Our Opinion - 2026 Subaru Ascent Review The Subaru Ascent fits right in with the rest of the mid-size three-row SUV crowd. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, seats up to eight people, and looks pretty tough. Even so, it can’t completely escape its Subaru roots, as it features a 260-hp turbocharged, horizontally opposed flat-four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and many safety features standard. It also looks good. Even though it’s tough, the engine got 28 mpg in our real interstate tests. Adding second-row captain’s chairs and a roof rack to the Ascent turns it into a nice mild-adventure car. Please remember that kids and dogs will feel most at ease in the third row. Tip: The Subaru Ascent is a casual hiking boot that doesn’t care about speed. The Mazda CX-90, on the other hand, aims for European-style design refinement, while the Kia Telluride tries to feel more expensive than its price tag suggests. What's New? There will be only one Onyx Edition trim left on the market in 2025: the Touring, the most expensive model in the Ascent line. For the Touring trim, wood trim is added inside, and for the Premium trim, black exterior trim and water-resistant synthetic upholstery are standard. Sapphire Blue Pearl has been added to the outside instead of Cosmic Blue Pearl. Pros and Cons Pros Turbochargers that work well. It’s well packed inside. Everyday AWD. Cons A very small third row. A rough ride. Not enough standard equipment. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The engine is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 260 horsepower. Automatic gear that changes speeds all the time (CVT) All-wheel drive is built into the engine. It has a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that makes 260 horsepower, but doesn’t perform well and can get loud when working hard. The noise is made worse by the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Ascent’s gearless transmission is quick in general, but it takes a while to get used to the throttle response, which can be rough at low speeds in the city, making it hard to drive easily. Push-button shifters are built into the steering wheel for people who want more control over the transmission. The Subie SUV, on the other hand, has a smooth ride. Our test car, which had 20-inch wheels, kept us from feeling the rough roads by absorbing hard hits well. We heard a lot of wind and road noise while driving on the highway, and we had to make frequent steering adjustments to stay in our lane. We want a stronger on-center feel, but the mild steering makes it easy to make small changes. Even with this criticism, the Ascent feels fine at higher speeds, though it’s not entirely sure of itself. Safety All Subaru Ascent models come with the EyeSight safety suite, indicating that the company doesn’t reserve its best safety and driver-assistance features for the highest trim levels. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keeping aid are all standard safety features. An extra safety feature is a system that monitors the driver. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) websites to learn more about the Ascent’s crash test findings. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The first row is roomy and comfy and comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter as standard. The seats are also power-adjustable in eight ways (10 ways on higher trim levels). Head, shoulder, and leg room are good, and the seat is comfy enough for long use even though it’s not very supportive. The second row has plenty of room and is lined up the same way as the first. This means it’s perfect for a bench with three seats or two captain’s chairs. Our favorite thing about the leaders is that they can make changes and get to the third row easily. The second-row bench is only offered on the Premium and Limited trim levels. The captain’s seats, on the other hand, can be added for free. The third row has three seatbelts, but like many others in this class, it’s best for kids, pets, and supplies. The Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse, which are bigger, have more space in the third row, but two people can still fit. The 18-cubic-foot storage area behind the third seat was big enough for five carry-on bags. It can hold 34 carry-on bags when it is folded flat. A small storage space is hidden under the rear cargo floor, keeping small items out of sight. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG Test for highway gas mileage at 75 mph: 28 mpg. EPA ratings for city driving: 19 to 20 mpg The EPA says that it gets 25 to 26 mpg on the highway. The model that achieved the best gas mileage in 2025 was 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg overall. If there aren’t any major changes in 2026, we expect these numbers to stay the same. The EPA has not yet released any information about the 2026 Ascent’s gas mileage. The Ascent got 28 mpg in C/D’s real-world fuel economy test, which is much better than the EPA’s estimate. Go to the EPA website to learn more about how fuel-efficient the Ascent is. In comparison, the Ascent’s 28 mpg is very good. However, the Mazda CX-90 and Kia Telluride got 29 and 26 mpg in the same test. Infotainment and Connectivity For entertainment, there is an 11.6-inch display. It offers connectivity options including Bluetooth, WiFi, Google Auto, and Apple CarPlay. There is a basic 6-speaker stereo system and an optional 14-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system. Subaru’s entertainment system doesn’t have easy-to-use buttons or settings that can be changed like those in the top competitors. Still, users like features such as WiFi hotspot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The basic 11.6-inch tablet features large, easy-to-read icons and responds quickly to touch. Touch-only makes it more likely the driver will pay attention, but the layout and size of the icons help reduce this problem. The first two rows each have two USB ports: one USB-A and one USB-C. The third row can hold a third set of ports. Two 12V ports and a 120V wall plug are included as standard. Range, Charging, and Battery Life 6.8 seconds for the test at 60 mph. The Ascent’s 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds is only slightly slower than the class average. Competitors like the Mazda CX-90 ran in 6.3 seconds. Towing and Payload Capacity Tow up to 5,000 pounds of weight. During our 40,000-mile long-term test, we pulled a bunch of toys behind the Ascent—from snowmobiles to an Airstream camping trailer—to see how well it could handle them. During these trips, the Ascent’s fuel efficiency frequently fell into the single-digit range. Subaru’s Trailer Stability Assist software, which reduces sway, comes as standard equipment. The Mazda CX-90 and Kia Telluride, on the other hand, can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which is about the same as the Ascent’s towing capacity (5,500 pounds for X-Pro models). With an impressive 8,700 pounds, the Dodge Durango is without a doubt the heavyweight towing king in its class. Price and How to Choose Many models and options can affect the price of the 2026 Subaru Ascent. The Premium grade comes with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, USB ports in every row, a rear camera with washer, adaptive cruise control, rear autonomous emergency braking, and heated front seats. This grade has the best mix of features that people want and overall value. In addition, its EPA fuel economy ratings are slightly better than those of the other cars in the lineup.
