Safety and Adventure in a 3 Row SUV: The 2019 Subaru Ascent Review
Terri Marshall
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Safety Doesn’t Have to be Boring.
Subaru has proven that time and again. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercial where the teenager has an accident but no one’s concerned because “it’s a Subaru!” And there’s the other one where the husband is in the hospital after a car accident. But wait: he gets a do-over and this time he’s in a Subaru that avoids the collision thanks to Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. So, we’re clear on the Subaru being a safe choice, right?
Long the love of adventurers and safety enthusiasts, Subaru is often an only choice. Except for those who need a 3 row SUV that seats 8 passengers. Until now. Finally, Subaru has added the 2019 Ascent, a brand new model, to its lineup.
But What if You Crave Adventure?
I’m always on the lookout for new adventures. Fishing for piranhas in the Peruvian Amazon, swimming through ancient caves in Belize and dogsledding in the Swedish Lapland are just a few of the adventures I’ve had recently. So even though I appreciate the safety aspect of life and driving, adventure needs to be part of the experience.
Subaru’s got that covered. Have you ever watched the adventure travel shows, Rock the Park or Globetrekkers? Both are sponsored by the Subaru brand. Until now, the Subaru Outback has been the go-to model for adventures. That’s great if you have 1 to 5 people, but what if your family or circle of adventure-seeking travel friends is larger?
Enter the 2019 Subaru Ascent: problem solved. This sleek 3 row SUV seats 7 or 8 passengers depending on whether or not you choose captain’s chairs for the middle row. Now larger families can ditch the minivan and load into a safe, adventure-ready SUV. Bye-bye minivan!
Read More: Need a slightly smaller SUV? What we thought of the Subaru Forester
Space to spread out means equals a whine-free road trip! Photo: Terri Marshall
Who This Car is For
- Families or groups that need seating for 5 to 8
- Subaru fans
- Anyone looking for the space of a minivan in the body of an SUV
- Road trip enthusiasts looking for a durable adventure-ready SUV
- Anyone who has shed a tear watching the Subaru car accident commercials
What it Costs
The Ascent is available in four models: Base, Premium, Limited and Touring. Starting prices and key features for each are below:
- Base Model with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-MODE, 3 rows of flexible seating, Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, SUBARU STARLINK multimedia with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Raised roof rails starting at $31,995
- Premium with key features of the Ascent along with a choice of second-row captain’s chairs, Wi-Fi connectivity, 5,000-pound towing capacity, SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security, All-weather Package with heated front seats and rear climate control panel starting at $34,195
- Limited with key features of Ascent Premium and adding leather-trimmed upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, all-weather page with heated front and second-row seats, power rear gate, keyless access with push-button start, 10-way power driver’s seat with memory function starting at $38,995
- Touring with all previous features and adding exclusive Java Brown leather-trimmed upholstery, second-row captain’s chairs, navigation system powered by TomTom, 14-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system, panoramic power moonroof, 180-degree front-view camera starting at $44,695
- What We Test Drove: I drove the Ascent Limited with an option package which included the upgraded complete STARLINK 8.0 Multimedia Navigation System, 14-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system, cargo area cover and panoramic power moonroof for a total cost of $42,920.
Further Reading: Subaru’s mojo shines –and so does yours – in the WRX
Looking for adventure in the Adirondacks! Photo: Katherine Farris (aka my granddaughter)
Opting Outside with an Adirondack Mountains Road Trip
I had the chance to try out the Ascent Limited on an adventure road trip through New York’s wooded and wonderful Adirondack Mountains with two of my grandkids. While we didn’t need all eight seats for this trip, the kids were delighted to have plenty of space to spread out with their games, books and souvenirs they talked me into buying them everywhere we went!
We own a Subaru Outback so I was familiar with the safety features of the Subaru brand which made me feel right at home in the Ascent. Steering through the winding mountainous roads, I was impressed with how easy the Ascent was to manage despite its larger body. We breezed along checking out the mountain vistas and catching up on American Revolutionary War history–my 8-year-old grandson’s favorite topic about which I know very little! #TimetoStudy
Abundant Cargo Space is Key on Road Trips! Photo: Terri Marshall
What We Loved
- Easy handling on winding mountain roads
- Takes regular fuel
- Rear-door window sunshades for when you want a break from the sun
- Panoramic power moon-roof for when you want the sun to shine in!
- Subaru’s EyeSight Assist Monitor with heads-up display
- 10-way power driver’s seat
What You Need to Know
- Gas Mileage 20/city 26 highway/22 combined
- Towing capacity up to 5,000 pounds
- Trailer Stability Assist monitors trailer sway and can brake individual wheels to stabilize the vehicle and trailer
- Seven or eight-passenger configurations
- Cargo space is 17.6 with 2nd & 3rd row up and 86.0 with both rows down
- Color of the model I drove – Crystal Black Silica
Everywhere we went on this road trip people asked about the Ascent. They could see it was a Subaru but were intrigued by its size and excited to learn about its 8 passenger seating option. As a New York City dwelling grandmom with no one at home other than my husband and I, the Subaru Ascent is a larger vehicle than we need. (Can you imagine parking in NYC?!) But, I loved the vehicle and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a larger 3 row SUV…especially if you’re not the minivan type.
Read More: Why We Chose the Subaru Outback
What We Listened To
Dislosure: The 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited was provided to me by Subaru for our road trip. All opinions are my own.