2024 Subaru Ascent SUV

　　

2024 Subaru Ascent Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Growing families are flocking to three-row midsize SUVs and for good reason. They're easy to drive, offer plenty of space for passengers or cargo, and come with a long list of safety features. The Subaru Ascent made a strong debut in 2019 as the largest vehicle in the manufacturer's lineup, and last year it underwent a significant refresh to keep it competitive against newer rivals. For 2024, it returns unchanged, and even though it checks off all of the boxes for shoppers in this class, it's upstaged by our top picks.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Subaru Ascent 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$169/mo  for Ascent Base

　　Ascent Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $34,395 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $36,995 MSRPOnyx Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $41,795 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $42,095 MSRPOnyx Edition Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $46,795 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $48,695 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Safety

In addition to the basics that shoppers expect from a three-row SUV, the Subaru Ascent pays added attention to safety. All models come standard with a respectable list of advanced safety features, with higher trims adding upgrades and enhancements. Combined with robust engineering, the Ascent earns top crash test scores. The NHTSA awarded it five out of five stars in its evaluations and the IIHS named the 2023 Ascent a Top Safety Pick+, the institute's highest honor. This type of assurance is vital when transporting your most precious cargo.

　　

Competitors to consider

Among the many three-row midsize SUVs, the 2024 Subaru Ascent holds an advantage when it comes to value. Unfortunately for the Ascent, those rivals are exceptionally strong and easily justify their higher price tags. The Kia Telluride continues to lead the class with its spacious interior and attractive styling, while the new Mazda CX-90 injects a healthy dose of luxury. There's also the smartly designed and family-friendly Honda Pilot.

　　

Which Ascent does zzdcar recommend?

The Premium trim hits the sweet spot in the lineup. For a reasonable price premium above the base model, you get plenty of features and upgrades. These include greater towing capabilities, a high-quality interior, a few extra safety features and several useful convenience items.

　　

Subaru Ascent models

The 2024 Subaru Ascent is available in six trim levels: base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition Limited, Limited and Touring. All Ascents use a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (260 horsepower, 277 lb-ft of torque) paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive comes standard across the lineup. Feature highlights include:

　　Base

　　Starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Seating for eight Cloth upholstery Three-zone climate control 11.6-inch infotainment screen Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility Six-speaker sound system Four USB ports 2,000-pound towing capacity Standard driver aids include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Subaru and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway) Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle) Premium

　　Adds some appealing upgrades, including:

　　5,000-pound maximum towing capacity Heated mirrors Optional seven-passenger seating configuration Upgraded interior materials Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Separate rear climate controls Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance) Standard on the Premium's seven-passenger configuration and optional for the eight-passenger are:

　　Power liftgate Proximity keyless entry and push-button start Auto-dimming rearview mirror Rear center console Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Onyx Edition

　　Based on the seven-passenger Premium trim, it adds:

　　20-inch black finish alloy wheels Upgraded all-wheel-drive system LED foglights Power liftgate Panoramic sunroof Black grille and exterior trim Proximity keyless entry and push-button start Water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery Heated steering wheel Auto-dimming rearview mirror Onyx Edition Limited

　　This trim builds on the Onyx Edition with:

　　Driver's seat memory function and additional adjustments Power-adjustable front passenger seat Second-row sunshades Heated second-row seats Upgraded instrument display Integrated navigation system 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Intercom system (known as Cabin Connect, it broadcasts the driver's voice through the rear speakers) 360-degree surround-view system (uses cameras in all four directions to compose a single image of the car's surroundings) Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Limited

　　The Limited combines many, but not all, features from the seven-passenger Premium and Onyx Edition Limited trims and adds:

　　20-inch dark gray alloy wheels Leather upholstery Synthetic leather dash panel Second-row retractable sunshades An optional package for the Limited adds:

　　Dual-panel panoramic sunroof with sunshade Folding mirrors with integrated turn signals Cargo cover Integrated navigation system 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Intercom system (known as Cabin Connect, it broadcasts the driver's voice through the rear speakers) 360-degree surround-view system (uses cameras in all four directions to compose a single image of the car's surroundings) Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Touring

　　Comes with all the Limited's standard features and options and adds:

　　Power-folding mirrors Ambient interior lighting 120-volt power outlet Ventilated front seats Upgraded leather upholstery Auto-dimming digital rearview mirror with real-time camera image 180-degree forward parking camera Automatic wipers

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