The Subaru Ascent and Ford Explorer compete in the same class of midsize 3-row SUVs but have different personalities. The Subaru Ascent is the outdoorsy type with rugged styling, generous ground clearance, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Meanwhile, the Ford Explorer leans on the sporty side with a lower, wider stance and an ST trim that’s genuinely thrilling to drive. Those differences alone might give you a hint of which SUV is a better fit for you.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2026 Subaru Ascent and 2026 Ford Explorer and find the right 3-row SUV for your family.
2026 Subaru Ascent
You wouldn’t be far off if you called the Subaru Ascent a Subaru Outback with extra seats. It captures the quirky personality and off-road capabilities we love about the Subaru brand and packages them as a family-friendly SUV with 3-row seating.
Subaru Ascent Highlights
Standard AWD: In typical Subaru fashion, all-wheel drive is standard on every trim of the Ascent. Contrast that with the Ford Explorer, which has standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) on every trim, with all-wheel drive available at an extra cost. The Subaru also has more ground clearance, which is handy off-road.
Lower starting price: The Subaru Ascent’s starting price is nearly $3,000 lower than that of the most affordable Ford Explorer with all-wheel drive. It’s also well-equipped with standard features, making the Subaru the value choice.
Up to eight seats: The Subaru Ascent’s third row has three seats, giving it a maximum seating capacity of eight. The Ford Explorer’s way-back only has two seat belts, limiting its seating capacity to seven.
Read our Subaru Ascent Expert Review or see 2026 Subaru Ascent models for sale near you.
2026 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer has been a trusted name in family SUVs for decades. It’s perennially one of the best-sellers in its class for excelling at the basics of what makes a good midsize SUV. For 2026, it gains an off-road focused trim called Tremor at a price surprisingly low for such a thing.
Ford Explorer Highlights
BlueCruise: BlueCruise is one of our favorite hands-free highway driving systems we’ve tested, and it’s standard on all but the base trim of the Ford Explorer. The Subaru Ascent has good standard safety tech but no hands-free option.
Powerful and efficient: The Ford Explorer comes standard with an eager 300-horsepower turbo engine that’s stronger and more efficient than the 260-hp engine in the Ascent. The Explorer also has a 400-hp turbo V6 that’s standard in the sporty ST model and optional in the Platinum trim.
Sporty ST model: There’s nothing in the Subaru Ascent lineup quite like the Ford Explorer ST. In addition to the 400-hp turbo V6 under the hood, this high-performance family SUV serves up a sport-tuned suspension system, performance brakes with red calipers, and a sporty appearance package inside and out.
Read our Ford Explorer Expert Review or see 2026 Ford Explorer models for sale near you.
New 2025 Subaru Ascent Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (43085)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$41,415 |
$37,500 |
|||
$45,405 |
$41,100 |
|||
$49,305 |
$44,700 |
|||
$50,415 |
$45,700 |
|||
$52,585 |
$47,600 |
|||
$53,470 |
$48,400 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Subaru Ascent vehicles and New 2025 Ford Explorer vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2026 Subaru Ascent | 2026 Ford Explorer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 5,000 pounds | 5,000 pounds |
| Horsepower | 260 hp @ 5,600 rpm | 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm | 199 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
| Transmission | automatic, cvt w/lineartronic, high torque & 8-speed manual mode | automatic, 10-speed |
| Fuel Economy | 19 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg | 20 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 119.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 196.8 inches | 198.7 inches |
| Width | 85.9 inches | 89.3 inches |
| Height | 71.6 inches | 78.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.0 feet | 38.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 41.2 inches | 40.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.0 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 36.2 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.2 inches | 43.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 38.6 inches | 37.5 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 31.7 inches | 31.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.1 inches | 62.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 60.3 inches | 61.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 57.2 inches | 54.6 inches |
| Cargo Behind Last Seat | 17.8 feet | 16.3 feet |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | 43.5 feet | 46.0 feet |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 75.6 feet | 85.8 feet |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
The Subaru Ascent is a more value-conscious choice thanks to its lower price tag, higher seat count, and standard AWD. At a similar price point as the Ascent, the Explorer has a base engine that’s both more powerful and more efficient, more advanced tech features like the BlueCruise hands-free driving system, and an available 400-hp turbo V6 for the enthusiast who needs a practical SUV.
