Once upon a time, Subaru tried its hand at making a three-row SUV for families. It was called the B9 Tribeca in some markets, or just plain Tribeca in the US. The only thing weirder than its name was its looks, so Subaru axed the Tribeca in 2014 and set to work on a replacement SUV from the ground up.
The result: the Subaru Ascent, an SUV that fits families and comes loaded with practical features.
Based on a stretched version of the Subaru global platform, the Subaru Ascent is a three-row SUV that takes space and safety seriously. There’s a versatile interior that boasts an impressive 86.5 cubic-feet of space with all the seats down. A three-passenger bench second-row is standard, but twin captain chairs are available for added flexibility, so you can opt for seven or eight-seater versions. While the third row may be a tight fit for some, it should be plenty big enough for kids.
The Subaru Ascent is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder that has plenty of power for a vehicle of this size. Subaru’s CVT provides a smooth ride around town, with just the right kick-down while passing. A capable all-wheel-drive system with off-road X mode is standard across all trims. That should go without saying, but many of the Ascent’s competitors are still available as a standard front-drive version, and their pricing reflects that. So don’t be fooled by the fact that the Ascent’s starting price isn’t lower.
Subaru assembles the Ascent in its Lafayette, Indiana factory for the North American market.
What’s New for 2020?
As an almost brand new model, Subaru isn’t making any big changes with the Ascent, however, one addition is the Rear Seat Reminder system. This new standard safety feature is built to keep people from forgetting pets or little ones in the back seats, via a message on the dash. Some other minor updates include one-touch controls for the interior lights on the Premium level and above. The available power-operated tailgate gets a vehicle lock button for 2020. And finally the top-of-the-line Touring trim gets power-folding mirrors.