Subaru Ascent quick review

[Kaido]

Went for a test drive today. I'll get the bad out of the way: (personal issue) as with most cars, I have knee problems (6' tall) with the positioning of the left & right sides. I had no problems on the left side (door), but I did on the right side (vertical wall on the center console vertical stack) - no matter where I positioned the seat, the edge of that wall stuck into my knee. I think a piece of foam rubber would probably fix that. Not a problem for most people, it's just always the first thing I look for in a car. In my Jeep Renegade, there's a blank space between the center vertical & the gear shift, so I can manspread no problems in it. Rare in most cars. Anyway

So the Ascent is Subaru's new 3-row SUV:

https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/ascent/index.html

Basically a Forester XL. Notes:

1. 19 cupholders. Yes, 19.
2. Available in 7 or 8 seats.
3. Nicest Subaru ever created. Feels VERY nice inside. Very well-designed, compared to Subaru's usual utilitarian interiors.
4. Their not-for-sale demo model was a white top-trim with the baseball leather seats. They look phenomenal IRL. Not as ultra-comfortable as a Tesla or Volvo, but very very nice.
5. Nice solid weight. The Forester has a bit of a go-kart feel due to the size, you can kind of throw it around anywhere, all over the place. The Ascent definitely feels more planted due to the weight. Nice kind of luxury heft to the driving experience.
6. Turning radius is still bananas. The Forester is 17.4, the new Honda Pilot is 19.7, and the Ascent is 19. Really great for such a large car!
7. 4 trims available: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring. First two with cloth, last two with leater, Touring has ventilated seats as well.
8. All come with EyeSight. We really like eyesight in our current Forester, it makes long trips on the highway sooooo much easier (TACC).
9. My only concern (aside from my personal knee issue) is the engine. 2.4L 4-cylinder turbo 260HP. Very curious to see how that is going to hold up long-term. Maybe they've got it figured out, I don't know. Curb weight 4,430 to 4,603 pounds, depending on the model. Hmm.
10. Base model can tow 2,000 pounds, everything else is 5,000 pounds. Salesman recommended getting the hitch installed from the factor due to the plastic cover & wiring integration (iirc it talks electronically to whatever is being towed for brake control, if your towed unit has that feature).
11. Advertised MPG is 21/27 with a 19.3-gallon fuel tank, so around 520 miles of range, in theory. Data is limited, but Fuelly is showing 19.7 MPG combined right now (mixed city/highway, I'd assume).
12. They have hill-stop assist, but on flat roads now, which is pretty cool. So it won't creep if you're stopped, but you can tap the brake to start rolling. Neat feature.
13. The CVT was very smooth, and they fixed the ultra-sensitivity that the accelerator pedal on our '15 Forester has...it moves on a tap, and then it guns in partway in. Very smart pedal design, I like it.

Overall I was extremely impressed. They nailed it. I would buy this over the new redesigned Honda Pilot. I wanted to check out the '19 Forester (also fully redesigned), but it sounds like it's not going to be available until late October (was hoping to sit in one & see if the larger size in the new one fit me better than my Renegade).

 

[Herr Kutz]

It was excited about this car but it looks bloated and nothing about it makes it a home run. Unfortunately, I think that’s what most people want these days.

I agree with your concerns about the reliability over the long haul with the cvt and turbo carrying around a large, heavy vehicle. My mom has a 2014 forester which launches like crazy just as you mentioned, but I test drive a 2017 forester and it seemed like they really toned it down a bit. I told the salesman it looked like Subaru fixed the accelerator pedal and he said he wasn’t aware it was broken. There’s no way in hell I believe him. That’s probably among the first thing people notice when they start up the car and take off I gauarantee they bring it up with who ever is rinsing along on the test drive.

You know what would be awesome? If Subaru faked everyone out by telling us they were discontinuing the 2.0t in the forester but stuck one of these bad boys in the engine bay.

I’m anxiously awaiting the new forester to launch and I’ll probably give the cross trek a test drive on the same visit to the dealership. At first glance I’m disappointed with the forester unveiling, but the huge opening in the hatch may save it (I like being able to haul bikes on the inside).

 

[Kaido]

It was excited about this car but it looks bloated and nothing about it makes it a home run. Unfortunately, I think that’s what most people want these days.

I agree with your concerns about the reliability over the long haul with the cvt and turbo carrying around a large, heavy vehicle. My mom has a 2014 forester which launches like crazy just as you mentioned, but I test drive a 2017 forester and it seemed like they really toned it down a bit. I told the salesman it looked like Subaru fixed the accelerator pedal and he said he wasn’t aware it was broken. There’s no way in hell I believe him. That’s probably among the first thing people notice when they start up the car and take off I gauarantee they bring it up with who ever is rinsing along on the test drive.

