Used 2020 Subaru Ascent for Sale nearDurham, NC

How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 10.71% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,917 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.

Owners 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 overview: this is a three-row SUV built for people who need extra room for passengers, pets, and cargo, not a vehicle chasing sporty character. The main trade-offs are fairly pedestrian performance and poor fuel economy, so you should expect usefulness over excitement. With 34.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?

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

The owner feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable, family-friendly, and comfortable over time, with roominess and safety standing out as recurring positives. The expert review also describes it as a safe family vehicle that should be a faithful friend when weather turns harsh, which reinforces its long-term usefulness. If you want a used three-row SUV that prioritizes confidence and everyday practicality, the main ownership risk is more about living with its rough edges than worrying about outright durability.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re shopping higher-mileage examples or vehicles with a lot of family use. Focus on condition details that matter in a three-row SUV: interior wear, electronics, and how well the vehicle has been maintained. If you’re comparing multiple listings, pay close attention to equipment differences because the Ascent’s trim structure changes comfort and convenience quite a bit.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base trim 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.
• Powertrain: Every Ascent uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive. It delivers good acceleration for a vehicle this size and stays strong at elevation, but it is also thirsty.
• 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 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 Ascent’s real-world fuel economy is poor, and the expert review notes an observed 18.9 mpg on a testing loop, 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 detailing and convenience upgrades you get as you move up the range. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and are comfortable keeping things simple.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds a larger 8-inch touchscreen, text messaging, a WiFi hotspot, and more features without pushing the price into luxury territory. It also unlocks blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which makes it the smart all-around pick.
• Limited: Choose this if you want leather seats and more upscale cabin appointments. It also adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.
• Touring: This is the most luxurious version, with premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and a high-resolution screen with navigation. It suits you best if you want the most upscale Ascent experience and are willing to pay for it.

EyeSight is standard, and Premium trim adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds additional lighting and reverse-braking features.

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

The market looks moderately favorable if you’re a selective buyer.

• Deal availability: 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,917 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.71% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,633, 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 $19,633 sits slightly below last year's $21,988.

That price movement suggests the Ascent has become more buyer-friendly in the used market, which can make it easier for future sellers to attract attention if they price competitively. A softer market today can also mean you may not recover as much as you would have when prices were higher, especially if your vehicle has average mileage or visible wear. Still, the Ascent’s family appeal and broad usefulness help support demand among shoppers looking for a practical three-row SUV.

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 safety setup is a major strength, and the only trim-level caveat is that some helpful features are 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:

• 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.71% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 model combines standard all-wheel drive, strong safety, and a family-focused three-row layout.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $17,168, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $19,633 average.
• It offers a spacious, safety-focused three-row setup with standard all-wheel drive.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,564, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $19,633 average.
• It adds a few key safety features as newly standard equipment.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and family utility, the 2020 is the strongest all-around choice. If your budget is tighter, the 2019 is worth a look; if you want newer standard safety equipment, the 2021 may justify the extra cost.

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 pick if you want standard all-wheel drive and a comfort-first, safety-focused family SUV. The Pilot has the edge if you care more about stronger performance, but you may have to live with less intuitive tech and cheaper-feeling materials.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.