I tow 4500lbs monthly with my Subaru Ascent. No issues with power or CVT, with 40,000 miles on it. (I did buy the extended warranty just in case though.....) Peacefrom510 .
Just came home with a 2020 Ascent after some seriously substantial time spent car shopping... While all the car manufacturers are scammering to be one and the same on there newer models, what sold us was the safety factor. The Ascent is one of the safest vehicles on the road hands down, from 6 layers of high strength steel in the pillars as compared to the industry average of 2, and the 1 inch solid metal bars in all the doors, this thing is as safe as they come.. Not to mention the ability to handle inclement road conditions with a higher level of confidence than most other competitors.
You nailed it, plus the ride feels so much more solid than the rest and the power is almost instant and throughout the whole power band. I have test driven all the other ones he talks about and this one by far has the most useful safety features. Switching to this from a Yukon XL.
I love my 2021 Ascent. It’s my everyday family hauler and commuter to the train station. I never had issues with snow or bad weather. New ones have all touch sensor screens that are not user friendly
My wife has an Ascent. The CVT bugs me a bit because of how aggressively it wants to keep the engine RPMs low. For the price, the amenities and features of the limited trim are damn near class leading. When you compare the Ascent to other 3 row SUVs, it’s important to remember that is standard AWD while others are standard FWD, and Subaru has years of experience with CVTs compared to some other manufacturers (looking at you Nissan)
@@slandshark That’s the point so many folks fail to note. More low-engine-rpm torque, equals better towing capability and around town performance/drivability.
Personally the Ascent looks classier in the dash than the Palisade. With that said, I’ve sold my palisade and plan to walk out of the dealer tomorrow with the 22 Subaru ascent touring.
I’m 5 foot 8 inches. So when I was shopping, the 3rd row was definitely in consideration. Not that I planned on ever sitting back there but if I couldn’t fit, it could have been a deal breaker. In the past 2 years I’ve only had to jam one grown human being back there. It worked fine.
I am a proud owner of the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring trim. What has been about the vehicle is true in my opinion. This is my 4th Subaru. The first was the 2000 forester, then the 2006 B9 Tribeca, after that the 2009 forester that replaced the 2000 forester. The 2019 Ascent replaced my 2006 B9 Tribeca. I also own the 2020 Legacy Sport. That’s a total of 5 Subaru’s owned to date. They’re coming out with an all electric vehicle called the Solterra which is coming in 2022. So far the best Subaru i own in the 2019 Ascent. The most comfortable vehicle especially in long trips. As far as the 3rd row, it’s a little cramped but fine for kids snd small adults. Otherwise almost everything else is fine. I am considering the electric vehicle.
The Ascent’s AWD system is pretty good. Compared to my truck, the handling in snow and ice is more predictable but I attribute at least part of that to the characteristics of an unloaded pickup. We did an epic 1200 mile road trip during covid and the Ascent handled back country roads, snow and ice in US National Parks, and plain old highway duty like a champ. My only complaint was with the 20” wheels. There were times I was begging for more sidewall.
I was going to put Grabber UHP on our '14 FXT but they didn't have anything to fit for an 18" wheel. I have already spec'd out Grabber UHV for the Ascent for when we get it. We ended up with Atturo AZ800 for summer/fall driving and Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV (studless ice tire) for the time of the year that doesn't stay over 47°F. I would expect ALL of our vehicles going forward will have Hakkapeliitta SUV R2 or R3 on them. The Aramid sidewalls and multicompound studless tread have been AMAZING. We have slammed a couple high curbs in town and not only did the tires prevent us from smashing the rim, there wasn't a mark on them. Literally bulletproof. And they ride better the colder and slipperier it gets. Cannot recommend both of those enough. The Atturo get crap talked a lot but ours have been champs and they not only stick like mad even to wet/muddy roads but are wearing like iron (we drive on a lot of forestry roads in the Pacific Northwest). I shopped hard online and got both types for less than 100 bucks a tire each; shopped craigslist for stock 18" rims cos the wife liked the snowflakes and got them all mounted around for 100 bucks a set at a local garage we like. 15 bucks a sensor at Rock Auto for the pressure sensors so we can just leave em in the tires when we swap em out. We've been driving the SNOT out of both those sets of tires for almost three years now without a hiccup and I'll never go to Les Schwab's again, EVER. (RIP Les, you were a good guy) About the only thing these tires DONT do is run flat. ;-) The future is rad, I love living in it. Cheap space age tires lol I can't wait to try the Grabber UHP - my nephew worked for a heavy construction company that put them on all their trucks and he said they're better in mud than almost anything but boggers and ride smooth as hell with great mileage and wear life.
Absolutely couldn’t agree more; the perfect version of the Ascent for that epic trip would have been an Ascent Wilderness. Trade in those pretty 20s for the great looking Outback Wilderness 17s, add some new Michelin Cross Climate 2s, and you’ve got an awesome all weather, on/off road setup.
You confirmed what I suspected, which is that the Ascent isn't the classiest or the roomiest, but when it comes to bad weather or light off-roading, it can't be beat. Having that AWD always there means there's no slip and grip factor as with other crossovers. I think for a family of four that just wants more room for all their stuff and the occasional friend or two of their kids', the Ascent will be just right. If you have 3 or more children, you'd probably need to go with a bigger back seat.
IMHO the Ascent has more room than any other vehicle, where I care about which is in leg room in the wheel well. I've sat in all of them and all but Ascent have your left leg pushed in. As we get older, that stresses your left hip and makes long trips impossible. I'm 6'3 245lbs and very comfortable on long trips
Third row in this segment are for small kids. We just got the ascent from the 2017 Santa Fe and it was a MASSIVE upgrade. Everything about this SUV is AMAZING!
I just bought an Ascent yesterday and so far I'm pretty happy with it , next week I'm driving to Whistler to test it's off road capabilities 😁 It is excellent as a family rig and camping just got way better .
My 2021 Ascent is my third Subaru and im very satisfied with it. Smooth riding and quiet and all of my Subaru’s have been reliable. I get all my service at my dealership and am pleased w that also. Altogether a thumbs up!
The Ascent is nice. Never owned a Subaru, but always liked the Outback. I think the "station wagon" style has a cool niche, and you guys should try a series on the different options and brands offered in a station wagon AWD. The crossovers have certainly taken over, but it would be cool to see who still makes a wagon (VW, Subaru, Audi etc). Thanks for the reviews, I really enjoy watching them. Keep the videos coming.
We just bought the 2022 Pearl White Limited Ascent. It is used but had very low mileage.Had a 2010 Honda Accord EX since new we traded in and it was a excellent car, was waffling on getting another one. We had rented a Subaru out west several years ago and love the great long sunroof and it handled well on and off roads. Looking forward to many road trips as we are retired and ready to travel! Happy Trails!
My 2013 Outback is going to be 10 years old this year... knock on wood, nothing but a few minor recalls, plus airbag recall and regular maintenance. It eats up bumps and potholes better than anything I have owned, and after 10 years, there is not a single squeak or rattle in the interior. If you change the oil and diff fluids on schedule, they are super reliable. I don't get the hate for the CVT... it keeps the engine in the ideal torque range for acceleration, and gives you optimal mpg while cruising. I guess it the lack of rpm changes and shifting feel that people don't like. I always tell people it's a great car for safety and reliability, but don't expect a silky smooth/quiet engine or great mpg.
