2019 Subaru Ascent - Seating For The Whole Litter
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Date: 2019-05-30
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Comments and reviews: 10
Stephen Hendricks
We shopped a number of midsize crossovers earlier this year. The 2018 Kia Sorento (top trim SX-L) came out in first place among three row models for my family (2 adults, teenage daughter, and a big dog) followed by the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, and the VW Atlas. Had the new Ascent been available last February we would have seriously considered it. Comparing it to the 2019 Sorento (comparable top trims) I think wed still make the same purchase decision but it would be a closer call. Subaru has done an excellent job with the Ascent, I think. They were able to benchmark the current competition when they brought the new Ascent to market and theyve taken advantage of that. Still, (imo) it falls a bit short of the Sorento in several ways. A big factor for us was the more compact size combined with extremely efficient allocation of interior space in the Sorento compared to its rivals. In effect, it was up to nearly a foot shorter than the competition with equivalent or better interior passenger space. That makes a huge difference in suburban traffic and in parking. The Ascent does a better job than some of its rivals but with a 197 inch length, its still eight inches longer than the Sorento with a relatively small advantage in terms of interior space. In terms of drive train choices, Im part of the anti-CVT brigade. Ill admit that CVTs have been improved significantly in the last few years and Subaru seems to have eliminated some of the designs most objectionable traits. Still, Id take the Sorentos eight speed AT over the Ascents CVT. Likewise, for vehicles like this I prefer a naturally aspirated V6 versus a turbo four banger. Smoother, more reliable, and more durable in the long run. I understand that Subaru is trying to maximize mpgs with their 2. 4L turbo but the difference is minimal compared to Sorentos V6. Finally, I cant ignore the much better bumper-to-bumper and power train warranties offered by KIA compared to Subaru. Nor could I ignore the substantial discount off MSRP that we received with Sorento. Obviously, I havent tried to negotiate a real world price for the Ascent but Im skeptical that I could receive an 8000 discount off MSRP as I did with the Sorento. Here in the Pacific Northwest Subaru fans are legion and I have no doubt theyll sell a bunch of Ascents. Id still go with a Sorento but it would be a closer call than before the Ascent came along.
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We shopped a number of midsize crossovers earlier this year. The 2018 Kia Sorento (top trim SX-L) came out in first place among three row models for my family (2 adults, teenage daughter, and a big dog) followed by the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, and the VW Atlas. Had the new Ascent been available last February we would have seriously considered it. Comparing it to the 2019 Sorento (comparable top trims) I think wed still make the same purchase decision but it would be a closer call. Subaru has done an excellent job with the Ascent, I think. They were able to benchmark the current competition when they brought the new Ascent to market and theyve taken advantage of that. Still, (imo) it falls a bit short of the Sorento in several ways. A big factor for us was the more compact size combined with extremely efficient allocation of interior space in the Sorento compared to its rivals. In effect, it was up to nearly a foot shorter than the competition with equivalent or better interior passenger space. That makes a huge difference in suburban traffic and in parking. The Ascent does a better job than some of its rivals but with a 197 inch length, its still eight inches longer than the Sorento with a relatively small advantage in terms of interior space. In terms of drive train choices, Im part of the anti-CVT brigade. Ill admit that CVTs have been improved significantly in the last few years and Subaru seems to have eliminated some of the designs most objectionable traits. Still, Id take the Sorentos eight speed AT over the Ascents CVT. Likewise, for vehicles like this I prefer a naturally aspirated V6 versus a turbo four banger. Smoother, more reliable, and more durable in the long run. I understand that Subaru is trying to maximize mpgs with their 2. 4L turbo but the difference is minimal compared to Sorentos V6. Finally, I cant ignore the much better bumper-to-bumper and power train warranties offered by KIA compared to Subaru. Nor could I ignore the substantial discount off MSRP that we received with Sorento. Obviously, I havent tried to negotiate a real world price for the Ascent but Im skeptical that I could receive an 8000 discount off MSRP as I did with the Sorento. Here in the Pacific Northwest Subaru fans are legion and I have no doubt theyll sell a bunch of Ascents. Id still go with a Sorento but it would be a closer call than before the Ascent came along.
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Biscayne Bay
Six weeks ago we purchased the exact same 8-passenger Limited Ascent as Alex tested. Would have purchased a Touring except we wanted the 2nd-row bench seat. We have no need for a 3rd row seat so we considered the new Forester, but I have a boat and needed the 5000 lb. towing capacity of the Limited Ascent. Replaced my 2003 V8, 4wd Toyota 4Runner which had the same towing capacity as the new Ascent (5000/500 tongue)I have to disagree with Alex on the ride which I find to be superior to the Competition. The Ascents Global Platform body is stiff and does not flex unlike the competition. The turbo/CVT combination is quick and tows without effort. I originally thought that I would buy a V-6 Toyota Highlander until I spent a day in Miami with one, mostly driving in traffic under 45 mph - what a horrible engine/10-speed transmission combination. The Ascents drivetrain is so much better. The VW Atlas felt like an underpowered/overweight pig in comparison, and I felt that the Honda Pilot had vague steering and an odd body-roll. What really sold me on the Ascent was the outstanding headroom with the sunroof. I am 64 and can sit much higher in the Ascent than I could in the competition. Very comfortable seating with well designed controls. Seating is always subjective, but I have yet to find someone who didnt rave about the Ascents ability to adjust to people of all shapes and sizes. Build quality has been outstanding, and I have been looking hard for that first flaw (havent found it. My only complaint has to do with the CVTs fake shift points. I wish they gave us a software option where we could choose to let the CVT just operate in its most optimum mode without the fake shift points. It would feel more like a very smooth aircraft turbine engine, which might freak out someone who has never operated something without gears. But believe this old Navy Pilot, you would easily get used to it, although you still need the ability to downshift for engine braking, such as while coming downhill in Colorado as my sister does often in her CVT equipped Outback. Great car, and another excellent and unbiased report from Alex. The Ascent was a good choice for us. Fortunately there is a lot of good competition in this market segment, so you should take your time and study all the models available.
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Six weeks ago we purchased the exact same 8-passenger Limited Ascent as Alex tested. Would have purchased a Touring except we wanted the 2nd-row bench seat. We have no need for a 3rd row seat so we considered the new Forester, but I have a boat and needed the 5000 lb. towing capacity of the Limited Ascent. Replaced my 2003 V8, 4wd Toyota 4Runner which had the same towing capacity as the new Ascent (5000/500 tongue)I have to disagree with Alex on the ride which I find to be superior to the Competition. The Ascents Global Platform body is stiff and does not flex unlike the competition. The turbo/CVT combination is quick and tows without effort. I originally thought that I would buy a V-6 Toyota Highlander until I spent a day in Miami with one, mostly driving in traffic under 45 mph - what a horrible engine/10-speed transmission combination. The Ascents drivetrain is so much better. The VW Atlas felt like an underpowered/overweight pig in comparison, and I felt that the Honda Pilot had vague steering and an odd body-roll. What really sold me on the Ascent was the outstanding headroom with the sunroof. I am 64 and can sit much higher in the Ascent than I could in the competition. Very comfortable seating with well designed controls. Seating is always subjective, but I have yet to find someone who didnt rave about the Ascents ability to adjust to people of all shapes and sizes. Build quality has been outstanding, and I have been looking hard for that first flaw (havent found it. My only complaint has to do with the CVTs fake shift points. I wish they gave us a software option where we could choose to let the CVT just operate in its most optimum mode without the fake shift points. It would feel more like a very smooth aircraft turbine engine, which might freak out someone who has never operated something without gears. But believe this old Navy Pilot, you would easily get used to it, although you still need the ability to downshift for engine braking, such as while coming downhill in Colorado as my sister does often in her CVT equipped Outback. Great car, and another excellent and unbiased report from Alex. The Ascent was a good choice for us. Fortunately there is a lot of good competition in this market segment, so you should take your time and study all the models available.
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Thomas Shi
Great Review AlexWe were shopping for 3-row CUV recently. Coming from minivan, we need the 3rd row that can fit adults. So CX-9, Highlander and Sorento were out. The Subaru Ascent, Honda Pilot (2019) and VW Atlas (2018, as the 2019 model wasnt available yet) were on our final list. Before we hit the dealers, we went through various reviews here on Youtube. The Atlas is bigger for sure, with 2 spacious seats on the 3rd row and easy access. But handling and fuel economy is not as good as the other two. Besides, you will need to climb up trim to get real leather and all necessary active safety features. We also found the flat front hood blocks our view sometimes. Even though VW has 6yr/72k bumper to bumper warranty, we are not confident about its reliability. Then we test-drove the Subaru Ascent premium. Everything seems fine, except for one thing, that the brake pedal is a bit small and far from the gas pedal. Its position is noticeably higher (maybe 2-inch) than all other cars we have driven. I didnt find it concerning but my wife felt uncomfortable switching between gas and brake with her heel on the ground. This could be a big safety issue. The same brake problem is not found in the other Subaru cars like Forester. Besides, Subaru tune the CVT to mimic the gearshift found in regular transmissions, which gives me a wired feeling. We end up getting the Pilot EX-L, which has a great 3rd row height (best in class, I am 511, still have 2 inch head room) and leg room, leather, remote start, more reliable V6 engine plus 6-speed AT (though we wont get the fast acceleration in the 9AT, all the necessary safety features we want, and more importantly, great handling and AWD performance thanks to the torque vectoring that is similar if not identical to SH-AWD on the Acura. I think Alex is right on the point that the base Ascent is incredible in its value. But if you opt for higher trim, there are probably better choices available depend on your needs and preferences.
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Great Review AlexWe were shopping for 3-row CUV recently. Coming from minivan, we need the 3rd row that can fit adults. So CX-9, Highlander and Sorento were out. The Subaru Ascent, Honda Pilot (2019) and VW Atlas (2018, as the 2019 model wasnt available yet) were on our final list. Before we hit the dealers, we went through various reviews here on Youtube. The Atlas is bigger for sure, with 2 spacious seats on the 3rd row and easy access. But handling and fuel economy is not as good as the other two. Besides, you will need to climb up trim to get real leather and all necessary active safety features. We also found the flat front hood blocks our view sometimes. Even though VW has 6yr/72k bumper to bumper warranty, we are not confident about its reliability. Then we test-drove the Subaru Ascent premium. Everything seems fine, except for one thing, that the brake pedal is a bit small and far from the gas pedal. Its position is noticeably higher (maybe 2-inch) than all other cars we have driven. I didnt find it concerning but my wife felt uncomfortable switching between gas and brake with her heel on the ground. This could be a big safety issue. The same brake problem is not found in the other Subaru cars like Forester. Besides, Subaru tune the CVT to mimic the gearshift found in regular transmissions, which gives me a wired feeling. We end up getting the Pilot EX-L, which has a great 3rd row height (best in class, I am 511, still have 2 inch head room) and leg room, leather, remote start, more reliable V6 engine plus 6-speed AT (though we wont get the fast acceleration in the 9AT, all the necessary safety features we want, and more importantly, great handling and AWD performance thanks to the torque vectoring that is similar if not identical to SH-AWD on the Acura. I think Alex is right on the point that the base Ascent is incredible in its value. But if you opt for higher trim, there are probably better choices available depend on your needs and preferences.
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CRHK88
I just put a deposit on an Ascent Touring yesterday. I have been cross shopping 3 rows for about a year since my current Lexus lease was up this May. Going back and forth with test drives, consumer report articles, forums and hundreds of Youtube reviews like this I was most seriously considering the Highlander Platinum, Mazda CX-9 Signature, Pilot Elite, Kia Telluride SX-L Prestige, Kia Sorento SX-L and Lexus GX Luxury (used 2016. I wanted to spend no more than 48k but I liked my bells and whistles. I NEVER thought I would get a Subaru, I just always read negative comments about them and the CVT. But, in the end, I figured I would drive one for myself, just to see, since Consumer Reports gave it is the highest rating of any vehicle. I was surprised. My preconceived notions about the Subaru were completely wrong. I didnt really notice the CVT characteristics everyone mentions. I was so surprised that I actually test drove it two more times, including a long drive, and drove the Outback just to see what I was missing. The Ascent was nothing like I expected. The Touring model fit every box, had a nice interior, and the only thing holding me back was the CVT. until I drove one. Maybe I need to drive it more, but throughout all three test drives, not once did I notice anything that was unacceptable or problematic. Are some of these comments coming from actual Ascent owners or those that test drove it? I am just not sure what I am missing. Its like the Jerry Seinfeld episode where he cant figure out why everyone else is down on the hot girl he is dating. He cant figure out what he is missing. From what I can tell, the Ascent is a great vehicle, easily on par or better than the Pilot or Highlander we looked at. The only one we didnt check was the Atlas, but that was only because of our experience with Volkswagen in the past and recent reviews.
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I just put a deposit on an Ascent Touring yesterday. I have been cross shopping 3 rows for about a year since my current Lexus lease was up this May. Going back and forth with test drives, consumer report articles, forums and hundreds of Youtube reviews like this I was most seriously considering the Highlander Platinum, Mazda CX-9 Signature, Pilot Elite, Kia Telluride SX-L Prestige, Kia Sorento SX-L and Lexus GX Luxury (used 2016. I wanted to spend no more than 48k but I liked my bells and whistles. I NEVER thought I would get a Subaru, I just always read negative comments about them and the CVT. But, in the end, I figured I would drive one for myself, just to see, since Consumer Reports gave it is the highest rating of any vehicle. I was surprised. My preconceived notions about the Subaru were completely wrong. I didnt really notice the CVT characteristics everyone mentions. I was so surprised that I actually test drove it two more times, including a long drive, and drove the Outback just to see what I was missing. The Ascent was nothing like I expected. The Touring model fit every box, had a nice interior, and the only thing holding me back was the CVT. until I drove one. Maybe I need to drive it more, but throughout all three test drives, not once did I notice anything that was unacceptable or problematic. Are some of these comments coming from actual Ascent owners or those that test drove it? I am just not sure what I am missing. Its like the Jerry Seinfeld episode where he cant figure out why everyone else is down on the hot girl he is dating. He cant figure out what he is missing. From what I can tell, the Ascent is a great vehicle, easily on par or better than the Pilot or Highlander we looked at. The only one we didnt check was the Atlas, but that was only because of our experience with Volkswagen in the past and recent reviews.
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Dave Klein
Great Review. I had to take out one for a test drive and here are my thoughts. The model I took out was the limited and I was impressed with the Ascent like Alex was except for a couple of things that was a deal breaker for me. First was the steering. The steering is way to light and not precise with no feel for the road. I know a lot of cars are like this today with the electric power steering systems, but this reminds me of cars from the 1980s or 90s. If they could dial back some of the power steering assist handling would be so much better. They should talk to some Mazda engineers. Their cars and SUVs handle a lot better. The other problem I had were the brakes. Let me say this is the first time I drove any Subaru and I found the brakes pedal felt mushy. I have driven many different brand cars and their brake pedal feel was a lot more solid and inspired confidence when you have to stop fast. The Ascent brakes will stop the car, but sometimes you will saying a prayer. Also the brake pedal position seems very awkward compared to other cars. The brake pedal seems like it is not activating the brakes until you have pushed the pedal about halfway down. This might be a Subaru thing I do not know, but I did not like it. Other than those items the Ascent is really a nice SUV. Has good power and a very good ride with plenty of interior room. The CVT transmission felt fine to me. It does shift different than a regular automatic, but is something I could live. with. The steering feel and brakes are important to me so I will wait for the 2020 model to see if there are any improvements made. I hope there is
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Great Review. I had to take out one for a test drive and here are my thoughts. The model I took out was the limited and I was impressed with the Ascent like Alex was except for a couple of things that was a deal breaker for me. First was the steering. The steering is way to light and not precise with no feel for the road. I know a lot of cars are like this today with the electric power steering systems, but this reminds me of cars from the 1980s or 90s. If they could dial back some of the power steering assist handling would be so much better. They should talk to some Mazda engineers. Their cars and SUVs handle a lot better. The other problem I had were the brakes. Let me say this is the first time I drove any Subaru and I found the brakes pedal felt mushy. I have driven many different brand cars and their brake pedal feel was a lot more solid and inspired confidence when you have to stop fast. The Ascent brakes will stop the car, but sometimes you will saying a prayer. Also the brake pedal position seems very awkward compared to other cars. The brake pedal seems like it is not activating the brakes until you have pushed the pedal about halfway down. This might be a Subaru thing I do not know, but I did not like it. Other than those items the Ascent is really a nice SUV. Has good power and a very good ride with plenty of interior room. The CVT transmission felt fine to me. It does shift different than a regular automatic, but is something I could live. with. The steering feel and brakes are important to me so I will wait for the 2020 model to see if there are any improvements made. I hope there is
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Barry McNulty
I am an owner of a 2017 Honda Pilot in Touring trim and a 2019 Subaru Ascent in Limited trim. I am 62 tall and I find that the Subaru is vastly more comfortable for the driver. It is not even close. The extending thigh cushion alone pushed me to the Limited trim. I have the seat all the way back in the Pilot and still need another inch while the Subaru seat is about an inch away from all the way back. Your review mentions the Pilot as having superior handling. I find that the Ascent is substantially better in the handling department. It feels precise and sure footed while the Pilot feels floaty and less confidence inspiring. I chose the Pilot Touring over lower trims due to noticeable difference with the acoustic glass. When I commented that the Touring was quieter that the EX-L the salesman informed me of the side acoustic glass. I have found the Ascent to be even better than the Pilot in this category as well. If the Ascent was available when I bought the Pilot I would have bought it instead. As a nice bonus it was a couple of thousand cheaper. It is nice that it is rated to tow 5000 pounds as it sits. Subaru did a great job with this car