You know what would be awesome? If Subaru faked everyone out by telling us they were discontinuing the 2.0t in the forester but stuck one of these bad boys in the engine bay.

I’m anxiously awaiting the new forester to launch and I’ll probably give the cross trek a test drive on the same visit to the dealership. At first glance I’m disappointed with the forester unveiling, but the huge opening in the hatch may save it (I like being able to haul bikes on the inside).

The Ascent is kind of bland on the outside, but very very nice on the inside. I rent cars from time to time when I travel; I got a vehicle upgrade the last time I picked one up & they hooked me up with a Lincoln MKT (kind of a hearse-like vehicle, lol). I liked the Ascent better all around...much better turning radius, interior felt nicer (even though the MKT is kind of "luxury"-mobile), more responsive power, etc.

My Jeep has been going bonkers again & I'm really feeling the need to drive it into a lake lately...still indecisive tho.

 

[postmortemIA]

CX-9 is its real competition... both are supposed to be better road handlers than the rest. I test drove CX-9 and I wasn't impressed how poorly their AWD system works.
Ascent is already selling like crazy, other Subarus have 0% financing and Ascent is on over 3%. No incentive needed for the time being.

 

[NutBucket]

Subaru hasn't really given cash incentives anyway...

 

[Kaido]

CX-9 is its real competition... both are supposed to be better road handlers than the rest. I test drove CX-9 and I wasn't impressed how poorly their AWD system works.
Ascent is already selling like crazy, other Subarus have 0% financing and Ascent is on over 3%. No incentive needed for the time being.

One of the things I really like is Subaru's CVT & accelerator responsiveness. I didn't mind the Mazda's transmission, but it always felt a bit laggy, especially from a dead stop. I was really excited about the CX-9, as I think it's a beautiful car, especially the interior, but I'm overly-sensitive to throttle response, having dealt with my 9-speed Jeep for so long.

 

[Chaotic42]

I wish they'd make a proper pickup truck.

 

[Slyr762]

I wish they'd make a proper pickup truck.

hmm. By the way, if it's unibody or such like the Ridgeline, it's a car w/ a bed, not a pickup. It's Interesting that my late 90's F150 gets the same combined mpg as the OP said for this suv. My truck is 100-300lbs lighter w/ my 250hp or so v8 compared to that turbo 4-banger basically 1/2 my engine, but much advanced.
I bet 0-60 is way better than my used up 190K mile pickup.

 

[postmortemIA]

Subaru hasn't really given cash incentives anyway...

They give discounts to dealers. More so in some regions. Lately, there's been unofficial "cash discount or 0% APR" while only second part is official.

One of the things I really like is Subaru's CVT & accelerator responsiveness. I didn't mind the Mazda's transmission, but it always felt a bit laggy, especially from a dead stop. I was really excited about the CX-9, as I think it's a beautiful car, especially the interior, but I'm overly-sensitive to throttle response, having dealt with my 9-speed Jeep for so long.

Interestingly, I had same complaint about CX-9 as you have about Ascent: center console is expanding towards driver's seat and no matter how I sat, my knees were always pushing against it. Also as I was entering I hit my head against the roofline, so head room isn't great either.

 

[IronWing]

19 cups holders? I'm in.

Does the second row of seats fold flat?

 

[Kaido]

I wish they'd make a proper pickup truck.

A Subaru pickup truck would sell like gangbusters.

 

[Kaido]

They give discounts to dealers. More so in some regions. Lately, there's been unofficial "cash discount or 0% APR" while only second part is official.

My dealer has no incentive to play pricing games at all...every allotted Ascent is already sold & everyone who was coming in was ordering them with a 1-2 month wait time.

Another catch is that it's a first-year vehicle. Already got burned on my Renegade with that. Granted, this is Subaru, and it's really just a bigger Forester, but like I mentioned with the engine, it's just a tad worrisome. Although the gearing was excellent, so it'd probably be fine.

Will be curious to test out the redesigned '19 Forester in a few months!

 

[Kaido]

Interestingly, I had same complaint about CX-9 as you have about Ascent: center console is expanding towards driver's seat and no matter how I sat, my knees were always pushing against it. Also as I was entering I hit my head against the roofline, so head room isn't great either.

Yup - what are they putting in the middle of the car that requires that much plastic?! lol

The Ascent also has kind of a flat wall on the right side for the driver, so your leg is kind of...snug. I could also see that being potentially annoying on long trips.

 

[Kaido]

19 cups holders? I'm in.

Pics of actual hardware:

https://jalopnik.com/i-found-all-19-of-the-new-subaru-ascents-cupholders-1820928343

Layout pic:

 

[Kaido]

Does the second row of seats fold flat?