I agreed. I owned 2010 Forester, 2015 Outback, and currently 2020 Ascent. Both the Forester and Outback has over 200k before I trade-in for a newer Subaru. CVT is perfectly fine, people who knock on it are people who never own one, follow the trend of trolling and thinking a family car is a race/sport car. Once you go Subaru it's hard to switch to other brand. Subaru balance between features, safety and value is too good to give up. In 2022 every car brand has a marked up price except for Subaru. This is why i'm loytal to them ever since my first Subaru. Tip: change your CVT fluid from a reputable mechanic every 60k. Don't listen to Subaru America that it's a life time fluid. Subaru Canada and Japan recommend changing them.
My wife had a 2010 JDM Honda Fit with a CVT and that was fine no issues like you said I change my fluids frequently. However, I found it annoying when pushing the car. My parent owned Subarus as did I, none with CVT so I personally find it hard to but the Ascent. I just don’t like the CVTs, they are noisy to me. It’s fine for city driving but when I push on the highway? Nope. It triggers the wife. 😂 I could hear it in this video and it annoyed me with its a continuous moan like a dying mule. I still plan to test drive a 2023 Ascent as it has a good price point so we’ll see. Let’s not forget the initial production issues with the CVT and Subaru been doing CVT a long time.
I'm all Honda and Toyota for the last 35 yrs.. all front wheels drive.. 🤔.. but last yrs. 2023 I did get an ascent ..8 seat version.. I do love it.. and now on I'm all Su...!!! 👌
I enjoy your channel. One thing you might want to consider is that a main appeal of the Ascent (like many of its competitors) is that it can tow 5000 lbs. Some people don't need the third row (and may leave it folded all the time) but do want to be able to tow their boat, camper, etc. Also true for the Pilot, Highlander, etc. The Ascent seems like a bigger Outback with more serious towing chops.
Great review guys but honestly, the Subaru is designed for families and most families don't have a 6' 220lb kid sitting in the third row. lol! That's were the kiddos sit. We probably shouldn't compare that area unless we are honestly comparing kids user friendly items in all comparison vehicles with a third row. Great review overall. Can't wait to see the 22 Onyx ed.
Truck King; Although this video is few years old, this ISN'T the first 3-row crossover for the brand. Perhaps, you've forgotten about the Subaru Tribeca (2006-20014). I'm sure someone has already pointed that out, in the comment section.
I seen one of those at the hospital today.. recognized the taillights...not much of a truck..very station wagon like!! High standing wagons..reminds me of AMC Eagles
Now mind you, when he got in the 3rd row, depending on who sits in 2nd there is plenty of leg room in the 3rd row. I don't know why he pulled the seat so far back.
Another good review. Thanks guys! I don't know if I'll get the Ascent, but I am tempted to move up to Canada. So beautiful up there. I do have a question about the AWD. Do you know, is it a fixed AWD, like 50/50 or 60/40 rear/front? Or do the percentages vary front to rear as needed? You seemed to suggest the vehicle was always assessing possibly sending more to the front or rear axel as needed, and if so, do you know what its' resting state is, say 50/50 or 60/40, and how much can be sent forward and back, what percentages? Lastly, I have been considering the new, more expensive 2021's of the GMC Yukon AT4, the Cadillac Escalade or the Audi Q8 or SQ8. The first two are 4WD, but the Audi's are AWD. The AT4 seems awesome, but not as luxurious as the others. The Escalade is luxurious and a wonderful highway ride, but it seems to have left out and/or de-tuned a lot of the off road/bad road capabilities of the AT4, and that really concerns me. Do you have an opinion about today's 4WD versus AWD? And do you know, is the Audi AWD the same as the Subaru's, in terms of a fixed versus variable power distribution to the front or rear axel, but maybe in other ways as well? It does occur to me that if I step down in price, so many people here in ski country Utah love Subaru's, unofficially known as the official car of Park City, that the larger Ascent could be worth considering. I would likely keep the 3rd row down flat 99% of the time, but even so, it's tightness back there is not ideal, and its second row is nowhere near as spacious as the Audi Q8 or SQ8's, so we'll have to see. But thanks again for the review. I learned enough from you to decide to research more. If you are able to answer my questions above, maybe expand on the 4WD/AWD comparison issue, that would be great.
@@niuhuskieguy I don't understand your answer. When I asked about if variable what would the max percentages be, I was thinking like a max of maybe 80% to the front meaning 20% left to the rear, or the other way 80% to the rear and 20% to the front. For me, a 50/50 split means minimum, or fixed. Any chance you could clarify for me?
@@niuhuskieguy Ah, I think I get it. It could be 100% FWD down to 50/50 front/rear. With the engine upfront, that makes more sense than the reverse, at least for off road and slippery all weather conditions. A lot of the high end AWD vehicles, like BMW's and Audi's, start with a 60/40 rear/front split, and can go much higher in either direction. And some, like the GM's like the AT4 or Cadillac, they are 2WD rear, 4WD 50/50, or in Auto 2WD rear up to 50/50, I believe. Rear wheel might be better racing, dry road traction for performance, but is not as good as FWD or 4WD offroad or slippery conditions. Choices, priorities, with all these cars. For the Subaru, I think that FWD down to a 50/50 split makes a lot of sense. Thanks for clarifying. I you think I still don't get it, please try again to explain, but I think i have it now.
Nice review. My only constructive criticism is that Xmode is not really something you would test by "launching" it thru rough terrain. But your takeway is still fairly accurate. For the most part you should leave traction control on, and Xmode off, and this includes when driving offroad or in the snow, sand, or mud. You only need Xmode when you need Xmode, and you will know when that is, and THEN it DOES make quite a bit of difference, especially if you have VDC or traction control in the right position for the condition.. Take it from a guy who has Owned Subarus for the last several decades. But again, it's not something that I would use that often. I have the new Wilderness that sports the same motor as that Ascent. I have been in deep sand and moderately deep snow, Ice, and some rough truck trails. I have had the car for about 2 months. I have NEVER used the Xmode. There simply has been no need. But I know from previous iterations that it does have a great impact under certain conditions. Not conditions of launching, but conditions of low traction, deep snow or sand or mud, steep gravely or icy grades. Conditions where the normal AWD is struggling. And those conditions are hard to find, so when you test it on a simple icy road, yeah, not much difference other than the fact that you will be having a less smooth ride, and wasting some gas on un-necessary torque vectoring which uses the brakes. Good to know about the third row space, like some others that claim 3 row, but really have 2 1/2 (Jeep Commander comes to mind). But it is not necessarily a strike since in most cases when hauling that many people in a family situation at least, as opposed to hauling workers to the job site for instance, in most cases those back seats will be holding children, and this is a great size for kids, who will have a great view, good footing, and will find it easy to embark and debark from their special place back there. Most of the time we assume those seats will be folded down, and the space used for cargo except on those occasions. Databyter
I’ve only had to use x mode 2 times, once when I slid into a ditch from black ice and once when it snowed 39” in 24 hours and the car wouldn’t move. Both times it made a huge impact and got me moving. I couldn’t believe that on continental crosstrack’s I was able to move the car through 30+ inches of snow.
