Subaru's Ascent Excels in Many Areas but Struggles to Win You Over | Review | Carscoops

      The largest SUV from Subaru feels robust and secure but struggles with its outdated quirks, leading one to question if reliability still holds significant value.

      **by Stephen Rivers**

      **PROS:** Interior quality, low-speed acceleration, standard AWD

      **CONS:** No standout features, cumbersome infotainment, noisy drivetrain

      Three-row SUVs are currently very popular. In fact, some manufacturers try to squeeze a third row into models not originally designed for it. However, the Subaru Ascent was purpose-built for those needing a serious vehicle for transporting people.

      The end result is a model that incorporates Subaru’s essence in every element of its design. Nonetheless, despite the segment's popularity, Ascent hasn’t achieved remarkable sales success for Subaru. In 2019, the company sold over 81,000 units, but it hasn’t surpassed 70,000 since then.

      The year 2024 marked its worst annual sales since launch, with a sales drop of over 25 percent compared to the previous year by the end of the third quarter. To understand why this appealing vehicle in such a popular category is lagging, we took it for an extensive week-long test.

      **QUICK FACTS**

      *Manufacturer

      We drove it to various sporting events, transported numerous passengers, went shopping, and even ventured onto gravel roads. This SUV has many appealing features, especially for devoted Subaru enthusiasts. However, we believe we have identified what significantly holds back the Ascent.

      **Styling**

      The Ascent's appearance isn’t a concern. It has an angular, rugged design, with our test version, the Onyx Edition, showcasing a blacked-out badging aesthetic, including wheels, a black roof rack, and black cladding. Its resemblance to most crossovers makes it relatively unoffensive.

      The design incorporates distinct Subaru elements within the headlight configurations. One detail I appreciate is the functional air ducting that cools the turbocharged engine, cleverly located atop the grille to direct airflow onto the intercooler.

      Overall, though, the design might feel a bit cluttered. It appears there’s a directive along the lines of “can we add anything else here?” and “let’s introduce a compound curve to this sharp beltline.” The wheels could also be slightly larger to better fill the wheel wells.

      However, it’s important to note that most crossover buyers don’t base their decisions solely on aesthetics. Often, the interior design carries more weight.

      **Interior Experience**

      Subaru has a distinctive approach to its designs, and the Ascent’s interior showcases this well. The front seats, while not the softest, stand out due to their supportiveness and adjustable features, including a manual thigh adjustment for taller individuals.

      The asymmetrical armrest on the center console enhances comfort for both drivers and passengers. The upholstery and stitching throughout the interior feel and look of high quality. The steering wheel buttons are pleasant to use and favor matte black over glossy piano black, which is an improvement.

      The center control stack and dashboard exhibit their own unique design elements. While that aspect is acceptable, the functionality of the controls leaves much to be desired.

      The 11.6-inch infotainment system is visually appealing with its familiar vertical layout, though it occasionally suffers from lag, particularly when adjusting media settings or switching radio stations. Fortunately, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay seem to alleviate some of these issues.

      Unfortunately, the surrounding bezel of the infotainment unit seems to harken back to the 2010s with excessive piano black plastic and large, somewhat unattractive physical buttons. While I appreciate the presence of physical climate controls—preferring them over digital ones—their appearance and tactile feel are disappointing.

      There’s excessive empty space surrounding them, which could have been utilized for the digital controls embedded in the infotainment system.

      For comparison, the second-row climate controls are compact, clear, and simple to use. Despite the return of piano black plastic and a large unneeded bezel, the essential controls for passengers are conveniently accessible with just a few straightforward physical buttons.

      Beneath these, you’ll find multiple cupholders, power outlets (including a standard household plug), and additional storage options. Speaking of cupholders, the Ascent boasts 19, which seems excessive, but perhaps I’m just not factoring in the needs of families.

      The second-row captain’s chairs are as comfortable as the front ones and are easy to move for access to the third row. However, they don’t fold down completely flat. The third row is not ideal for adults but can accommodate them for a couple of hours if necessary.

      They lack significant adjustment options, but there are ample cupholders, power ports, and storage spaces available. Third-row passengers also have speakers in their doors and will appreciate having tie-down points.

      **Drive Impressions**

      Beneath the Ascent's hood lies Subaru’s most powerful engine, the FA24, a turbocharged flat-four that displaces 2.4 liters and produces 260 horsepower