2019 Subaru Forester vs 2019 Subaru Ascent

For the 2019 Subaru Ascent, Subaru made a significant departure from its previous 3-row SUV, the B9 Tribeca, which was plagued by issues like minimal cargo space and poor fuel economy. The 2019 Ascent, however, brought big, bold styling, ample cargo and passenger space, and the newest infotainment and driver-assistance technologies. It had an upright design, pronounced fenders, and an imposing grille. Its 113.8-inch wheelbase made it Subaru's largest passenger vehicle ever. Inside, the Ascent felt more akin to a large Subaru Outback, offering either a 7-passenger or 8-passenger layout. Trims ranged from the Base to the Premium, Limited, and Touring, each adding progressively more features and luxury touches. Even the Base trim came well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, and 19 cupholders. Upgrading to higher trims, like the Premium or Limited, added features like heated front seats, leather-wrapped interior accents, and advanced driver-assistance technologies. The top-tier Touring trim delivered features such as ventilated front seats and a 180-degree front-view camera.

In contrast, the 2019 Forester was a scaled-down yet modern iteration of the Ascent, designed with a focus on functionality. Available in trims from Base to Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring, the Forester emphasized utility over luxury. Its Base trim also came well-equipped, with features like 60/40 split-fold rear seats and a multifunction display. As buyers moved up the trim levels, features like a panoramic moonroof, power front seats, and leather upholstery were added. The Sport trim, despite its name, retained the same engine but focused on interior and exterior styling, including orange and black accents. The higher trims, like the Limited and Touring, offered advanced features like dual-zone climate control, navigation, and a premium audio system. The Touring trim also added heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine, boasting 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT that mimics gear changes. This powertrain offered robust acceleration in both city and highway driving, without compromising on trim levels—unlike competitors like the Toyota Highlander, which down-tuned its base engines. The Ascent had 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an impressive towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with the tow-prep package, more than any previous Subaru model. Fuel economy ranged from 21 mpg city and 27 highway for the Base trim to 20/26 for the Limited and Touring trims. In practical driving conditions, the Ascent achieved around 22.7 mpg.

On the other hand, the 2019 Forester came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine providing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque—an improvement from its predecessor, but not by much. Previously available turbocharged options were eliminated for this model year, resulting in lackluster acceleration despite its Sport trim naming. The Forester also used a CVT, designed for efficiency rather than performance, which affected its responsiveness. It did come with the SI-Drive system and X-Mode terrain management to aid in varying driving conditions. The Forester excelled in ride comfort and off-road capability, making it a good all-around vehicle. It achieved fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg city and 33 highway, with real-world tests coming close at about 28.9 mpg.

In terms of interior space, the 2019 Subaru Ascent offered ample headroom and legroom in its first and second rows, although the third row was tighter for adults. It was better suited for children or occasional use. The Ascent could be configured with up to 8-passenger seating and had a whopping 19 cupholders. In terms of cargo, it offered 47 cubic feet behind the second row and expanded to 86 cubic feet with all rear seats down, outperforming rivals such as the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

The 2019 Subaru Forester, slightly larger than its predecessor, offered 76.1 cubic feet of cargo space in its base trim, which was class-leading. Other trims provided 70.9 cubic feet. This figure compared favorably against competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Forester's interior emphasized utility with numerous compartments and bottle holders. It also featured excellent visibility and ergonomics, catering well to drivers who needed practical and comfortable daily driving.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent came standard with Subaru's StarLink infotainment system. The base trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims like the Premium and Limited featured an 8-inch screen. The system was intuitive, with easy-to-follow menus and physical buttons for essential functions. The Limited trim, equipped with the Technology Package, included a Harman Kardon stereo, panoramic moonroof, and real-time traffic updates.

Similarly, the 2019 Forester featured the same StarLink system, with the choice of a 6.5-inch or 8-inch screen depending on the trim. The system offered seamless transitions between interfaces, high resolution, and intuitive navigation. Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance technology added a unique Lead Vehicle Alert feature, which helped mitigate distraction at traffic lights by alerting when the car ahead moved.

Safety was a strong point for both models. The 2019 Subaru Ascent came standard with EyeSight driver-assist technology, including pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims also featured blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

The 2019 Forester also included EyeSight as standard, with added features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive headlights. Both models were equipped with a full array of airbags, a reversing camera, and other standard safety features, making them very secure choices for families.