Used 2019 Subaru Ascent Consumer Reviews
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One issue after another
Spowel7, 10/31/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Rattling under the front passenger side started at 2600 miles. Replaced the strut, replaced some coil, then took a stab at it by replacing the rotors?! Navigation went out, then the air conditioner. Very little help from the dealer. 17 days in the shop and still not fixed. Guess I should have known better than to buy a first year model.
Love our Subaru Ascent
William, 06/15/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
After researching and test driving 6 different 3 row SUV models we selected the Ascent. We live in Alaska and are conducting a 40 day 9k mike trek to tour colleges and visit friends and family across the east coast and then back to Alaska. We ordered our Ascent through a dealership in North Carolina, where we started our trip after flying in from Alaska. They ordered the vehicle to our specifications and it was manufactured in Indiana and delivered ahead of schedule prior to our arrival. We added a roof rack, hitch and door protection package. Also, we opted for the 7 year starlink package 375 dollars and extended warranty for 7 years 1600 dollars. The starlink made more sense than adding a 500 dollar car starter and has some unique additions. We love it. The warranty was a hedge based on the extensive electronics and potential replacement costs. Performance: so far we have driven the vehicle 4K miles over 23 days - loaded with everything we need for a forty day trip - to include a full Yakima topper. The vehicle has performed exceptionally on country roads - I 95 - city insane traffic and poorly maintained roads. We are at 13 states over 23 days and we love this vehicle - and we are not easy to please. Storage is great, interior is roomy, safety package rocks for crazy traffic and changing lanes, numerous charging ports, quiet ride and plenty of power. Also, so much more space in back rows than other models. We are a Toyota family - but Highlander upgrades and electronics were subpar. This vehicle is well thought out and has performed exceptionally - can’t wait to put it to the test in the snow of Alaska. Last note - just smart designed car for a reasonable price - when using a roof rack the vehicle is very tall - but Subaru has flat stepping points along the doors - it makes it so easy to use roof rack accessories. Just ingenious. Feel like we got a safe, technologically progressive, almost European interior and Avery affordable vehicle that is also ready to take on the winter. I highly recommend this vehicle and have done so to numerous young friends and families on our adventure.
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2019 Subaru Ascent for sale near you
Showing 3 of 78 listings
- Touring 4dr SUV w/7-PassengerMSRP: $20,98713 mi away
- Premium 4dr SUV w/7-Passenger Convenience PkgMSRP: $21,41221 mi away
- Premium 4dr SUV w/8-PassengerMSRP: $21,9904 mi away
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Mechanics can't get parts or fix them!
EX Subaru Sue, 09/12/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
We absolutely love our driving our Ascent....when it's not in the shop! We bought a Subaru for it's reliability but at 10 mos old our Ascent began failing. All the lights ( indicating check engine, breaks, eyesight, safety features) went on. We took it into a Madison Wisc dealer. They told us the part needed had to come from California and took 5 days to get. Haven't they heard of overnight or express ship? When the part arrived, it was replaced only to find out it was an emissions problem instead. We are an hour away from the dealership, and on the way home all the check engine lights went on AGAIN. The mechanics training ( or diagnostic computer( fails when it comes to all the new technology found on the Ascent. Ready to trade it in for a non Subaru.
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Not Subaru quality
Donald Gibson, 09/01/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Have a 2016 Outback that we love, but with the kids felt that we needed a bigger vehicle to haul them around or take trips with. So we purchased the 2019 Subaru Ascent, 1st problem I noticed is the radio will quit working, it freezes on the channel you were listening to and you can’t change it or adjust the volume, will happen randomly and no idea why. 2nd problem we had was the A-Pillar kept popping off, those that don’t know what it is it’s the side trim piece running along the windshield by the passenger door. Took it to the dealer the service guy said well you know it has to be loose for the airbag, I about flipped on him, asked for another service person. They kept popping it back in till finally I had enough and they had to replace it. The newest thing that just happened today was the entire instrument panel lit up, check engine light, no eyesights on the camera even though it’s not clogged, the xmode flashing, the other assists(lane, frontal collision) lights are flashing. Have to take it down to the dealer yet again, not what I expected from Subaru.
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Very disappointed with Subaru!!
Steve, 07/28/2019
updated 08/08/2022
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
We purchased this vehicle brand new; we were told by the sales man and multiple people that Subaru was very good quality and reliable. From the get go, the vehicle’s transmission jerks, I’m assuming this is from the CVT transmission imitating gears. Then, the panoramic sunroof suddenly cracked on its own (no point of impact). A quick google search revealed that apparently this is a common problem with this model for the sunroof to crack for no apparent reason. Then, the most troublesome has been the rear lift gate; it’s always getting stuck with a constant chime and the only way to reset it is by disconnecting the battery. I spoke to the dealer and they said whenever it happens just disconnect the battery. Well, the problem is I paid 40k for a vehicle and shouldn’t have to disconnect my darn battery just to gain access to my vehicle!! This happened to me several times in the airport, hotels etc. Not only is this embarrassing but a major inconvenience! If I can go back in time and not purchase this vehicle, I would! Come on Subaru!!?! Where’s is the great quality craftsmanship you always speak about!!??? Update: we traded in the vehicle 1 year after and took a loss. Very disappointed in Subaru!
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Honest review from non-Subaru loyalists
Sammy Subaru, 08/24/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
74 of 94 people found this review helpful
If you have a family and don’t want to drive a dated body on frame Suburban or van this is your best option. Comfort is excellent even for all rows. If you’re a tall driver you’ll love the seat extension. Controls are nicely laid out and easy to use. Engine torque is well suited even for a vehicle of this size and most people woundnt know it’s a CVT till you told them. Really wanted a Pilot but the Pilot and Highlander have some catch up to do! - On the down side the cargo room is not geat. The Traverse has a few more cubic feet but it makes all the difference. Yes you can fold down the third row but this is designed to be a family car. If you don’t need a third row you’ve got way better options. - Parking sensors on this SUV blow. After previous vehicles I’ve own I thought they were all created equally. However the Ascent doesn’t beep till you’ve practically hit something. Small children beware! The outback system is far more sensitive. A simple software update could fix this but don’t hold your breath. - Only the front two windows have auto down. My 2001 Toyota has all 4 auto. - Vented seats suck. Literally. They suck air instead of blow air. They don’t work half as good as the Ford vented seats. Granted a Ford would be broken at 36k miles. - Eye sight is neat till a car from the lane next to you pulls in your lane. Then get ready To cr@p your pants. My wife asks me not to use it so she doesn’t have to do more laundry. - 20” wheels on touring is ridiculous. For Subaru have such a soft-road reputation you think they’d know better than to use larger wheels with low profile tires for off road. - The TomTom GPS system is like going back to 2000. Maps are not very detailed. Several well know lakes and campsite missing from them. No altitude display or bread crumbs mode either. Again Subaru is supposed to be an outdoor/ off-road type of car. When you are under a tree canopy you will lose the GPS signal and start drifting off the map. My 2001 vehicle never had that problem. - CarPlay is a joke. Who wants to plug in their phone Everytime they get in the car? Should be wireless. More of an Apple problem but still. Come on it’s 2018 or 2019 in this cars case. Living in the future! - The side mirrors don’t auto fold in like many $45k + vehicles. - The drivers memory presets do not adjust the minors or infotainment user profile you have to do both manually. Again this is a $45 + vehicle. Atlas does all this and more. Granted a VW will be in the shop 10x before 36k miles.
