The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Big cabin
- Standard AWD
- Great safety record
- Comfy ride
- Decent value overall
Dislikes
- Too much road rumble
- Where’s the hybrid?
- Starting to feel old
- Dull looks
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2024 Subaru Ascent should make for a great choice for families thanks to its decent value, standard AWD, and well-organized cabin.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Subaru Ascent? What does it compare to?
The Ascent is the biggest Subaru, a three-row crossover SUV with standard all-wheel drive, turbocharged power, and lots of safety tech. Shop it against the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Nissan Pathfinder, among myriad big SUV rivals.
Is the 2024 Subaru Ascent a good SUV?
Lacking a hybrid option, the Ascent is a thirsty choice. But it’s fairly powerful, has a well-thought-out interior, and comes with a wide array of crash-avoidance tech. It’s a 6.3 out of 10 on the TCC Rating scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Subaru Ascent?
The Ascent enters what may be the current generation’s final model year with limited tweaks.
Wearing bloated Forester lines, this big SUV has a conservative, boxy style that places function ahead of form. Big windows and narrow roof pillars enhance outward vision. Inside, the 11.6-inch touchscreen takes center stage on a busy dash loaded with small-item storage areas.
Just one powertrain is offered: a 2.3-liter turbo-4 rated at 260 hp and teamed with a CVT and all-wheel drive. The combination endows the Ascent with decent passing power and sure-footed traction on slippery surfaces. While no off-roader, the Ascent nonetheless sits a bit higher than most rivals and thus is more comfortable on a trail than nearly all of its competitors. It has a smooth, comfortable ride with good road isolation, though road noise is a touch high.
The big interior offers a choice between two captain’s chairs or a three-piece bench in the second row, plus a third row that can accommodate adults in reasonable comfort. Cargo space is excellent, enhanced in part by the tall roof.
The Ascent has done well in crash tests. All versions have a good automatic emergency braking system and adaptive cruise control, while blind-spot monitors are fitted to just about every trim level. Other line-wide tech includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and plenty of USB ports.
How much does the 2024 Subaru Ascent cost?
Figure about $35,500 for a base Ascent, which isn’t bad when you factor in its standard all-wheel drive. The Premium trim with heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat can nudge the price tag closer to $40,000, but that still undercuts many competitors.
Where is the 2024 Subaru Ascent made?
In Lafayette, Indiana.
2024 Subaru Ascent Styling
The 2024 Subaru Ascent blends into the three-row SUV scene.
Is the Subaru Ascent a good-looking car?
It gets the job done, but without the drama of the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The Ascent earns a perfectly average 5 here for its oversized Outback lines, which are starting to look a bit dated.
Tweaks last year brought new headlights and a grille bisected by a wide mustache. Below, you’ll find fake and real air vents plus fog lights on most versions. Chunky roof rails up top hint at the Ascent’s utility-oriented flair. It’s pleasant enough from the side, with a big greenhouse that affords excellent outward vision at the cost of style. Hey, we’d rather look out.
Inside, the Ascent has a busy design with lots of details and big climate control vents. The 11.6-inch touchscreen takes up plenty of dashboard real estate, though it looks better integrated here than it does in Subaru’s smaller models. Otherwise, controls are pretty easy to sort through. Subaru is a bit stingy with interior colors, reserving a warm brown shade for the costliest Touring trim.
2024 Subaru Ascent Performance
It's big by crossover standards, but the 2024 Ascent feels fleet of foot.
Subaru’s biggest cross SUV has a nimble feel despite its hefty dimensions. Its zippy turbo power nudges it to a 6 for performance.
Is the Subaru Ascent 4WD?
Yep, all-wheel drive is standard here. The Ascent sits 8.7 inches off of the ground, giving it decent rough-road ability.
How fast is the Subaru Ascent?
Ascents use a 2.4-liter flat-4 that pushes 260 hp to all four wheels via a CVT. It’s no thriller, but the engine and gearbox conspire to provide quick acceleration away from a stop and decent punching power. There’s not too much rev-surging here, either, which makes the CVT mostly a blend-in affair.
The beefy steering wheel delivers quick responses and a light feel. Combine that with a 38-foot turning radius and you’ll find the Ascent easy to hustle around town and into parking spots. The big tires have enough sidewall to absorb bumps, too. Body lean is limited, helping give the Ascent a fairly athletic feel. It’s no BMW X5, but it can hustle its way down a curvy road.
2024 Subaru Ascent Comfort & Quality
Like most Subarus, the Subaru Ascent makes great use of its cabin space.
Subaru packs a lot of space into the 2024 Ascent. This SUV stretches nearly 197 inches long, which is actually on the small side against its competitive set. It’s small enough to tuck into garages and parking spots, but big enough inside to easily accommodate up to eight people.
It’s a 9 on our scale, with points above average for good front and middle seats and cargo space.
The rare base Ascent lacks a power driver’s seat, something included elsewhere. Versions with synthetic or real leather have power adjustment for the passenger, too.
In row two, you’ll find 39 inches of legroom and a choice between a bench with seating for three or two captain’s chairs. Row three isn’t as roomy as the Kia Telluride or VW Atlas, though it can accommodate adults for shorter rides.
The cargo space grows from a decent 18 cubic feet behind the third row to 47 cubic feet with the rearmost seats folded. It tops out at 87 cubes, and there’s excellent small-item storage throughout the cabin.
Interior trim is durable if not exactly dressy.
2024 Subaru Ascent Safety
The 2024 Subaru Ascent is a top safety choice.
How safe is the Subaru Ascent?
It’s a strong choice, physically and metaphorically. The 2024 Subaru Ascent scores a 9 on our scale thanks to its top crash-test scores as well its long list of standard crash-avoidance tech. Good outward vision for an SUV earns it that ninth point, too.
The NHTSA rates it at five stars overall, while the IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick+.
All models come with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and active lane control. EyeSight can be a bit loud in the way it admonishes drivers for veering out of a lane, but that’s a small price to pay.
2024 Subaru Ascent Features
The 2024 Subaru Ascent can be a good value in mid-level trim.
Subaru includes quite a few features in its 2024 Ascent. We rate the lineup at 8 out of 10 due to the big screen, decent standard fare, and plentiful configurations.
The range starts at about $35,500 for the base version with its 18-inch wheels, EyeSight driver-assistance features, and 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring. Subaru’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty is weak compared to some rivals.
Which Subaru Ascent should I buy?
The base version is a pretty good value overall, though the $2,600 stretch to the Premium opens up the option for rear-seat captain’s chairs, and it includes tinted rear window glass, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, front seat heating, and additional climate control vents.
The step-up Onyx is mostly an appearance package, but the synthetic leather trim will be easy to clean. At just shy of $43,000, it’s not a bad value on its own given it also includes a sunroof, a power tailgate, and a few other nice features.
How much is a fully loaded Subaru Ascent?
The lineup works its way through leather-clad Limited (a little over $43,000) to the top Touring trim with its Harman/Kardon audio, cooled front seats, and available brown leather. That model rings in at a hefty $50,000.
2024 Subaru Ascent Fuel Economy
Gas mileage isn't the Ascent's best feature.
Is the Subaru Ascent good on gas?
There are thriftier choices, though at 21 mpg city, 27 highway, 23 combined, the 2024 Subaru Ascent earns a 2 on our scale. That’s not terrible since all-wheel drive is standard. But there’s no hybrid option here, as you’ll find from Ford and Toyota.
