We’ve been waiting for this to happen for a long time. Ascent is Subaru’s first 7-seater SUV. With the Boxer engine, the vehicle made an immediate impact when it hit the market in 2018. For 2020 Subaru Ascent, the company is not preparing any big update. The SUV still offers room for seven or eight passengers.
Few of the reasons why you should buy the 2020 Subaru Ascent: AWD as the standard offer; plenty of space inside the cabin; sporty ride; safety. Still, there are few things the company needs to fix for the next edition. These are: more power; more room for the third row; exterior styling.
We also expect from Subaru to bring a hybrid drivetrain sooner or later. The 2020 Ascent is not offering such configuration, yet. It might arrive as an update somewhere next year.
Styling
Fans and experts are not so thrilled with 2020 Subaru Ascent exterior appearance. Still, the SUV is modern, with nearly 9 inches under the body. That provides a lot of space if you want to go off-road. Also, the extra exterior size will make more room inside the cabin. Standard configuration includes 18-inch wheels and through optional packages, you can enlarge them to 20 inches.
The overall styling is very similar to other models. The new Ascent is making no surprise. We expected a lot more similarities to the concept that appeared back in 2017. But, the Japanese company made some changes and disappointed their fans.
2020 Subaru Ascent Interior
The SUV is 197 inches long. The wheelbase takes 114 inches. Passengers in the front row will have 42 inches of legroom. The third row is tightest with only 31 inches. There is 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.5 cu.ft. behind the second bench, and 87 cubic feet with all seats folded down.
Standard seating configuration is 2+3+3. However, you can get the version with captain’s chairs and the 2020 Subaru Ascent becomes a 7-seater. This will make access to the third row a lot easier.
The new SUV comes with a modern infotainment system. At the center of it is a 6.5-in touchscreen display. Upper trim levels are bringing more features for the Starlink system. One of them is an eight-inch screen.
Trim Levels and Safety
Four different models are available for purchase. The base trim includes 18-inch wheels, roof rails, three-zone climate control, and Apple CarPlay and Android auto as a part of Starlink infotainment. Safety offers adaptive cruise control and automatic braking.
The next level is the Premium. You will recognize it thanks to the dual exhaust tips. A blind-spot monitor and rear-cross traffic warning are added to the safety package. Compared to the base model, this one comes with the trailering package that increases 2020 Subaru Ascent towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The Sport package is another cool upgrade with a panoramic moonroof, 20-inch rims, and navigation.
Limited and Touring are top trims. Most optional features become standard. Technology package upgrades the audio system. Leather seats are also there. Touring model brings unique combinations of colors and exterior details to make its appearance special.
2020 Subaru Ascent Specs
Under the bonnet of the 2020 Subaru Ascent is a four-cylinder Boxer engine. This is the famous drivetrain by the Japanese company. A 2.5-liter unit gets a turbocharger and a direct injection system to boost outputs. Ascent comes with 260 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Most of its rivals will offer more ponies, though. Still, the SUV manages to achieve 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, which is the average for the mid-size three-row SUV class.
Although it uses a four-pot drivetrain, the fuel economy is not so brilliant. The new Ascent returns only 23 mpg combined. Gas mileage jumps a bit on highways, with 27 mpg return. That is why experts think Subaru is going to deliver a hybrid drivetrain.
The highlight of the 2020 Subaru Ascent is definitely its handling. The Symmetrical all-wheel drive system is something you won’t meet elsewhere. This is the advantage of all Subaru’s vehicles that use a Boxer engine. Its low center of gravity brings unique handling. Drivers are easily falling in love with this feature.
2020 Subaru Ascent Prices, Competition
The base price for the SUV is $33,000. Again, this is an average for the mid-size model. Still, the cost goes up pretty quickly, with Premium package adding nearly $3,000. We believe this upgrade is worth a purchase. The Limited model is already above $40k, and the top of the line Touring version hits $46,000. This is already the region where some premium models start.
If you don’t like the 2020 Subaru Ascent, then you can also check on the 2020 Honda Pilot 8-seater SUV. If seven seats are enough, then Toyota Highlander is the top choice. The luxury SUV slightly more expensive than the Touring model is Lexus RX.
Check out the perfect configuration of the new Ascent via the online configurator
