Used 2020 Subaru Ascent for Sale nearCharlotte, NC

How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 11.55% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,895 listings available, which suggests you have a solid 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 interior and a balanced driving experience. The overview also fits that use case well: this is a family-size SUV built for extra room for people, pets, and cargo, with standard all-wheel drive and everyday usability. The main trade-offs are fairly pedestrian performance and poor fuel economy, and some owners wished for better efficiency and more tech features.

The market also looks reasonably supportive, with 37.8% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The user feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable, with repeated praise for its roominess, safety, and family-friendly character. The expert review also describes it as a safe family vehicle that should prove a faithful friend when weather turns difficult, which reinforces its long-term usefulness for buyers who want confidence and practicality. Subaru also includes Starlink Safety Plus connected services free for three years, which adds useful ownership support.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about core durability and more about living with the Ascent’s rough edges, especially its fuel thirst and some frustrating controls.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a vehicle history report on any candidate and prioritize a careful inspection, especially if you’re shopping higher-mileage examples or vehicles with lots of family use. Focus on overall condition, signs of wear in the cabin, and whether the features you want are present on the trim you’re considering. If possible, test the vehicle’s tech and driver-assistance systems to make sure everything works as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Ascent starts 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, 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 good acceleration for its size, stays strong at elevation, and is described as thirsty in real-world use.
• 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 adds a high-resolution screen and navigation.
• Fuel efficiency: The Ascent averaged 18.9 mpg in testing, and the official EPA estimate cited for versions with 20-inch wheels is 22 mpg in combined driving.

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 detailing and equipment upgrades found higher up the range. It makes sense if you want the Ascent’s core space, AWD, and safety without paying for extras.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim. It adds a superior infotainment system, a larger touchscreen, text messaging, a WiFi hotspot, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, making it the sweet spot for most shoppers.
• Limited: This trim adds leather seats and upgraded safety hardware, including LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking. Choose it if you want a more upscale feel and more advanced lighting and braking tech.
• Touring: This is the luxury-leaning choice, with premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and navigation. It suits you if you want the most upscale Ascent and are willing to pay for it.

The safety package starts with EyeSight on every trim, while Premium and Limited add extra driver-assistance 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 patiently but should move quickly on strong listings.

• Deal availability: 37.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,895 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.55% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 77.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,364, 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 $19,364 sits slightly below last year's $21,892.

That softer pricing suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy more value now but may also limit near-term upside if you plan to resell soon. For future sellers, the key is to buy well and keep the vehicle in strong condition, because a lower entry price can make it easier to stay competitive later. Strong owner satisfaction should help support demand over time.

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 gets a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

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

EyeSight is Subaru’s standard 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. Subaru also includes a rear-seat reminder system for 2020, and Starlink Safety Plus adds automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and roadside assistance.

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:

• 37.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.55% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 adds a family-friendly cabin, standard AWD, and standard advanced safety features.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $16,970, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $19,364 average.
• It offers a practical three-row layout with standard AWD and a strong safety story.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,292, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $19,364 average.
• It adds more standard features and extra safety equipment.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and family usefulness, the 2020 is the strongest all-around pick. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2019 can save you money while keeping the same basic mission intact.

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 leans harder into standard AWD and comfort, while the Pilot counters with stronger performance. Both offer standard advanced safety features, but the Pilot’s higher score suggests it has the edge overall despite its tech and interior drawbacks.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.