Author: Radomskyi Maksym VasyliovychSubaru Ascent is the brand’s largest vehicle: a midsize all-wheel-drive crossover with seven or eight seats, a turbocharged 2.4 L boxer engine (260 hp), and a CVT. It was unveiled in November 2017 as a 2019 model, refreshed in 2022 (the 2023 model year), and is now produced for the 2027 model year—with minimal changes. Ascent is officially sold only in North America, so it is brought to Ukraine from the USA.
Contents
- What Subaru Ascent is and where it came from
- Dimensions and how many seats it has
- Engine and fuel consumption
- What changed after the update and in 2026–2027
- Equipment and how safe Ascent is
- How much Ascent costs in the USA and how it sells
- How to carry more: trunk, roof rails, trailer
What Subaru Ascent is and where it came from
Ascent is Subaru’s first full-size three-row crossover and the successor to the B9 Tribeca. The concept was shown in April 2017 in New York, and the production version on November 28, 2017 ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The model is assembled at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana—alongside Crosstrek and Forester. Class rivals include Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Volkswagen Atlas.
Ascent was built for the American family: a long wheelbase, three rows of seats, lots of storage spaces and cup holders, symmetrical all-wheel drive like all Subarus, 221 mm of ground clearance, and X-MODE for off-road driving.
Dimensions and how many seats it has
Ascent’s dimensions have barely changed since 2018. According to Subaru’s official data for the 2027 model year:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 999 mm |
| Width (without mirrors) | 1 930 mm |
| Height with roof rails | 1 819 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2 891 mm |
| Ground clearance | 221 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.6 m |
| Curb weight | from 2 019 kg (7 seats) / 2 026 kg (8 seats) |
| Fuel tank | 73 L |
| Trunk behind the 3rd row | 504 L |
| Trunk with the 3rd row folded | 1 232 L |
| Trunk with the 2nd and 3rd rows folded | 2 141 L |
Subaru lists cargo volume using the American method in cubic feet; the liters above are a conversion. Older reviews sometimes cite 555 and 2 055 L—those figures use a different measuring method, so they should not be compared directly with the ones above. With a sunroof, the volume is slightly smaller (up to 2 061 L with the rows folded).
The cabin comes as an eight-seater (a bench in the second row) or a seven-seater (two separate “captain’s” chairs in the second row). Premium and Limited trims offer both options; Limited Bronze Edition, Touring, and Onyx Edition Touring are seven-seat only. The third row is designed for three, but it’s tight for adults—these are more like seats for kids and short trips.
Engine and fuel consumption
There is one engine for all Ascent versions: the turbocharged 2.4 L FA24 boxer with direct injection. The Lineartronic CVT has a manual mode with eight fixed “steps” and paddle shifters—this is why different reviews mention both a “6-speed” and an “8-range” CVT; the current version is the one with eight.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | gasoline, 4-cylinder, boxer, turbo, 2.4 L |
| Power | 260 hp at 5 600 rpm |
| Torque | 376 Nm at 2 000–4 800 rpm |
| Bore × stroke | 94 × 86 mm |
| Transmission | Lineartronic CVT, manual mode with 8 steps |
| Drivetrain | permanent Symmetrical AWD, X-MODE, hill descent assist |
| Trailer weight | up to 2 268 kg |
| Consumption (city / highway / combined, EPA) | 12.4 / 9.0 / 10.7 L/100 km (Limited and Touring — 12.4 / 9.4 / 11.2) |
The engine is designed for regular 87-octane gasoline on the US scale (roughly 92 by ours). In practice, consumption depends heavily on load: seven passengers, a trailer, or a roof box can easily add 1–2 liters per 100 km.
What changed after the update and in 2026–2027
2023 model year facelift
Subaru presented the updated Ascent on June 14, 2022. It received a new grille, different headlights and taillights, and redesigned bumpers. Inside, an 11.6-inch touchscreen appeared in all trims—in place of the previous 6.5- and 8-inch units—with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EyeSight system was supplemented with a wide-angle camera, and a surround-view camera system was offered as an option.
2026 and 2027 model years
For the 2026 model year, the trim lineup was simplified: the base Premium received water-repellent StarTex upholstery, heated front seats, LED fog lights, and black 18-inch wheels, and the Limited Bronze Edition returned. In the 2027 model year, changes are minimal: USB-C ports near the third row, a switch to disable interior lighting when the doors are open, and new colors Deepwater Blue Pearl and Daybreak Blue Pearl. The engine, transmission, and body are unchanged.
Equipment and how safe Ascent is
All trims come standard with the EyeSight suite: adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, automatic steering collision avoidance, and an emergency stop if the driver does not respond. From the Limited trim up, the DriverFocus system is added, which monitors driver attention.
In 2026, Ascent received the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award from the US IIHS, and the 2025 model earned five stars in the NHTSA rating. In the 2026 J.D. Power study, Ascent ranked first in its class for initial quality.
How much Ascent costs in the USA and how it sells
Recommended prices for the 2027 model year in the USA (excluding delivery to the dealer, which costs $1,545):
- Premium — $40,795;
- Limited — $47,985;
- Limited Bronze Edition — $49,095;
- Touring — $51,165;
- Onyx Edition Touring — $51,995.
Demand is falling: in 2025, 44,400 Ascents were sold in the USA, 21.1% less than the year before, and in the first months of 2026 sales dropped by another 13.3%. The model is nearing ten years of age, and competitors refresh more often. There are no official sales in Ukraine, so the choice is used cars from the USA; when buying, it’s worth checking the repair history and the condition of the CVT.
How to carry more: trunk, roof rails, trailer
Ascent comes with factory roof rails, and Subaru provides specific figures for them: 318 kg static load (for example, a tent while parked) and 80 kg while driving. This last number is the key one when choosing crossbars and a roof box: the combined weight of the crossbars, the box, and the cargo must not exceed it. Ready-made crossbars for the factory rails are in the Subaru Ascent roof racks section.
A trunk mat is doubly important for a three-row crossover: with the third row unfolded, a recess remains in the cargo area, where wet items and groceries are most often carried. It needs to be selected to match the seating configuration—options are available in the mats for Subaru Ascent section. The rest of the accessories for the model are on the Subaru Ascent tuning and accessories page, and for other models of the brand—in the Subaru tuning section. If the three-row Ascent is too large, take a look at our review of the sixth-generation Subaru Outback.
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