Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent is a mid-size crossover SUV made by Subaru. It is the largest automobile Subaru manufactures.[4] The seven or eight-seat passenger SUV, with the design based on the VIZIV-7 concept, made its debut at the LA Auto Show on November 28, 2017. The Ascent became available in the third quarter of 2018.[5]

Not to be confused with Isuzu Ascender.
Subaru Ascent
Overview
ManufacturerSubaru
Also calledSubaru Evoltis (Philippines)[1]
Production2018–present
Model years2019-present
AssemblyUnited States: Lafayette, Indiana (SIA)
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size crossover SUV[2]
Body style5-door SUV
LayoutFront-engine, all-wheel-drive
PlatformSubaru global platform
RelatedSubaru Exiga
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Forester
Subaru Outback
Powertrain
Engine2.4 L FA24 H4-T (gasoline)
Power output260 hp; 264 PS (194 kW)
TransmissionCVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase113.8 in (2,890.5 mm)[3]
Length196.8 in (4,999 mm)[3]
Width76.0 in (1,930 mm)
Height71.6 in (1,819 mm)[3]
Curb weight4,430–4,603 lb (2,009–2,088 kg)
Chronology
PredecessorSubaru Tribeca

History

The Ascent was originally introduced as a concept car at the 2017 New York International Auto Show in April, where it was also announced that Subaru would be producing the vehicle at its Lafayette, Indiana Subaru of Indiana Assembly Plant.[6] Production began in early 2018 alongside the current Subaru Impreza.[7] It will be the flagship Subaru vehicle in North America, and will replace the Subaru Tribeca (previously the B9 Tribeca), which was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Subaru Japan had their own three-row crossover called the Subaru Exiga 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.[8] Although the Ascent was again spotted testing in 2017 with an expected mid-2017 on-market date,[9] the current expected on-sale date is early summer 2018.[10]

In January 2020, it was announced that the Ascent would be sold in the Philippines in the third quarter of 2020 as the Subaru Evoltis.[11] This had been directly confirmed by Glenn Tan, the chairman and managing director of Tan Chong International, the parent of Subaru distributor in the Philippines.[12] The main reason why the "Ascent" cannot be used in the market due to Subaru North America has trademarked the name for the U.S. market and couldn’t be used for the Philippine lineup even though they are both Subarus and the same models. In April 2020, several automotive media had discovered the Evoltis name had been registered and trademarked by Subaru.[13] As the name starts with 'Ev' which usually means electric vehicle, this had led the media into making incorrect speculations that the name would be used for a future Subaru electric crossover.[14]

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.[15] However, after physical inspection all 293 vehicles were correctly welded and cleared for service. [16]

Design

The production Ascent is a seven- or eight-passenger, mid-size sport utility vehicle. Competing with other three-row, mid-size sport utility vehicles such as the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander, and Volkswagen Atlas. The all-new Ascent is built on the Subaru Global Architecture (SGA) Platform, which previously underpinned only the fifth-generation Subaru Impreza. Powering the Ascent is a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder (H4) gasoline engine, which produces 260 horsepower (190 kW) and 277 pound-feet (376 N⋅m) of torque. All Ascent models will feature All Wheel Drive with "X-Mode" as standard equipment, as well as Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies.[3] The U.S. starting base price is $31,995, ranging up to $44,695 for the Touring trim level.[3][17]

With both rows of rear seats folded down, the Ascent has a total cargo capacity of 86.5 cubic feet (2.45 m3),[10] and 153.5 cubic feet (4.35 m3) of total passenger volume. Ground clearance is 8.7 inches (220 mm). There are a total of nineteen cup holders in the vehicle.[3]

Models
Rear view

Subaru has released full specifications for the Ascent as well as a list of select standard equipment for each trim level:

The Ascent is the base trim level. Standard features include standard Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive, standard Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies, eight-passenger seating, raised roof rails, cloth seating surfaces, Subaru STARLINK multimedia, three-zone climate control system, and a 260-horsepower (190 kW), 2.4-liter Turbocharged Subaru 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,[10] a 5,000-pound (2,300 kg) maximum towing capacity, Subaru STARLINK safety and security features with mobile Wi-Fi capabilities, spill-resistant cloth seating surfaces, blind spot detection (BLIS) with rear cross-path detection, and the All-Weather Package with heated front seats.

The Ascent Limited is the "luxury" trim level of the Ascent. It adds leather-trimmed upholstery, 20-inch (51 cm) aluminum-alloy wheels, keyless access with push-button start, adaptive front headlamps, reverse automatic braking, and a power rear tailgate.

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 premium audio system with 14 speakers and 792 watts of total power.

