings you can expect the Ascent to continue that trend, as it uses a similar architecture to other vehicles that have earned top marks in crash tests. But instead of speculating about its future rating, we can at least appreciate all the active safety systems offered on the Ascent. It has lane-departure warning and assistance, rear automatic braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and steering-responsive LED headlights.
Buying an Ascent will set you back at least $35,995 in its base form, but fully loaded it’ll easily ring up at $49,995. The verdict A few people might remember the old Subaru Tribeca, which was the brand’s previous attempt at a three-row vehicle. It was ugly, expensive and limiting in terms of interior space.
The new Ascent is everything that the Tribeca wasn’t. It’s affordable, extremely spacious and full of smart design that seems tailor-made for a family on the go.