The is a
mid-size crossover SUV
Mid-size crossover SUV is an automobile classification used mainly in North America to describe a segment of crossover SUV, a type of sport utility vehicle, between compact crossover SUV and full-size crossover SUV.
A mid-size crossover SU ...
with three-row seating produced by
Subaru
( or ; ) is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first ...
. In some markets, it is sold as the Subaru Evoltis. It is the largest automobile Subaru manufactures. The seven or eight-seat passenger SUV, with the design based on the
VIZIV-7 concept, made its debut at the
LA Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition. It is open to the public for ten days each year, filling of exhibit s ...
on November 28, 2017. The Ascent became available in the third quarter of 2018. Like its American-built predecessor, the
Tribeca
Tribeca (), originally written as TriBeCa, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street". The "triangle" (more accurately a quadrilateral) is bounded by Canal Stre ...
, the Ascent is not available in Japan.
History
![2019 Subaru Ascent rear 12](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/2019_Subaru_Ascent_rear_12.29.18.jpg)
The Ascent was originally introduced as a
concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
at the 2017
New York International Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Su ...
in April, where it was also announced that Subaru would be producing the vehicle at its
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, located northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, whi ...
Subaru of Indiana Assembly Plant. Production began in late 2017 alongside the current
Subaru Impreza
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gen ...
.
It was to be the flagship Subaru vehicle in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
, and replace the
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV made from 2005 to 2014. Released in some markets, including Canada, as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the car derives its name from the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Built on the Subaru Legacy plat ...
(previously the B9 Tribeca), which was discontinued after the 2014
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
. Subaru Japan had their own three-row crossover called the
Subaru Exiga
The is a mid-size MPV that debuted as a concept car during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. According to the Japanese Subaru press introduction materials, the name "Exiga" is a neologism combination of the words "exciting" and "active". The Exiga nam ...
that was available from 2008 until its discontinuation in 2018. In terms of exterior design, it was akin to a 3-row Outback as is the Ascent to the Forester.
The first spy photographs of Subaru Ascent development mules surfaced in late summer 2016. Although the Ascent was spotted testing in 2017 with an expected mid-2017 on-market date,
the sale date was pushed back to early summer 2018.
Subaru initially announced the Ascent would be sold in the Philippines as the Evoltis starting from 2020. Its release was delayed numerous times owing to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, and eventually was introduced in the Philippines in May 2021. Only the Touring model is available. The Evoltis name is also used in Israel and several South American markets. Although some sources reported the Evoltis name would be used for the first battery electric vehicle sold by Subaru, that vehicle, which was co-developed with Toyota, was announced in September 2021 as the
Subaru Solterra instead.
Stop-sale recall
In August 2018, Subaru recalled (at least) 293 vehicles that were thought to have faulty
spot welds. Due to the complexity of fixing such a problem, the company said it would instead provide owners with new vehicles. Most were still in dealer inventory; only nine had been sold. However, after physical inspection all 293 vehicles were correctly welded and cleared for service.
Design
The Ascent is built on the Subaru
Global Architecture (SGA) platform. Powering the Ascent is a 2.4-liter
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
boxer four-cylinder (H4) gasoline engine, which produces and of torque. All Ascent models feature
all-wheel-drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
with "X-Mode" as standard equipment, as well as Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies.
With both rows of rear seats folded down, the Ascent has a total cargo capacity of ,
and of total passenger volume. Ground clearance is .
Models
The Ascent is the base trim level. Standard features include standard Symmetrical
All Wheel Drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
, standard EyeSight driver assistance technologies, eight-passenger seating, raised roof rails, cloth seating surfaces, Starlink multimedia, three-zone climate control system, and a , and a 2.4-liter Turbocharged Boxer Flat Four-Cylinder (H4) gasoline engine.
The Ascent Premium is the mid-level trim of the Ascent. It adds a choice of either seven or eight-passenger seating by deleting the second-row bench seat in favor of individual captain's chairs,
a maximum towing capacity, Starlink safety and security features with mobile
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...
capabilities, spill-resistant cloth seating surfaces, blind spot detection (BLIS) with rear cross-path detection, and the All-Weather Package with heated front seats. Optional features include; a power rear liftgate, keyless access with push button start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, as well as reverse emergency braking under a "Convenience Package". The "Sport Package", which in addition to the features included in the "Convenience Package", adds 20 inch wheels, a panoramic moonroof, navigation, and a cargo area cover, can also be had on the Premium. Either package can be had with either seven or eight-passenger seating.
The Ascent Limited is the "luxury" trim level of the Ascent. It adds leather-trimmed upholstery, aluminum-alloy wheels, keyless access with push-button start, adaptive front headlamps, reverse automatic braking, and a power rear tailgate. Optional on the Ascent Limited is a "Technology Package" which adds a
Harmon-Kardon premium audio system, panoramic moonroof, navigation, and a cargo area cover.
The Ascent Touring is the top-of-the-line Ascent trim level. It adds Java Brown leather-trimmed seating surfaces, second-row captain's chairs with seven-passenger seating, heated and ventilated front seats, rear sunshades, a panoramic power moonroof, and a
Harman Kardon
Harman Kardon (stylized as ) is a division of US-based Harman International Industries, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, and manufactures home and car audio equipment.
Harman Kardon was originally founded in 1953 by business partners, Sid ...
premium audio system with 14 speakers and 792 watts of total power.
For the 2022 model year, the Ascent received a new "Onyx Edition" trim level with unique black wheels, badging, and exterior trim. The Onyx edition also receives Subaru's "StarTex" water repellent seat material. The Onyx Edition slots between the Premium and Limited trim levels and receives more standard features over the Premium such as reverse automatic braking, a power rear tailgate, a heated steering wheel, and push button start. A single option package is available for the Onyx edition, which includes a panoramic moonroof, navigation, and a cargo cover.