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Traded in after 2500 miles, disappointing.
JohnWRummel, 08/12/2018
updated 02/13/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
31 of 39 people found this review helpful
The roof extended sunshade on Touring models does need upgrade. Fabric is flapping with windows open. The acceleration is great, though CVT needs retuning. Turbo lag is quite annoying. My Honda does turbo better. I did replace oil with Amsoil oil and get better mileage, 29 highway. I leased this car and dealer gave me decent price as trade in for new Outback Touring model.
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Love the space, bit keep having issues
TBlack, 09/26/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I love the size and look of this car, and it's my third Subaru. It has some weird issues though. One is a design choice of not having power fold rear seats. The outback you could pull a lever and they went down or up, these have manual straps and as a short person it is hard to reach when the seat is folded down. We just took it to the shop to correct the fact that when we used Bluetooth for a phone call, if we hung up it made a very loud BAHH sound before going to the radio. This got old quick, they replaced the amplifier, so we shall see if that fix lasts. The biggest disappointment though is the fact that the transmission seems to have issues. We can recreate the problem when we test drive with the techs, so they feel it, but when they are driving with the computer attached, they aren't getting the same issues. Basically it is sluggish and seems to not want to switch gears, or it jerks. It's especially bad at lower speeds.
Ascent ticks all the right boxes
Doug Moss, 07/30/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
42 of 54 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying the new Ascent isn’t a game changer. Subaru loyalists might cry afoul here but it’s true. For all the Ascent does well, there are few things it has that at least one other competitor hasn’t thought of already... looking at you, Honda Pilot. What Subaru has done, however, is take a back seat and watch it’s rivals’ triumphs and adapted them towards their own unique take. In doing so, they haven’t created the flashiest, the most powerful, the best to drive, or any other SUV of the sort. Instead, they managed something better. A jack of all trades vehicle, excellent in a few ways but good at all. In a very crowded market, the Ascent should be on every shopper’s short list. Why? Because it appeals to every driver. Want a quick SUV but can’t stand the tight quarters of the CX-9? Try the Ascent. Want comfort in all rows but the Atlas is too much of a tank? Try the Ascent. Like creature comforts and a tech/safety heavy interior? You guessed it. The Ascent is not perfect but is a well rounded solid performer in all qualities. It’s not the largest in class. It’s steering is a little disconnected. It’s headliner, like others have reported, flops heavily in the wind with windows down. It’s CVT, while capable, lacks the responsiveness of others in the class. On the other end of the spectrum, it is quick, easy to drive, rides well, is tech and safety heavy, is comfortable, has standard AWD, can tow 5000 lbs, and is a great bargain, especially in lower trims. The Ascent does not score an A+ in all categories. But at the end of the day, would you rather a vehicle that is great in areas and falters in others, or do you want a vehicle that can do EVERYTHING well. It’s not the sexiest pick, but it is the start one. The Ascent is a sure thing.
2019 ascent is a nightmare
kenia, 07/02/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
July 2 -2019 I'm sitting here writing this review thinking, how did this get to be so wrong. I have owned our WRX and we love that thing to death. we have traveled in it, and we have used it for work! YOU NAME IT. The car has been reliable amazing really. But this truck.. I can't with this truck 05/02/19 we took this car in because the radio kept freezing, we kept having to turn off the truck and leave it off for a day to try to have it reset itself while I was in Palm Springs visiting my mom. I couldn't take it to my local dealer because I was out in Palm Springs, as I was driving back home I started to notice the truck would shake everything I pushed the breaks, Well my husband called set up and app. for those two problems and sure enough they had to replace the rotors and brake pads. ON A NEW ASCENT, this thing had 15,000 miles its pretty much a new truck. We don't drive recklessly, we drive it with care, I have two kiddos with me at all times. IT GETS WORSE. I had the amazing opportunity to go on a cave tour with my husband in La Jolla with Kayaks and what not, so we were excited, and we drove the truck thinking nothing of it. WELL, once the tour was over we were soaked, we filled over in the kayak, and we were ready to go home and wash off the sea water, we get in the truck we are ready to go, the steering wheel appears to be stuck, I get off the truck circle the truck check to see nothing was hindering the wheels, everything checks off, I tell my husband to move forward, the truck slides into the middle of the street. The drivers side wheel is pointed to the right not being controlled with the steering wheel, We sit there two feet away from where we were just parked, and wonder what the heck happened. My husband tries to move the steering wheel but its making this cranking sound and its trying to lock itself. The steering rack is not disengaging. We sit there for four hours waiting for the tow truck to pick us up and take us to Bob Bakers dealer in Carls Bad, where he proceeds to try to frame us for the damage done to the drivers side wheel. he insisted we must have gotten hit or we hit something. I proceeded to explain and explain and PROVE that there is no damage, NONE, done to the outside of the vehicle and that no dents no marks no scratches proving his theory wrong. The damage was done from the truck pushing forward when the steering rack failed to disengage well the rest is obvious, you have three perpendicular wheels and one wheel pointing right, well of course your going to get damage to the wheel pointing right. I told him it was cause and effect the cause of the failure of the steering rack and how it didn't disengage. But he just went on and on how the damaged and I told him I have the extended warranty, and it should cover it. WELL GUESS WHAT GUYS, he point blank told me it absolutely will not cover it because IT WAS (ACCORDING TO HIM) MY FAULT. After hours of explaining, I have called Subaru of america and I can't tell you how anxious I am to hear what they have to say regarding this issue. IF this was OUR FAULT, I would sit and cry over it and kiss my 3,000$ dollars good bye. BUT because we COULD NOT have caused this car failure I am VERY ADAMANT that they take responsibility. NOT ONLY THAT but take in consideration of anyone else that may be suffering or WILL suffer from this issue. I used to respect Subaru because their motto is "love" I loved how every detail was consumer oriented and how the car is so well built it feels like a sturdy reliable car. In this process of consent disappointment, I have learned that they are well aware of the New ascents bugs and kinks and failures, but they are not willing to face the music in the sense they don't want to take responsibility in the trucks malfunctions. The rotors are no excuse, the break pads are not an excuse either, they are expensive. From what I've been digging the mountain of problems was just around the corner from us, and I will be selling this lemon, ASAP. If you live iN San Diego and want a 2019 Subaru Ascent with 16,000 miles on for a whooping price of 38,000 dollars please email me iriskenia@yahoo.com We purchased it at the price of 51,000 and comes with the complete towing package. THIS TRUCK is a nightmare, Subaru is a sham, and gold covered turd.