Good review hard to pick which would be the best; Depending on what you are looking for and what you need; You’ll just going to have to pick which ever you like the most.
You comment on reduced leg room in the middle but TOTALLY missed the fact the Ascent had the MOST driver wheel well leg area of any of these vehicles by a long shot.
The atlas and palisade are in a class above this (with the traverse, literally the only 3+sister vehicles, in the segment). The cx9 and this compete against the rest of the 3 row crossovers which are 2 row crossovers with a stretch and emergency third row seating. On your note of having people in the third row all the time, most actually don't. This is info directly from the car companies. Most of these like the ascent, cx9, highlander, explorer ect have their third row down 80-90% of the time and only have it up when needed. Most families that need more than 5 seats (or 4 if you get stupid captains chairs) usually go for something like the traverse or palisade or atlas, or a big body on frame suv, or A MINIVAN.
I'm 6'2, 250#. I want a vehicle that rides higher than a sedan, is a hatchback, wagon or SUV body, has a panoramic sunroof, and as much room as possible for driver and second row seats. I was pretty sure I wanted an Outback, but no pano roof. Then I realized the Ascent exists, and used prices aren't that much more than outback. But, what other vehicle has "Big Dude" space without being gigantic? Thx!
your assessment on the third row is wrong , you can move the capt chairs forward creates way more room and the second row doesn't lose too much space .
So, we have a 2020 chrysler pacifica hybrid minivan and then test drove the 2021 subaru ascent yesterday. The Ascent REALLY surprised me with the huge door opening/space and the surprising amount of room in the 2nd and 3rd rows. I'm about 5'8" and with the 2nd row moved up a little (still TONS of leg room in 2nd row) the 3rd row had also plenty of legroom (a few inches of knee space minimum). The downside of course, compared to a minivan is the lack of behind 3rd row storage and not having sliding 2nd row doors. But honestly, the ascent is pretty dang nice. I don't think the wide opening into the 2nd row (through the door opening) gets enough credit. That's a HUGE area for an SUV that rivals even our minivan, making it really easy to enter the vehicle.
I own a 2020 Touring model. The “shifting” is very annoying. There’s a significant dead spot between “1st and 2nd gear.” Going up a slight hill, the trans can’t seem to decide where it wants to be. Dealer service department tells me it’s normal. Now the brakes are squeaking every time I stop and found there’s a TSB. Seriously considering trading it in for something else.
Did you ever find a fix this? I’ve noticed it either wants to keep the rpm’s low and no acceleration or Rev up to 4K plus rpm’s and take off. I can’t seem to feather the throttle to about 2500 rpm’s. Which I believe would be the sweet spot for a turbocharged engine.
I have a soft spot for Subaru...even tho I dont own one, my sons share a Forrester. You should see my 20 year old son trying to get out of my Bronco Sport Badlands...its painful. He's 6'3 and 300lbs (he's a powerlifter) He somehow gets in ok, and his brother has to have the front passenger seat moved up quite far...so obv he usually grabs the front seat hahah. Love your reviews guys I usually call a group of turkeys my sons :)
I just had to replace mine. Started making a chirp noise at 60,000 when first put into gear. Was told it was "normal". Nope. It progressed to a screeching noise as the chain was slipping. Mine is a 2016 and was included in the warranty extension but it was a fight to get it replaced and would not be covered under today's warranty.
Disagree about 3rd row. We are moving from Pilot to this. Our rd row has spent its life folded and in cargo mode. After 20 years as Honda owner I am moving on due to Honda not honoring their 5y r 60K power train warranty.
My ascent was a lemon for constant brake failure. So I’m gonna disagree with this video. Now I bought an Audi and I will say that it is the best car I’ve ever owned.
I understand the third row isn’t great but how many adults are regularly sitting back there? I feel like 90%of the time it’s for kids. I really want the grand Cherokee l overland but I’m having a tough time justifying 60k. This might be a good alternative
After owning a newer Subaru for a few years I feel they lack in some standard options for the price. Did you know on a 25k Crosstrek, you don't even get lighted window and door lock buttons for any passengers?
THANK YOU for mentioning this! I've noticed this on so many vehicles - quite frankly, often Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Chevy and Ford seem to do this a bit more consistently. That said, my mom owned a 2014 CrossTrek and now has a 2018 CrossTrek, after the refresh. She had illuminated switchgear on both. Maybe it depends on the trim level? I know her older one was a Premium and the new is a Limited. She actually got into a bad accident in the 2014, and it was totaled, but it retained so much value, she got less than $2000 less than her original purchase price! Plus it totally saved her life. That's how she got the other one. And now I have a 2019 Forester! (And my switchgear is illuminated too, by the way - although there are some oddities, such as the steering wheel and climate controls illuminated red in the CrossTrek, and white in the Forester.)
ALL VWs are POS. The ACCENT is an excellent vehicle and quick. I would dump the the third row seats as UNNECESSARY. I also wish that Subi would add diff locks and a TRUE 4x4 option and maybe a manual transmission
Are Subaru CVTs more reliable than say Nissan? Has Subaru engineered the headgasket problem out of the boxer engine? They were famous for headgasket issues. My friend had 2 of them a day kept him in the poor house.
I've got a 2004 subaru wrx with 235k miles on it now with no major issues (replaced radiator at 192k miles, replaced clutch for the first time at 230k miles, that's it). Also, I don't baby it at all. Subarus are meant to be driving hard or at least tackle bad weather/bad road conditions without issues. I've driven my 2004 subaru wrx through everything and it has never disappointed me.
I see that no one really answered your question, but Subaru and Nissans cvt’s are reliable under certain conditions. First and foremost you have to change your cvt fluid every 30k miles. Period. No exceptions. Secondly, don’t drive them hard. Don’t keep the rpm’s at redline or drive them off-road for extended amounts of time. Heat kills cvt’s. Cvt’s can reach 200k plus miles if you don’t abuse them and follow the above suggestions. For the head gasket problem, no worries. This engine in the ascent is a brand new engine that didn’t exist when head gaskets were a problem.
@@mikefoehr235 cheap insurance compared to the cost of replacement of the cvt ($4k-$6k). Subaru is especially expensive due to limited network of dealers that will actually change the fluid for you. All Nissan dealers perform cvt fluid changes at roughly $200-$300
Modes to a computer don't work like a human would expect. We expect a computer to be operating the car for us as a human would but what the modes do more than anything is remove restrictions and adjust things like valve timing vs shift points vs revs, the general operational behavior under nominal driving conditions shouldn't see any massive difference in feel or performance - the modes allow doing more dangerous, risky, or basically less fuel efficient driving upon demand more than anything. Once I committed to CVT and learned how it works, I am actually sort of upset I have to feel any "shifting" at all. It's already emulating shifting for our programmed sensibilities on how a vehicle should feel when it's being driven but once you've ridden/driven a full EV car, the realization is heavy that you literally have to *untrain* bad driving behaviors and reactions as they were always just compensation for inadequacies in our equipment. See: Ken Block test driving various performance EV and frequently mentioning the need to completely change his reflex and reactions for the new technology.
The Ascent (or really any subaru other than the BRZ) can't be beat in offroad/snow conditions. It just tackles everything excellently. It can also tow 5,000lbs
Truck Kings, Checked the price of gas lately? The Highlander Hybrid is EASILY the best 3 row CrossOver. If 3rd row space is the biggest concern, buy a minivan.
