Used 2020 Subaru Ascent for Sale near California

How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 12.13% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,867 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Subaru Ascent earns a 4.9/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10. Drivers consistently praise its roominess, safety features, and family-friendly design, along with a comfortable, well-balanced interior and driving experience. The Ascent’s practical mission as a three-row SUV for people, pets, and cargo fits especially well if you want a straightforward family hauler. Trade-offs include fairly pedestrian performance and poor fuel economy, and the market still shows 36.4% good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop carefully.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. Drivers describe it as safe, family-friendly, and comfortable, with a driving experience that feels well balanced and reassuring. The expert review also frames it as a vehicle that should be a faithful companion in harsh weather and everyday family use. That said, used buyers should still watch for wear tied to the transmission, tech, and other small irritations that can add up over time.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Subaru Ascent?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean at first glance. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the transmission behavior, infotainment operation, and interior condition, since those are the kinds of issues that can affect long-term satisfaction. Focus on whether the vehicle feels well maintained, because small quality and usability issues can matter more in daily family use than headline features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Ascent comes with smaller 18-inch wheels and lacks dark-tinted privacy glass, while Premium adds nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and more features. Limited brings leather seats, and Touring adds premium leather in an exclusive color, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other luxury-themed enhancements.
• Powertrain: Every Ascent uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and AWD. It delivers 260 horsepower and strong altitude performance, but the powertrain is described as thirsty and not especially engaging.
• Safety package: EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.
• Infotainment: All models include Starlink with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, integrated apps, and a CD player. Premium adds an 8-inch touchscreen, text messaging, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and connected services, while Touring upgrades to a high-resolution screen and navigation.
• Fuel efficiency: The expert review describes the Ascent’s fuel economy as poor and notes a testing-loop average of 18.9 mpg, with an official estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving for versions with 20-inch wheels.

Which 2020 Subaru Ascent trim should I buy?

The 2020 Subaru Ascent is offered in 4 trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base: This is the entry point, but it misses some of the nicer visual and equipment upgrades found higher up the range. It makes sense if you want the Ascent’s core space, AWD, and safety story at the lowest starting price.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim because it adds nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and more features without pushing the price into the upper end of the lineup. It also unlocks blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
• Limited: This trim is the step up if you want leather seats and more upscale comfort. It also adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.
• Touring: This is the luxury-leaning choice, with premium leather in an exclusive color, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other enhancements. It suits you if you want the most upscale Ascent experience.

The safety package starts with EyeSight, and Premium adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert while Limited adds additional lighting and braking features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Subaru Ascent?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 36.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,867 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 76.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,167, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Subaru Ascent's resale value?

The current average of $19,167 sits slightly below last year's $21,813.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may temper future resale gains if you sell soon. If prices stabilize, a well-kept Ascent could hold value better than a neglected one because shoppers still respond to its family-friendly layout and safety reputation. The current pricing also means your future resale will likely depend heavily on condition, mileage, and equipment level.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe?

The 2020 Subaru Ascent earns a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

EyeSight is Subaru’s camera-based driver-assistance suite, and it includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium trim adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking. The rear-seat reminder system is also standard for 2020, and Starlink Safety Plus connected services add automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and roadside assistance access.

Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Ascent or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 36.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 76.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.13% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 adds a rear-seat reminder system and keeps the Ascent’s standard safety and family-focused mission intact.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $16,822, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $19,167 average.
• It offers a high-tech, capable, safe three-row layout for growing families.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,159, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $19,167 average.
• It adds a few key safety features as newly standard equipment.

The bottom line: The 2020 is the balanced pick if you want the strongest mix of price movement, inventory, and safety. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2019 can save you money, while the 2021 makes sense if you want to pay more for the newer-year updates.

How does the 2020 Subaru Ascent compare to the 2020 Honda Pilot?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2020 Subaru Ascent:

• Pros: Standard all-wheel drive, Comfortable, Standard advanced safety features.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance, Poor fuel economy.

2020 Honda Pilot:

• Pros: Powerful engine, Standard advanced safety features.
• Cons: Unintuitive technology, Interior materials feel cheap.

Our experts score the 2020 Subaru Ascent 7.5/10 and the 2020 Honda Pilot 8/10. The Ascent is the better fit if you value standard AWD and a comfort-first, safety-focused setup. The Pilot counters with stronger performance, but its technology and interior materials are weaker points. If you want the more capable-feeling powertrain, the Pilot has the edge; if you want standard AWD and a calmer family SUV, the Ascent is compelling.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.