Engine

The Ascent features a newly developed FA24 engine.[18] The turbocharged direct injection flat-four engine has a 94 mm × 86 mm (3.7 in × 3.4 in) bore × stroke for a total displacement of 2,387 cm3 (145.7 cu in) with a 10.6:1 compression ratio. The cylinder block and heads are made of aluminum alloy, and the heads each have twin overhead camshafts driven by a timing chain. Peak power is 260 hp (190 kW) at 5,600 rpm, and peak torque of 277 lb⋅ft (376 N⋅m) is achieved between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm.[19]

Features

The all-new Ascent also introduces new technologies that are not currently available in other Subaru models, such as optional mobile Wi-Fi capabilities, and standard Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies (the system is currently available as an option on other Subaru models).[3]

A suite of new Subaru STARLINK infotainment systems, first introduced on the 2017 Subaru Impreza, will be available on the Ascent. The base system features a seven-inch color touch screen display, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Available features include integrated GPS navigation provided by TomTom, and an eight-inch color touch screen display.[3]

Reception

Regarding their experience performing preliminary testing of a development prototype, Motor Trend wrote that mid-range power seemed a bit limited when passing at cruising speed, likely because Subaru have aimed for best-in-class fuel economy for the upcoming Ascent. They also observed the ride was well-damped and the interior was quiet.[20]

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."[21]

Consumer Reports deemed it "the right vehicle for many suburban families".[22]

Preorders surpassed expectations. [23]

Safety

The 2021 Ascent is currently holding the 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

IIHS scores: 2021 Subaru Ascent[24]
Small overlap front (driver) Good
Small overlap front (passenger) Good
Moderate overlap front Good
Side impact Good
Roof strength Good
Head restraints & seats Good
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle Superior
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian Superior
Headlights Good (all trims)
Child seat anchors (latch) ease of use Good+ (extra LATCH positions)

Sales
Subaru Ascent sales in the US, 2018–present
YearSales±%
2018 36,211—    
2019 81,958+126.3%
Source: "Subaru U.S. Media Center".
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References
  1. "Here's a sneak peek of the 2021 Subaru Evoltis - Auto News". AutoIndustriya.com. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  2. "Automotive - New York Daily News". nydailynews.com.
  3. "Presenting the 2019 Subaru Ascent". Subaru of America. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  4. Authority, Motor. "Subaru just revealed its biggest SUV ever and it's loaded with impressive features". Business Insider.
  5. Subaru, Planet. "2019 Subaru Ascent starting at $31,995 | Boston Subaru Dealer | Planet Subaru, Hanover Massachusetts". www.planetsubaru.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  6. "Subaru Ascent SUV concept makes world debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show" (Press release). Subaru of America. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. Fink, Greg (April 2017). "Subaru Ascent Concept: Previewing Subie's Three-Row SUV". Car and Driver. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. Fink, Greg (September 2016). "2018 Subaru Ascent Spied: Boxer Power with Three Rows". Car and Driver. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  9. Gall, Jared (March 2017). "2018 Subaru Ascent: Return of the Seven-Seat Subie". Car and Driver. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. Linkov, Jon (29 November 2017). "2019 Subaru Ascent Fills an SUV-Sized Hole". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  11. Sarne, V. Vernon B. "Subaru PH intends to launch the Ascent later this year". visor.ph. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  12. "Subaru Ascent to arrive in PH in Q3 of 2020; will be called 'Evoltis'". Top Gear Philippines. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  13. "Subaru's Electric Crossover Developed With Toyota Could Be Dubbed 'Evoltis'". Carscoops. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  14. "Subaru Boss Says A New All-Electric SUV Won't Launch Next Year". Torque News. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  15. Krok, Andrew. "Subaru recalls 293 Ascent SUVs for missing welds, will replace with new cars". Roadshow.
  16. "Subaru Ascent spot welding issue sparked rare recall". Autoweek. October 7, 2018.
  17. Korosec, Kirsten (16 February 2018). "Subaru's Giant New Ascent SUV Starts Under $33,000". Fortune. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  18. "Subaru debuts all-new Ascent 3-row SUV" (Press release). Subaru Global Media. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  19. Gilboy, James (16 February 2018). "Meet Subaru's new FA24 engine". The Drive. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  20. Priddle, Alisa (28 November 2017). "Exclusive 2019 Subaru Ascent prototype first drive: Biggest Subie ever". Motor Trend. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  21. Pleskot, Kelly (21 May 2018). "2019 Subaru Ascent First Drive". Motor Trend. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  22. Bartlett, Jeff (21 May 2018). "2019 Subaru Ascent Aims to Climb Atop the 3-Row Midsized-SUV Segment". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  23. Flierl, Denis (26 February 2018). "Subaru Ascent Orders Are Mind Blowin". Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  24. https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/Subaru/ascent-4-door-suv/2021
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