@@christopherp1215 To piggyback on that, the Ascent produces 100% of it's torque at 2k RPM's, meaning it's putting very little strain on the engine when towing (or moving at all).
Given the price of Ascent, Subaru should have used the interior design from the Outback/Legacy (think 2015-2019) instead of the one from the Impreza/Crosstrek/Forester. That has always been my biggest criticism of the Ascent.
Having dedicated physical hvac controls separated from the infotainment is a massive improvement over the integrated screens on the 2020+ Outbacks. Subaru’s very limited dash center cluster configurability is addressed with the high mounted second screen taking the place - you can put nav info, media, and the eyesight readout is excellent. I think the newer outback console *looks* great, of course, but functionally is pretty awful. The Ascent’s improved UX was one of my main drivers of purchasing it (I have a Limited model) over an Outback.
You aren't the only dude that can't fit in a 3rd row. All the 3rd row SUVs I've rode in including my wifes Dodge Journey seem to be designed for small children. It works well with car seats also.
The Flex I had before the Bronco Sport was manageable. My ex's son is 6'2 and he fit pretty well...mind you he's 170 lbs which can make a difference on comfort
i had a forester with only 200k miles on it and it left a bad taste in my mouth. check engine codes constantly for any and every reason. nuts, bolts, straps, exhaust, and many other parts of the car, were not properly galvanized or coated with rustproof to keep salt from them and rust had begun in the weirdest areas, including in the engine bay. not to mention the famous trouble areas of subaru, timing belt, gaskets, transmission and who knows what else. i wouldnt buy a used subaru again. if i had alot of money maybe i would get a new subaru ascent, but i think i would just get a honda or acura. subaru has the awd factor going for it, but they need to work on everything else
Only thing Subarus are good for is snow covered roads,, they can't do anything else because of the crap CVT transmission. It'd sad that people are trying to mis-inform the unknowledgeable consumer "CVTs have come alone way" yes...but not far enough and they certainly are not the future.
Yeah. You’re definitely right. Subarus aren’t good for long term. Very unreliable as they age. But, for most buyers, keeping a vehicle 3-5 years it’ll do fine. Just follow the maintenance schedule and change the cvt fluid every 30k miles.
@@bt4b4 sure have, there are many slip tests where Subaru doesn't perform any better than the iVTM-4. Look up the slip tests on TFL and you will see that the Honda system might actually have performed better.
@@bt4b4 while it has different modes, even in the video, there isn't a difference between modes. In addition, the TFL slip test didn't show any advantage for the Subaru's AWD system over the iVTM-4 system from Honda. Plus any advantages the boxer engine might have had are ruined by the garbage CVT transmission.
@@albertatundra clearly you only see one side. Trust me I have one with a lot of miles, towing and 0 issues. No slip no nothing, flawless. And in snow ,I’m passing Honda Passports/Pilots while they’re all over the place with their torque vectoring. Bye
@@jeffspicoli2643 After test driving 2021 Outback Wilderness I’ll have to take back what I’ve said.That one is so quiet and comfortable. But my 2013 XV still sounds like nuclear reactor…lol. Jumping out of mine into Outback seems like jumping out of KIA into Mercedes.My 2013 XV and 2021 Outback are not only two different cars,they are like two different brands.
I tow 4500lbs monthly with my Subaru Ascent. No issues with power or CVT, with 40,000 miles on it. (I did buy the extended warranty just in case though.....) Peacefrom510 .
Hopefully you’ve changed the cvt fluid…
Does it have stop/start feature? I'm really
I. Really anxious about the stp/start
@@saraaronzon4562 Just turn off the start/stop feature when you don’t want it to activate. It’s not mandatory.
Just came home with a 2020 Ascent after some seriously substantial time spent car shopping... While all the car manufacturers are scammering to be one and the same on there newer models, what sold us was the safety factor. The Ascent is one of the safest vehicles on the road hands down, from 6 layers of high strength steel in the pillars as compared to the industry average of 2, and the 1 inch solid metal bars in all the doors, this thing is as safe as they come.. Not to mention the ability to handle inclement road conditions with a higher level of confidence than most other competitors.
Good to know. How's the eyesight system ?
You nailed it, plus the ride feels so much more solid than the rest and the power is almost instant and throughout the whole power band. I have test driven all the other ones he talks about and this one by far has the most useful safety features. Switching to this from a Yukon XL.
Just got my 2020 love it
Our Ascent and Outback have saved our lives many times. I will never own another vehicle without awd
I love my 2021 Ascent. It’s my everyday family hauler and commuter to the train station. I never had issues with snow or bad weather. New ones have all touch sensor screens that are not user friendly
My wife has an Ascent. The CVT bugs me a bit because of how aggressively it wants to keep the engine RPMs low. For the price, the amenities and features of the limited trim are damn near class leading. When you compare the Ascent to other 3 row SUVs, it’s important to remember that is standard AWD while others are standard FWD, and Subaru has years of experience with CVTs compared to some other manufacturers (looking at you Nissan)
Nissan CVT's are the worst.
No more cvt for Nissan. Thank god.
As an owner of a Nissan with a CVT, I agree! I’m looking into a new car. This one is at the top of my list so far.
The reason why it wants to keep the RPM's low is because the Ascent produces all 100% of it's torque at 2,000 rpm's.
@@slandshark That’s the point so many folks fail to note. More low-engine-rpm torque, equals better towing capability and around town performance/drivability.
Personally the Ascent looks classier in the dash than the Palisade. With that said, I’ve sold my palisade and plan to walk out of the dealer tomorrow with the 22 Subaru ascent touring.
I’m 5 foot 8 inches. So when I was shopping, the 3rd row was definitely in consideration. Not that I planned on ever sitting back there but if I couldn’t fit, it could have been a deal breaker. In the past 2 years I’ve only had to jam one grown human being back there. It worked fine.
I am a proud owner of the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring trim. What has been about the vehicle is true in my opinion. This is my 4th Subaru. The first was the 2000 forester, then the 2006 B9 Tribeca, after that the 2009 forester that replaced the 2000 forester. The 2019 Ascent replaced my 2006 B9 Tribeca. I also own the 2020 Legacy Sport. That’s a total of 5 Subaru’s owned to date. They’re coming out with an all electric vehicle called the Solterra which is coming in 2022. So far the best Subaru i own in the 2019 Ascent. The most comfortable vehicle especially in long trips. As far as the 3rd row, it’s a little cramped but fine for kids snd small adults. Otherwise almost everything else is fine. I am considering the electric vehicle.
The Ascent’s AWD system is pretty good. Compared to my truck, the handling in snow and ice is more predictable but I attribute at least part of that to the characteristics of an unloaded pickup.
We did an epic 1200 mile road trip during covid and the Ascent handled back country roads, snow and ice in US National Parks, and plain old highway duty like a champ. My only complaint was with the 20” wheels. There were times I was begging for more sidewall.
That's my concern as well, that 20 inch wheels are just not enough cushion for some washboard road.
I was going to put Grabber UHP on our '14 FXT but they didn't have anything to fit for an 18" wheel. I have already spec'd out Grabber UHV for the Ascent for when we get it. We ended up with Atturo AZ800 for summer/fall driving and Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV (studless ice tire) for the time of the year that doesn't stay over 47°F.
I would expect ALL of our vehicles going forward will have Hakkapeliitta SUV R2 or R3 on them. The Aramid sidewalls and multicompound studless tread have been AMAZING. We have slammed a couple high curbs in town and not only did the tires prevent us from smashing the rim, there wasn't a mark on them.
Literally bulletproof. And they ride better the colder and slipperier it gets. Cannot recommend both of those enough. The Atturo get crap talked a lot but ours have been champs and they not only stick like mad even to wet/muddy roads but are wearing like iron (we drive on a lot of forestry roads in the Pacific Northwest).
I shopped hard online and got both types for less than 100 bucks a tire each; shopped craigslist for stock 18" rims cos the wife liked the snowflakes and got them all mounted around for 100 bucks a set at a local garage we like. 15 bucks a sensor at Rock Auto for the pressure sensors so we can just leave em in the tires when we swap em out.
We've been driving the SNOT out of both those sets of tires for almost three years now without a hiccup and I'll never go to Les Schwab's again, EVER. (RIP Les, you were a good guy)
About the only thing these tires DONT do is run flat. ;-) The future is rad, I love living in it. Cheap space age tires lol
I can't wait to try the Grabber UHP - my nephew worked for a heavy construction company that put them on all their trucks and he said they're better in mud than almost anything but boggers and ride smooth as hell with great mileage and wear life.
Absolutely couldn’t agree more; the perfect version of the Ascent for that epic trip would have been an Ascent Wilderness. Trade in those pretty 20s for the great looking Outback Wilderness 17s, add some new Michelin Cross Climate 2s, and you’ve got an awesome all weather, on/off road setup.
@@russellzauner Funny....I could have sworn this was a review of the Subaru. Why are you reviewing tires?
You confirmed what I suspected, which is that the Ascent isn't the classiest or the roomiest, but when it comes to bad weather or light off-roading, it can't be beat. Having that AWD always there means there's no slip and grip factor as with other crossovers. I think for a family of four that just wants more room for all their stuff and the occasional friend or two of their kids', the Ascent will be just right. If you have 3 or more children, you'd probably need to go with a bigger back seat.
IMHO the Ascent has more room than any other vehicle, where I care about which is in leg room in the wheel well. I've sat in all of them and all but Ascent have your left leg pushed in. As we get older, that stresses your left hip and makes long trips impossible. I'm 6'3 245lbs and very comfortable on long trips
Third row in this segment are for small kids. We just got the ascent from the 2017 Santa Fe and it was a MASSIVE upgrade. Everything about this SUV is AMAZING!
I just bought an Ascent yesterday and so far I'm pretty happy with it , next week I'm driving to Whistler to test it's off road capabilities 😁
It is excellent as a family rig and camping just got way better .
Have fun!
Kids are usually sitting in the back so not a deal breaker for me. The vehicle is super safe and I’m happy with my purchase.
I’ve only gotten to test drive this as a 2022 model and I loved it. It handled the New England highway very well and it was very smooth.
My 2021 Ascent is my third Subaru and im very satisfied with it. Smooth riding and quiet and all of my Subaru’s have been reliable. I get all my service at my dealership and am pleased w that also. Altogether a thumbs up!
The Ascent is nice. Never owned a Subaru, but always liked the Outback. I think the "station wagon" style has a cool niche, and you guys should try a series on the different options and brands offered in a station wagon AWD. The crossovers have certainly taken over, but it would be cool to see who still makes a wagon (VW, Subaru, Audi etc). Thanks for the reviews, I really enjoy watching them. Keep the videos coming.
Greg - agreed, however the manufacturers hate the term "station wagon" - even if it is one. Funny that.
I think thats why I actually like this one a lot. The way it's designed it kind of looks like an overgrown outback
@@davidmollard9832 as an outback owner, it's literally like the big brother, I love my outback but I need a 3 row, so it's the Ascent for me
We just bought the 2022 Pearl White Limited Ascent. It is used but had very low mileage.Had a 2010 Honda Accord EX since new we traded in and it was a excellent car, was waffling on getting another one. We had rented a Subaru out west several years ago and love the great long sunroof and it handled well on and off roads.
Looking forward to many road trips as we are retired and ready to travel! Happy Trails!
My 2013 Outback is going to be 10 years old this year... knock on wood, nothing but a few minor recalls, plus airbag recall and regular maintenance. It eats up bumps and potholes better than anything I have owned, and after 10 years, there is not a single squeak or rattle in the interior. If you change the oil and diff fluids on schedule, they are super reliable. I don't get the hate for the CVT... it keeps the engine in the ideal torque range for acceleration, and gives you optimal mpg while cruising. I guess it the lack of rpm changes and shifting feel that people don't like. I always tell people it's a great car for safety and reliability, but don't expect a silky smooth/quiet engine or great mpg.
I agreed. I owned 2010 Forester, 2015 Outback, and currently 2020 Ascent. Both the Forester and Outback has over 200k before I trade-in for a newer Subaru. CVT is perfectly fine, people who knock on it are people who never own one, follow the trend of trolling and thinking a family car is a race/sport car.
Once you go Subaru it's hard to switch to other brand. Subaru balance between features, safety and value is too good to give up. In 2022 every car brand has a marked up price except for Subaru. This is why i'm loytal to them ever since my first Subaru.
Tip: change your CVT fluid from a reputable mechanic every 60k. Don't listen to Subaru America that it's a life time fluid. Subaru Canada and Japan recommend changing them.
My wife had a 2010 JDM Honda Fit with a CVT and that was fine no issues like you said I change my fluids frequently. However, I found it annoying when pushing the car. My parent owned Subarus as did I, none with CVT so I personally find it hard to but the Ascent.
I just don’t like the CVTs, they are noisy to me. It’s fine for city driving but when I push on the highway? Nope. It triggers the wife. 😂 I could hear it in this video and it annoyed me with its a continuous moan like a dying mule. I still plan to test drive a 2023 Ascent as it has a good price point so we’ll see.
Let’s not forget the initial production issues with the CVT and Subaru been doing CVT a long time.
You didn't do the standardized tests of how the ice fishing sled fits in the back and how long it takes Howard to fall asleep in the 2nd row😀
This Subaru's 2nd 3 row. They had the Tribeca from 06-14.
I'm all Honda and Toyota for the last 35 yrs.. all front wheels drive.. 🤔.. but last yrs. 2023 I did get an ascent ..8 seat version.. I do love it.. and now on I'm all Su...!!! 👌
The Mrs has a 2021 premium and its been an awesome car. Biggest gripe is the mpg's but her safety is most important. Were very happy with ours 💯
I enjoy your channel. One thing you might want to consider is that a main appeal of the Ascent (like many of its competitors) is that it can tow 5000 lbs. Some people don't need the third row (and may leave it folded all the time) but do want to be able to tow their boat, camper, etc. Also true for the Pilot, Highlander, etc. The Ascent seems like a bigger Outback with more serious towing chops.
Great review guys but honestly, the Subaru is designed for families and most families don't have a 6' 220lb kid sitting in the third row. lol! That's were the kiddos sit. We probably shouldn't compare that area unless we are honestly comparing kids user friendly items in all comparison vehicles with a third row. Great review overall. Can't wait to see the 22 Onyx ed.
