Ascent, Descending
The Subaru Ascent sells in far fewer numbers than its very successful stablemates, the Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback. In its debut year, 2019, the Ascent sold almost 90,000 units. Last year, it was about half that. If this steep drop sounds surprising, you can’t blame it on the Ascents lack of essential features. The Subaru Ascent still offers things families want: standard all-wheel drive, comfortable accommodations, useful towing capability, and excellent safety features.
The problem is that those qualities aren’t enough to set it apart now. Numerous three-row SUVs have hit the scene since the Acent took the stage. The Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade emerged in 2020 and have already undergone a full redesign this year. The Toyota Grand Highlander debuted in 2023, and it’s crushing the Ascent in sales.
For 2027, Subaru’s largest SUV receives minor updates that don’t amount to much. It gets USB-C ports for rows two and three, which the tech-hungry kids will love. Aside from that, there’s a new paint color, Deepwater Blue Pearl, which was the color of my tester. My Onyx Edition Touring’s base price was $51,995. With the premium paint ($395) and the destination charge ($1,495), the total came to $53,885.
Its Looks Disappear Into the Background
The Ascent won’t turn any heads, that’s for sure. It’s anonymous shape is mated with a an overly busy front end. Itreceived a refresh in 2023, giving it revised front and rear fascias. The Onyx treatment arrived the year before the refresh and has remained in the trim line. It has merged with the top Touring trim to become the Onyx Edition Touring. Are you still with me?
The Onyx gives the Ascent a bolder and more sinister look. Darker treatments are popular on crossovers and SUVS now, and the Ascent gets black-finished 20-inch wheels, a gloss-black grille, dark window trim, and additional black exterior accents. Even with the darker touches, the Ascent doesn’t look distinct when bolder choices like the Kia Telluride exist.
Kristen Brown
The leather is good, and the seats are comfortable in the first two rows. Still, leather and equipment can only do so much when the dashboard architecture and overall presentation feel dated. The Ascent’s interior is starting to show its age with the bulky dash and dark plastics. The premium materials in the Onyx improve the experience but don’t really drive up the overall look and feel all that much.
Contact points are appropriately soft, and the plastics are of good quality. It’s just a bit too monochromatic inside, and the seats don’t even get contrast stitching that’s present on the dash and door trim. The small amount of piano black is appreciated, but it’s present on the shifter gate with plenty of divots and creases to house crumbs and schmutz.
The Infotainment is a Drag to Use
Amos Kwon
The standard 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen is one of the clearest indications that the Ascent needs more than incremental updates to its interface. To me, it feels like its the Achilles heel of the Ascent. The screen is big, yes, but the operation is so frustrating. It’s laggy on startup, to the point of disbelief, and the climate controls crammed into the bottom portion of the screen requires both patience and dainty fingers.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cover the essentials, but smartphone integration doesn’t excuse an interface that could be simpler and more intuitive. The oversized icons are ridiculous, but the colors and graphic icons take too much time to decipher while driving. It, along with most of the other Subie models, needs the new Outback’s landscape screen and new interface. The new rear USB-C ports are useful. They’re also the sort of improvement buyers expected a couple of years ago.
The Cabin Comfort is Good But Not Great
Amos Kwon
Comfort in the first two rows is pretty solid. The Ascent’s accommodating seats and relaxed character help explain why it continues to appeal to families despite its near nine-year generational life. The Onyx Edition Touring seats seven, with second-row captain’s chairs providing individual seating and access toward the back. 38.6 inches of second row legroom is spacious, and I can easily sit behind myself in comfort. Six footers need not worry.
The third row is for kids. 31.7 inches of rear legroom. That’s less than both the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Honda Pilot. While it’s not an ancillary row the way the Mitsubishi Outlander’s is, don’t stick adults back there for long. Occasional extra seating is useful, but families who regularly need three rows for long trips should reconsider. I tried sitting back there, and it’s very unfriendly to six-footers. Don’t cram your high school football players in the third row, ever.
Amos Kwon
Cargo capacity behind the third row is 17.8 cubic feet. That’s workable for school shuttling and medium-sized trips to the grocery store, but a full passenger load and vacation luggage require planning. Folding second row seats improves versatility, although doing so sacrifices the capacity that prompted many buyers to consider the Ascent initially.
One Engine and It’s Not Exceptional
Amos Kwon
Every Ascent uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The Ascent isn’t slow. 0-60 happens in a little less than 7 seconds, which is decent for a family SUV. It’s the accompanying noise and choppiness that hamstring the driving experience.
Amos Kwon
The flat four’s engine’s sound is grainy, something that doesn’t belong in a flagship SUV. Once you get past the initial lag off the line, the Ascent gets going and provides adequate performance, but it isn’t the same as a polished driving experience. The palpable body roll is signficant, and the front wheels feel overwhelmed when you push it into turns.
At the very least, there should be a hybrid option now that the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek have it. What a disappointment. The EPA rating is 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for the Onyx Edition Touring. Without a hybrid option, the Ascent lacks an alternative for families who want to spend less at the pump and have more full tank range.
Final Verdict
I don’t wholly blame Subaru for the Ascent’s mediocrity. At one point, years ago, it was compeitive, but the rest of the pack hasn’t just caught up, they’v surpassed it in terms of style, efficiency, space, tech, and amenities. Its high time for a redesign and more than one engine choice. It’s unlikely that the brand will redesign it anytime soon with another facelift expected next year. It appears the brand wants to focus on the new three-row electric Getaway.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog