Subaru’s first foray into the midsize three-row SUV market did not go well. The B9 Tribeca, introduced for the 2006 model year, had a funky grille, a cramped interior, poor fuel economy, and limited towing capacity. It dropped the weird B9 prefix after 2007, but that didn’t help sales, because it just didn’t measure up to the stiff competition in this class and was discontinued after the 2014 model year.
Subaru learned its lesson, and the Ascent, introduced in 2019, has distinct styling, a spacious interior, plenty of family friendly functions, seven- or eight-passenger configurations, and a ton of safety features. Plus, it’s been an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ every year it’s been in production.
You can get up to 75.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seatbacks folded, so there’s flexibility for passengers and gear. Plus, with standard all-wheel drive, increased towing capacity, and a highway fuel economy of up to 26 mpg with 500 miles of driving range, the Ascent is a legit option for a family vehicle.
Subaru Ascent: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Subaru Ascent Pros and Cons
- Subaru Ascent Generations
- Subaru Ascent First Generation (2019–Present)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Subaru Ascent years are the best?
If you’re looking for the absolute best model year and willing to pay a little extra because of its youth, then 2024 is hands-down the best. At the time of this writing, it had zero recalls and few owner complaints, according to NHTSA.gov. Additionally, Consumer Reports gave it a better-than-average reliability verdict and owner satisfaction score. If you’re looking for a vehicle that may be coming off a lease, 2021 and 2022 are also good years to buy with just one recall and fewer owner complaints.
What are the worst Subaru Ascent years?
The Subaru Ascent was a completely new vehicle for the brand in 2019, and it got off to a rocky start with the most owner complaints of any model year and eight recalls, according to NHTSA.gov. The 2020 year also has a high number of complaints and four recalls, but CarComplaints.com says the 2023 model year is the worst year due to electrical problems.
Is a used Subaru Ascent a good deal?
Subarus generally tend to hold their value, and the Ascent is no exception. You’ll probably end up paying about 50 percent of the original MSRP for an early model, so it might not be the deal of the century, and you’ll probably pay at least $16,000. For a 2021 car—the earliest model year we recommend—you likely won’t pay less than $20,000. Even though the brand is known for reliability, a test drive and a thorough inspection are always worthwhile.
Subaru Ascent Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Great safety ratings
- Good value for money
Cons:
- Unimpressive fuel economy
- Outdated interior design
- Cramped third row
Subaru Ascent Generations
Subaru Ascent First Generation (2019–Present)
The new Subaru Ascent first appeared for the 2019 model year, serving as a successor to the Tribeca, which was discontinued after 2014. Unlike its predecessor, this midsize three-row was distinctly Subaru, with clear Outback styling cues. It had the distinction of being the largest Subaru ever built, with seven- or eight-passenger seating with bench or captain’s chair options for the second row.
It had Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard and was equipped with a new 260-horsepower 2.4-liter Boxer turbocharged engine with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. At launch, there were four trim levels: base, Subaru Ascent Premium, Subaru Ascent Limited, and Subaru Ascent Touring. All trims were paired with a high-torque Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), featuring an eight-speed manual mode function with paddle shifters as well as X-Mode and Hill Descent Control.
All Ascent models had family friendly features such as rear doors that opened to 75 degrees for better second- and third-row access, standard second-row bench seats, a convex cabin-view mirror, available USB charging ports in the third row, 19 standard cup holders, and three-zone automatic climate control. Plus, Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist advanced safety system was standard, and included adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.
The base trim included a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and Auto Vehicle Hold. The Ascent Premium trim added features such as blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a power-adjustable driver seat, available second-row captain’s chairs, spill-resistant cloth upholstery, an available auto-dimming rearview mirror, an eight-inch multimedia touchscreen, an available multimedia navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and rear-seat climate controls.
The Ascent Limited trim added leather-trimmed upholstery, LED steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, LED fog lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, reverse automatic braking, power rear gate, keyless access with push-button start, and the manufacturer’s DriverFocus distraction mitigation system. The top Subaru Ascent Touring trim offered upgrades such as chrome accents, Java Brown leather seats, navigation system, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, panoramic moonroof, a rear camera mirror, 18-degree front camera view, and rain-sensing wipers. Available features included heated side mirrors, heated-and-ventilated front seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
The first-gen Subaru Ascent received minor updates each year up until 2023, when it got a mid-cycle refresh. Standard rear-seat reminders were added in 2020. In 2021, there was an update to EyeSight and steering-responsive headlights, and seat-belt reminders for the second and third rows were standardized across all trims. In 2022, we saw the Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition and the Onyx Edition Limited with StarTex water-repellent upholstery and exterior accents with a black finish.
The refresh in 2023 brought a new front fascia, new LED headlights, C-shaped taillights, a larger 11.6-inch infotainment system with an available surround-view monitor in the Touring trim, a new available Cabin Connect intercom system, and a refreshed interior. Though there weren’t any significant updates for 2024, the 2025 model year discontinued the base trim and added new Ascent Onyx Edition Touring and Ascent Bronze Edition trims.
The good news is there are a lot of used Subaru Ascents around. The bad news—even shabby Subaru Ascents command premium prices. If you’re looking for a good price on a model with less than 70,000 miles, be prepared to pay at least $20,000, but you’ll likely pay closer to $30,000.
