Used 2021 Subaru Ascent Consumer Reviews
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Fantastic engine, sketchy CVT
Joe Mama, 01/02/2021
2021 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
74 of 77 people found this review helpful
Pros: 2.4L Turbo engine. A far less spartan interior than Subarus are known for. Great head and legroom. Mostly quiet ride. Limited on up trims provide a manual mode with paddle shifters. Definitely a must for slow speeds and stop and go traffic. Cons: 20" wheels with 245/50 tires are harsh riding. A hesitant and indecisive CVT squanders the power band of the engine. Touchscreen is primitive, circa 2015. Annoying, too bright indicators for the compass and passenger airbags.
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Covid and age
Thomas Beck, 11/02/2020
updated 05/03/2024
2021 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
47 of 49 people found this review helpful
Covid and age limited my driving the past two years. I have just 14,000 miles on this car. My Ascent has been trouble free, looks good and nice to drive. The negatives I have is the transmission (CVT) with unnatural shifting gears and the gas mileage. I get 18-19 around town and expected better. But it works well on regular grade gasoline. The interior looks like it should be in a Mercedes. I’m happy with my choice. Best 3 row SUV for the price.
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Best all around SUV for 6+ passengers
marcevan, 11/19/2020
2021 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
32 of 34 people found this review helpful
Safety First - Top rated IIHS vehicle! Price - disingenuous to compare to Kia and Hyundai who demand +$5-$8k over MSRP while Subaru is typically 8-10% under MSRP. Might as well compare those to a Volvo XC90 R-Design at that rate. Drive - Tighter than Toyota Highlander but not as tight as Mazda, but in the Mazda you sit lower and have less visibility. Great without stressing the gas due to high torque and pleasant on the highway. Standard AWD/ABS and X-Mode means Winter is no no concern. Cannot say that about the comparative SUVs where you have to pay more for AWD. 3rd row seats - I have no idea why they keep saying this is for kids. I'm 6'1" and can hang back there for trips of 30miles or so with no complaints. Sunroof - blocks 95% of UV rays btw Mileage - after CVT breaks in around 1k mileage you will see rated city and highway claims. Infotainment - Can only speak for trim I got, 8" is fine and it's responsive. I love the Harmon Kardon speakers and bluetooth from phone is great (not so great in Android Auto or Car Play mode). Navigation is TomTom and substandard to either Google or Apple maps. Seating - Did the 6 passenger 2 + 2 + 2 (back row really is only 2 adults) and heated and vented seating in front is awesome! Heated 2nd row is loved by kids. Typically we have 3rd row down and have ~47 Cubic feet of storage so zero complaints there.
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I'm Not A Subaru Girl... Am I?
Laney, 05/24/2021
2021 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
65 of 72 people found this review helpful
I know Subaru's have a loyal following, but I'm not a Subaru girl and I've never once had a desire to drive one. I'm an "accidental Subaru girl". See, I've driven a Lexus RX300 since college and I loved it so much that when it was time to get a new car I got an RX400H. I put so many miles on my RX, that it was now time-- you guessed it-- for another one, so I took to Lexus to test drive my future SUV. The Lexus RX has undergone a major facelift since my old 2008. The Lexus designed its center to raise up super high and felt more like a cockpit than a driver's seat. Also the infotainment system was horrible and the SUV drove like a tank. Sadly I had to pass. I decided that I'd trade in being a Lexus girl to be a Jaguar girl! The FPace drove kind of like an ATV and for being a luxury car, it wasn't very luxurious. So it was settled-- I was going to be a Volvo chick! Understated luxury. I test drove the Volvo XC60 and it was OK. It drove kind of large and was a little more effort to maneuver but seemed OK. Volvo is known for quality, but ever since they sold to the Chinese Geely owners, some of the cars built in China aren't nearly as reliable, but whatever. I'll be a Volvo chick... or so I thought. My boyfriend and I drove down to Volvo Orange Coast to test drive my future Volvo-- a 2020 white xc60 with black leather interior. It was destined to be mine. I parked my Lexus and as I was getting out of the car (to test drive my future Volvo), casually said, "those SUV's don't look half bad", to my boyfriend who then laughed and said I should test drive one. He was serious! LOL Me test drive a Subaru?! As-if! I don't own a single pair of Birkenstocks, definitely don't eat granola and camping is 100000% off the table. I laughed off his comment, but he didn't back down. I had already test driven every freaking luxury SUV known to man... so whatever. Lets go drive the Subaru. Grudgingly, I drove the Subaru. It was surprisingly HUGE-- an 8 seater, and drove beyond nimble. I mean, this giant SUV handles curves and drives like its the size of a Mini Cooper! The infotainment system was incredible, the car's engine wasn't loud, and the inside of the car was just as nice-- if not-- nicer than the other luxury SUV's I drove. Also, when I told the salesman I wanted to go home and think about it, he thanked me for my time and gave me his card. There were no high pressure sales tactics, or any dog and pony show to speak of. Needless to say, I ended up buying the Subaru. I ordered my very own Subaru to spec and am the proud new owner of a white 2021 Subaru Ascent Limited. Had I never parked in front of Subaru I'd be driving a Volvo right now. I'm beyond excited about my new car. I've had it for almost 2 months and have a little over 4k miles on it already. I never thought I'd be a Subaru girl, but I'm glad it worked out... who knows, maybe I'll even give camping a shot... who's bringing the granola?!
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Love it!
Don Wilmot, 08/17/2021
2021 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I have owned Suburban's since 1975, usually bought a new one every three years or 90,000 miles. I also own a 2019 Outback. Been looking at the Ascent for two years, finally made the plunge three months ago. My only negative is range before refueling; I average 20 to 22MPG combination city/hwy (calculated by doing the math miles driven vs gas consumption). On straight highway driving at 75 MPH I'm getting 22-23 MPG (calculated). Mind you, I'm comparing the ride and handling to a Suburban. Is it different......Yes, but a Suburban weighs 2000LBS more and has a much longer wheelbase. I love driving the Ascent and have no negative issues other than range. My Suburban had a 31.5 gas tank giving a comfortable range of 550 miles compared to 400 miles on my Ascent. I read all the negative reviews, I totally disagree with most of them. I have not had any mechanical issues in the first 5000 miles.
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