Subaru Ascent Long-Term Verdict: Hung Jury - Motor Trend

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I was excited to spend a full year with Subaru's largest crossover, the three-row Ascent, which rides on the same new global architecture as the rest of a strong lineup. I had been the first journalist in North America to drive a prototype of the eight-passenger vehicle during development. I spent a day tooling around a curvy route in Michigan, pleased with the ride capabilities that had me increasing my speed as my confidence in the handling built. My impressions were validated when I drove a Toyota Highlander on the same loop and had to cut my speed to keep it on the road and the body roll to a minimum. That first Ascent drive was in a prototype swathed in camouflage inside and out. Holes were cut out for the starter button, gearshift, and other key stalks and knobs needed to drive.

Our long-term Ascent had no such restrictions. We took possession of a 2019 Ascent Limited on October 24, 2018, with 15 miles on the odometer. It left on a dreary Monday in March, after almost 17 months and 22,526 miles. Yes, we can do rudimentary math. That is more than a one-year loan. But the vehicle experienced an extraordinary number of ailments and spent months at the dealership. So this is a sordid tale of a potentially solid vehicle that had an unimaginable series of things go wrong, and it was exacerbated by poor dealership service that corporate Subaru says did not meet policy deadlines for getting work done. Not coincidently, our experience occurred at the same time as news reports that Subaru's growth was causing productivity and quality issues.

Cinnamon Girl: Good Looking Inside and Out

My long-term loan started with much promise: an Ascent Limited in Cinnamon Brown Pearl with a cream and black interior and supportive, heated perforated leather seats that take the fatigue out of long trips. The Ascent was the first Subaru to get the new 2.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged flat-four engine. With 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, it provided ample power for the larger SUV and ran the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds, beating a Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Highlander with V-6s under their hoods. The continuously variable transmission mimics eight gear shifts, so many won't even know it is a CVT. Standard paddles allow downshifting for engine braking, and they worked well on a long hill in northern Michigan. The low center of gravity makes it easy to get in and out, and the Ascent feels planted with little body roll. The four-corner independent suspension proved it was up to the challenges of rough Michigan roads.

Our seven-passenger model had captain's chairs in the second row. (With a bench seat it is an eight-passenger midsize crossover.) The interior is wide and spacious with plenty of room for passengers and their gear. All seats recline, and the second-row sliding mechanism is smooth and easy to work. Grab handles on the top of the captain's chairs aid access to the third row. Base price for our Limited is $39,970—competitive with the segment—and we bumped that up to $43,551 with a $2,950 option package to upgrade to a Harman Kardon sound system, moonroof with sunshade, nav system, and cargo area cover that stows in a space under the load floor. All-weather floor liners cost an extra $132.

There are power outlets, Wi-Fi, eight USB ports, and ledges for phones, and it's compatible and easy to pair with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, the system does not recognize a second iPhone in another USB jack. The only alternative is to plug the second device into an auxiliary jack. Having the lone 12-volt socket mounted deep in the cubby above the center console makes it difficult to install and use a 110-volt inverter for powering a laptop. The best cockpits place another 12-volt socket somewhere more accessible and/or include a 110-volt outlet that negates the need for the inverter.

Ascent Has Towing and Off-Road Prowess

The Ascent can tow 5,000 pounds, and with the $499 trailer hitch I had no problem using it to launch a fishing boat. Trailer stability assist kept trailer sway to a minimum, but there is no trailer assist for backing up. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system was barely challenged launching the boat, so MotorTrend took the Ascent to an off-road park for a workout. Hill Descent and X-Mode reduced wheel slip, and with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Ascent drove up, over, or through all the obstacles, including some steep hills and boulders.

Fuel efficiency could have been better. In real-world testing our Ascent with 20-inch wheels averaged 20.9 mpg, down a blip from the 21.0 mpg it had been averaging for the last two updates and below its 20/26/22 mpg EPA rating. Other quibbles: The SOS button is near the map light, and it's easy to push the wrong one in the dark.

Problems Piled Up

Our Ascent was unusually troublesome—not what we usually associate with a Subaru. It still had that new car smell when a nail punctured a tire and it went flat. Belle Tire patched it, waiving the $25 charge. Also early on, the SUV started making a grunching sound as weight shifted to the front strut upon braking. Technicians said it was normal on a large vehicle. It eventually stopped on its own. Subaru's three-year warranty, which includes a two-year maintenance plan, meant the oil change, tire rotation, and checkup had no cost. We were surprised the car does not notify you when it is due for maintenance.

Subaru's Eyesight driver assist system with dual cameras let us down. First it was just the constant and annoying beep as the vehicle's eyes locked on and off nearby cars and obstacles. Scrolling through the menus, we turned the sound off, and I could better appreciate its ability to keep me a safe distance from the car ahead and centered in the lane even with hands off the wheel for short stints. But in heavy rain, fog, or snow, when you need it most, EyeSight shuts down completely (taking cruise control with it), lighting two bright yellow indicators in the dash and flashing the EyeSight screen up on the central display.

Windshield Repair May Have Triggered Bigger Problems

In May 2019, a rock hit the windshield. We had to have it replaced at the dealership so they could calibrate EyeSight. That was an $865.74 bill. But worse, it may have triggered a cascading list of ailments. In September about six error codes caused the dashboard to light up; EyeSight and the passenger airbag were disabled, the transmission fluid and check engine lights were on, and the sunroof stopped working. The body integrated unit was replaced, a damaged connector to EyeSight required a new roof wiring harness, and a blown fuse was replaced. The rip-ups left their mark. The driver's seat belt was no longer height-adjustable, and the trim covering the wiring in the A-pillar fell off and was hanging inside the vehicle. All were fixed under warranty. The dealer also covered the $939.23 repair bill for a new rear bumper and sensor after a colleague backed into another vehicle in a parking lot.

Essentially, the Subaru was at the dealership from the fall of 2019 into 2020. After we got it back, the door lock acted up a couple times, and once the car would not restart after being turned off to gas up. But the final month was bug-free, and the vehicle left with very little dirt or wear and tear. Although Subaru incurred thousands of dollars in warranty repairs, our costs totaled $1,707.77 for the new windshield and body work and zero in actual maintenance. That compares with MotorTrend's long-term 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE, which incurred $167.69 in oil changes and maintenance; the 2017 Mazda CX-9 Touring, which had $322.35 in maintenance but $476.35 in total expenses; a 2016 Honda Pilot that racked up $378.62; and the 2018 Dodge Durango 4 R/T at a mere $77.90 for service.

Verdict: The Ascent is a vehicle Subaru needed to complete its lineup, and its bones and powertrain are good. However, the automaker is growing at a rapid speed and needs to make sure every vehicle off the line is perfect, or else even the legions of loyal Subaru buyers will be nervous about buying an otherwise strong entry in the three-row SUV segment.

Read More About Our Long-Term 2019 Subaru Ascent:

Our Car
SERVICE LIFE	16 mo / 22,490 mi
BASE PRICE	$39,970
OPTIONS	7-Passenger Tech Pkg ($2,950: Starlink navigation, panoramic moonroof, premium sound); Trailer hitch ($499); All-weather floor mats ($132)
PRICE AS TESTED	$43,551
AVG ECON/CO2	20.9 mpg / 0.93 lb/mi
PROBLEM AREAS	Body electronics
MAINTENANCE COST	$0 (oil change, inspection, tire rotation)
NORMAL-WEAR COST	$0
3-YEAR RESIDUAL VALUE*	33,800
RECALLS	None
*IntelliChoice data; assumes 42,000 miles at the end of 3-years

	2019 Subaru Ascent Limited
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD
ENGINE TYPE	Turbocharged flat-4, alum block/heads
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	145.7 cu in/2,387 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	10.6:1
POWER (SAE NET)	260 hp @ 5,600 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
REDLINE	6,000 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	17.8 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	Cont variable auto
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	4.44:1/2.08:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	13.5:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.6
BRAKES, F; R	13.1-in vented disc; 13.0-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS	7.5 x 20-in cast aluminum
TIRES	245/50R20 102H (M+S) Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	113.8
TRACK, F/R	64.4/64.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	196.8 x 76.0 x 71.6 in
GROUND CLEARANCE	8.7 in
APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE	17.6/21.8 deg
TURNING CIRCLE	38.0 ft
CURB WEIGHT	4,626 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	53/47%
TOWING CAPACITY	5,000 lb
SEATING CAPACITY	7
HEADROOM, F/M/R	40.1/38.7/36.3 in
LEGROOM, F/M/R	42.2/38.6/31.7 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R	61.1/60.3/57.2 in
CARGO VOLUME BEH F/M/R	86.0/47.0/17.6 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	2.3 sec
0-40	3.6
0-50	4.9
0-60	6.9
0-70	9.0
0-80	11.8
0-90	15.1
0-100	19.3
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	3.7
QUARTER MILE	15.2 sec @ 90.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	114 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.78 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	NA
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1,450 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$39,970
PRICE AS TESTED	$43,551
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	7: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, driver knee
BASIC WARRANTY	3 yrs/36,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	5 yrs/60,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	3 yrs/36,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	19.3 gal
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON	20/26/22 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	169/130 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.87 lb/mile
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded regular