Truck King; Although this video is few years old, this ISN'T the first 3-row crossover for the brand. Perhaps, you've forgotten about the Subaru Tribeca (2006-20014). I'm sure someone has already pointed that out, in the comment section.
The b9 Tribeca was Subaru's first 3 row crossover.
I seen one of those at the hospital today.. recognized the taillights...not much of a truck..very station wagon like!! High standing wagons..reminds me of AMC Eagles
Wow you're old.
"We gotta stop & show you these turkeys." = automatic trust in their AWD opinions.
FLOCK
Now mind you, when he got in the 3rd row, depending on who sits in 2nd there is plenty of leg room in the 3rd row. I don't know why he pulled the seat so far back.
Another good review. Thanks guys! I don't know if I'll get the Ascent, but I am tempted to move up to Canada. So beautiful up there. I do have a question about the AWD. Do you know, is it a fixed AWD, like 50/50 or 60/40 rear/front? Or do the percentages vary front to rear as needed? You seemed to suggest the vehicle was always assessing possibly sending more to the front or rear axel as needed, and if so, do you know what its' resting state is, say 50/50 or 60/40, and how much can be sent forward and back, what percentages?
Lastly, I have been considering the new, more expensive 2021's of the GMC Yukon AT4, the Cadillac Escalade or the Audi Q8 or SQ8. The first two are 4WD, but the Audi's are AWD. The AT4 seems awesome, but not as luxurious as the others. The Escalade is luxurious and a wonderful highway ride, but it seems to have left out and/or de-tuned a lot of the off road/bad road capabilities of the AT4, and that really concerns me. Do you have an opinion about today's 4WD versus AWD? And do you know, is the Audi AWD the same as the Subaru's, in terms of a fixed versus variable power distribution to the front or rear axel, but maybe in other ways as well?
It does occur to me that if I step down in price, so many people here in ski country Utah love Subaru's, unofficially known as the official car of Park City, that the larger Ascent could be worth considering. I would likely keep the 3rd row down flat 99% of the time, but even so, it's tightness back there is not ideal, and its second row is nowhere near as spacious as the Audi Q8 or SQ8's, so we'll have to see. But thanks again for the review. I learned enough from you to decide to research more. If you are able to answer my questions above, maybe expand on the 4WD/AWD comparison issue, that would be great.
The system continuously varies the torque split to a max of 50/50. Upon acceleration the split is close to 50/50.
@@niuhuskieguy I don't understand your answer. When I asked about if variable what would the max percentages be, I was thinking like a max of maybe 80% to the front meaning 20% left to the rear, or the other way 80% to the rear and 20% to the front. For me, a 50/50 split means minimum, or fixed. Any chance you could clarify for me?
@@Nate-zy5ce The max front/rear torque split is 50/50. It can never send more than 50% to the rear
@@niuhuskieguy Ah, I think I get it. It could be 100% FWD down to 50/50 front/rear. With the engine upfront, that makes more sense than the reverse, at least for off road and slippery all weather conditions. A lot of the high end AWD vehicles, like BMW's and Audi's, start with a 60/40 rear/front split, and can go much higher in either direction. And some, like the GM's like the AT4 or Cadillac, they are 2WD rear, 4WD 50/50, or in Auto 2WD rear up to 50/50, I believe. Rear wheel might be better racing, dry road traction for performance, but is not as good as FWD or 4WD offroad or slippery conditions. Choices, priorities, with all these cars. For the Subaru, I think that FWD down to a 50/50 split makes a lot of sense. Thanks for clarifying. I you think I still don't get it, please try again to explain, but I think i have it now.
@@Nate-zy5ce One thing to note for Subaru, it never defaults to full fwd, there is always a good amount of power going to the rear
Thank you. Love your review. Unbiased.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice review. My only constructive criticism is that Xmode is not really something you would test by "launching" it thru rough terrain. But your takeway is still fairly accurate. For the most part you should leave traction control on, and Xmode off, and this includes when driving offroad or in the snow, sand, or mud. You only need Xmode when you need Xmode, and you will know when that is, and THEN it DOES make quite a bit of difference, especially if you have VDC or traction control in the right position for the condition.. Take it from a guy who has Owned Subarus for the last several decades. But again, it's not something that I would use that often. I have the new Wilderness that sports the same motor as that Ascent. I have been in deep sand and moderately deep snow, Ice, and some rough truck trails. I have had the car for about 2 months. I have NEVER used the Xmode. There simply has been no need. But I know from previous iterations that it does have a great impact under certain conditions. Not conditions of launching, but conditions of low traction, deep snow or sand or mud, steep gravely or icy grades. Conditions where the normal AWD is struggling. And those conditions are hard to find, so when you test it on a simple icy road, yeah, not much difference other than the fact that you will be having a less smooth ride, and wasting some gas on un-necessary torque vectoring which uses the brakes. Good to know about the third row space, like some others that claim 3 row, but really have 2 1/2 (Jeep Commander comes to mind). But it is not necessarily a strike since in most cases when hauling that many people in a family situation at least, as opposed to hauling workers to the job site for instance, in most cases those back seats will be holding children, and this is a great size for kids, who will have a great view, good footing, and will find it easy to embark and debark from their special place back there. Most of the time we assume those seats will be folded down, and the space used for cargo except on those occasions. Databyter
I’ve only had to use x mode 2 times, once when I slid into a ditch from black ice and once when it snowed 39” in 24 hours and the car wouldn’t move. Both times it made a huge impact and got me moving. I couldn’t believe that on continental crosstrack’s I was able to move the car through 30+ inches of snow.
(Raiders) A group of Turkeys
LOL 🤣
Good review hard to pick which would be the best; Depending on what you are looking for and what you need; You’ll just going to have to pick which ever you like the most.
If I was in the market for a vehicle with 3 rows I’d go with a 4Runner with that option.
Don't forget the worst gas mileage you'll get with your 4Runner. Just about as good as my Tundra. Think about that!
Great presentation. Jus bought 1st subaru 2022 ascent. Love the boxer and smooth ride. A bunch of turkeys ? DO NOT GO NEAR! THEY ATTACK....
You comment on reduced leg room in the middle but TOTALLY missed the fact the Ascent had the MOST driver wheel well leg area of any of these vehicles by a long shot.
I have another Subaru which is 08 Legacy 3.0R and I love it!
They made them much better back then.
A nice car. Need a bigger and stronger engine and a proper transmission.
Can you review 2024 Subaru Ascent comparing to Toyota Grand Highlander in the same price range?
Subaru was proudly advertising it had the most cupholders of any 3 row vehicle for a while. Idk if someone beat them yet
19 to be exact! 😂
Call them a Happy Thanksgiving Feast!
Morning Truck King!!... isn't this more like a car?.. Nice vehicle..jus seems very car-like.. Enjoy the day 🌞 Truck King 😎
CVT is the future, only hater's hate CVT's.
The atlas and palisade are in a class above this (with the traverse, literally the only 3+sister vehicles, in the segment). The cx9 and this compete against the rest of the 3 row crossovers which are 2 row crossovers with a stretch and emergency third row seating. On your note of having people in the third row all the time, most actually don't. This is info directly from the car companies. Most of these like the ascent, cx9, highlander, explorer ect have their third row down 80-90% of the time and only have it up when needed. Most families that need more than 5 seats (or 4 if you get stupid captains chairs) usually go for something like the traverse or palisade or atlas, or a big body on frame suv, or A MINIVAN.