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Not up to Subaru Standards
Mike, 08/24/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
65 of 86 people found this review helpful
I have been holding off purchasing a new vehicle until the Ascent came out. Finally got to test drive one and I must say, I am not overly impressed. At a distance, it looks similar to the Outback. Once in side, it is pretty basic, nothing to write home about. Subaru could have snazzed it up a bit more. Space was about the same as other SUV's and the ease of getting in and out was on par with others as well. There are two very obvious things that are preventing me from purchasing an Ascent. The steering and the drive train. First, the steering wheel is little and not proportionate to the dash, but the real issue is the sensitivity of the steering and severe lack of road feel. Very little if any play in the steering and absolutely no feed back from the road. This is not a good thing for safe driving in my opinion and am very surprised no one has mentioned it in other reviews. The other issue is power. Around town it was fine, but get up to 70 mph and it struggles to maintain speed. It struggles to the point your feel it with the vibration and shakes. Trying to go up a hill at this speed resulted in a massive decline in speed. Not sure if it is the 4 cylinder, CVT or both, but this combination does not work. I have to question how this vehicle was put into production like this as a vehicle this size should not have a 4 cylinder nor a CVT. This heavy a vehicle needs the power to accommodate the weight and the contents. I sometimes tow a small boat or trailer and I would not attempt this with the Ascent. There simply is not enough power. I was so disappointed that I went back to test drive another one. My opinion and experience did not change. Hopefully Subaru will fix these major issues for the 2020 model, otherwise they have another dud on their hands.
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A few things that need to be addressed
rather not, 05/20/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
95 of 128 people found this review helpful
i previewed the Ascent at a local dealership yesterday 1) the front hood is kept up with a prop bar not pistons the prop bar was bent by subaru sales agents use to pistons while trying to close the hood 2) the front seat back recline button permits front seats to recline into the legs of second row passengers (this could be an issue with children in car unattended), 3) the headliner under the larger moon roof in the ascent touring was a cheap looking sagging cloth material 4) the front seat bottom seat cushion manually extends inwards towards the dash, the accordion look of the seat material was not that appealing. I preordered an Ascent Touring package and may downgrade my order to not include the extra large moonroof. i'm not liking full moonroof headliner solution. i hope the prop bar is replaced by subaru with pistons on the front hood. i can see me bending the prop bar and possibly the hood. the showroom was crowded i am going back for a more detailed inspection next week
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Piece of crap
Gordon Herbst, 07/27/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I ordered my Ascent they way I wanted it. It is a limited package with more extras. I have had it in for warranty repairs at least 5 times in the last year. The main problem is with the display and the backup system. It continues to fail even after the dealer replaced the unit. I never had this many issues with any of the 7 cars I bought. I wish I wouldn't have paid cash for this piece of ****. If I would have financed it, I would just default of the loan, and let Subaru have this crap back. Buy anything but an Ascent.
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Failing Battery; Subaru Won't Replace
John, 04/10/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Sporty Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
We own multiple Subarus. Unfortunately, our Ascent's battery has failed multiple times within the first few months of ownership and Subaru will not replace it because their equipment does not say that the battery has failed. However, any third-party charger indicates that the battery has failed. Buyer beware... Subaru knows this is a problem and isn't doing anything to fix it.
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Dealer Almost Test Drive.
Big T, 10/29/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
41 of 56 people found this review helpful
I currently own a 2014 Subaru Forester XT Touring, I looked at the Ascent while I had my Forester in for service. I must say I did not get to drive it, as all the cars on the lot were already spoken for. I am a car buff, and the go to guy on autos when people want to purchase a car, and at least 8 Subarus in the past 4 years have been purchased on input from me. I like the overall design of the Ascent, but I think there needs to be some adjustments to make the car more appealing, and better all the way around. First: off there are a number of complaints about vague steering, this is true of my Forester, the electronic steering gives no feedback, and requires a lot of correction making it fatiguing. There should be optional settings for steering feel that the driver can set up, or at the minimum, that can be changed at the dealer on request. Second: the third row seat does not have a delete option. Not all people are looking for a third row, I am an older person that likes to travel and wants the space for luggage, and pets, I do not need the added cost and weight of a third row seat eating fuel. Have an option to delete it and under the floorboards have hidden storage, and even a combination of storage and a cooler with a drain to the outside like some of the Chrysler vehicles. Cutting cost and weight. Third: Subaru needs to have more variety in its options, forcing people to purchase a multi thousand dollar package to get navigation is ridiculous, or if someone wants an upgraded stereo, that should be an option in and of itself. Fourth: Eyesight needs to have replaceable covers, materials give off oily residue in the car as the heat of the sun causes even car materials to evaporate, as witnessed by the haze that forms on the inside of the windows, yet there is no way to clean or service the eyesight cameras! There needs to be a protective surface that can be discarded and replaced, like a camera filter. Fifth: Subaru needs to form a customer alliance support team! Subaru is not , and in my experience, & has not been a responsive company, as many car companies have become. If it wants to remain relevant it must listen to its customers, even if they don't like what they hear! One of your big problems is that your technicians, and dealers give the phrase, the vehicle or system is operating as it should or is operating as designed, only later to admit there is a problem, with other problems never resolved. Even when escalated to a corporate level, which is near impossible with your company, there is a level of arrogance, and little is done. This needs to end and you need to communicate with customers. Your reputation is under scrutiny now, with some of your government deception. Sixth: For those with eyesight, I have found that if someone departs your lane, and remains partially in it , may-be as they exit a highway, and are decelerating, and eyesight applies the brakes, do not panic, you can steer around them, and override it by gradually stepping on the accelerator, especially if you are worried about getting rear ended. Seventh: For the price point the car should be more luxurious, fitted with some finer materials. Also more and more sensitive back up sensors. I did notice that in the car I sat in the back up sensors are much less sensitive than the Crosstrek I had as a loaner. Eighth: The Xenon Headlights of my Forester go much further on dark roads than LED headlights, go back to Xenon.