Model year changes (United States)
* 2020: A new rear seat reminder is made standard across the Ascent lineup, the Premium trim and above gets a one-touch lighting system to turn all the interior lights on or off, the optional rear power liftgate gets a "vehicle lock" button, and new power folding exterior side mirrors are made standard on the top Touring trim. The Warm Ivory interior color is no longer available with the Crimson Red Pearl exterior while the Abyss Blue Pearl exterior gains an optional Slate Black interior color.
* 2021: Steering-responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams are made standard on all trim levels. They were previously only standard on the Limited and Touring and were not offered on the lower trim levels. In exterior colors, Tungsten Metallic is replaced by Brilliant Bronze Metallic, the Touring model is now available the Ice Silver Metallic exterior. The adaptive cruise control system was also updated, with lane centering assist instead of the previous lane keep assist. Touring models also received an optional Slate Black interior color, this gave a second interior color choice on the Touring trim which was previously only offered in Java Brown. New self registering TPMS sensors were made standard as well as the second and third row seats receiving seat-belt reminders.
* 2022: Introduction of a new Onyx Edition trim level. The Autumn Green Metallic exterior color is introduced, while the Cinnamon Brown Pearl exterior is discontinued. The base "Ascent" trim level receives slightly updated wheels.
Engine
![Ascent FA24F](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Ascent_FA24F.jpg)
The Ascent features a newly developed
''FA24'' engine. The
turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
direct injection flat-four engine
A flat-four engine, also known as a horizontally opposed-four engine, is a four-cylinder piston engine with two banks of cylinders lying on opposite sides of a common crankshaft. The most common type of flat-four engine is the boxer-four engine, ...
has a bore × stroke for a total
displacement
Displacement may refer to:
Physical sciences
Mathematics and Physics
* Displacement (geometry), is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path ...
of with a 10.6:1
compression ratio
The compression ratio is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine at their maximum and minimum values.
A fundamental specification for such engines, it is measured two ways: the stati ...
. The
cylinder block and
heads are made of aluminum alloy, and the heads each have twin
overhead camshaft
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...
s driven by a
timing chain
In a piston engine, either a timing belt (also called a ''cambelt'') or timing chain or set of timing gears is used to synchronize the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft. This synchronisation ensures that the engine's valves open and cl ...
. Peak power is at 5,600 rpm, and peak torque of is achieved between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm.
Features
The Ascent introduced new technologies that were not currently available in other Subaru models, such as optional mobile
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...
capabilities, and standard EyeSight driver assistance technologies (the system is currently available as an option on other Subaru models).
A suite of new Starlink infotainment systems, first introduced on the 2017
Subaru Impreza
The is a compact car that has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Subaru since 1992. It was introduced as a replacement for the Leone, with the predecessor's EA series engines replaced by the new EJ series. It is now in its sixth gen ...
, is available on the Ascent. The base system features a seven-inch color
touch screen
A touchscreen or touch screen is the assembly of both an input ('touch panel') and output ('display') device. The touch panel is normally layered on the top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system. The display is ofte ...
display, standard
Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto
Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google to mirror features of an Android device, such as a smartphone, on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.
Once an Android device is paired with the car's head unit, the syst ...
connectivity and
SiriusXM
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States. It was formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius S ...
Satellite Radio
Satellite radio is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s ITU Radio Regulations (RR) as a ''broadcasting-satellite service''. The satellite's signals are broadcast nationwide, across a much wider geographical area than ter ...
. Available features include integrated GPS navigation provided by
TomTom
TomTom N.V. is a Dutch multinational developer and creator of location technology and consumer electronics. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom released its first generation of satellite navigation devices to market in 2004. ...
, and an eight-inch color
touch screen
A touchscreen or touch screen is the assembly of both an input ('touch panel') and output ('display') device. The touch panel is normally layered on the top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system. The display is ofte ...
display.
Reception
Regarding their experience performing preliminary testing of a development prototype, ''
Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 19 ...
'' wrote that mid-range power seemed a bit limited when passing at cruising speed, likely because Subaru has aimed for best-in-class fuel economy for the upcoming Ascent. They also observed the ride was well-damped and the interior was quiet.
The follow-up ''Motor Trend'' article stated that the "2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four proves surprisingly satisfying" and that "the Ascent provides enough motivation for merging onto the highway or passing other vehicles."
''Consumer Reports'' deemed it "the right vehicle for many suburban families".
Safety
![CEF1802-04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/CEF1802-04.jpg)
The 2021 Ascent is currently holding the 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Awards and recognition
* 2019
Autotrader Auto Trader or AutoTrader may refer to:
* Autotrader.com, an American automobile sales website
* AutoTrader.ca, a Canadian automobile sales website
* Auto Trader Group, a British automobile sales website
* AutoTrader.co.za
Autotrader.co.za is ...
Best New Cars for 2019 list
*
Parents
A parent is a caregiver of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is the caretaker of a child (where "child" refers to offspring, not necessarily age). A ''biological parent'' is a person whose gamete resulted in a child, a male t ...
10 Best Family Cars of 2019
* 2021
Kelley Blue Book Lowest 5-Year Cost to Own: Mid-Size – 3-row
Sales
References
External links
Official website{{Subaru North America
Ascent
Ascent or The Ascent may refer to:
Publications
* ''Ascent'' (magazine), an independent, not-for-profit magazine
* ''Ascent'' (journal), a literary journal based at Concordia College
* ''Ascent'' (novel), by Jed Mercurio
* '' Times Ascent'', a ...
Cars introduced in 2018
2020s cars
Mid-size sport utility vehicles
Crossover sport utility vehicles
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Flagship vehicles
Cars powered by boxer engines
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States