Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2024 Subaru Ascent struggled with its styling, as Subaru's design team seemed to have taken a misstep with the latest refresh. The vehicle sported visually offensive tusks and a boldly obnoxious spear running across the grille into the headlights. Despite these design choices, the Ascent lineup remained unchanged, offering various trims from Base to Touring, with prices ranging from $34,395 to $48,695, excluding the destination charge. The Touring trim, which we tested, included premium features like a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, making it the most equipped version of the Ascent.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative and familiar design path, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that looked like a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum, which we evaluated, featured a Storm Cloud paint and a smart, upscale interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The design emphasized function over form, with logically laid-out controls and decent material quality, although some storage areas were unlined, potentially contributing to cabin noise.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. It featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive with active torque vectoring. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds, except for the Base trim, which had a 2,000-pound towing capacity. The SUV excelled in various driving conditions, from city streets to off-road trails, thanks to its rally car-like handling and turbocharged engine. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its weight and suspension tuning. Fuel economy was another downside, with official ratings of 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, but our test drive returned lower figures.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. It featured a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, it sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 27 mpg combined. During testing, it returned 26 mpg on a balanced city and highway route and 23.3 mpg on a mountainous evaluation loop. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max provided a soft, isolating ride, although it exhibited some vertical bounding and lateral rocking on uneven surfaces. Handling was secure but limited by early tire scrub and squeal.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent prioritized function over form, with features like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders, and backpack pegs. The Touring trim offered comfortable front seats with premium Nappa leather, heating, and ventilation. The rear doors opened wide, facilitating easy loading of children and cargo. However, legroom in the second row felt snug compared to rivals. The third-row seats were suitable for short trips, with air conditioning vents and storage space. Cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.6 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows and nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, offering a smart and upscale appearance. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed for easy access to the third row, which was comfortable for adults and tall teens. Cargo space was generous, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent came equipped with the Starlink infotainment system, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered additional features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. While the system worked well, the display washed out in direct sunlight, and the native voice-recognition system was subpar. Fortunately, physical buttons and knobs controlled essential functions, and a surround-view camera and camera-based rearview mirror were available.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered various features, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and a digital voice assistant. The system was user-friendly, although the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were drawbacks. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was synonymous with safety, featuring a high-strength steel platform and the EyeSight collection of safety features. It received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for rollover resistance, and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The EyeSight package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the lane-centering assist technology was unimpressive, often resisting driver inputs and causing instability.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. While the system operated with accuracy and refinement, the Proactive Driving Assist was irritating and often turned off. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.