Used 2020 Subaru Ascent for Sale nearColumbia, SC

How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 11.19% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,898 listings available, which suggests you have a meaningful 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, and many also like the comfortable interior and balanced driving feel. That lines up with its role as a family-size SUV for people, pets, and cargo, especially if you want Subaru’s familiar character in a three-row package. The trade-offs are clear: performance is fairly pedestrian, and fuel economy is poor. Even so, the market still shows 37.4% good or great deals, which points to solid shopping opportunities if you want a practical, safety-minded SUV.

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 roomier, safer, and family-friendly, with a driving experience many owners describe as comfortable and well-balanced. The expert evaluation also emphasizes that Subaru’s all-wheel-drive setup and safety-minded design make it a dependable fit for everyday use and rough weather. If you value a vehicle you can count on for family duty, the Ascent’s reputation is encouraging. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that its thirst for fuel and some uneven powertrain behavior can become ongoing annoyances.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, because accident-free listings are not the same as guaranteed trouble-free ownership. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on the transmission behavior, interior wear, and any signs of neglected maintenance. Pay close attention to how the vehicle feels on bumps, how the controls operate, and whether the cabin equipment works as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base model 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 in an exclusive color, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other luxury-themed enhancements. CarGurus recommends the Premium with the Convenience and Sporty option packages as the best-value path.
• Powertrain: Every version uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive. It makes 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, and it delivers good acceleration for a vehicle this size, though the powertrain can feel uneven 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 upgrades to a high-resolution screen and navigation.
• Fuel efficiency: The expert evaluation says the Ascent is thirsty, and the testing loop returned 18.9 mpg. The official 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 visual and equipment upgrades found higher up the range. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and are comfortable with a simpler setup.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim because it adds nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and more features without pushing the price as high as the upper trims. It also unlocks the blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert package.
• Limited: Choose this if you want leather seats and more upscale cabin content. It adds a more premium feel, along with 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, while Premium adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and Limited adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.

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: 37.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,898 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.19% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,514, 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 $19,514 sits slightly below last year's $21,971.

That price decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy more confidently now. For a future seller, it also means resale value may depend heavily on condition, mileage, and how well the vehicle has been maintained. If you keep the Ascent clean, documented, and accident-free, you’ll be in a better position when it’s time to sell. 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 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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. The main caveat is that some of the more advanced safety equipment is reserved for higher trims.

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:

• 37.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.19% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It combines standard all-wheel drive, a comfortable ride, and standard advanced safety features.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $17,076, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $19,514 average.
• It offers a spacious, safety-focused three-row layout with standard all-wheel drive.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,422, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $19,514 average.
• It adds a few key safety features as newly standard equipment.

The bottom line: If you want the strongest mix of price, safety, and family usefulness, the 2020 is the balanced choice. If your budget is tighter, the 2019 is the value play; if you want newer standard equipment and can spend more, the 2021 is worth a look.

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 into standard all-wheel drive, comfort, and safety, while the Pilot counters with a stronger engine. If you care more about traction and a calmer family-hauler personality, the Ascent makes sense; if you want more power, the Pilot has the edge. The Pilot’s tech and interior-material drawbacks may matter if you spend a lot of time in the cabin.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.