How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 11.34% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,718 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

If you find a listing below $20,188.04, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Subaru Ascent earns a 4.88/5 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. The Ascent is aimed at you if you want a three-row SUV with standard all-wheel drive and a practical, everyday-friendly layout.

The trade-offs are clear: performance is fairly pedestrian, and fuel economy is poor. That means the Ascent makes the most sense if you value space, safety, and comfort more than quick acceleration or efficiency.

With 29.4% of listings marked as good or great deals, you still have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Owners rate it 4.88/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable, family-friendly, and comfortable to live with over time. The overall ownership impression is that it’s a solid choice for people who want a roomy SUV they can count on for daily use and family duty.

The expert evaluation also emphasizes that the Ascent is built for practical, weather-ready use, with standard all-wheel drive and a setup that suits commuting, road trips, and rough conditions. Subaru also includes Starlink Safety Plus connected services free for three years, which adds useful peace-of-mind features.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that the same quirks that show up early — especially fuel thirst and drivetrain refinement — can remain part of ownership.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because a clean listing percentage does not replace a proper records review. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on the drivetrain, electronics, and signs of wear in a family-hauler that may have seen heavy daily use. Pay close attention to condition, since comfort and safety are major reasons to buy this model.

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 and more features. Limited brings leather seats, and Touring adds premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other luxury-themed upgrades.
• Powertrain: Every model uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive. It delivers good acceleration for this size, but the setup is also 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 get 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 test recorded 18.9 mpg, and 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 already gives you the core Ascent formula: standard all-wheel drive, the turbocharged engine, and the full EyeSight safety suite. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and can live without the extra comfort and tech upgrades.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers because it adds the larger 8-inch touchscreen, text messaging, a WiFi hotspot, connected services, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also unlocks the nicer detailing and bigger wheels, making it the sweet spot for features without jumping too far in price.
• Limited: Choose this if you want a more upscale cabin and added safety hardware. Leather seats, LED steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and reverse automatic braking make it a stronger pick if you want more luxury and convenience.
• Touring: This is the most luxurious version, with premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, navigation, and a high-resolution screen. It suits you if you want the most upscale Ascent and are willing to pay for it.

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.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully and still find value.

• Deal availability: 29.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,718 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.34% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,188.04, 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 $20,178 sits slightly below last year's $22,759.

That price movement suggests the Ascent has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future resale stability if you buy at the right price. If you keep the vehicle in good condition and avoid overpaying now, you may have a better chance of limiting your loss later.

Demand should remain supported by the model’s family-friendly layout, standard all-wheel drive, and strong owner satisfaction. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.88/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe?

It 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 story is especially strong for family buyers, and the rear-seat reminder system adds another useful layer of everyday protection. The expert review also highlights the effectiveness of the systems in use, including the helpful EyeSight Assist Monitor.

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:

• 29.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.34% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.88/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 stands out for standard all-wheel drive, strong safety, and a roomy family-size layout.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $17,953, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $20,178 average.
• It offers a roomy, safety-minded three-row package with standard all-wheel drive.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $22,452, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $20,178 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 usefulness, the 2020 is the strongest all-around pick. If your budget is tighter, the 2019 can save you money, while the 2021 makes sense if you want to pay more for the newer-model-year upgrades.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.