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Awful- do not buy
Kailey , 12/09/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I was so excited to get this car , the value for the space in the car is wonderful. However every 20,000 miles my cars transmission dies. I get a new one in it- but it doesn’t give me peace of mind to know it keeps happening. When my warranty expires I will always worry that it is a ticking time bomb of a car for a lot of money! I was planning on buying this lease out , but now I’ll be running far away from the brand subaru
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Give me back my Outback
Gil from Kansas, 09/13/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Convenience Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Can't relax trying to keep between the lines. The steering is so quick that it is difficult to handle. The eyesight feature remains off because it's useless unless on a perfect flat road with no wind. Gas mileage is very disappointing compared to our Outbacks. I am almost anal about trying to milk mileage out of a vehicle, and this one is sad. The Outbacks got just what the sticker reported. This is my 4th Subaru, but the first to disappoint. Didn't notice till I got home that it didn't have fog lights. Brag about all the safety features, then leave fog lights as an extra option? I have installed a class II hitch, but haven't towed anything yet. The way it drives, I'm almost afraid to try it out. Don't think this one will grow old in our garage. I like the looks and the rest of the vehicle, but steering/handling and mileage are tough.
Love the Drive, Hate the lemon
Heather , 07/21/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Multiple little issues caused for big headache. First the drivers door would not lock after buying brand new and owning for 2 days. It took them 10 days to fix this. While they had it, the AC stopped working, they had to replace it. I had it back less then a week and my sunroof cracked in half with no impact point, and no explanation as to why. Now the sunroof gets stuck open, and will not shut, and the passenger side leather seat has a large white discoloration, seat has been used about 5 times since I bought it. Car drives and handles great, and is beautiful. However I have owned it for 2 months, and im starting to feel the transmission act funny. Not enough luggage room if you use all 7 seats, could only fit 2 extra small suitcases. 1 large would not fit do to with and the tailgate will not shut if it is large.
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Multiple transmission issues
Dissatisfied Subaru Owner , 08/22/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have been to the dealer 4 times for the transmission slipping and making screeching noises They continue to deny there is an issue and says that how it’s supposed to work. I finally got a Recall letter from Subaru corporation stating I can have one transmission replacement at no cost, but only once. The battery / electrical has also had issues where it completely drains the battery overnight even if everything is off due to the radio amp (this is what the dealer says). One really annoying thing is the keyless entry only opens the driver door unlike all doors on Toyota or other cars. Lastly the hands free and radio is horrible The Bluetooth doesn’t stay connected and every couple of months I loose all my radio station settings. I am counting the days my lease is up!
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the best we tested
dboone, 04/19/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We now have 11,000 miles on our Ascent and have loved every mile. It makes long road trips fun, and the technology is a Godsend..We drove every car in this segment, and this car and the Subaru reputation sold us.
Ascending with Ascent
Alan Nazzaro, 01/15/2019
updated 07/15/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Make sure you research the model and the equipment you want or need I was pleasantly surprised by the additional extras included with this vehicle, like seat warmers in the front, rear seat ventilation controls, lane departure warning system and all the other warnings. However, I was disappointed that for the price the "smart mirror" with homelink technology was not included. We are totally in love with the vehicle, it can comfortably sit 8 adults, or in our case 7 adults and a grandbaby's car seat. The rear seating is ample and actually has, unlike some other 8-passenger SUVs, legroom with comfortable knee positioning. The gas mileage is surprisingly pretty good for a larger vehicle and the drive is great. All in all a great deal for the price.
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Put down deposit after test drive!
Jill, 09/08/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 21 people found this review helpful
I should start by saying I love Subaru. I own a 2015 outback 3.6 with all upgrades. We needed an SUV for our kids and we have a Tahoe I hate driving so we have been waiting to see Ascent. Other than owning Subaru’s I’ve owned a few Volvo’s all with turbo engines. We ordered the Touring after test drive. By far the quietest car I’ve ever owned. Inside feels like a luxury car. Completely on par with Volvo and and my mother’s BMW. The captain chairs are great and easy access to 3rd row. We were debating ascent with the Pilot. However Pilot doesn’t offer the captain chairs unless in touring and then forced to get their entertainment package. It’s 2018. What kids watch a pull down screen anymore?! It’s all iPads and phones watching separate devices. Love the WiFi hotspot and the 6 USB ports for everyone. Plus an actual outlet. Third row and cargo space was near identical to Honda Pilot. But in my opinion there’s no comparison to Subaru’s safety. Blind spot, eye sight, etc...I’ve become reliant on from my outback. The car was fast and very easy to handle. I did a very fast Uturn and ascent was solid and handled great! Only negative is the color leather in touring. Not a fan of the Java color and the dash colors make for a bizarre color choice. No doubt they’ll change for next yrs model as it’s a turn off for many I’m sure and the tungsten color should be definitely offered in touring. But that’s all minor. I’m a mom. 19 cup holders, 6 USB ports, hotspot and voice activated commands are a total win win!
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Transmission has failed
Melanie, 05/31/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I am frustrated. I purchased my brand new Ascent on 9/30/18. On 5/10/19 my transmission started having issues and my vehicle has been at the dealer for 3 weeks now. We were last told transmissions were on "hold" until 5/30. My husband contacted them today and they are saying they are now pushed back until 6/10. Subaru should now be well aware of the fact that this is happening and should be contacting their customers to make it right. Yes, I have a "courtesy" Outback. That is not the point. I am still paying a lot of money for this vehicle that I am not getting to drive and now have serious concerns that it will have problems in the future. It is not just the transmission failing but the jerking and revving it does as well. I no longer feel my children will be safe in this vehicle. Subaru needs to speak up and deal with this issue.
