History/Overview
Subaru introduced the Ascent in 2019 as its entry in the mid-size, three-row crossover segment. That ended the brand’s five-year absence from the three-row segment, with the Ascent ostensibly replacing the Tribeca that disappeared after 2014.
What’s New/Key Changes From Last Year
For 2022, Subaru has added a heated steering wheel to Touring trim, an item that was previously reserved for the Ascent’s top-end trim levels. There’s also a new Onyx trim.
Available Trims
Subaru offers the Ascent in Convenience, Touring, Onyx, Limited, and Premier trim levels. All are powered by a 2.4L turbo four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and AWD.
Standard Features
Convenience trim starts with heated side mirrors, auto on/off LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a front wiper de-icer. Inside, there’s a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, six-speaker audio, three-zone A/C, power driver’s seat, and heated front seats.
Subaru’s Eyesight safety suite is standard across the line, with automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane centering assist, forward collision mitigation, and lane keep assist.
Touring models add a transmission oil cooler (for added towing capacity), power tailgate, auto-dimming side and interior mirrors, LED fog lights, panoramic sunroof, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Starlink connected features, rear A/C controls, an integrated garage remote, heated steering wheel, reverse automatic braking, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist.
Onyx adds 20-inch wheels, black interior and exterior trim, second-row captains’ chairs, and all-weather soft-touch upholstery.
Limited adds navigation, a 14-speaker stereo, a 6.3-inch driver info display, power front passenger seat, driver’s seat cushion length adjustment, leather upholstery, and heated rear seats.
Finally, Premier gains power-folding side mirrors, ambient lighting, a 120-volt power outlet, smart rearview mirror, ventilated front seats, and a front-view camera.
Key Options
In Touring and Limited trims, you can swap out the middle bench seat for a pair of captains’ chairs, which reduces seating capacity to seven from eight.
Fuel Economy
Subaru’s fuel consumption estimates for the Ascent are 11.7/9.0 L/100 km (city/highway).
Competition
The Ascent is an important model for Subaru, as it lets the brand compete with big names like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas, and Dodge Durango.
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