How much does the 2021 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 12.46% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,730 listings available, which suggests you have meaningful inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $22,450, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Subaru Ascent earns a 5/5 user rating and an 8.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 10/10.

It is aimed at you if you want a three-row SUV with standard all-wheel drive, a spacious cabin, and a long list of standard features. The expert notes also point to a family-friendly layout and useful everyday capability, which fits shoppers who need a daily hauler more than a style statement.

The main trade-offs are uninspired styling and a ride-and-powertrain setup that is more about comfort and practicality than excitement. Even so, the market shows 31.0% good or great deals, which helps the value case.

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent reliable?

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

The 2021 Ascent is described as safe, reliable, and built around Subaru’s familiar formula of standard all-wheel drive and family-focused utility. Its turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder is presented as a standard engine that gets the job done in most driving scenarios, while the ride is tuned for refined comfort and confidence in rough weather.

Subaru’s ownership appeal is reinforced by the practical, durable character highlighted in the expert notes, and the model’s standard safety equipment adds to that sense of dependability. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about a lack of capability and more about making sure the specific vehicle has been maintained and not worn down by family-duty use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Subaru Ascent?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 83% — 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 cabin wear, cargo-area use, and how well the vehicle’s family-hauler features have held up. It also makes sense to confirm that the safety and convenience equipment works as expected, since this model leans heavily on standard features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Standard trim comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, tri-zone climate control, four USB ports, remote keyless entry, and a solid set of driver-assistance features. Premium adds an 8-inch touchscreen, an eight-way power driver’s seat, stain-resistant upholstery, remote start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and second-row climate controls. Limited adds push-button start, more power-adjustable seating, third-row USB ports, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. Touring adds second-row captain's chairs, ventilated front seats, ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.
• Powertrain: Every trim uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. It is tuned for everyday driving, with comfort-focused ride quality, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, X-Mode, and the ability to handle light off-roading and up to 5,000 pounds of towing.
• Safety package: EyeSight is the named driver-assistance suite, and it includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a feature that alerts you when traffic ahead starts moving. For 2021, automatic high beams and headlights that bend with steering angle are standard. Optional safety features include reverse automatic emergency braking, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
• Infotainment: Subaru’s StarLink system uses logical menus and large icons on both available touchscreens. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with hard buttons and dials, a home button, two front USB ports, two second-row USB ports, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. Available upgrades include third-row USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo.
• Fuel efficiency: The Standard and Premium trims are rated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The Limited and Touring trims are rated at 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Subaru Ascent trim should I buy?

The 2021 Subaru Ascent is offered in 4 trim levels: Standard, Premium, Limited, and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Standard: This is the value play if you want the core Ascent formula at the lowest entry point. You still get standard all-wheel drive, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, tri-zone climate control, four USB ports, remote keyless entry, and a strong safety feature set, so it covers the essentials well.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the 8-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, remote start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, stain-resistant upholstery, and second-row climate controls without jumping all the way to the pricier upper trims.
• Limited: Choose this if you want more comfort and convenience upgrades, including push-button start, more power-adjustable seating, third-row USB ports, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. It is a stronger fit if you regularly carry passengers in all three rows.
• Touring: This is the luxury-leaning choice, with second-row captain's chairs, ventilated front seats, ambient cabin lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and the 14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo. It makes sense if you want the most upscale version of the Ascent.

EyeSight is standard, and the 2021 model also adds automatic high beams and steering-responsive headlights.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Subaru Ascent?

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

• Deal availability: 31.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,730 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.46% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 83.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,450, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Subaru Ascent's resale value?

The current average of $22,452 sits slightly below last year's $25,648.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable point in the cycle. For a future seller, it also means resale value will depend heavily on condition, mileage, and how well the vehicle has been maintained.

Because the Ascent is a practical three-row SUV with strong family appeal, well-kept examples should continue to attract shoppers who want space and standard all-wheel drive. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Subaru Ascent safe?

The Ascent is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2021 Top Safety Pick+.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

EyeSight is the named driver-assistance suite, and it includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a stop-and-go reminder feature that alerts you when traffic ahead starts moving. For 2021, automatic high beams and steering-responsive headlights are standard, which strengthens the safety story further.

You can also get reverse automatic emergency braking, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The main safety caveat is that some of those features remain optional rather than standard, so you should confirm the exact equipment on any used example you’re considering.

Should I buy a 2021 Subaru Ascent or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 31.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 83% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.46% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds newly standard automatic high beams and steering-responsive headlights.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $20,178, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $22,452 average.
• It emphasizes space, safety, and everyday comfort over speed or efficiency.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $26,166, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,452 average.
• It adds an Onyx Edition with blacked-out trim and water-resistant upholstery.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and standard equipment, the 2021 is the strongest all-around pick. If you are especially price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money, while the 2022 makes sense if you want the newer special-edition treatment and are willing to pay more.

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