I'm 6'2, 250#. I want a vehicle that rides higher than a sedan, is a hatchback, wagon or SUV body, has a panoramic sunroof, and as much room as possible for driver and second row seats. I was pretty sure I wanted an Outback, but no pano roof. Then I realized the Ascent exists, and used prices aren't that much more than outback. But, what other vehicle has "Big Dude" space without being gigantic? Thx!
your assessment on the third row is wrong , you can move the capt chairs forward creates way more room and the second row doesn't lose too much space .
So, we have a 2020 chrysler pacifica hybrid minivan and then test drove the 2021 subaru ascent yesterday. The Ascent REALLY surprised me with the huge door opening/space and the surprising amount of room in the 2nd and 3rd rows. I'm about 5'8" and with the 2nd row moved up a little (still TONS of leg room in 2nd row) the 3rd row had also plenty of legroom (a few inches of knee space minimum). The downside of course, compared to a minivan is the lack of behind 3rd row storage and not having sliding 2nd row doors. But honestly, the ascent is pretty dang nice. I don't think the wide opening into the 2nd row (through the door opening) gets enough credit. That's a HUGE area for an SUV that rivals even our minivan, making it really easy to enter the vehicle.
How many people actually use the 3rd row in these vehicles? Wish there was a delete option to save weight and have under floor storage.
My dogs get the 3rd row. Kids get the second row. Mother in law gets the trunk and she says it’s spacious
thing with Subaru is that they retain their resale value a lot better than the other competitions
Ascent owners, tell us about your favorite family road trips or memorable experiences!
I own a 2020 Touring model. The “shifting” is very annoying. There’s a significant dead spot between “1st and 2nd gear.” Going up a slight hill, the trans can’t seem to decide where it wants to be. Dealer service department tells me it’s normal. Now the brakes are squeaking every time I stop and found there’s a TSB. Seriously considering trading it in for something else.
Did you ever find a fix this? I’ve noticed it either wants to keep the rpm’s low and no acceleration or Rev up to 4K plus rpm’s and take off. I can’t seem to feather the throttle to about 2500 rpm’s. Which I believe would be the sweet spot for a turbocharged engine.
Can it fit 2 large dog boxes side by side (>47 inches width between wheel wells)? Thanks.
these 2 giant men make that vehicle look small
We test to the max.
@@TruckKing ya max weight
This car practically drives it self just keep your hands on the wheel its 4 wheel it aint going nowhere in rain sleet or snow! Good on long trips!!
I wish this model was available in Russia.
I have a soft spot for Subaru...even tho I dont own one, my sons share a Forrester. You should see my 20 year old son trying to get out of my Bronco Sport Badlands...its painful. He's 6'3 and 300lbs (he's a powerlifter) He somehow gets in ok, and his brother has to have the front passenger seat moved up quite far...so obv he usually grabs the front seat hahah. Love your reviews guys
I usually call a group of turkeys my sons :)
are the CVT’s anymore reliable now ?
Some.
I just had to replace mine. Started making a chirp noise at 60,000 when first put into gear. Was told it was "normal". Nope. It progressed to a screeching noise as the chain was slipping. Mine is a 2016 and was included in the warranty extension but it was a fight to get it replaced and would not be covered under today's warranty.
Subaru claims their newer CVTs are far more durable. Is that true? No one knows yet.
@@0HOON0 yes they are. They have worked through many issues. The new Outback’s have the same trans as the New Ascent. Much improved .
@@johnstrand2247 2016 is old bro. We are talking NEW trans. They def improved them.
What do you call a group of turkeys, "You and your dad" ! Just kidding, of course, love your down to earth videos.
Disagree about 3rd row. We are moving from Pilot to this. Our rd row has spent its life folded and in cargo mode. After 20 years as Honda owner I am moving on due to Honda not honoring their 5y r 60K power train warranty.
My ascent was a lemon for constant brake failure. So I’m gonna disagree with this video. Now I bought an Audi and I will say that it is the best car I’ve ever owned.
I understand the third row isn’t great but how many adults are regularly sitting back there? I feel like 90%of the time it’s for kids. I really want the grand Cherokee l overland but I’m having a tough time justifying 60k. This might be a good alternative
After owning a newer Subaru for a few years I feel they lack in some standard options for the price. Did you know on a 25k Crosstrek, you don't even get lighted window and door lock buttons for any passengers?
THANK YOU for mentioning this! I've noticed this on so many vehicles - quite frankly, often Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Chevy and Ford seem to do this a bit more consistently.
That said, my mom owned a 2014 CrossTrek and now has a 2018 CrossTrek, after the refresh. She had illuminated switchgear on both. Maybe it depends on the trim level? I know her older one was a Premium and the new is a Limited.
She actually got into a bad accident in the 2014, and it was totaled, but it retained so much value, she got less than $2000 less than her original purchase price! Plus it totally saved her life. That's how she got the other one.
And now I have a 2019 Forester! (And my switchgear is illuminated too, by the way - although there are some oddities, such as the steering wheel and climate controls illuminated red in the CrossTrek, and white in the Forester.)
My Saturn and ram both don't have lighted switches in back. I prefer it for my small kids
I got a 19 Ascent top trim. I bought it from brand new. The power is weak and don't like interior color (only one choice) and seats looks cheap.
ALL VWs are POS. The ACCENT is an excellent vehicle and quick. I would dump the the third row seats as UNNECESSARY. I also wish that Subi would add diff locks and a TRUE 4x4 option and maybe a manual transmission
How does the AWD compare to the popular IVTM-4 on the Pilot, specifically on snow?
very similar
A car review that doesn't even mention ride quality? More Canadian genius
I’m concern if they have resolved the battery issues from before. Did they? great video
Can you please test drive and off road 2021 awd Nissan Rogue
Are Subaru CVTs more reliable than say Nissan? Has Subaru engineered the headgasket problem out of the boxer engine? They were famous for headgasket issues. My friend had 2 of them a day kept him in the poor house.
I owned a '05 Outback and sold it with 334 000km on the clock and never had a problem with the headgasket
I've got a 2004 subaru wrx with 235k miles on it now with no major issues (replaced radiator at 192k miles, replaced clutch for the first time at 230k miles, that's it). Also, I don't baby it at all. Subarus are meant to be driving hard or at least tackle bad weather/bad road conditions without issues. I've driven my 2004 subaru wrx through everything and it has never disappointed me.
I see that no one really answered your question, but Subaru and Nissans cvt’s are reliable under certain conditions. First and foremost you have to change your cvt fluid every 30k miles. Period. No exceptions. Secondly, don’t drive them hard. Don’t keep the rpm’s at redline or drive them off-road for extended amounts of time. Heat kills cvt’s. Cvt’s can reach 200k plus miles if you don’t abuse them and follow the above suggestions. For the head gasket problem, no worries. This engine in the ascent is a brand new engine that didn’t exist when head gaskets were a problem.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 The cost of fluid on a CVT is crazy....$40/litre and they take 13 or 14 litres to fill. Not cheap.
