What is the Largest Subaru SUV?
The Ascent is the largest SUV made by Subaru, worthy of consideration as a family hauler.
Written by Maxine Boyko
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Ascent is the largest Subaru SUV on the market. It’s clean, utilitarian, and reliable — the type of car you can feel good about bringing home to the family.
If you’re looking for a large Subaru SUV, this one has to be it. It checks all the boxes for 3-row family vehicles: standard all-wheel-drive, decent ground clearance, and plenty of customizable cargo space and passenger capacity. While Subaru’s love may be bigger than ever, other three-row stunners are circling the market.
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Meet the Ascent, Subaru’s biggest SUV
At 6,000 pounds, 71 inches tall, and 196.8 inches long, the 3-row Ascent is Subaru’s largest crossover SUV. If you seek ample passenger space, creative cargo solutions, and versatile seating options, you’ll find it all here.
The standard Subaru Ascent’s 153.5 cubic feet of passenger volume comfortably accommodates eight people. The second-row bench seats can be converted to bucket seats, lowering the seating capacity to seven.
When the second and third-row seats are folded down, the Subaru Ascent stretches to 86.5 cubic feet of cargo space — plus, there’s a storage compartment hidden beneath the cargo floor. Its 260-horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder engine delivers up to a 5,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped.
If that’s not enough space, take it outside — the Ascent is one of the only vehicles in its class with standard raised roof rails, giving you plenty of flexibility to arrange your cargo however you see fit.
The Ascent, with a starting MSRP of $32,795, achieves a comfortable, luxurious feel when riding along paved roads as well as off the beaten path, all thanks to its standard all-wheel drive, 8.7-inch ground clearance, and quality suspension system. Plus, with a combined 23 mpg city/highway fuel economy rating and a 19.3-gallon fuel tank, you can stay on the road for 500 miles straight without refueling.
The Ascent comes standard with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that includes lane keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, and pre-collision throttle management. And since its 2019 debut, the crossover has received IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards for 2019, 2021, and 2022!
Not only does the Ascent have some of the best possible safety ratings and features, but it’s also flush with standard tech like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth pairing on a 6.5-inch or 8-inch infotainment system.
Dimensions
The Ascent’s dimensions are consistent across all trim levels:
Exterior dimensions | |
|---|---|
Wheelbase | 113.8 inches |
Length | 196.8 inches |
Width | 76 inches |
Height (with roof rails) | 71.6 inches |
Front track width | 64.4 inches |
Rear track width | 64.2 inches |
Ground clearance | 8.7 inches |
Interior dimensions | |
|---|---|
Maximum seating capacity | 8 |
Front headroom | 41.3 inches |
Front legroom | 42.2 inches |
Front shoulder room | 61.1 inches |
Second-row headroom | 60.3 inches |
Second-row legroom | 38.6 inches |
Second-row shoulder room | 60.3 inches |
Third-row headroom | 36.2 inches |
Third-row legroom | 31.7 inches |
Third-row shoulder room | 57.0 inches |
Engine and performance
The Subaru Ascent is a big vehicle with an engine to match. From a dead stop, the 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine can reach 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
While its engine is powerful, its acceleration abilities aren’t necessarily going to throw your head back. Where the Ascent really shines is in handling and torque: 277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm.
But while the ascent provides a confident, cushy driving experience, it’s not the most efficient option in its class. Expect to get 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. But for off-roaders or even outdoor lovers who need to haul a lot of gear or heavy equipment, beware: the fuel economy drops significantly.
Key Takeaway The Ascent is big on power, but you’ll need big money to keep the fuel tank full.
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Cargo and towing
We’ve established that the Ascent has one of the most comfortable and spacious interiors in its class, but how well does it accommodate everyone’s things? See for yourself!
- Cargo volume behind the first row: 75.6 cubic feet
- Cargo volume behind the second row: 43.5 cubic feet
- Cargo volume behind the third row: 17.8 cubic feet
While the Ascent already offers plenty of cargo space at a great price, maybe you’re still left wanting more. In that case, you may want to opt instead for the Volkswagen Atlas or the Kia Telluride, which both offer much more cargo space at a similar price point. One cargo aspect the Ascent can boast about that no other vehicle can? Nine cupholders.
While the Ascent doesn’t top the list for most cargo space by volume, it still finds a way to make storage access convenient and versatile. One way they achieve this is with additional underfloor storage. Velcro straps hold up the load floor/dock to make packing in and out a breeze while the 60/40-split folding seats also lay pretty flat, so you don’t have to worry about that awkward seat-back slope.
The Ascent offers the largest towing capacity of any Subaru vehicle, with the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds with an available Class III trailer hitch. But you’ll have to upgrade to the
Premium
, Limited
, or Touring
to be able to haul a medium-sized boat or a lightweight travel trailer. Otherwise, the standard trim offers a 2,000-pound towing capacity. Subaru Ascent vs. the competition
The Ascent may be the biggest Subaru available on the market, but how does it measure up to other three-row family-friendly SUVs? Take a look at the table below comparing the Subaru Ascent to the rest of the market.
Model | Starting price | Engine | Wheelbase | Length | Base curb weight | Seating capacity | Cargo volume w/seats down | Cargo volume w/seats up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Subaru Ascent | $32,795 | 260-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 113.8 inches | 196.8 inches | 4,449 pounds | 8 standard (7 with second-row captain’s chairs) | 86.5 cubic feet | 17.8 cubic feet |
2022 Honda Pilot | $38,080 | 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 | 110.9 to 111 inches | 196.5 inches | 4,030 pounds | 8 standard (7 with second-row captain’s chairs) | 109.2 cubic feet | 18.5 cubic feet |
2022 Kia Telluride | $33,390 | 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 | 114.2 inches | 196.9 inches | 4,211 pounds | 8 standard (7 with second-row captain’s chairs) | 87 cubic feet | 21 cubic feet |
2022 Hyundai Palisade | $33,600 | 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 | 114.2 inches | 196.1 inches | 4,127 pounds | 8 standard (7 with second-row captain’s chairs) | 86.4 cubic feet | 18 cubic feet |
It can be difficult to jam the space and comfort of a minivan into a sleeker, more agile SUV, but we think it’s achieved all that and more.
While the Ascent may be one of the safest and most affordable options, there are more powerful SUVs on the market offering equivalent capacity specs within the same price bracket.
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