Ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru took the wraps off an all-new 2019 Ascent on Tuesday night, the first three-row SUV offered by the automaker since the ill-fated Tribeca.
It will be available in either seven or eight-seat configurations and be built in Indiana on the company’s Global Platform.
The Ascent will features a new evolution of the Boxer engine, a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Subaru says it has an estimated output of 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It will be paired to a Lineartronic CVT and the Ascent will be capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs.
“We understand the needs of Canadian families on the go, and our largest ever vehicle is perfectly suited to handle whatever our customers throw at it — or in it,” Yasushi Enami, chairman, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, said in a statement.
Depending on how you configure it, the Ascent will come with either second-row captain’s chairs or bench seating.
As you would expect from a Subaru, the Ascent comes standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive and X-Mode, features the automaker says help it handle rough roads. X-Mode also includes hill descent control, and the Ascent offers 220 millimetres of ground clearance to handle off-road situations.
Subaru will offer its EyeSight advanced safety suite standard across the line-up. It includes collision-avoidance, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control.
Other safety features include reverse automatic braking, side/rear vehicle detection and steering-responsive headlights.
The Ascent will go on sale in the summer of 2018.