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If you have ever taken a class from me or heard me talk about cars, you already know that I’m a huge Subaru fan. I currently own my second Subaru vehicle and swear by it. When I took my car into the dealership for a tire repair and recall, I was thrilled to learn that my loaner vehicle was the 2020 Subaru Ascent SUV.
Sitting down and driving the first mile in the spacious SUV, I immediately fell in love. It was clearly a superior SUV and within a day became my favorite car in the Subaru lineup.
The Subaru Ascent SUV is the largest Subaru vehicle available with three rows of seating unlike any other model currently sold. How can you not love a car that’s more likely than any other to last you 10 years or more? Subaru says that 97% of their vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still driving down the road today.
One of the things that I least like about my Subaru Impreza is the massive amount of street and road noise. The Subaru Ascent SUV, unlike any other Subaru I’ve driven, is noticeably quieter. This makes for a much more comfortable driving experience.
It’s Perfect for a Family
This Subaru Ascent SUV comes with a choice of 7- or 8- passenger seating configurations in the Premium trim level and above. With all rows collapsible, this SUV is also great for camping, Home Depot runs and of course, all of your child’s sports equipment.
Some models come with a choice of captain chairs in the second row instead of a bench seat, allowing for easier access to the back row for large families. The Subaru Ascent SUV is also rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as A Top Safety Pick+.
Front driver’s and passenger’s seats are spacious and comfortable with plenty of room for both peoples arms and cups. This SUV is a good choice for larger and / or taller people.
All-Wheel Drive
Like nearly all Subarus (except the BRZ), the Subaru Ascent SUV has Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive on all trim levels. This makes it perfect for those of us in snowy climates, allowing you to easily propel forward no matter the weather conditions.
The Safety Features You Need
The Subaru Ascent SUV is rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as A Top Safety Pick+. Subaru includes it’s EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology on every single Subaru Ascent SUV no matter the trim level. You get some exciting safety and comfort features that come with EyeSight®.
Safety features include Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, which automatically applies the brakes if you don’t and it senses that you’re going to crash. It also includes Lane Departure and Sway Warning, which will alert you if you’re straying from your lane.
In addition, the Adaptive Cruise Control gives you the power to set a certain speed and the car with sense if there is a car in front of you, slowing down if the other car slows down or stops.
For you parents out there, the new to Subaru Rear Seat Reminder alert system comes standard on the Subaru Ascent SUV. It’s specifically designed to prevent the driver from leaving pets or children in the car by mistake. It works by reminding the driver, before leaving the car, to check the rear seat for passengers.
However, it does not know if there is a child or a pet in that seat. What it does is turn on if certain conditions are met like the rear doors being opened within a certain amount of time before or during the car being on. The alert is both audible and includes a warning message on the instrument cluster.
Many other options are available such as a winter weather package that includes wiper blade deicer and side mirrors defroster. Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert also comes standard on the premium trim level and above.
Towing and Roof Accommodations
If you plan on traveling, hiking or going on adventures in your Subaru Ascent SUV, the roof rails are standard. They allow you to easily add accessories to carry, like bikes, kayaks or a cargo carrier.
Not just that, but Subaru equipped this SUV with a powertrain has a towing capacity of 5,000-lb. It also offers a Trailer Stability Assist which helps you maintain your SUV’s stability while towing a trailer, boat or anything else. This stability system uses special sensors which monitor how the trailer sways. It can brake individual wheels which would stabilize the trailer and car.
SUBARU STARLINK™
If you are choosing the premium trim level or higher, it comes standard with the SUBARU STARLINK 8.0-inch Multimedia Plus system. This includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and also have the ability for Wi-Fi connectivity. I personally love the SUBARU STARLINK system and use it all the time.
If you pay for the additional service, it allows you to remote start your car from your smartphone, unlock and lock the doors and locate your car. It came into really good use for me when I went to a really long festival and couldn’t figure out where the heck I had parked my car. Other functions allow for child safety by allowing you to set a curfew for the car and sends you speed alerts. This is just a few of the many features this incredible service offers to Subaru drivers.
Bottom Line
While I’m a huge fan of both of Subaru and this specific SUV, you’ll have to try it out yourself before committing to it. Bring your kids and pile in. Try all the features and make sure it’s the perfect car for you and your family. If you decide that buying a used car is in your future, check out my virtual class “How the Heck Do I Buy a Used Car.”