2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

Shoppers certainly wouldn't have called the 2021 Toyota Highlander boring. It wasn't an indistinguishable blob amongst the sea of midsize SUVs and crossovers typical of school parking lots in America. Whether for better or worse, the Highlander distinctly stood out.

Its front end may not have been as dramatic as the bullet-train-inspired styling of the 2021 Sienna minivan, but the Highlander still made a visual statement with its wide headlights, extended hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. Along its sides, Toyota added a character line reminiscent of the profile accents found on the Supra sports car. At the rear, the taillights could almost have been mistaken for those from a Lexus model, minus the vertical element found on the latter. Overall, the 2021 Highlander achieved a longer and lower appearance compared to its previous generation while maintaining its significant size.

New for 2021 was the XSE trim level, which came with a more aggressive, restyled front end. Although it was designed to give the illusion of a sportier Highlander, it mainly featured some fine-tuned suspension adjustments and an appearance package. The 20-inch wheels with black accents, the unique front fascia, the lower spoiler, and the larger lower air intake gave it a sharp look, but it wasn't about to outpace a Ford Explorer ST on the track.

The test vehicle reviewed was the Limited trim, situated just below the Platinum trim level. With chrome roof rails and accents, the Highlander Limited presented itself as remarkably upscale from the outside, but it was the interior where it truly shined. Despite implying a balance between practicality and sportiness through its XSE trim, the Highlander excelled most when leaning towards luxury. The Limited-trim Highlander boasted near-perfect fit and finish inside. The steering wheel felt satisfying to hold, and there were no squeaks, rattles, or unseemly gaps between panels and trim pieces. The tan leather seats complemented by dark brown trim looked classy, and the wood details, albeit faux, were fabulous.

The Onyx Edition test vehicle featured blacked-out exterior trim, badges, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The seats were wrapped in Subaru’s water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather. This edition cost $37,995, and for an additional $2,000, buyers could include options like a panoramic moonroof, navigation system, and a cargo cover.

The Onyx Edition’s blackout treatment gave the Ascent a sportier look that it previously lacked, though opinions on this aesthetic varied. Inside, the Subaru featured StarTex upholstery in a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching. Metallic trims on the dashboard and door panels set an appropriate mood for the interior. However, one drawback noted was StarTex's tendency to trap sweat, making ventilated seats a desirable yet unavailable option.

If you wanted a family car that performed like a sports car, the 2021 Toyota Highlander probably wasn't for you. However, if smooth, predictable operation and a reputation for reliability were your priorities, the Highlander was right up your alley.

Under the hood, the Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and powered either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There was also the separate Highlander Hybrid model, covered in another review.

Overall, the powertrain was adequate. While Highlander drivers wouldn't win any stoplight drag races, they wouldn’t feel anxious about merging onto highways either. Compared to competitors, the Highlander held its ground well, with horsepower and torque levels on par with the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The Honda Pilot offered slightly more, while the Chevrolet Traverse slightly less. The Mazda CX-9 had less horsepower but more torque (premium fuel required). The Ford Explorer ST far outpaced the Highlander but came with a significant price increase, whereas non-ST Explorers were closer in capability to the Highlander.

Being a three-row crossover, the Highlander had some expected lumbering tendencies, especially in corners. Its soft and comfortable suspension contributed to this. The XSE trim attempted to mitigate this with tighter suspension, higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers and power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, although these additions didn’t turn the Highlander into an all-out sports vehicle. Still, these features were attractive for family shoppers wanting a touch of driving excitement.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent took a different approach with its performance. Subaru equipped every Ascent with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) completed the powertrain. Models with 20-inch wheels achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 22 mpg combined, with test results showing an average of 20.5 mpg.

The Ascent employed Subaru’s traditional horizontally-opposed engine layout, also known as a flat-four or boxer engine. This design allowed for a more compact form and a lower center of gravity, improving handling. The CVT was notably good, featuring eight programmed ratios and manual shift control via steering wheel paddles. This transmission kept the turbo-four within its broad torque band while reducing engine revs for quiet cruising. The Ascent’s towing capacity was up to 5,000 pounds.

Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system came standard, providing different settings depending on the road surface and situation. Hill descent control and 8.7 inches of ground clearance lent the Ascent more off-roading capability compared to many competitors. In both urban and suburban settings, the Ascent’s responsive acceleration, agreeable CVT, excellent visibility, and absorbent suspension made it feel nimble and impervious to speed bumps and uneven pavement. However, sudden braking often led to excessive brake response.

On highways, driving satisfaction varied with the use of the Ascent’s lane-keeping and lane-centering assist technologies. These features created an uncertain and sometimes unstable feel by making continuous adjustments that didn't always align with the driver's expectations. Disabling these features made driving the Ascent far more enjoyable.

Three-row crossovers like the 2021 Toyota Highlander thrived or faltered based on their ability to keep driver and passengers comfortable, haul luggage, and manage small-item storage effectively. In the Highlander, a set of shelves ahead of the front seats served as the focal point. These shelves were large enough to accommodate even the biggest cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords leading to one of the Highlander’s USB ports. Trims above the LE included a wireless charging pad located within the center console.

Second-row passengers enjoyed abundant legroom, with seats that slid forward and backward to optimize space for either the second or third row. With the second row moved forward, the third row could accommodate adults, although it required some compromise from those in the middle row. An unusual critique was the placement of rear-seat climate control air vents on the ceiling, blowing air directly onto middle-row passengers’ heads.

Cargo space behind the third row measured only 16 cubic feet, suitable for a small shopping trip. However, folding the third row down expanded the cargo area to 48.4 cubic feet, a respectable figure slightly more than what the Honda Pilot offered. With both the second and third rows folded, the Highlander provided 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space, ample for most needs but dwarfed by minivans.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent claimed to seat up to eight people when equipped with a second-row bench seat, but this configuration was most comfortable when mixing adults with pre-teen children. Third-row comfort was out of reach for taller adults, even if second-row occupants slid their seats forward, making the rear seats primarily suitable for kids. However, it was easy to find a comfortable, commanding driving position behind the Ascent’s steering wheel.

The Ascent Onyx Edition seemed well-prepared for winter weather with water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. A heated steering wheel was reserved for Limited and Touring trims. Loading the second row was convenient due to rear doors that opened almost 90 degrees. Captain’s chairs were available for all trims, some including what appeared to be coat hooks on their sides, and the optional panoramic sunroof extended over the second row. Handy storage was distributed throughout, including a shelf running along the dashboard and large deep cupholders in the second row, though these could be hard to clean if filled with small, sticky items.

Opening the power liftgate revealed 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third-row seat, slightly more than the Highlander. There was a shallow storage area under the floor for items like an unused cargo cover. Folding the third-row seat down provided 47.5 cubic feet of space, slightly less than the Highlander’s mid-level configuration. Maximizing cargo space with both rows down, the Ascent offered 86.5 cubic feet, marginally more than the Highlander.

In terms of technology, the 2021 Toyota Highlander, in trim levels below the Limited, came with an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen as an option, which was standard only on the top-tier Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly.

Navigation came at an additional cost. While entering specific addresses worked well, the system sometimes struggled with points of interest that Google Maps easily found. Fortunately, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across all Highlander trims.

The 12.3-inch unit in the test car was visually appealing, bright, crisp, and responsive. The JBL audio system offered good sound quality, though not overly impressive. Both volume and tuning knobs were included, yet navigation and some apps were confined to an 8-inch rectangle on the large screen, which raised questions about the cost-effectiveness of the larger display.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent began with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen in its base trim, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and even a CD player. Clearly, the Ascent could play almost any music medium popular over the past 25 years.

In the Premium trim, the Ascent added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting with climate control pre-conditioning. Both infotainment systems featured volume and tuning knobs, along with shortcut buttons for easy navigation of the system.

Though not the latest version of Subaru Starlink, as found in the Legacy sedan and Outback wagon, this system was easier to use in some respects, with climate controls not integrated into the screen. However, the voice recognition technology required improvement. Commands took longer to process, and the system required a level of specificity that modern digital voice assistant users may not expect.

Onyx Edition models used standard stereo speakers that were clear but lacked quality sound. Given the young demographic targeted by this trim, it seemed prudent for Subaru to consider expanding the availability of the optional Harman Kardon premium sound system. Additional technology features on the Touring trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front camera.