Subaru Ascent crossover for 2021 seats up to eight, starts at $32,295

New for 20201 are immoderate information enhancements, including Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering and Lane Keep Assist present portion of the Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.

Additionally, Steering Responsive LED Headlights are present modular connected each versions, and the Second- and Third-Row Seat Belt Reminder strategy is included connected each trim levels. There is besides an disposable powerfulness rear liftgate lock.

Four trim levels are offered, starting with the basal Ascent eight-passenger exemplary astatine the $32,295 price.

Following are the Premium, opening astatine $34,795 for the eight-passenger mentation oregon $36,255 for the seven-passenger model; the Limited, $39,595 for seven- oregon eight-passenger versions; and the Touring, $45,445, lone with seven-passenger configuration.

All models travel with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-wheel Drive and a boxer-style (horizontally opposed) turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing a respectable 260 horsepower and 277 foot-pounds of torque. 

The motor is connected to a continuously adaptable automatic transmission with simulated 8 speeds that tin beryllium manually shifted utilizing paddles connected the steering wheel.

Fuel-economy ratings for the basal Ascent and Premium exemplary are 21 mpg city/27 highway/23 combined; Limited and Touring trims with 20-inch wheels are rated astatine 20 city/26 highway/22 combined. During our weeklong trial of the Ascent Limited, we averaged astir 21.5 mpg with an adjacent premix of section and road driving.

The eight-passenger seating includes 2 seats up front, 3 positions connected a mediate seat seat, and 3 much connected a rear bench. 

To get the seven-passenger configuration, the Ascent tin beryllium equipped with 2 captain’s chairs successful the mediate enactment alternatively of the three-person bench.The Limited exemplary tin beryllium fitted with either seating setup with nary further complaint either way.

Our trial conveyance was the seven-passenger Limited.

There are roomy and well-cushioned bucket seats up front, with 10-way powerfulness accommodation connected the driver’s broadside and four-way powerfulness connected the rider side. The beforehand and mediate seats were rather comfortable, and adjacent average-size folks and large kids person decent abstraction successful the 3rd row, which is comparatively casual to access.

Limited features see the All-Weather Package, which brings heated extracurricular mirrors, steering instrumentality and first- and second-row seats, on with beforehand windshield wiper deicers.

We besides had connected our tester the Seven-Passenger Technology Package ($2,950), which brought a Harman Kardon audio system, panoramic satellite roof, Starlink eight-inch multimedia navigation and a cargo cover.

Other features of the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology see Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, and the EyeSight Assist Monitor, with a head-up show of the EyeSight strategy warnings arsenic good arsenic strategy status, projected connected the little windshield successful beforehand of the driver.

The Ascent replaced the seven-passenger Tribeca crossover successful Subaru’s U.S. lineup, a conveyance that was introduced arsenic the B9 Tribeca successful 2006, aboriginal called conscionable the Tribeca, and discontinued aft 2014. Tribeca’s past mentation had a usually aspirated 3.6-liter boxer six-cylinder motor with 256 horsepower, connected to a accepted five-speed automatic transmission.

Even though the Ascent’s motor has conscionable 4 cylinders, it’s almighty capable to tow trailers weighing up to 5,000 pounds, on with giving the conveyance capable powerfulness for mundane driving and cross-country touring. 

We took the Ascent connected immoderate reasonably steep hills and ever seemed to person capable power, but we did not load it with passengers and cargo, oregon effort to propulsion a trailer.

The Ascent was designed connected a strengthened and extended mentation of the Subaru Global Platform architecture, with extended usage of high-strength alloy and a absorption connected durability, rigidity and vibration resistance. Subaru says.

Overall magnitude is 196.8 inches long, with a 113.8-inch wheelbase and 153.5 cubic feet of rider measurement – on with up to 72.6 cubic feet of cargo abstraction (with middle- and third-row 60/40-split seatbacks folded). 

Our trial conveyance came with Magnetite Gray Metallic exterior paint, and Slate Black perforated-leather upholstery. Other disposable exterior colors are Abyss Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, Cinnamon Brown Pearl, Crimson Red Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Tungsten Metallic and Crystal White Pearl. Interiors tin besides beryllium Warm Ivory, depending connected the exterior color.

The rear rider doors unfastened up to 75 degrees for amended entree to the third-row seat. Standard extortion rails let for carrying items specified arsenic bicycles and kayaks.

Six USB charging ports are provided, and 2 much tin beryllium added for the 3rd enactment for $230 other (not included connected our tester). There is simply a 120-volt outlet successful the rear of the halfway console for powering a assortment of devices. The interior has 19 cupful and vessel holders.

Included is three-zone automatic clime power with ample vents for each 3 rows. There are speechmaking lights successful the 2nd enactment connected each models, and third-row lights connected Premium, Limited and Touring trims. Also modular are ambient and foot-well lighting.

Among different modular features are 18-inch wheels and four-wheel autarkic suspension. The Ascent has 8.7 inches of crushed clearance, which is bully for airy off-road use.

Limited models get the leather upholstery, LED Steering Responsive Headlights with High Beam Assist, LED fog lights, second-row retractable sunshades, and 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels successful acheronian grey with each play tires.

Subaru’s Starlink multimedia systems person multi-touch high-resolution show screens, and see smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Aha and Pandora, on with Bluetooth telephone connectivity and audio streaming, a backup camera and SiriusXM services.

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III person appeared regularly successful the Express-News since 2000. Contact him astatine chambers@auto-writer.com oregon connected Twitter @gchambers3.