2020 Subaru Ascent Review: To Greater Heights

Larger than life and the biggest ever produced by Subaru, the Ascent is the Japanese brand's flagship SUV, boasting three rows, seating up to eight, and equipped with all-wheel-drive from the get-go. But it's more than just a behemoth in size and seat-count; it's an SUV that has been purpose-built to conquer the midsize market in the United States, jam-packed with more tech and safety features than you can shake an IIHS award at. Every Ascent is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder, with a healthy 260 horsepower channeled via a CVT automatic gearbox to ensure competitive fuel economy. But the three-row SUV fray is a tough one, with competitors ranging from the Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9 to newer entrants like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade - arguably the Ascent's toughest challenge.

What's the Price of the 2020 Subaru Ascent?

Pricing for the 2020 Subaru Ascent is on par with that of its competitors, with the base Ascent's price remaining the same as last year. The base Ascent is priced with an MSRP of $31,995 before tax, registration, and licensing, and is exclusive of Subaru's destination and delivery charge of $1,010. The Premium asks a price of $34,395 while the Limited starts at $39,345. At the top of the trim ladder is the Touring with a sticker price of $45,045.

2020 Ascent Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Ascent Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Subaru Ascent rides with a poised and refined ride quality that's not exactly missing from the segment but is considered a basic requirement. However while rivals do favor smooth tarmac, the Ascent is far more capable at filtering out lumps and bumps on broken tarmac and gravel roads, absorbing sharp jabs with alacrity. The composure also gives it the sense of being smaller than dimensions make it out to be, making it wieldy and easy to pilot. Despite this, it's not an SUV geared towards driving enthusiasts, lacking the engagement and chuckability of the Mazda CX-9 and Honda Pilot.

It is easy to maneuver, though, with light steering making it easy to navigate school drop-offs, while the firm, progressive brakes are easy to modulate and do a more than sufficient job of bringing the Ascent to a halt.

In the event you take the Ascent off-road, the surefootedness of permanent all-wheel-drive and ample ground clearance inspire confidence, and while there's no dual-range transfer case to enable rock crawling, the X-Mode setting on the CVT transmission tightens up the ratios to maximise low-down torque and activates hill descent control to give the Ascent impressive ability against the rest of the crossover clan.

2020 Ascent Interior

2020 Ascent Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent A Good SUV?

In the last few years, this segment has grown to be one of the most competitive on U.S. soil, so it's no longer enough to be good when you're in the company of greatness. The Ascent is definitely a good car, with versatile seating for up to eight, exemplary safety standards, and impressive gas mileage estimates. But it's also not the most spacious, with some rivals offering more cargo volume and more third-row space, and the infotainment suite feels tremendously dated and difficult to use. There are benefits the Subaru possesses, though, and while it's not engaging to drive, it is nimble and is more than capable of handling rougher terrain where some rivals are true-to-type soft-roaders. There's really nothing the Ascent does terribly, but we need to remember that in this segment you could be buying a Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade, and against those, the Ascent is utterly forgettable.

What Subaru Ascent Model Should I Buy?

While it might be tempting to choose a high-level trim, we'd instead advise you to look lower and pick a Premium-spec Ascent. Not only does it get all the necessary features, but by adding the Sporty Package you get amenities such as a panoramic sunroof and navigation system as well as keyless entry and an auto-dimming rearview mirror for nearly the same price as the Limited, which doesn't boast much of this as standard. The only key item you miss out on is leather upholstery, but at less than $40k, it's a great value for money deal.

2020 Subaru Ascent Comparisons

2020 Subaru Ascent vs Honda Pilot

For years, the three-row benchmark has been the Honda Pilot, and for good reason. It makes use of a 280-hp V6 engine which may have more power than the Ascent, but without turbos it's a little down on torque. Both are similarly matched from a performance standpoint, achieving the same 23 mpg combined, although the Pilot only manages this in FWD form. Equipped with AWD overall economy drops by 1 mpg. Both are also capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped. The Pilot's more fun to drive, though, and feels a little more tied down, while the traditional automatic gearbox options are also more refined than the Subaru's CVT. Both offer similar amounts of passenger room with equally-cramped rear seats, and both are almost identically specced when it comes to cargo capacities, too. The differences really are too close to call here, and we urge you to cross-shop both before making a final decision.

2020 Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Highlander

It will cost buyers around $3,000 more to purchase the Toyota Highlander as opposed to the Subaru Ascent, and it just may be worth it. The Highlander's V6 engine is not only a robust piece of machinery with outputs of 295 hp and 263 lb-ft but is also polished enough to deliver superior fuel-efficiency over long distances, with gas mileage figures of 21/29/24 mpg in its FWD trim, matching the Ascent in AWD form. The Ascent takes the lead for passenger room and practicality, with the Highlander's third row being more cramped than the Ascent's and it only offers 16 cubes in the cargo hold. Moving up the trim ladder of the Highlander does get expensive, but those who don't mind spending the extra clams are rewarded with premium upgrades including a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Toyota is equally as rugged and offers similar performance, but feels like a more premium product overall. If you care more for space than luxury, the Ascent is a fine pick, but as an all-round package the Highlander is a little more appealing.