Subaru Ascent is a preferred name for families with a knack for adventurous getaways. Capable of hauling a total of 8 passengers, 2019 Subaru Ascent comes standard with the capable all-wheel-drive system, a high-utility interior, and the ability to tow as much as 5,000 pounds. The 2019 Subaru Ascent price starts from a little less than $33k, for the base model, which is very competitive, considering all the benefits the ride brings to the table.
The Good:
- A galore of standard features
- Creative storage layout
- Excellent towing capacity
- Spacious, fully-functional cabin
- Well-balanced ride and handling
The Bad:
- Discomforting appearance
- Gets noisy at times, especially during hard acceleration
New for 2019
The 2019 Subaru Ascent is the debut model year for the Ascent lineup.
Trim Levels
All 4 trims, the ‘base’ model, then the ‘Premium’ trim, ‘Limited’, and ‘Touring’, offer the same powertrain. Among all the, the ‘Premium’ trim offers the most value amongst all the trim levels.
Standard features offered on the base trim include cloth upholstery, raised roof rails, STARLINK multimedia, Subaru EyeSight, and three-zone climate control. The ‘Premium’ trim has blind spot detection, spill-resistant cloth seating, and Wi-Fi support as standard. Opting for the All-Weather Package adds a lot of features to the ‘Premium’ trim, most notably heated front seats. The 7-Passenger Convenience package adds a power-operated liftgate, rear automated emergency braking, and second-row captain’s chairs to the trim.
Stepping onto the ‘Limited’ trim brings in a lot of luxury features. The trim comes standard with 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a power rear tailgate, adaptive front headlamps, keyless access with push-button start, leather-trimmed upholstery, and reverse automatic braking.
The top-of-the-line trim, the ‘Touring’ features a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and a panoramic power moonroof. Other notable standard features on the ‘Touring’ trim include heated and ventilated front seats, Java Brown leather-trimmed seating surfaces, rear sunshades, and second-row captain’s chairs with seven-passenger seating.
Engine and Performance
Considering the 2019 Subaru Ascent CARHP review the car features a 2.4L turbocharged Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine. It produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. With the standard all-wheel-drive, The Subaru is able to offer a comfortable ride quality and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 4-cylinder powertrain offers average acceleration that can get noisy when stressed too hard. The CVT model is quite responsive and steady. For providing more engaging experience to the driver, the Subaru Ascent features the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Despite being equipped with 20-inch wheels, the Ascent is able to smooth out uneven surfaces. However, there is no escape from the road and wind noise on highway runs. While the handling is steady, the steering is responsive. Also, the braking is firm and progressive.
Interior and Infotainment
The raised driving position and the versatile seating configuration all testify for a well-built large crossover. Although the third-row seats might be smaller than that offered by rivals, 2019 Subaru Ascent has a spacious and functional interior space. Other desirable features like heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed upholstery, and memory driver’s seat are also available, but only with the 2 uppermost trims.
Although the Subaru infotainment system has 4G LTE mobile hotspot and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, it lacks an intuitive control layout and customization settings. Nonetheless, the touchscreen is highly responsive and has large icons.
Maintenance Coverage and Warranty Options
No complimentary scheduled maintenance is put an offering by the 2019 Subaru Ascent and the warranty coverage is average. The powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles while the vehicle warranty, which is of a limited type, covers 3 years or 36,000 miles.
Driver Assistance and Safety
Although no NHTSA ratings are available for the 2019 Subaru Ascent, it is regarded as a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS. Important safety features available to the ride include adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Automatic high-beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear automated emergency braking are available as optional driver assistance and safety upgrades.
Feature image by Subaru