Driven: 2024 Subaru Ascent Is Ready For Family Adventures

After receiving a significant update for 2023, the 2024 Subaru Ascent carries over with the updated looks, upgraded infotainment, new trims, and enhanced features. Subaru was content to leave its three-row SUV unchanged.

There are lots of options in this category, with families gravitating to large SUVs that can handle everything from the kids to cargo. The competition is stiff, but the Ascent offers a wide range of trims with good capability and budget-friendly pricing that gives it lots of appeal.

Exterior

It Looks Like A Subaru

Some automakers try to keep things consistent across its model lineup – pulling through some design element or styling feature to make sure buyers recognize the car as part of a bigger family. Some automakers go the other way entirely; look at the Hyundai Santa Fe and compare it to the rest of the Hyundai lineup… it stands out for its unique design. At Subaru, everything looks like a Subaru, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t’ have to sometimes look at the badge to know which is which in their model lineup.

That’s not a bad thing, though. It offers a consistency that Subaru loyalists will love. The Ascent maintains the rugged, go-anywhere styling of the brand, but with larger dimensions, so the extended family can come along for the adventure.

Subaru is known for being a vehicle that appeals to those with active lifestyles, which is marketing speak for people who like the outdoors. It’s not refined and sexy because the people who want that kind of car are buying the Mazda CX-90. The Ascent looks like the car you want when you have to park way out in the furthest corner of the field at the state fair or have to go pick up the kids at school when the snow storm hits early. Its standard 8.7 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive make it less likely you’ll get stuck no matter what the world throws your way. It’s no hard-core off-roader, but it’ll get you a lot further than most:

• Approach angle: 17.6 degrees
• Breakover angle: 18.2 degrees
• Departure angle: 21.8 degrees

Seating

Room For The Kids And Their Friends

This is a three-row SUV, so it’s pretty much a given that kids will be along for the ride. The Ascent comes with seating for eight people with the second-row bench seat, or with seating for seven if you opt for the captain’s chairs. Carefully consider just how often you need that one extra seat, because the captain’s chairs are the more comfortable option, but you do lose capacity.

If your kids are a bit older or if you frequently have adults along for the ride, the captain’s chairs really are the way to go. This also provides a nice pass through to the third row, so kids can walk back there instead of catapulting themselves over the seats. Our test car featured the captain’s chairs, and we loved how they moved forward for third-row access. There’s a large lever that tips the seat and slides it forward in one fell swoop. It’s easy to find, and it’s easy to use, so even kids will have the strength to get the job done.

The best seats in the house are, of course, in the first row. The driver and front passenger have nicely contoured perches that offer the support you need on long road trips without unnecessary bolstering. This isn’t a race car. It’s a family car. Thank you, Subaru, for not making ridiculous sports seats designed for a track car when we just need to get the kids to school and want to do so without feeling like we’re sitting on concrete. Those sitting in the third row have enough room for short trips, but if you’re planning on putting three back there, don’t plan for a road trip.

Interior

Ready For Anything

Family life is messy. Kids do not care if their shoes are covered in mud or snow or worse. Whatever is on them when they get to the car is all over the car the minute they step inside. In some cars, that’s a recipe for disaster with delicate materials that don’t take kindly to the mess. The Ascent, however, has an interior that can handle life with kids. That doesn’t mean it’s not attractive or comfortable, but rather, the materials do double duty with the ability to stand up to dirt and grime. A wide range of available interior trims includes stain-resistant cloth, StarTex water-repellent upholstery, and premium Nappa leather.

It’s a roomy interior with great features that include 19 cupholders. Your biggest challenge isn’t going to be finding a spot for drinks, but remembering to take them all out of the car to avoid any unpleasant surprises after something sits there for a week. Depending on the trim, there are heated and ventilated front seats as well as heated second-row outboard seats to keep everyone comfortable. There are available second-row climate controls, too, so those passengers can pick the right temperature rather than being stuck with one setting for the entire cabin.

We also want to make special mention of a feature called Cabin Connect. If you’re trying to get the kids to listen, it can be hard to get their attention in a vehicle this size, and they might just pretend not to hear you. In the Ascent, that problem is solved. Simply push a button and when you speak, your voice comes through the rear speakers, so there’s no way they can claim they didn’t hear what you said.

Infotainment

One Large Screen With All The Right Stuff

The Ascent comes standard with an 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen, not with the dual-screen setup found in some Subarus. This system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with buttons along the sides for adjusting the temperature and knobs for volume and tuning. It’s also where you choose your drive modes. It’s easy enough to use, but is starting to look a bit dated as automakers increasingly move to horizontal screens set into displays right alongside the instrument cluster for a single, clean line.

There’s an abundance of charging ports with USB-A and USB-C ports standard for the first and second row. Top trims add dual USB-A ports for the third row. The bulk of the lineup has just 6-speaker audio, but there’s the option for a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system that becomes standard on the top Touring trim. It sounds fantastic, but you do have to get pretty deep into the trim range before it’s an option.

Cargo

A Place For Everything

There’s plenty of room for cargo in the Ascent, with up to 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 75.6 cubic feet behind the first row. While that’s decent room, it falls short of what you’ll find in the competition. If cargo is a priority, then consider the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, or Toyota Highlander.

The available power liftgate reveals a wide opening for managing larger items and there are tiedowns and cargo area hooks for keeping everything secure. There’s a low load floor so you don’t have to strain as much to stow heavier items and, if what you have is just too big to fit, there’s a tow rating of up to 5,000 pounds.

Performance

One Engine, One Transmission, Multiple Drive Modes

The full Ascent lineup is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission with an 8-speed manual mode and paddle shifters. It’s enough power to get this large SUV up to speed without complaint, but this is not a sporty car. The Ascent gets good fuel economy stats for the segment and will help you stay on budget even when gas prices rise, although upper-tier models do fare a little worse due to more kit and increased weight.

*excludes Limiting, Touring, and Onyx trims, which get 19/25/21 mpg

The Ascent does well under hard acceleration with enough power for passing at highway speeds with a well-mannered transmission that doesn’t produce overly intrusive noise. There’s also a choice of drive modes that vary depending on the trim you choose. The standard X-Mode optimizes the engine, transmission ratio, and all-wheel drive system for optimum traction. Trims equipped with Dual-function X-Mode add Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings for more challenging driving conditions.

Drive Impressions

Relaxing, Rather Than Exciting

We found the Ascent a pleasant SUV to drive, though it doesn’t have remarkable performance. It’s a case of delivering enough power to get the job done, but not enough to make it particularly fun. Hit the gas hard, and it responds in kind, making highway merges less stressful and there’s power aplenty to pass slower cars at speed. The transmission is generally quiet without too much noise intruding into the cabin, so passengers can sit back and relax.

The front seats are supportive and quite comfortable, making them well-suited to longer drives, and the driving position is good. Handling is great, with somewhat relaxed steering that still responds well to quick maneuvers on the highway. This might be a three-row SUV, but it handles like something smaller. It’s easy to drive and easy to navigate through city streets or narrow dirt roads. Subaru is a brand for the more adventurous set, not for those who put a priority on luxury and performance, and it delivers on those expectations.

Pricing and Verdict

The 2024 Subaru Ascent is available in six trims, but not all offer a choice of seating for seven or eight. The Base, at $34,395 excluding $1,295 destination, is great value for large families with a tight budget. Unfortunately, this trim is discontinued for next year and the Ascent will get a price increase that will see the 2025 Premium starting at $38,795. If you want that Base trim, then you need to do so sooner rather than later. Current pricing for the Subaru Ascent tops out at $48,695, which is still excellent value considering the features it includes.

Subaru knows its target market and the Ascent sits squarely in the bullseye. It has familiar Subaru styling with a rugged exterior that looks right at home on dirt roads. Inside, there’s a comprehensive infotainment system along with family-friendly features from cupholders to connectivity. It’s roomy, comfortable, and durable, so parents don’t have to worry about the kids making a mess. Although not the most spacious option, it does still have the cargo room to handle the everyday needs of most people. Its wide range of affordably priced trims are sure to appeal to the adventurous family set. If you want a rugged, comfortable SUV that’s not fussy or overdone, then you’ll be pleased with the Ascent.