2024 Subaru Ascent

Overview

The Subaru Ascent plays in the crowded midsize three-row crossover segment, facing off against popular entries like the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Ford Explorer, along with eye-catching newcomers like the Mazda CX-90. The Ascent boasts standard all-wheel drive, space for up to eight passengers, and an abundance of standard safety and driver assistance features such as automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Under the hood is a 260-hp turbocharged flat-four engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which returned a respectable 28 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel economy test. But the powertrain’s propensity to moan and groan under acceleration, the lackluster passing power, and the tight third row relegate the Ascent towards the bottom of this competitive class.

What's New for 2024?

After receiving a substantial refresh last year—which brought a revised front end, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a standard vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen—the Ascent continues into 2024 completely unchanged.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

We think the Onyx Edition Premium model packs the best balance of desirable features and overall value. Every model has all four wheels spun via the same plucky turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain, but the base, Premium, and Onyx Edition Premium trims have slightly better EPA fuel-economy ratings than more expensive ones. The Onyx Edition Premium gets upgrades that include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, second-row captain's chairs, hands-free passive entry, a power-operated rear liftgate, and rear automated emergency braking.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

With the company's trademark all-wheel-drive system, the Ascent is well-suited for four-season family road trips. Its 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder powertrain delivers middling acceleration—a 6.8-second 60-mph time—and can be noisy under duress, but it'll pull a camper trailer or speedboat. The Subaru's continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) contributes to the racket. The gearless gearbox was otherwise receptive and steady. Paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel are there for those who want more control over the transmission. It took some getting used to the Ascent’s throttle response, which was particularly abrupt at low speeds around town. Meanwhile, the Subaru has a comfortable ride; though our test vehicle wore 20-inch wheels it did a good job of isolating us from bumpy roads and soaked up harsh impacts. Unfortunately, we noticed a lot of wind and road noise while cruising on the highway. While the Subaru lacks the fun-to-drive nature found in the Mazda CX-90, the sizable three-row was nicely composed in normal driving. Its light and accurate steering responded to quick maneuvers and felt relaxed at higher speeds.

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Towing and Payload Capacity

Every Subaru Ascent has a 5000-pound towing capacity. During our 40,000-mile long-term test with one, we put this capacity to the test by hauling an assortment of toys such as snowmobiles and even an Airstream camper. During these hauls, the fuel economy of the Ascent often dropped to single digits.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Ascent is expected to earn 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Those who select the top-tier Limited and Touring models will lose 1 mpg in both categories. Still, the Ascent has above-average EPA estimates and confirmed the latter in our 75-mph real-world test. The Onyx Edition Limited earned 28 mpg on our route, exceeding its EPA highway rating. That's better than rivals such as the Honda Pilot and the Kia Telluride. For more information about the Ascent's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Ascent's interior has all the hallmarks of a large crossover, with a raised driving position and versatile seating configurations. While the cabin accommodates a crowd, its third-row passenger space trails larger, roomier alternatives such as the Volkswagen Atlas. Too bad only the top two models are available with desirable features such as heated rear seats, a memory driver's seat, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and leather-trimmed upholstery. The Ascent can pack up to eight people inside, but in our testing, it only held five carry-on bags behind the third row. While that was one less than we fit in the Traverse, the Subaru also had less interior cubby storage than most rivals. Still, it remains a capable travel companion with some clever cargo solutions. These include Velcro straps in the cargo area to hold up the load floor if you need the added room. Our test vehicle had the optional second-row captain's chairs that use multiple levers for adjustments and will fold nearly flat.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The Subaru infotainment system lacks the customization settings and intuitive controls found on premier competitors. Still, it has features that consumers love, such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The standard 11.6-inch touchscreen has large onscreen icons that are easy to see and respond to your inputs quickly. While touch-only means there are more opportunities for driver distraction, the screen's position and large icons mitigate this issue.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Subaru doesn't save the best safety and driver-assist technology for the top trims, either. Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite is standard on every Ascent. For more information about the Ascent's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Subaru's warranty coverage is thoroughly average and fails to offer the complimentary scheduled maintenance that some competitors do.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2023 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Limited
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $47,520/$47,520

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 146 in³, 2387 cm³
Power: 260 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 277 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.1-in vented disc/13.0-in vented disc
Tires: Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S
245/50R-20 102H M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.8 in
Length: 196.8 in
Width: 76.0 in
Height: 71.6 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 60/52/36 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 73/42/18 ft³
Curb Weight: 4578 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.8 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.4 sec @ 92 mph
100 mph: 18.6 sec
120 mph: 32.3 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.0 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 179 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 17 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 540 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/25 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs