The Subaru Ascent, designed specifically for the North American market, debuted in 2019, and it received a mid-cycle refresh in 2023. The Ascent sits in the crowded three-row midsize SUV segment, and primary competitors include the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Toyota Highlander. The 2026 Subaru Ascent has five trims: Premium, Limited, Limited Bronze, Touring, and Onyx Edition Touring.
2026 Subaru Ascent Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Subaru Ascent
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Subaru Ascent
Since the Subaru Ascent was significantly refreshed in 2023, there are no big changes for 2026, but the lineup does see a trim simplification and some interior upgrades. The Ascent lineup drops the Onyx Edition trim, and the Premium trim receives an upgrade with features previously available with Onyx, including black exterior accents and leatherette upholstery. The Touring trim adds new woodgrain interior accents and Nappa leather options; all trims now include the 11.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally, Sapphire Blue Pearl replaces the Cosmic Blue Pearl exterior paint color.
Design
The Ascent is Subaru's largest SUV. With its boxy lines and cladding around the wheels, it resembles the Forester, but it features a unique grille and headlight treatment. Standard wheels are 18-inch alloys, and starting at the Limited trim, you get 20-inch machine-finish wheels. LED headlights and foglights are also standard. While no appearance packages are available, the 2026 Ascent has some visual differences by trim. Most notably, the Premium trim features black exterior accents and wheels, while the Limited Bronze Edition adds bronze wheels.
Powertrain
The 2026 Ascent comes standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and the only engine is the 260-horsepower, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder. This is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with an eight-speed manual mode and paddle shifters. It has a max towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Ascent gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, and the highway fuel economy varies by trim: the Premium trim gets 26 mpg, while all other trims get 25 mpg. For mild off-roading, the Ascent is equipped with X-Mode and hill descent control.
Interior
The 2026 Subaru Ascent seats up to eight passengers in the Premium and Limited trims, while the Limited Bronze Edition, Touring, and Onyx Edition Touring are only available with seating for seven. StarTex leatherette upholstery is standard, with leather and Nappa leather being available on upper trims. A moonroof is not available on the base trim, but it's standard on the Limited and above. Cargo space behind the third row is 17.6 cubic feet in most models, and max cargo volume is 72.8 cubic feet.
Technology
With the newly standard 11.6-inch infotainment screen comes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard tech includes USB ports in every row, LED steering-responsive headlights, tri-zone climate control, second-row climate controls, a six-speaker audio system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability, and a power liftgate. Available features include a native navigation system, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and driver’s seat memory settings.
Safety
Subaru is well-known for its safety, so it isn't surprising that the 2026 Ascent is packed with standard safety features. On all models, buyers get Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist suite, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, and driver’s knee airbags. Available safety tech includes Subaru’s DriverFocus distraction mitigation system, 360-degree camera views, and connected services. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2026 Ascent an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives it a Top Safety Pick+ Award with all Good crash-test scores.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Subaru Ascent went on sale in the fall of 2025. At the time of writing, the base price for the Premium trim is $42,245, and the Limited starts at $49,335. Both trims are available in an eight- or seven-passenger configuration as a no-cost option. The Limited Bronze Edition starts at $50,445. The top two trims, Touring and Onyx Edition Touring, start at $52,615 and $53,445, respectively. Prices include a $1,450 destination charge. One of the nice things about the Ascent is that there are no premium paint colors or packages. There are a number of accessories available, but each trim is fully equipped as standard, with no need to add pricey options.
