2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Subaru Ascent

In the past, the 2020 Subaru Ascent, with its practical and utilitarian design, captivated with similarities to a puffed-up Subaru Forester. The vehicle boasted a robust appearance through gray plastic cladding for protection, an oversized grille, and exaggerated fender flares. Roof rails were built to demonstrate clarity of purpose, accompanied by appealing 20-inch aluminum wheels on three of the four trim levels. The base Ascent, starting from $31,995, had smaller 18-inch wheels and lacked dark-tinted privacy glass. Moving up to the Premium trim at $34,395 brought nicer detailing and a superior infotainment system with bigger wheels. Limited trim at $39,345 added leather seats, while the top-tier Touring trim, priced at $45,045, provided premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other luxury enhancements.

Meanwhile, painted in Abyss Blue Pearl, the Ascent Touring trim test vehicle looked pristine with its Java Brown leather interior. Inside, despite mixed material quality, the space exuded a sense of value. CarGurus experts generally recommended the Premium trim with additional packages, achieving a near-luxury look while remaining under $40,000.

On the other hand, Ford's 2021 Explorer sported a family resemblance with its siblings like the Escape, Edge, and Expedition, adhering to a "small, medium, large, XL" approach to SUV production. Its sporty, raked beltlines and squinting visages made it distinctively Ford. Depending on the trim level, the Explorer sported several grille types, from black to full chrome. It offered six trims, ranging from the base model at $32,925 to the Platinum trim at $52,730, improving in both exterior and interior quality as prices increased.

Interiorly, all trims provided three rows of seating, standard with cloth upholstery on the base model. The dash was streamlined with familiar gauges, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and a rotary gearshift. By far, the XLT trim, bought by most consumers, offered substantial upgrades like a power front passenger seat and nicer finishes. Limited and higher trims added leather upholstery, enhancing comfort further.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent came equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD). It produced a solid 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, excelling even at high altitudes due to the turbocharger. Despite this, fuel efficiency suffered, averaging 18.9 mpg on test loops against the EPA’s estimate of 22 mpg. This translated into a driving range of fewer than 365 miles per tank. The Ascent’s handling did not encourage enthusiastic driving due to its turbo engine and low center of gravity; the brake-based Active Torque Vectoring system did little to inspire confidence. Furthermore, the suspension and steering were not ideally tuned for enthusiastic driving.

The CVT aimed to emulate a traditional automatic with eight programmed ratios, but power delivery remained uneven and unpredictable. The shifter felt substandard, especially when parking on hills where it produced unsettling noises. In fact, the Ascent thrived on smoother freeways and showcased its strengths in icy or snowy conditions. Off-road capabilities were considerable, with active torque split AWD, X-Mode, Hill Descent Control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Explorer, despite its heavier frame tipping the scales at 4,345 pounds, offered impressive power options. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered an unexpected 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid variant upped the game with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, achieving 365 hp and 380 lb-ft, with the Explorer ST amping it further to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft. All trims shared a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability.

The Explorer, however, stood out most for its towing capacity, managing between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, a respectable feat for its class though not groundbreaking compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Expedition.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent's Touring trim showcased comfort through its soft leather upholstery and various heated options. The driver's seat boasted a 10-way power adjustment, including manual thigh support. Ample track travel for seats made the Ascent tall-friendly. The dashboard included a useful shelf, and the center control panel was logically laid out albeit looking slightly outdated. High storage versatility was evident with bins spread across several locations.

Subaru offered flexible seating choices with a three-person second-row bench or individual captain’s chairs, maximizing leg space. Touring trim came with captain’s chairs exclusively. The third-row accessibility and comfort were commendable, providing reasonable space for adults over shorter trips. Underfloor storage ensured practical use of the cargo space; with 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 47 cubic feet with seats down, and a maximum of 86 cubic feet with all seats folded.

In comparison, the 2021 Ford Explorer offered seven seating capacity on the base trim and six on others with captain’s chairs. Boasting 39 inches of second-row legroom, it paralleled and surpassed other mid-size SUVs, while dipping behind the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade in this regard. Despite this, ease of third-row deployment left ample cargo space, measuring 21 cubic feet. Overall, cargo volume with rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, decent for its class but lagging behind some competitors.

All Subaru Ascents back then featured the Starlink infotainment system, accommodating Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, integrated apps, and a CD player. Higher trims enhanced screen quality and added navigation. Subaru’s voice control struggled in natural language recognition and responsiveness. Navigation inaccuracies were a recurring issue. Nonetheless, Bluetooth pairing was straightforward, the Harman Kardon sound system was impressive, and the USB ports in three rows made up for the lack of wireless charging.

Notable tech innovations included the PIN Code Vehicle Access system, allowing the secure locking of the SUV without the key fob. This system was highly practical for adventurous and active lifestyles.

Conversely, the 2021 Ford Explorer’s base trim provided substantial technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Stepping up to Limited and higher trims enhanced the audio system to 12 Bang & Olufsen speakers and expanded the touchscreen to 10.1 inches. Charging options were diverse, with USB ports in the center console and five 12-volt power points. The ST trim featured a 110-volt AC power outlet standard.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent, built on Subaru's latest global platform, achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. Subaru’s EyeSight system incorporated adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, LED headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system amplified safety. EyeSight’s visual alerts proved particularly helpful by projecting warning lights on the windshield.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Explorer also attained a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, marking top "Good" scores in crash tests with an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. However, varying advanced safety features across trims detracted from a perfect safety rating. The base Explorer included Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, offering extensive features such as auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims provided additional safety technologies such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.