2025 Subaru Ascent

Subaru enjoys one of the more loyal owner bases in the industry, and the Ascent is a good reason for this. Practical and family friendly, the 3-row Ascent delivers seating for seven or eight, depending on configuration. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard across the trim lineup, making it an ideal pick for getting around in foul weather or the occasional adventure off-road. Packed with today’s most popular safety and connectivity technologies and boasting impeccable safety ratings, the Ascent competes with the likes of the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the 2025 Subaru Ascent.

For 2025, Subaru Ascent subtracts one trim and adds two trims. The old Base trim is gone, leaving the Premium trim as the entry model. That’s what caused the hike in the Ascent’s starting price this year. The new trims are the Bronze Edition, primarily an appearance package for the Limited trim, and the Onyx Edition Touring, an appearance package for the Touring model.

Before buying an Ascent, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Subaru Ascent resale value is above average for the segment. Recouping more money when you sell or trade in your car can mean a bigger down payment for your next one.

The 2025 Subaru Ascent is motivated by a 260-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with a CVT automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The horsepower count is on the low end among 3-row midsize SUVs. For instance, the Chevy Traverse  has 328 hp, the Ford Explorer has 300 hp, and the Kia Telluride has 291 hp. A sprint to 60 mph from a standstill takes just under 7 seconds, which is about typical of the segment.

Still, the Subaru Ascent delivers a comfortable and agreeable driving experience. The ride is smooth, the cabin is reasonably quiet, and the seats are comfortable. The handling isn’t particularly agile, but that’s forgivable in a family SUV. Regardless of the driving situation, we find the Ascent manageable, comfortable, and appropriately powered.

The Ascent doesn’t skip a beat if the roads get ugly. The standard all-wheel drive, generous ground clearance, and X-Mode with hill-descent control make it great in the snow and for mild off-roading. Comparable SUVs in this class with at least a modicum of off-road chops include the Nissan Pathfinder and Jeep Grand Cherokee L when equipped with all-wheel drive.

Fuel Economy

Considering the Ascent has standard all-wheel drive, its 22 mpg in combined driving (20 city/26 highway) compares well to even some of its front-wheel-drive (FWD) competitors. However, all but the base trim of the Ascent get knocked down to a 21 mpg combined rating because of their bigger 20-inch wheels.

The interior of the Subaru Ascent has three rows of seats with room for up to eight people, or seven if you opt for second-row captain’s chairs instead of a bench. We find the first two rows spacious and comfortable but would only relegate the kiddos to the third row. An adult of moderate height will fit back there, but it won’t be comfortable for very long. Its 31.7 inches of legroom places it in the bottom half of its segment, but it still outdoes the Nissan Pathfinder’s 28 inches. Second-row captain’s chairs make the second row more comfortable and the third row easier to access. They’re optional in the Premium and Limited trims and standard in every other trim.

The interior design is pleasant, and seat comfort is suitable for long-distance road trips. The interior’s centerpiece is the standard tablet-type infotainment screen. This system is loaded with features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The interior grows nicer as you work your way up the model range with water-repellent StarTex seats in the Bronze and Onyx Editions and perforated leather seats in the top Touring trims.

The cargo area in the Ascent is about typical for its class. With all the seats in place, it has 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Fold down the third row, and you get 43.5 cubic feet of space, and if you can afford to fold down all of the back seats, you get a generous 75.6 cubic feet of space.

The Subaru Ascent’s appearance changes slightly depending on the trim, and we’re partial to the Onyx Edition. It has a unique appearance package with black-finish exterior accents and 20-inch black-finish aluminum alloy wheels. The new Bronze Edition builds on the Limited trim with bronze accents, wheels, and interior stitching.

The size of the Subaru Ascent is in line with the midsize 3-row SUV class. Its outside dimensions resemble the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride.

Standard AWD
Every Ascent trim includes Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and X-Mode with hill-descent control, making it a competent off-roader for a 3-row family SUV.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
This handy feature brings your maps, music, and more to the screen in your SUV without the need to take your phone out of a purse or pocket. We love to see it as a standard feature on the Ascent.

EyeSight
Subaru’s extensive suite of driver-assist and safety technologies helps keep you and yours safe.

11.6-inch touchscreen
Featuring large icons, intuitive controls, physical knobs for volume and tuning, and toggle switches for temperature control, this center-mounted touchscreen puts the driver in control.

All-Weather Package
This bundle of features, standard on every trim, includes heated front seats, heated outboard mirrors, and heating elements at the base of the windshield to help prevent ice buildup on the wiper blades.

Available Harman Kardon audio
Designed for the music lover, this audio upgrade includes 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and 792 watts of power. It’s standard on the Limited trim and up.

There’s only one engine available for the Subaru Ascent. It’s a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to an automatic transmission. Like every Subaru SUV, all-wheel drive is standard on every Ascent trim.

The Subaru Ascent can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and Trailer Stability Assist comes standard. This is about the average tow rating in the segment.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Subaru provides the average warranty coverage among non-luxury brands. For limited bumper-to-bumper coverage, it’s three years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

The Subaru Ascent boasts excellent safety ratings. Its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) overall rating is the highest: 5 Stars. It’s also earned a spot on the coveted Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) list.

The standard EyeSight safety tech suite is part of why it gets such good safety scores. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-centering assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.