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I am an owner of a 2017 Honda Pilot in Touring trim and a 2019 Subaru Ascent in Limited trim. I am 62 tall and I find that the Subaru is vastly more comfortable for the driver. It is not even close. The extending thigh cushion alone pushed me to the Limited trim. I have the seat all the way back in the Pilot and still need another inch while the Subaru seat is about an inch away from all the way back. Your review mentions the Pilot as having superior handling. I find that the Ascent is substantially better in the handling department. It feels precise and sure footed while the Pilot feels floaty and less confidence inspiring. I chose the Pilot Touring over lower trims due to noticeable difference with the acoustic glass. When I commented that the Touring was quieter that the EX-L the salesman informed me of the side acoustic glass. I have found the Ascent to be even better than the Pilot in this category as well. If the Ascent was available when I bought the Pilot I would have bought it instead. As a nice bonus it was a couple of thousand cheaper. It is nice that it is rated to tow 5000 pounds as it sits. Subaru did a great job with this car
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Rohan Bhatnagar
Hi Alex, I drove one in July when they first hit the showrooms. had two major issues with it from a quality and power train refinement standpoint: 1. the quality of the upper dash material was like a cheap plastic with trampoline like effect. just horrific2. the simulated CVT gearshifts were jerky and quite unsettling, Albeit I drive a BMW ZF 8 Speed with smooth shifts I could be biased. but even my Nissan Sentra with CVT felt more refined. also the turbo engine doesnt hold a candle to the more refined Audi 2. 0t units in smoothness. but those two things and the lack of character and an unremarkable ride just turned me off and I never wanted to look at this car again. I decided to go for a Chrysler Pacifica top trim.
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Hi Alex, I drove one in July when they first hit the showrooms. had two major issues with it from a quality and power train refinement standpoint: 1. the quality of the upper dash material was like a cheap plastic with trampoline like effect. just horrific2. the simulated CVT gearshifts were jerky and quite unsettling, Albeit I drive a BMW ZF 8 Speed with smooth shifts I could be biased. but even my Nissan Sentra with CVT felt more refined. also the turbo engine doesnt hold a candle to the more refined Audi 2. 0t units in smoothness. but those two things and the lack of character and an unremarkable ride just turned me off and I never wanted to look at this car again. I decided to go for a Chrysler Pacifica top trim.
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William Johnson
I went to see this at the dealer and was surprised to learn that the headrest for the middle seat in the second row is a tiny, 3-inch tall, padded bar. I cant imagine that this would be safe for anyone sitting in the middle seat since if its off just a bit, your head will miss the padding. Ive never seen anything like this before. Any word on how this passed safety testing? It was an otherwise attractive package, but theres no way I would put my kid in that middle seat. Deal breaker.
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I went to see this at the dealer and was surprised to learn that the headrest for the middle seat in the second row is a tiny, 3-inch tall, padded bar. I cant imagine that this would be safe for anyone sitting in the middle seat since if its off just a bit, your head will miss the padding. Ive never seen anything like this before. Any word on how this passed safety testing? It was an otherwise attractive package, but theres no way I would put my kid in that middle seat. Deal breaker.
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William Johnson
Alex, Another great video. Thanks for all your hard work. Just a brief comment on the new sliding rear seats that can contort with a child seats installed. I think its important to note that most of these only work as intended if you are using UAS anchors. If your child has outgrown the weight limit for UAS, and now needs the seat secured with the seatbelt, the seat can no longer articulate as intended because the seat becomes locked in position. Happy new year everyone.
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Alex, Another great video. Thanks for all your hard work. Just a brief comment on the new sliding rear seats that can contort with a child seats installed. I think its important to note that most of these only work as intended if you are using UAS anchors. If your child has outgrown the weight limit for UAS, and now needs the seat secured with the seatbelt, the seat can no longer articulate as intended because the seat becomes locked in position. Happy new year everyone.
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bocaispinach
I was looking for a 3 row crossover and spent half year researching and negotiating with dealers. The fact is that although the MSRP is low for ascent, dealers around here are not going to give you ANY discount on them, since its hot. So you end up paying the same or even more. We ended up buying the volvo xc90, dealers were much more willing to offer you a deal on that vehicle and That ended up being a better value.
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I was looking for a 3 row crossover and spent half year researching and negotiating with dealers. The fact is that although the MSRP is low for ascent, dealers around here are not going to give you ANY discount on them, since its hot. So you end up paying the same or even more. We ended up buying the volvo xc90, dealers were much more willing to offer you a deal on that vehicle and That ended up being a better value.
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