2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Subaru Ascent

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a design that echoed Ford's family resemblance across its SUV lineup, from the Escape to the Expedition. Its exterior sported a sleek, raked beltline and distinctive front visages, making it hard to distinguish from the Edge at a quick glance. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and finishes, ranging from the base model to the luxurious Platinum. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dashboard featured a clean layout with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and large, user-friendly knobs and buttons for the audio and climate controls. The center console housed a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced the Onyx Edition trim, which featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, and unique interior trim. The Onyx Edition's seats were wrapped in water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather, and the trim level included a panoramic moonroof, navigation system, and cargo cover as options. The Ascent's interior offered a gray two-tone scheme with metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels. However, the StarTex material tended to trap sweat, making it less comfortable on hot days. The Ascent's design aimed to provide a sporty appearance, and its interior was equipped with features ready for winter weather, such as heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and was powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed the Kia Telluride's V6 engine. The Explorer's higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with the sport-oriented ST trim offering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. All trims were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, with an average of 20.5 mpg during testing. The engine's flat-four layout provided a lower center of gravity for improved handling. The CVT offered eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing the Ascent to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Ascent's X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance enhanced its off-roading capabilities. The Ascent's responsive acceleration, excellent visibility, and absorbent suspension made it nimble and maneuverable in urban and suburban settings.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base model had seating for seven, while other trims featured captain's chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity to six. The Explorer offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, which was competitive within its segment. With the third row deployed, the Explorer provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, and with the rear seats folded, it offered a total of 81 cubic feet of cargo room.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, but the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent's interior featured a comfortable and commanding driving position, with wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees for easy access to the second row. Captain's chairs were available on all trims, and the panoramic sunroof extended over the second-row seats. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. A shallow storage area under the floor added to its practicality.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford's Sync 3 system, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer provided multiple USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent's base trim featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The system's voice recognition technology needed improvement, and the Onyx Edition's standard stereo speakers lacked sonic quality. The Touring trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer's base trim included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, such as auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features through the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent also received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance technology, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering. However, EyeSight's performance was affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights, automatic high-beam assist, and optional blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.