What's New
The 2021 Subaru Ascent enters its third year on the market with enhanced safety features throughout the lineup. The standard EyeSight driver assistance suite gains lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with lane centering.
All models of the three-row midsize crossover SUV also now come with adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, and seat belt reminders for the second and third rows.
Choosing Your Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is available in four trim levels: Ascent, Premium, Limited, and Touring. Pricing starts at $33,345 including destination for the base model and tops out at $46,495 for the Touring.
Engine Choices
Every Ascent is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters, and all-wheel drive is standard.
The Ascent is EPA-rated at 21 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined. This drops to 20/26/22 mpg (city/highway/combined) in the Limited and Touring trims.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Ascent is a three-row crossover with room for up to eight passengers — one more than most competitors. The Limited and Touring come standard with second-row captain's chairs, which reduces capacity to seven.
The seven-passenger setup is a no-cost option on the Premium when equipped with the optional Convenience ($1,460) or Sport ($4,260) package. The Limited can be had in eight-passenger form when the $2,950 Technology Package is selected.
Few midsize crossovers can match the Ascent in cargo space. Buyers get 17.8 cubic feet of it behind the third row, and 47.5 with it folded. With the second row down as well, capacity balloons to 86.5 cubic feet.
Safety Features
The standard EyeSight safety suite provides comprehensive driver assistance technology, including lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.
The Premium and above also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Reverse automatic emergency braking becomes standard on the Limited, and it's included in both of the Premium's option packages. Exclusive to the Touring is a 180-degree front-view monitor.
Connectivity
The Ascent starts out with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, six audio speakers, satellite and HD radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and two front and two rear USB ports.
The Premium and above get an 8-inch touchscreen, which is more appropriate to a vehicle of this size, and wi-fi hot spot capability. The Limited and Touring get two third-row USB ports for a total of six.
Navigation and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system are standard on the range-topping Touring trim. The navigation system is available on the Premium and Limited through the option packages.
The Ascent comes standard with popular features like tri-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, roof rails, keyless entry, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Ascent is big on cupholders – there's 19 in all. Cloth upholstery and a six-way manual driver's seat are giveaways that this is the base model.
The Premium adds heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, separate second-row climate controls, and stain-resistant cloth seating.
The $1,460 Convenience Package furnishes push-button start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and the reverse automatic emergency braking system. Those features are also available in the $4,260 Sport Package, along with a panoramic sunroof, navigation, a cargo area cover, and 20-inch wheels.
The Limited comes standard with the Premium's Convenience Package features, plus leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver seat, a four-way power passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated second-row seats. Exterior refinements include lower door cladding with chrome accents, LED fog lights, side mirror turn signals, and machine-finished 20-inch wheels.
The Technology Package ($2,950) for the Limited adds the sunroof, the cargo cover, navigation, and the 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system.
Everything available on the Limited is standard on the Touring, along with the 180-degree front-view camera, ventilated front seats, woodgrain interior trim, a 120-volt power outlet, and a rearview mirror with a rear-vision camera display.
Compare Ascent Trims Side-By-Side
The 2021 Subaru Ascent Premium provides a satisfying array of equipment for the price and access to most major options. The Limited and Touring are geared toward buyers who prioritize interior luxury over all-out value.