Toyota Highlander vs Subaru Ascent

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced a new Onyx Edition trim level, which featured a blacked-out exterior trim that gave the SUV a sporty appearance. This trim level included black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The seats were wrapped in water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather, which was available only in a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching. While the blacked-out treatment added a sporty look, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat, making it less comfortable on hot days.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. The XSE trim, in particular, featured unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The bold red leather interior of the XSE trim provided a striking contrast to its sedate navy blue exterior. The Highlander offered a range of trims, from the base L to the top-tier Platinum, each adding more features and luxury. The interior was spacious, with clever storage solutions and comfortable seating, although the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, though it averaged 20.5 mpg during testing. The engine's flat-four layout contributed to a lower center of gravity, improving handling. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and offered off-road capabilities with its X-Mode traction control system and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generated 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The transmission included a tap-shift function and drive modes such as Sport, Normal, and Eco. The Highlander excelled in highway cruising and overtaking, with a throaty exhaust note. The XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reduced body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could seat up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees. The Ascent offered 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The Highlander featured quick-release latches for easy seat folding and pull-straps for lifting the third-row seats. The base L trim included an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and deep cargo pockets in the front doors. The XSE trim had second-row captain’s chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row. The third row was less spacious and best suited for short trips.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and satellite radio. 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 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a standard WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy use. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available on higher trims.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. However, the system had issues with direct sunlight and lacked refinement in adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights and optional blind-spot monitoring.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling too intrusive.