2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Subaru Ascent, with its puffed-up appearance reminiscent of a larger Forester, was designed to be practical and utilitarian. It featured gray plastic cladding for 360-degree protection, an oversize grille, and exaggerated fender flares for added visual strength. Robust roof rails and appealing 20-inch aluminum wheels on three of the four trim levels further enhanced its design. The base model, starting at $31,995, came with smaller 18-inch wheels and lacked dark-tinted privacy glass. Upgrading to the Premium trim at $34,395 offered better detailing and a superior infotainment system. The Limited trim at $39,345 added leather seats, while the top-tier Touring trim at $45,045 included premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, and special wood trim. The test vehicle, priced at $46,285, featured the Touring trim with third-row quick-charge USB ports and was painted Abyss Blue Pearl, contrasting nicely with the Java Brown leather interior.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a styling that looked older due to its carryover design from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim, with its 17-inch steel wheels, looked plain but clean and unpretentious. The Forester Sport model, tested in Dark Blue Pearl, featured orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other models like the Impreza and Outback, and had a no-nonsense interior with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange interior accents and cross-stitching, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and additional features.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD). With 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, it provided good acceleration for its size. However, it was a thirsty powertrain, averaging 18.9 mpg on the test loop, below the EPA estimate of 22 mpg. The Ascent's handling was not particularly sporty, with slow and numb steering and a suspension that struggled with undulating road surfaces. The CVT, while decent, produced uneven power delivery and had a cheap-feeling shifter. Despite these drawbacks, the Ascent excelled on freeways and off-road, thanks to its Active Torque Split AWD system, X-Mode off-road traction system, Hill Descent Control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, but power felt merely adequate, especially when merging onto highways or overtaking. The Forester's suspension was softly sprung, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. AWD was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode on Sport models, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Forester also had 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard hill-descent control on higher trims. However, for serious off-road adventures, other vehicles like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport were better options.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent offered comfort, especially in the Touring trim with soft leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats had significant track travel, making them appealing to tall people. The dashboard featured a useful shelf and upscale ambient lighting, though the controls appeared dated. The Ascent could be configured with a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs, with the latter providing comfort and convenience. The third-row seat was relatively comfortable, with easy access and features like large side windows and overhead air-conditioning vents. Cargo space was generous, with 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench and wireless charging. The Forester had decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone. A power-adjustable driver’s seat was available only on the Premium trim and higher. The Forester's controls were user-friendly, with large knobs for audio and climate control, though the number of buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent featured the Starlink infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and a CD player. Premium trim and above had an 8-inch touchscreen, text-messaging capability, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Starlink Safety and Security connected services. The Touring trim added a high-resolution screen and navigation. While the screen size was small by modern standards, the display was satisfying, with helpful stereo knobs and separate climate controls. However, the voice-control system was outdated and the navigation system had issues with accuracy. The premium Harman Kardon speakers provided rich sound quality, and USB ports were available in all three rows. The Ascent also had a 180-degree front camera view and a PIN Code Vehicle Access system for active lifestyles.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a standard Starlink infotainment system, including a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent was built on Subaru’s latest global platform, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It came standard with EyeSight, a suite of camera-based advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited included LED steering-responsive headlights and reverse automatic braking. The Ascent also featured a rear-seat reminder system and Starlink Safety Plus connected services, with a free three-year subscription.

The 2021 Subaru Forester also received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with EyeSight, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester was the only mainstream brand to offer a driver-monitoring system, DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester’s adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter’s steering inputs felt jerky.