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RODENT PROBLEMS
Mike, 07/03/2019
updated 01/05/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Rodents are attracted to the hoses and electrical wires because the insulation material is made of a Soy base. Subaru refuses to cover the cost of repair via warranty, and most dealership extended coverages do not cover "external" attacks. Beyond this issue, love the vehicle.
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Best 3 row SUV available!
Dan CARDINALE, 01/15/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Whatever has malfunctioned has been minimal at best. Only complaints have been the radio losing its am FM presets. Not too shabby for a brand new model. I love the comfort and despite the fact that it is much larger than my 18 outback, it doesn't drive that way. The adjustability makes everything better! Its quiet, comfortable, handles well drives well. And considering that's its "only" a 4 cylinder, it has tremendous punch for entering highways. I can't recommend this car highly enough.
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Our Subie Rocks!
Laura, 06/18/2019
updated 12/21/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Our very first Subaru. I did 6 months of research on mid size SUVs and really wanted a Toyota Highlander. That is until I test drove the Ascent. Still, we did not purchase the Ascent until driving the Highlander which was very unimpressive. The highest trim level of the Highlander was almost the same as the Ascent but Ascent is much more comfortable and a better drive. I've had it for 6 months now, a little over 4,500 city miles and I absolutely love it!! I had one issue at about 1,000 miles. When the rear hatch was closing, it suddenly began beeping really loud and did not stop. After messing with the remote and restarting the vehicle and trying all I knew to do, I drove to the dealer and they had to reset it to turn it off. They had no explanation other than it was a glitch. After a 2 hr inconvenience, I was back on my merry way. The interior room is amazing! Third row comfortably fits 3 teenagers, 2 that are 5'7" and one 5'4". Of course, there are a few things that can be mildly annoying, but they are definitely not game changers....having to click the moon roof twice to close it, front passenger seat does not have as many seat adjustments as the driver seat, middle captains chairs wont lock into place if they are folded down, third row seat back material is cheap. With the Touring package, you pretty much receive all the extras and accessories, EXCEPT the rear seat cover....that should've been thrown in due to the cheap seatback material but we went ahead and purchased it separately and it was a great buy. We have had zero issues with transmission that other people have had. The ease of folding down/lifting the third row seat for extra cargo space/seats is one of my favorite features as I frequently need to shift between driving people and hauling cargo. The one disappointment I have is that my best gas mileage has only been 17mpg at the highest, but it's typically at 15-16mpg. I will finally take a long road trip soon and we'll see what the highway mileage is then. The city mpg advertisement should definitely be corrected as that is a big lie, no other word for it. Overall, we still love our Ascent!! Update: we now have 15K miles and we’ve had no new issues. we still love it!!!
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Stay away from this SUV
John Sparrow, 05/27/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
A terrible transmission. Just read the reviews in this forum. It breaks before 4,000 miles in the Odometer.
Worthless to me
P. Dural , 07/21/2019
updated 02/03/2025
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
Can’t use it for outdoor activities, which have is what I bought it for. The rear hatch being left open drains the battery pretty quick. This car is worthless to me! Will never buy another Subaru again...
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Best Car I Ever Owned
Bob Lynn, 11/15/2018
updated 05/17/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 22 people found this review helpful
I have owned more than 40 cars - this is my 5th Subaru. I was about to leave Subaru because I wanted more room, better acceleration and more of an upscale feeling- I got it all in the Ascent. This car is fun to drive and very comfortable. It has features found only in cars that are much more expensive. I suggest the touring model if you can afford it - if not the premium. I compared this car to only very high end competitors and in 90% of the cases the Ascent came out on top. I am 6 feet tall and have several grand kids - we al fit into our 7 passenger Touring model comfortably. My only negative was with the first dealer I went to, Dick Hannah who aske for 4K above MSRP. When I ask why I was being charged so much I was told " It is our car and we will charge what we want" Obviously I left this place never to return. I did however find my dream dealer Bud Clary in Longview WA . These folks were kind and so easy to work with. Negotiations took less than a minute as they gave me the best price I could imagine verified by True Car and an exceptional trade in price on my old Subaru. Following the sale these folks have made sure that I was satisfied and continued to offer excellent service in all ways.
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Excited new Ascent owner for two weeks!
russrusscase@yahoo.com, 08/14/2018
updated 11/26/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Convenience Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
17 of 24 people found this review helpful
Drives like a smooth limousine. Easy steering in parking lots and low speed turning. Very quiet cabin. Tons of safety features. I studied Subaru and this vehicle for 3 months and was very confident and pleased with my decision to purchase. High quality materials used inside - cabin is First Class. I preferred material vs leather. World class seat design, fantastic panoramic sunroof, Starlink allows me to monitor car from my phone with remote start and vehicle monitoring of systems! I can even heat the seats from my phone. No more holding the brake forever at stop-lights. Has auto hold feature! Voice command for navigation, radio, air conditioning and more. Glad to be up off the road but not too high. Perfect to get in and out of. Eyesight system is a dream come true and should be required in all manufactured vehicles. This is a well built quality vehicle. I can't speak highly enough about the Ascent. NOW 16 MONTHS LATER......Not a squeek, not an issue. If you really like ice cold air, this car provides it and fast!
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Best value and performance
George, 01/07/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger Convenience Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I was a devote Honda person until I started to drive the Subaru's. They are a great value for the money and that does not mean they are cheap. You get good quality at a reasonable price. I have always followed the rule's 1.) you should never buy a new car off the lot because of depreciation unless you keep it until vehicle dies. 2.) never buy first model year of a car as they have to work out the kinks. I am so impressed with the Ascent it is the first time I violated both of those rules. Here's my reasoning. 1.) I will keep this vehicle until it dies the build quality of subaru is great! just try to buy a used one, you cannot find many because people keep them for so long. They also have a very high resale value, people want them and want to keep them. 2.)My wife has a Forrester and we both love that car. We did not think we would like it as much as we do. I am a tall guy(6'1) and it fits me as well as her(5'3). It also has great pickup and continuous power. More than I thought it would. From this experience I am going with the 1st model year of ascent because it is basically the forester only super sized. It has same boxster engine, CVT transmission and bells and whistle, comfort etc. So it is exactly what I wanted because I do some DIY on the side and needed a bigger car. In this car I get to keep all the things that I love about the Forrester in a bigger car. Just the fact that this is compared to the Honda Pilot all over the web means it is comparable to top in class except at better price and the Pilot seems smaller. The AWD on Ascent is also better than Pilot. The gas mileage is better than the Pilot. There are more trim levels in the Pilot but I do not want those. Just give me basics of what I need with some options. Subaru does this at very good price points comparatively. The only thing I wish was offered was a V6 rather than a turbo 4 cylinder. I definitely recommend this vehicle.
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Perfect for commuting
Laszlo Pocsi, 04/01/2019
updated 10/02/2023
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Update 2: my commute went away, I'm now home based. Just turned 100k miles in the Ascent. Still love the versatility of the car, still in love with the EyeSight system, I use it all the time and it has been very reliable and a huge relief. The Ascent has been reasonably reliable so far. There have been recalls, a nuisance. The largest non-recall issue is the exhaust manifold that has cracked, making weird resonating noises during hard acceleration. I balked at the $2600 price tag from the dealership to replace it, a small Subaru specialist shop welded the cracks for $700. The welding held for about a year, now the noise is coming back. The car is usable and there is no change in performance, but the noise is annoying. Otherwise works great. Update - the car now has about 60,000 miles - long commute - and it has been a reliable and comfortable workhorse for the family. My 40-mile commute is immeasurably easier with the adaptive cruise, which keeps working excellent. I must say it's one of the best systems out there including luxury brands, and it's super reliable. It has switched off in a handful of situations - heavy rain when even the fastest setting on the wipers isn't enough will do that. The car has been very reliable, the only issues I have had were related to the infotainment system. Preset radio stations have a tendency to disappear - not sure why and I know from forums that it's a typical problem. There was a problem with the Chirp audiobook app on my phone that wasn't compatible with the system and kept messing up both the car and the phone. A couple times a bunch of warnings came up and the adaptive cruise wouldn't work because of it, I had to disconnect and reconnect the battery to reset the system, then it worked fine. No other problems. We got the Ascent because needed a vehicle that can handle my daily commute on a busy highway, as well as weekend trips with the family to the mountains with lots of stuff like bicycles. I am extremely happy with the car, it has made both my commute and weekend trips a lot easier than before. The adaptive cruise works great, it's a true miracle for someone like me who drives a lot on highways. Actually I use it all the time now, including in the city, because I got so used to it and it makes driving so easy. At the shortest distance setting it keeps fairly close to the car in front - about 2 car lengths at highway speeds. It behaves naturally, it's not abrupt or scary. I got used to it in minutes and now I use it all the time. I wish it would do stop-and-go so that I didn't have to tap the gas when I wanted to start again, but it's a small thing. I test-drove about a dozen cars with adaptive cruise before buying the Ascent, I'd say the Subaru system is the best. Most don't work at low speeds and I spend a lot of time in that speed range in my commute. I love the feature that applies the break when the car comes to a stop - I don't have to keep pushing the break at a red light. The lane keep assist is weak to my taste, it's very gentle, it could be a bit more forceful, but it works ok. I use Apple Carplay with the infotainment system, it's great, though you have to connect the phone with a USB wire to use the maps. It's reasonably simple to use, though responsiveness could be better. Overall, paying only $37k for this level of technology is insanely good value, most cars with this technology content cost $5-10k more, mostly because they are not available even as options on lower trims. On Subaru it's all standard at every level! Acceleration is pretty good, but not very linear, the car tends to jump from a standstill, then there is a bit of a soft spot, then it starts pulling again. Could be the turbo of the CVT or both. The car handles well, and it is reasonably quiet - during hard acceleration it can be buzzy but at cruising it's very quiet. It has fantastic space, even for 7 people. The driver's seat is a bit on the hard and narrow side, it keeps my legs close together, I would like to man-spread a bit more, but it's fine. Gas mileage is about 24 mpg on about 50-60% highway driving (but with lots of traffic jams), not bad for its size. I'm not crazy about the transmission, it's a bit rubbery to my taste, I would prefer an 8-speed traditional auto, but it works ok. The greatest letdown is the Premium's headlights, which are the base halogen ones, they are very weak, I had to swap them for a LED headlight from Diode Dynamics. I went with the Premium trim because I prefer cloth seats, but this one is kinda plasticky-synthetic so it's not much of an improvement over leather. If I were to buy the car again I'd opt for the Limited trim as it comes with LED lights, better audio - the Premium audio is very basic - also leather and heated rear seats. Also, Limited has a small high-res color display above the 10-inch main screen which looks way cooler than the old-school digital numbers on the Premium, though it's just bling. Anyway, if you can afford it, get the Limited trim. I went with the cargo cover - but haven't used it in 2 years. Crossbars are $200, we used it as a bargaining chip in the price negotiation and got them for free. I ordered it with trailer hitch, but to make it accessible you have to remove a large section of the rear bumper, leaving an ugly gaping hole, but that's just aesthetics. BTW, looks - it's slowly growing on me, but it's not exactly exciting. It's kinda forgettable, typical Subaru. I don't understand why they won't hire an Italian to design their cars.
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Poor Engineering
Reed, 06/11/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car after owning an Outback since 2011. Use the car when we take our dogs out to train. Have always left the tailgate open during training or at a hunt test and never had a problem. This can not be done with Ascent as there is a parasitic drain on the battery when the tailgate is open. Anyone who needs to leave the tailgate open for extended periods of time for camping, tailgating, or dog training should consider not getting this car. Subaru of America says this is how car is supposed to operate. Many people are having trouble with radio and navigation system.
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Wanted to love the car, but too many issues.
Kris K, 08/30/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The pros: love how roomy it is, I went with this over the Ford Explorer (and regret that decision now). For my first brand new car, I was not expecting all the issues that I have had with it since I purchased it. Now the long list of cons/issues: Within the first few months of having the vehicle, the car had substantial AC issues where the AC would randomly stop working (which occurred often on our long trips in the middle of the summer) and would even start to blast very hot air, and this took over two months to resolve. The indoor temperature would get so hot sometimes to the point that my wife and toddler would get sick when it stopped working on long trips. The car was at the dealer for about a month and had to have the entire dashboard removed and put back together. At around 20k miles, the TPMS light turned on and we were informed we had to get all four new tires. The dealer did provide us with 3 and we had to pay for 1. The vehicle has also had a few recall issues such as the PCV safety issue (which took over 6 months before it could be fixed), CVT chain slip and reprogramming of ECU. There have also been a few times where I would get in the car and try and start it, but the steering wheel locked up and wouldn't turn, as well as a bunch of lights lighting up on the dash such as RAB disabled message, Eye Sight off and Turn Steering Wheel message (but can't turn the steering wheel when this occurs). This seems to occur after driving it for long periods of time (after two hours or more), taking a break (i.e. stop to eat and turn car off) and then when we try and start the car again. It happened to me driving a 12-hour drive alone, and was stuck late at night in the middle of North Carolina. It happened another time last year after coming back from a 2 1/2 hour drive and it also happened to me earlier this year after a 3 hour drive from New York. We typically do long drives to see family, but often run into these issues, which makes me very worried about the reliability of this car. Last year it was also in for intermittent radio issues four times (radio would stop working completely, would disconnect randomly, etc.), with it taking over 8 months for the issue to be figured out and having the radio replaced twice. The radio has stopped working again intermittently and I had to wait a month for an appointment for the vehicle to come in to be checked. As of now, it spent three days at the dealer and I was informed it just needed to be updated. I'm not confident that this was all the radio needed and am definitely not confident in the safety and reliability of our vehicle to take it on long rides. When I received the car back from Subaru Cherry Hill a few weeks ago for the radio issue, my remote start through the Starlink app wasn't working. I tried it a few more times over the past few weeks and nothing. I called Starlink Customer Care number provided in the error message in the app which also provided reference error code SER-4357, and we went through a few steps but it is still not working. Oddly the lock/unlock feature works, but the remote start does not; the customer service rep says it seems there is an issue with the DCM box, causing communication issues from Starlink app to the vehicle itself. The car is scheduled to go to the dealer again. Another issue occurred yesterday, which I thought was odd since the car is not that old. I was cleaning the interior of my car, and after maybe about an hour with the doors all open, the car completely died. Luckily I was at a self-service car wash and someone was able to jump start me, but he also agreed with me that a car this new should not have died completely with just the doors open after an hour. It is also having an AC issue again and one that is very difficult to replicate. I noticed it once on a 1 1/2 hour drive I did a few weeks ago. After driving for a while, the Full Auto AC (which is the setting I typically keep the vehicle on) would not cycle, it was blowing as if I had it set to 72 without the auto setting on. It got very cold in the vehicle and I had to raise the temperature since it was not auto adjusting. I recently did a 1 hour drive and it occured again on the long drive. It's hard for me to replicate the issue because it seems to only occur on long drives and with two young children, I just cannot simply take it out for that long to see if it will occur again. Really upset at how awful this car has been.
First and last time for me, never again!
Jeff, 01/14/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Worst car ever, never been so much with a car at the dealer, mechanically extraordinary... but that's all. The rest is a crappy car, bad electronic, bad sensor, have to change molding trim, noise from everywhere, front bumper which unclips himself...
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Would love the car if everything worked properly
Heather, 06/13/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Safety features are great if they all worked correctly and all the time. Also if Subaru actually cared about their customers. Brand new car will now be traded in for a more reliable car and a company who helps their customers instead of blaming them for the car not working correctly.
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Good after a rough start.
Jimmy, 07/11/2019
updated 01/23/2023
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I now have almost 15000 miles on my Ascent. I'm getting better gas mileage about 19 mpg city. After 3 recalls I'm getting what I expected when I purchased the vehicle. The turbo engine makes it fun to drive. There's plenty of storage space especially with the seats down. I always feel planted on the road with the all-wheel drive and safe because of the crash test ratings and active safety features. I would definitely recommend the Ascent especially the new models that don't have the recall issues. An update. I have over 17600 miles on my ascent. The longer I drive it the more I like it. The best part is the engine. Its really peppy. The brakes are solid also. I haven't had to change my brakes yet either. I'm still happy with my car. It was a smart investment. I'm going to drive until the wheels come off! I now have 25000 miles on my car. I had the 4th recall which is more than enough. I'm still very happy with my car. I would still recommend just to many recalls!
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Was great, now a lemon!
Charisma Marin, 01/23/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Over the past 6 months, the electrical and transmission issues have become a major issues. The car has been with the dealer more times than I can count. Two transmissions, battery, switches, and they still can't fix the issues. Approached Subaru about Lemon Law and they tried to trick me in to a trade in with a $2,500 gift card. Having to file lemon law through the state. The radio resets, turns on and off at a whim, the touch screen freezes, the doors lock and wont unlock, dimmer lights flicker and then just turn off and will not work. Don't do it. The car was great until the issues started. But then, even Subaru can't fix it. I have heard only in the 2019 version.....
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Great suv, front seat not very comfortable!
Steve G, 01/10/2019
updated 01/21/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger Convenience Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Very nice ride, Engine has plenty of power. Interior is good lots of room, I did not use the third room yet and probably never will. Front seats could be more comfortable. A little disappointed on long trips I bought the car for traveling and every day stuff and like that there's plenty of room to sleep (camp) in the car. The millage is pretty much what subaru said it would be, Sometimes on the highway I'll get better than 27 MPG if I keep it around 65 mph. The cover on the back for the trail hitch is cheap and the clips fall out if your not careful. Doesn't live up to Subaru expectations. Needs a major redesign!!!. The back camera seems to get dirty alot and is not very clear. More so than other cars that I have owned with rear camera. I bought the Subaru Ascent because I loved the OutBack so much I thought I would stay with the same Brand, If I would ever get another car It would be a OutBack
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Ascent Battery Issue
Barbara, 07/21/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The tailgate cannot be left open for camping, tailgate parties, dog training for extended period of time. There is a sensor in the tailgate (Not the interior car lights) that draws so much power from the battery that the car will not start. SOA is aware of this problem and says that the car works as intended. Very poor engineering for a car that is advertised as being for camping, and other outdoor activities.
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Subaru struts with the new accent!
anthony, 09/17/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
8 of 11 people found this review helpful
Great new addition to the Subaru stable with the new Accent! Accent is a well thought out and rounded SUV and compares equal to if not better than most SUV in its class! The transmission is one of the smoothes transmission I have ever encountered! Subaru is at the top of my list for vehicles to replace my aging minivan.
