Used 2021 Subaru Ascent

Winner: 2021 5-Year Cost to Own Award
#6 in Best 3-Row Midsize SUVs for 2021

The 2021 Subaru Ascent is the largest SUV the company has ever built. It joins the throng of midsize 3-row SUV/crossovers that includes the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Honda Pilot. Which makes potential buyers spoiled for choice.

Standard all-wheel drive gives the 2021 Ascent an advantage over most of its rivals. Its competitive pricing, generous standard features (including many safety items), and anticipated strong resale values also put it in a good light, especially when compared with the Chevy Traverse and Ford Explorer.

The Ascent forgoes the traditional 6-cylinder engine in favor of a gutsy turbocharged 4-cylinder that delivers useful horsepower and as well as decent fuel economy. And family-friendly safety features abound, such as an alert system reminding the driver to check the rear seat before leaving the vehicle. This kind of clever thinking makes the Ascent an ideal 3-row/8-passenger SUV.

A good compromise of energy and fuel economy, the 2021 Subaru Ascent’s turbocharged 4-cylinder engine makes a muscular 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, which is in line with comparable midsize SUVs. It makes easy work of getting up to freeway speeds and doesn’t run out of energy on grades, curves, or passing maneuvers.

Straight-line driving is relaxed and comfortable. The interior is quiet, and the seats have ideal support for day-long drives. Outward vision is generally good in all directions, while the A-pillars are narrow enough to make room for a larger glass area, allowing the driver to see more at the front corners.

The Ascent also has sporty tendencies in its handling, steering, and braking. On twisty roads, quick reactions make this 3-row SUV feel agile, like a smaller vehicle. Braking is similarly good — responsive without being touchy, and no mushy pedal feel.

RELATED: Best 3-Row Midsize SUVs for 2021

Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system includes the off-road-enhancing X-mode, as well as hill descent control and active torque vectoring. It’s a superb set up, and Subaru has lots of expertise in this area.

The 2021 Ascent has a warm and welcoming interior that’s also highly practical, with seating for up to eight occupants. For the driver, controls are easy to reach and use.

Virtues include 3-zone automatic climate control (standard), heated seats, and a panoramic moonroof. Seat materials are either cloth, spill-repellent cloth, or leather.

The third row is easy to access, thanks to doors that open wide and a pleasantly low step-in height. There’s enough knee room for kids, but it’s tight for taller adults — 2nd-row passengers might need to slide their seats forward.

The rear seats fold almost flat, or completely flat if the regular 2nd-row bench is chosen instead of the better-bolstered captain’s chairs. When folded, this creates more than 86 cubic feet of cargo space.

That’s more than in the Highlander, Explorer, and Pilot, but a bit shy of the Kia Telluride. The cargo area has a nice, wide opening that makes loading less of a chore. A powered tailgate is also available. There’s even some storage under the load floor where the cargo area cover can go when it’s not in use.

People will have their own thoughts on the outward beauty or otherwise of the 2021 Ascent. There’s only so much a designer can do with a midsize SUV and stay within the realms of acceptability.

However, the adventurers among us will like the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the standard roof rails. This SUV attitude is enhanced in the top two trims with fog lights lower-door cladding and chrome accents. Range-topping Touring models add side mirrors in satin silver, chrome door handles, and a chrome skidplate up front.

ADVANCED SAFETY
Some competitors offer only basic driver assistance features as standard. Subaru’s EyeSight is in every model. This package includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and sway warning, and a head-up display warning. Upgrades include blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, rear cross-traffic assist, and a front-view monitor.

REAR-SEAT REMINDER
This simple but useful standard feature operates by detecting if either of the rear doors has been opened and closed within 30 minutes of the following three scenarios: starting the car, the vehicle is running and stationary, or the engine is turned off and back on again with the rear doors remaining closed. An audible tone and reminder message in the top display panel remind the driver to check the rear seats before exiting the vehicle.

The basic version of the 2021 Ascent comes with a wall of standard features. Outside the Ascent cabin, these include all-wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, active torque vectoring, hill-descent control, and steering-responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams. Inside, you get 8-occupant seating, EyeSight driving assistance features, 3-zone automatic climate control, air vents in all three rows, cloth upholstery, rear-seat reminder, 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, seat belt reminders for all three rows, reclining/60/40 split-folding 2nd-row and 3rd-row seats, a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite radio, AM/FM/CD stereo, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, four USB ports, Bluetooth, and 19 cup holders.

Chances are that many buyers are happy to reduce the occupant count by one and select captain’s chairs for the second row. Not only do they bring more comfort for that spot, they also enable easier access to the seats behind.

Moving up the Ascent’s trim levels brings blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, power-adjustable/heated/ventilated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, panoramic moonroof, heated side mirrors, keyless entry/ignition, 20-inch wheels, and a powered tailgate. There’s also a choice of spill-repellent cloth or leather seating surfaces.

Tech-wise, Wi-Fi, navigation, two more USB ports, a Harman Kardon 14-speaker surround-sound system, and an 8-inch infotainment screen are on the menu. Plus a smart rearview mirror that uses a camera to show what’s behind, even when the rear window is blocked (like when the Ascent is full of camping gear).

The engine in the 2021 Ascent is a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder boxer (or flat-4). This configuration involves horizontally opposed pairs of cylinders, which helps keep the vehicle’s center of gravity fairly low.

It makes 260 horsepower going to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It simulates an 8-speed automatic, and drivers can select these “gears” manually with paddle shifters mounted beneath the steering wheel. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

Due to their additional standard equipment, the top two Limited and Touring trims weigh more than the base and Premium versions, producing a dip in fuel economy.

2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4
260 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
277 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg, 20/26 mpg (Limited/Touring)