Ish. Third row is pretty flat, but the 2nd row kind of angles up. They have both a 7-seat & an 8-seat configuration. The 7-seater has console chairs on the 2nd row:

2nd row bench on the 8-seater: (better to see in person tho, it is a massive amount of room)

 

[mindless1]

Pics of actual hardware:

https://jalopnik.com/i-found-all-19-of-the-new-subaru-ascents-cupholders-1820928343

Layout pic:

Meh, only needs 7 cupholders and a large refrigerated compartment between the 2nd row seats. Take the 2nd row inner armrests off even, to make more room for it then make it tall enough to become an armrest, and put latching mounts on the top hatch so you can put a tabletop on it, and allow the front seats to swivel around to eat at the table, and have a push button dispenser that serves cans or bottles out a chute in the front so you don't have to remove the tabletop nor open the top hatch except to reload it. Put a vending machine mechanism in the rear so 2nd/3rd row passengers can pay for their beverage.

 

[Kaido]

Meh, only needs 7 cupholders and a large refrigerated compartment between the 2nd row seats. Take the 2nd row inner armrests off even, to make more room for it then make it tall enough to become an armrest, and put latching mounts on the top hatch so you can put a tabletop on it, and allow the front seats to swivel around to eat at the table, and have a push button dispenser that serves cans or bottles out a chute in the front so you don't have to remove the tabletop nor open the top hatch except to reload it. Put a vending machine mechanism in the rear so 2nd/3rd row passengers can pay for their beverage.

 

[mindless1]

^ Is missing a few of the key features I mentioned. That much I could do easily enough myself, just take a cooler, cut down to size on a bandsaw and epoxy back together, slap some matching leather on the outside, and take the power hit to have it peltier cooled instead of trying to integrate it into the HVAC system, with the consolation that it'll run out of the vehicle on 12V power too. The remaining detail would be a rearward facing louvered duct channel under the floor pan so it isn't exhausting hot air into the cabin.

 

[IronWing]

Ish. Third row is pretty flat, but the 2nd row kind of angles up. They have both a 7-seat & an 8-seat configuration. The 7-seater has console chairs on the 2nd row:



2nd row bench on the 8-seater: (better to see in person tho, it is a massive amount of room)

Thanks.

 

[Zorba]

I am waiting to see some real world towing reviews. I saw it at the DFW car show and thought the interior was the best in the category, especially for the price. At 6'1" I was actually pretty comfortable in the back row.

I don't love the body style. To me it looks like a tall outback, and I've never loved the look of the OB. I am interested to see a premium since that is what I'd actually buy. I've got about 10 more years before I'll replace my Forester, but it is high on the list right now.

 

[Kaido]

I am waiting to see some real world towing reviews. I saw it at the DFW car show and thought the interior was the best in the category, especially for the price. At 6'1" I was actually pretty comfortable in the back row.

I don't love the body style. To me it looks like a tall outback, and I've never loved the look of the OB. I am interested to see a premium since that is what I'd actually buy. I've got about 10 more years before I'll replace my Forester, but it is high on the list right now.

Seats look great & are pretty comfy on the premium.

I am very interested to test-drive the '19 Forester redesign...I am hoping the knee-space is a better fit for me. We use my wife's '15 Forester for long trips right now, since my Jeep is a piece of crap, and the knee thing is annoying for me. I was planning on keeping our current Forester for a long time, but if they make the interior wider on the 2019 model, then I may have to swap out. Should easily get 10 to 20 years out of that puppy!

 

[Zorba]

FYI, for anyone thinking about the leather seats. The car show Ascent was already showing a decent amount of wear on the driver side seat at the Dallas car show. I think that was about the 10th or so show that car had been at and it had a line all day (a literal line) of people waiting to get into it. So it had probably seen a life time worth of action, but thought I would throw it out there.

 

[Slyr762]

FYI, for anyone thinking about the leather seats. The car show Ascent was already showing a decent amount of wear on the driver side seat at the Dallas car show. I think that was about the 10th or so show that car had been at and it had a line all day (a literal line) of people waiting to get into it. So it had probably seen a life time worth of action, but thought I would throw it out there.

I don't like leather seats. Get back to your car after being out somewhere for over an hour & you'd burn your ass. Well, someone with short shorts anyways. Leather is easy to clean i guess. My 20 yr old truck w/ original clothe seats age well.

 

[mindless1]

I don't like leather seats. Get back to your car after being out somewhere for over an hour & you'd burn your ass. Well, someone with short shorts anyways. Leather is easy to clean i guess. My 20 yr old truck w/ original clothe seats age well.

Throw a seat cover over it in summer, especially wearing shorts that slows down any type of upholstery from getting dirty faster from skin oils/sweat/etc. Leather is easy to clean short term but if you use too aggressive a cleaner and/or don't condition it every now than then, it won't last 20 years. Then again if the seat wears to match the rest of the vehicle, that's not out of place.

 

[Insomniator]

Well, it certainly looks nicer than the Tribeca or whatever that monstrosity they made for a few years was called.