The new-for-2019 Ascent addressed those needs effectively. The Ascent thinks so. In line with Cars.coms long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers dont accept gifts or free trips from automakers. Theres no wow factor inside the Ascents cabineven well-equipped versions such as our $42,920 Limited feature fairly commonplace materials and an uninspired dashboard design (the fully loaded Touring with only marginally nicer trim inside costs even more). Torque News reported last week, Subaru's newest SUV, the Ascent, makes the Consumer Reports 10 Least Reliable Cars list and lost their recommendation due to reliability issues. Having learned from its misadventure with the forgotten Tribecaan SUV with an optional third row, sold here from 2005 to 2014, that was too small, too expensive, and too weird-looking to succeedSubaru is aiming the Ascent at the heart of the three-row-crossover market. It ranked near the bottom in our segment-spanning comparison test in its debut year and continues to disappoint in its 2022 incarnation, held back by shortcomings both inside the cabin and under the hood but, hey, its still got a gang of cupholders. The company wants you to believe that you need a Subaru. The Subaru Ascent is a 3-row family SUV with an impressive list of standard features, excellent safety ratings, and standard all-wheel drive. Shoppers will find more space in the Honda Pilot or Chevy Traverse. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Hence Americas best-selling vehiclesthe Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado rather than the Honda Fit and Volkswagen Golf. The Ascent starts at a modest $32,970, but we opted for the fully loaded Touring trim level, which features seating for seven, Java Brown leather upholstery, faux-wood trim, a panoramic sunroof, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi for $45,670. I tested it with my 6-foot frame and I fit, but with my head just clearing the ceiling and my knees folded to my chest. Test Drive: 2021 Subaru Ascent Limited Review, continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). As the miles tick away, though, the big Subie continues doing what it does best, shuffling around people and their stuff. Nothing is constant, just periodical problems, which, of course, can't be fixed. A front-wheel-drive option could boost efficiency. Mind you, that's faster than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S tested in August. The Subaru Ascent was an all-new model for the 2019 model year, and as with many new cars, there are "bugs" to work out. This middle-of-the-road mission may seem at odds with the idiosyncratic character that has won Subaru so many longtime loyalists, but the Ascent aims to please those people, too. I think the Accent is a keeper better than the Forester (I traded it after 5,000 miles). Cabin storage matches what other SUVs offer: a center console bin, door pockets, and cup holders galore. Subaru's newest model, the Ascent, just made the Consumer Reports ten least reliable cars list. Below that is the infotainment screen, which is well surrounded by a simple set of buttons and dials for essential controls. The second row, available with either a three-place bench or a pair of captains chairs, is both capacious and flexible. View all 31 photos. The Subaru brand makes reliable cars, according to the new study from Consumer Reports. Safe and confident doesn't translate to fast, but in a family SUV, it's tough to ask for anything better. Upon its return visit to the test track at 40,000 miles, the Ascent hit 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is competitive for its segment but 0.3 second slower than when it was new. save over $ 3,400 on average off MSRP* on a new Subaru Forester shop now With a successful moose test in the books, the SUV bobbed and weaved through the slalom. Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. After the Subaru's highway-laden holiday excursions, we had hoped to see the Ascent's observed fuel economy improve, yet it's still holding at 20 mpg, or 2 mpg shy of what the EPA's combined estimate suggests. The base Ascent trim level features Subaru's excellent 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four, producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. With winter in full force upon its arrival, we fitted a set of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 winter tires in the OE size of 245/50R-20. This is what is known as good marketing. So far, our Ascent has not experienced any major hiccups. Consumer Reports says the 3-Row SUV also had two separate service campaigns for the suspension and climate system issues. It comes equipped with satellite radio and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Here are the problems with the 3-Row family hauler. 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Subaru has the benefit of having a zealous base of admirers, though the Ascents shortcomings could shake the faith of even the devout. The Ascents new turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four makes 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque and is another example of Subarus efforts to maintain its quintessential traits while eliminating the characteristic weaknesses that might turn off new converts. Some things need to happen. Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust. Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Subaru dealer. But all were corrected very early. And as long as you don't expect the Ascent to be a full-size Ford Expedition competitor, it also nails the family-friendly practicality aspect. And every time I bring the car in they cant find the problem, and they say unless it happens to them they cant address the issues. Avg. The 2022 Subaru Ascent SUV | Model Walkaround Subaru 461K subscribers Subscribe 54K. The midlevel Premium and Limited trims start at $34,795 and $39,595, respectively. Im not a huge fan of this setup. Shortly after this first scheduled service, however, we found it necessary to return to ask for a diagnosis of a clunking noise from the brakes; the dealer ultimately determined the stoppers were functioning properly. Subaru also issued a recall for Ascent's driveshaft bolts that could loosen. Ride quality is not what wed call plush. Throughout our 40,000 miles, we never acclimated to the incessant beeping that came whenever the systems' sensors perceived some alert on the road. Yes, we know how bad the lead photo looks for this Subie-sized attempt at the moose test. Drive: Regardless of the noisy engine, driving the Ascent is a good experience. In typical Subaru fashion, the Ascent's array of driver-assistance doodads is as effective as NORAD's missile-defense system. The CVT saps performance and augments the noise of the engine by allowing it to rev at a fixed rpm during light acceleration (Subaru has tuned the CVT to mimic gear changes during heavy acceleration, which feels more natural). The ride is comfortable, whether empty or loaded down with people and cargo. Subaru launched the Ascent for the 2019 model year. Learn how it stacks up to the old model. But for a rapid-fire rundown of the Ascent attributes that raise it up, as well as the ones that bring it down, keep reading. You lose seconds off your life with that slow-accelerating CVT, but at least you get some extra gas mileage for your time investment right? Every time the adaptive-cruise-control detects a vehicle in the Ascent's path, you get a beep. Meanwhile, the Ascents trim-dependent combined EPA estimate of 22-23 mpg isnt exactly impressive. Twice we left the tailgate open for an extended period of time and drained the battery. See all 78 photos. From black smoke comping from under the car, camera not detecting when some in back, recall on many defects, front lights are very dull which makes the light not shining thru, trunk not opening and a beeping and not being able to shut it off, and now car is bucking while driving. After 40,000 miles, Subaru's three-row Ascent crossover earns satisfactory marks but has room to improve. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. It doesnt take much squinting to see the Ascent as an overinflated, awkwardly proportioned Outback/Forester mash-up. Nonetheless, excellent packaging gives the Ascent one of the more accommodating cabins in its segment. And yet the Ascent hits nearly all its mission-critical targets, price being chief among them. Calculate my fuel costs. The lid of the underfloor storage compartment, behind the third row, can be Velcroed to the back of the rearmost seats to stay open, and the compartment can accommodate the optional removable cargo shade when its not in use so it doesnt take up room in your garage. Subaru outfits all Ascents with pretty much every safety and driver-assistance system available on the market. Even Volkswagen's big-box Atlas has already undergone a mild refresh. Art Battl, What's in the box from Black Creek Coffee? Following the painless installation of a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 trailer-brake controller ($123) tapped into the under-dash port, the closest we've come to probing the limits of the Ascent's 5000-pound towing capacity was when we tugged a 3500-pound enclosed snowmobile trailer to northern Michigan. This could certainly be a. With the continuously variable transmission unable to employ its higher virtual ratios, the Ascent guzzled premium gasoline to the tune of 9 mpg. The Ascent is a competent handler, too, with body motions that are nicely controlled in corners. Fortunately, no Subarus were harmed during this exercise. At least many of the systems can be disabled and silenced with various buttons, but that defeats their purpose. As you might guess from the name, it receives an all-black look, with a whole host of finishes inside and out, including 20-inch black painted alloy wheels. Over that time, we've acclimated ourselves to the mushy continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that manages the low-end grunt of the 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, but it's the Subie's driver-assist systems that continue to provoke grumblings in the logbook. We wanted the full experience, though, so we procured our long-term example in the fully loaded Touring trim level, complete with Crimson Red Pearl paint and a Java Brown leather interior. But who wants to be seen in a minivan? 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