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Just What I Wanted
Liesel, 09/14/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
11 of 16 people found this review helpful
I waited and waited for the Ascent to come out. I wanted the touring model so each of our 2 kids could have their own individual captain's chair and easier access to the way back. I bought one of the first few available in Los Angeles. Wanted to be able to take a crew of folks for carpools and on our many road trip vacations. This is my 3rd Subaru and I trust them! They have all kept us safe and sound, with very little to no car issues. Compared to my 2002 Outback, this is incredible! Its very comfortable, all the safety features, all the latest in technology and comfort! The variable cruise control is awesome, especially in traffic. We're able to load 4 bikes and paddle boards and haul ourselves to the mountains! I haven't used it in the snow yet but am very pleased so far. I was actually hoping for a bit better gas mileage but I guess that's what I get for buying an SUV! (my first!)
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Great vehicle with lots of safety features
KT, 11/28/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
Didn't think I was going to find a SUV that will have a balance of size and comfort but after checking out Subaru Ascent, there is hope afterall. Ascent combines 3 rows of seats that is not cramped unlike most other midsize SUV. What is most impressive is that a lot of the safety features are included with the vehicle. Eyesight technology is so cool as it acts like an early warning monitor. Another feature that is really nice is the blind spot detection which warns you if there are vehicles near you that you might not notice. I was a bit worried about a 4 cylinder SUV but pleasantly surprised on the acceleration this vehicle has. The exterior is not as exciting as some other cars we looked at but considering all other features for the price - can't be beat. Mileage may not be as expected from the specs listed but still better than my older 6 cylinder. Happy with my Subaru.
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Serious Safety Issue with 2nd Row Bottom Leaver
Mitch, 09/18/2018
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger Technology Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
74 of 119 people found this review helpful
My husband and I have test-drived the new Subaru Ascent. We were looking so forward to ordering a new one to replace our Subaru Outback . We really like Subarus , we also owned a Subaru Forester. I would like to point at a safety design issue that it is a deal breaker for us and it will probably cause a serious accident sooner than later. All other cars with a 2nd row seat tilt we have seen , has the tilt leaver in the side or top side of the seat. Subaru has one of those, but somehow another leaver was added to the bottom side of the seat, where the back positioning leaver usually is. That bottom leaver can be released with one finger and it will tilt the back of the seat to the front forcefully and release the back-front sliding lock. Any child in a child safety seat or booster seat can unlock the bottom leaver, however their legs not touching the ground would prevent them to lock it back in place, as any adult would do if pressing the leaver by mistake. It would make them fold to the front even with a child car seat attached . If a parent panics and breaks, as the car seat is unlock it will slid to the front and slam the child against the front passenger or driver seats, crushing the child further. This is a serious safety issue which has several very easy solutions (change bottom leaver position, eliminate bottom leaver or create a lock mechanism for that leaver while in motion). I have to add that the top leaver released in the second row is not accessible for a child, it is difficult even for an adult to reach while seating in that seat so I have no complains about that one. I will post this review to several websites to highlight the issue to other parents considering buying the Ascent, as I am sure one child will try to push the bottom leaver at one point.
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Its OK
Garvin John, 02/08/2019
updated 08/10/2020
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger Sporty Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
the car is Just OK , The infotatinment screen got froze while trying to back up. rear view camera got stuck and i had to stop, park and shut off the car and bring it back . 50% time, when i start up the car it loses the preset channels on my radio, the USB ports do not connect to the infotatinment system . The main issue i have had to deal with was the throttle response. it is very slow when start accelerating. once you are on the road rolling,. it is fine. i think that is the only major drawback to this car.
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First time buyer of a Subaru
Phil, 04/01/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
A little pricey and the warranty department tries to nickel and dime you. Overall a quality SUV above Honda Pilot
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So far Excellent Car over 2 years of driving
Bosko, 04/18/2019
updated 04/19/2021
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Over 2 years of driving and still positively impressed with the car. The most value for your dollar. This car is so a tech-packed car, and most of these safety/tech features come standard. It will take you a while to learn and used them all. Once you get comfortable with them it makes the driving experience even more enjoyable. Get the Subaru app on your phone. It will allow you to remotely start the car, you can set the temperature, or monitor any activities on your car. The engine surprised me; it has plenty of power to pull the car. 0-60 in about 7 seconds for such a big car is impressive. Passing cars on the highway at high speeds is not an issue at all. Driving is very smooth at all speeds for me. The interior is nice too. Very comfortable seats and all buttons are nicely positioned, exactly where you would expect them to be. It is nice to see a lot of soft materials on the dashboard and doors. I must say this is the best interior design in any Subaru that I have seen so far. Exterior design is nice, especially the front and the side but they could have done a better job designing the back of the vehicle. The back of the Ascent is very plain and not inspiring. Before buying this car we test drove, VW Atlas, Mazda CX-9, Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. At the end we picked Ascent. CX-9 has the best styling and great performance but overall it felt too small for me. Honda Pilot felt more like a minivan. Toyota Highlander is way behind on technology. VW Atlas exterior great but interior is very plasticky and a bit slow. . Pros: Big car for big families, good engine and CVT transmission, nice leather seats, excellent interior, great visibility, decent MPGs, tons of safety features standard an all trims, smooth ride, Android Auto nicely integrated, good sound system, Cons: Bad design for sunglasses holder (large sunglasses can get stuck), back of the vehicle design is not exciting, all-weather mats are not protecting much. We are a family of 5 and we are happy with this purchase!!!
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Transmission Failure at 9000 miles
B.Y., 08/11/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/7-Passenger Sporty Pkg (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Honestly I loved everything about this car until the transmission failed at 9,000 miles which is very disconcerting. Reliability is very important to me. I should have bought the Toyota
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lane assist is too sensitive and tires are noisy
Reeb Zee, 04/15/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
I like new cars and have had 2 Subaru cars BUT read on... Test drove Ascent this week. Steering wheel kept pulling left and right when riding on interstate during test drive. Turned off the lane assist features and the pulling ceased. Second row seats do not fold flat. MPG from highway drive was 16 mpg which is way less than the purported 27 mpg. Falken tires are not quiet and have low treadwear number. Would think Michelins would be quieter. So if you do not need all wheel drive get a FWD Pilot!
Love my Cinnamon Pearl Girl
Barbara Hampden, 01/15/2019
2019 Subaru Ascent 4dr SUV AWD w/8-Passenger (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
Our other car was the original 2000 Acura MDX, which is a hard act to follow. We still own that car, but wanted a spritly younger version for road trips, without the $60K MDX pricetag. The Ascent is amazing! Exceeded my expectations on all fronts, especially resale value, FAST excelleration from a 4 cylinder engine, great mileage, super leg room even in the third row! We are a tall family, so legroom matters...
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