@@mikefoehr235 cheap insurance compared to the cost of replacement of the cvt ($4k-$6k). Subaru is especially expensive due to limited network of dealers that will actually change the fluid for you. All Nissan dealers perform cvt fluid changes at roughly $200-$300
Modes to a computer don't work like a human would expect.
We expect a computer to be operating the car for us as a human would but what the modes do more than anything is remove restrictions and adjust things like valve timing vs shift points vs revs, the general operational behavior under nominal driving conditions shouldn't see any massive difference in feel or performance - the modes allow doing more dangerous, risky, or basically less fuel efficient driving upon demand more than anything.
Once I committed to CVT and learned how it works, I am actually sort of upset I have to feel any "shifting" at all. It's already emulating shifting for our programmed sensibilities on how a vehicle should feel when it's being driven but once you've ridden/driven a full EV car, the realization is heavy that you literally have to *untrain* bad driving behaviors and reactions as they were always just compensation for inadequacies in our equipment.
See: Ken Block test driving various performance EV and frequently mentioning the need to completely change his reflex and reactions for the new technology.
I want a good towing capacity and rough,slippery road safety, is the ascent crossover good?
The Ascent (or really any subaru other than the BRZ) can't be beat in offroad/snow conditions. It just tackles everything excellently. It can also tow 5,000lbs
Truck Kings, Checked the price of gas lately? The Highlander Hybrid is EASILY the best 3 row CrossOver. If 3rd row space is the biggest concern, buy a minivan.
A group of turkeys is called a Rafter.
Thanks. OR - we could call them dinner.
@@TruckKing Haha, Yum
Did you forget about the B-9?
Agtoup of turkeys is called parlaiment
Good video, guys! I like Subaru s
Thanks! 👍
Wait until you see the quote for spark plug change.
Is the CVT reliable for towing? The Ascent has a 3500 lb capability (?), I think. I'm inclined only to tow with a geared transmission. Too Old school?
Based on previous Subaru CVTs, absolutely DO NOT tow with this vehicle. Let someone else be the guinea pig.
I’ve got about 15k miles of towing in my ascent. It is a fantastic tow vehicle. The CVT keeps the trans right at the perfect spot for torque.
We haven't done enough towing with CVTs to comment. Sorry.
@@christopherp1215 To piggyback on that, the Ascent produces 100% of it's torque at 2k RPM's, meaning it's putting very little strain on the engine when towing (or moving at all).
Ascent tows up to 5,000 lbs
Where is the air vent? For second row
Given the price of Ascent, Subaru should have used the interior design from the Outback/Legacy (think 2015-2019) instead of the one from the Impreza/Crosstrek/Forester. That has always been my biggest criticism of the Ascent.
I totally agree... I have a 22 Outback and the Ascent should be based on its center stack. It makes it harder for me to move up to the Ascent.
Having dedicated physical hvac controls separated from the infotainment is a massive improvement over the integrated screens on the 2020+ Outbacks.
Subaru’s very limited dash center cluster configurability is addressed with the high mounted second screen taking the place - you can put nav info, media, and the eyesight readout is excellent.
I think the newer outback console *looks* great, of course, but functionally is pretty awful.
The Ascent’s improved UX was one of my main drivers of purchasing it (I have a Limited model) over an Outback.
A little too small compared to the rest of the segment. We have a 2016 FXT for comparison.
How about resale value of Subaru
No disrespect but you are WAY to large to evaluate ANY third row seat in ANY SUV.
Great show bravo
You aren't the only dude that can't fit in a 3rd row. All the 3rd row SUVs I've rode in including my wifes Dodge Journey seem to be designed for small children. It works well with car seats also.
The Flex I had before the Bronco Sport was manageable. My ex's son is 6'2 and he fit pretty well...mind you he's 170 lbs which can make a difference on comfort
New GM Tahoe/Yukon are good in the 3rd row
@@TruckKing yes, my Buddy's 13 Suburban is awesome too haha
Omg, another larger Impreza. I just can't get behind Subaru's design choices. They ALL look the same bar the wrx and brz.
Third round best place to put people you don’t like
Bro who is putting you in the 3rd row ?
wait……crossover???!!
Your camera guy is more focus on your face than the video
i had a forester with only 200k miles on it and it left a bad taste in my mouth. check engine codes constantly for any and every reason. nuts, bolts, straps, exhaust, and many other parts of the car, were not properly galvanized or coated with rustproof to keep salt from them and rust had begun in the weirdest areas, including in the engine bay. not to mention the famous trouble areas of subaru, timing belt, gaskets, transmission and who knows what else. i wouldnt buy a used subaru again. if i had alot of money maybe i would get a new subaru ascent, but i think i would just get a honda or acura. subaru has the awd factor going for it, but they need to work on everything else
Only thing Subarus are good for is snow covered roads,, they can't do anything else because of the crap CVT transmission. It'd sad that people are trying to mis-inform the unknowledgeable consumer "CVTs have come alone way" yes...but not far enough and they certainly are not the future.
Yeah. You’re definitely right. Subarus aren’t good for long term. Very unreliable as they age. But, for most buyers, keeping a vehicle 3-5 years it’ll do fine. Just follow the maintenance schedule and change the cvt fluid every 30k miles.
looks better than cx9
Have to disagree. The CX-9 is generally considered the second best looking three row suv after the Telluride.
I was expecting a lot more, off road, abuse, based upon what I have seen from yall in other videos.
Does the turbo engine require Premium Gas!!!!!
A rafter of Turkey's
It'd be the best if it had a regular transmission, not CVT.
Is this a paided sponsor
Don't know what "paided" is - but if you mean paid - then no, we don't get paid.
I don't like this thing. I know a couple of people who have them and I find it disappointing. They could have done way better
Subaru you lost me with your CVT.
A cvt that is manufactured by jatco a NISSAN owned company. And we all know what a pile that is
Subaru's AWD system isn't any better than Honda's iVTM-4.
You should do more research .
@@bt4b4 sure have, there are many slip tests where Subaru doesn't perform any better than the iVTM-4. Look up the slip tests on TFL and you will see that the Honda system might actually have performed better.
@@albertatundra not as much torque , plus Subaru has a 2 stage Xmode now.
@@bt4b4 while it has different modes, even in the video, there isn't a difference between modes. In addition, the TFL slip test didn't show any advantage for the Subaru's AWD system over the iVTM-4 system from Honda.
Plus any advantages the boxer engine might have had are ruined by the garbage CVT transmission.
@@albertatundra clearly you only see one side. Trust me I have one with a lot of miles, towing and 0 issues. No slip no nothing, flawless. And in snow ,I’m passing Honda Passports/Pilots while they’re all over the place with their torque vectoring. Bye
Looks like you had a significant amount of road noise in this review... are the tires at fault or is the sound deadening that bad?
Every Subaru is loud.Mine sounds like nuclear reactor.
@@borisscepanovic1684 I've had a new Outback every year since 2016. I'm not sure what noise you're referring too. smh
@@jeffspicoli2643 After test driving 2021 Outback Wilderness I’ll have to take back what I’ve said.That one is so quiet and comfortable.
But my 2013 XV still sounds like nuclear reactor…lol.
Jumping out of mine into Outback seems like jumping out of KIA into Mercedes.My 2013 XV and 2021 Outback are not only two different cars,they are like two different brands.