2024 Subaru Ascent

Subaru enjoys one of the more loyal owner bases in the industry, and the Ascent is a good reason why. Practical, family-friendly, and a decent value, the Ascent delivers seating for up to eight people. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard across the trim lineup, making it an ideal pick for getting around in foul weather. Subaru gave it a makeover for 2023, then pretty much left it alone for 2024. 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.

Subaru spruced up the Ascent for 2023 with styling upgrades, as well as enhanced safety and infotainment tech. Consequently, it left the Ascent alone for 2024.

Before buying the Subaru Ascent, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, the Subaru Ascent has had better-than-average resale value within its segment.

2024 Subaru Ascent On-Sale Date

We expect the 2024 Subaru Ascent to go on sale in late fall of 2023.

Subaru has assigned a 260-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as the Ascent’s sole source of thrust. The horsepower count is on the low end among 3-row midsize SUVs like the Traverse (305 horsepower), the Ford Explorer (300 horsepower), and the Kia Telluride (291 horsepower). Subaru uses an automatic transmission to send engine output to all four wheels. A sprint to 60 mph from a standstill takes just under 7 seconds, which is about typical of the segment.

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 mild off-roading. Comparable SUVs in this class with at least a modicum of off-road chops would be the Nissan Pathfinder and Jeep Grand Cherokee L when equipped with AWD.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of 3-row midsize SUVs, including the Subaru Ascent.

Fuel Economy

Keeping in mind the Ascent has standard AWD, its 22 mpg in combined driving (20 city, 26 highway) compares well to even some of its front-wheel-drive (FWD) competitors. For example, the Chevy Traverse FWD delivers 21 mpg combined, while the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Ford Explorer posts 23 mpg combined. For more fuel-economy information, you can visit the EPA website.

The interior of the Subaru Ascent has three rows of seats with room for up to eight people. 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 probably not for long. Its 31.7 inches of legroom places it in the bottom half of the group, but it still outdoes the Nissan Pathfinder’s 28 inches. Making the third row easier to access are our recommended available second-row captain’s chairs that reduce the seating capacity to seven but decidedly improve second-row comfort.

The interior design is pleasant, and the seat comfort is suitable for long-distance road trips. The centerpiece of the interior is the standard tablet-type infotainment screen 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-repellant StarTex seats in the Onyx Edition and perforated leather seats in the top Touring trim.

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.

Subaru updated the Ascent’s exterior styling for 2023. We like the result, such as its handsome new LED light signature. It’s not particularly rugged looking, but its overall bearing is pleasant enough. Depending on the trim, the appearance changes a bit, 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 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
The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and X-Mode with hill-descent control come standard on every trim of the Ascent, 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 taking your phone out of your 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
Standard on Premium and higher trims, it 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 audiophile, this audio upgrade includes 13 speakers plus a subwoofer and 792 watts of power.

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.

When properly equipped, the Subaru Ascent can tow up to 5,000 pounds. This is about the average tow number in the segment. The Nissan Pathfinder can tug up to 6,000 pounds, while the Ford Explorer has a maximum limit of 5,600 pounds.

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. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade provide more.

Safety Ratings

The Subaru Ascent boasts excellent safety ratings. Its government (NHTSA) overall rating is the highest: 5 Stars. It also earned a spot on the coveted Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) list. Moreover, Subaru EyeSight is standard on every Ascent grade. 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.