2022 Subaru Ascent Review

Name: 2022 Subaru Ascent Review
Brand: Subaru

Price Range: $21,990 - $38,998

2021 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2022 Ascent stands out with its standard all-wheel drive, useful technology features and solid build quality. A roomier third-row seat and a smoother-shifting transmission would make it better, but overall this is an appealing family hauler.

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Appraise My 2022 Subaru Ascent

Subaru Ascent model years

2019

Subaru Ascent for Sale

2022 Subaru Ascent Review

by the Edmunds Experts

2/25/2022

What's new

Premium trim's Sport package is no longer available
New Onyx Edition features blacked-out exterior trim
Part of the first Ascent generation introduced for 2019

What is the Ascent?

The Subaru Ascent made its debut just a few years back, marking the Japanese automaker's latest attempt at a three-row SUV. While the Ascent isn't our favorite three-row around — that honor currently rests with the Kia Telluride — it's a solid class entrant and a marked improvement over Subaru's last attempt, the B9 Tribeca. The Ascent offers a respectable list of standard and optional driver aids, a slick infotainment system, and an interior that feels a bit more premium than those in some rivals. And, as with nearly all Subarus, all-wheel drive is standard.

It's not all perfect. The Ascent feels small, especially in the second and third rows, compared to rivals including the Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Honda Pilot. The engine is loud, and a touchy gas pedal and loud engine undermine some of the Ascent's refinement in other areas. Those are hard issues to fix without a full redesign, something that's a few years away.

Edmunds says

The Subaru Ascent is a solid three-row SUV, and we don't expect any significant changes for 2022. A handful of flaws keep it from the top of the pack, but there's still a lot to like.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Subaru Ascent 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$160/mo

$226/mo

Avg. Large SUV

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Subaru Ascent Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.3

33 reviews

5(70%)

4(9%)

3(9%)

2(3%)

1(9%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great in snow and at high speeds

WickedPete, 07/10/2022

2022 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

We have had our Ascent for 13 months and have driven over 15k miles of mountain, city and highway miles on it. It has been flawless with everything we have asked it to do. Living at 8,500 feet in the Colorado Rockies, it has handled winter snow storms without issue. We have also vacationed through Yellowstone, Seattle and Portland (3,700 miles total). No issues passing on high speed …

Smooth, quiet and nice interior

CLTGUY, 12/22/2022

2022 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

What a great vehicle - it's missing a couple refinements but is amazing and wonderful considering it is the replacement for our 2016 Acura MDX Advanced SH-AWD that we never truly loved because of the Transmission being so jerky - in fact that same transmission being used on the Honda Pilot and 2023 Nissan Pathfinder eliminated them from our list to look at. I always found the Forester … and Outback overpriced for such a bumpy ride and cheap interior. Obviously, I am willing to pay for quality, and the Subaru Ascent Touring caught me off guard! We went to test drive the forester and drove less than 1/4 mile before turning around since it was just junky. I had never heard of the Ascent, but the salesman said, "Drive this" and gave us keys to a used 2021 touring to try. The java puke interior looked horrible, but the ride and comfort were amazing! We looked and found a 2022 Silver with Black interior to buy and have been happy so far! The interior was the biggest shock in a good way compared to other Subaru models. The leather interior is firm but plush, providing comfort and the feel of durability. The accent trims of wood grain and two-tone leather really make it pop. The LEG ROOM in the front and second rows are enough for my 6'1" 270-lb frame to feel comfortable - I found the Ascent to be more comfortable than other options we looked at. The VW Atlas, Telluride, and Sorento were high on our list - but the Telluride was more expensive for less, and the second row was smaller. The Atlas was HUGE but the leg room in the front is limited in width from the console. The Sorento is just a smaller vehicle. The MDX, Pathfinder, CX9 and Highlander were all cramped inside for being so big. The seats are very comfortable, and the front driver and passenger get heated and ventilated seats - and they work well! Hot is HOT! Cold is enough to feel the cooling but not freeze your rump. The heated steering wheel was just put to the test during a skiing trip - my cold hands were loving gripping the smooth, warm leather after being frozen. The Infotainment system in the Ascent is simple and functional Android Auto is awesome! Something we hated on the MDX, Pathfinder, CX9 and Highlander was the location of the controls, and the painful steps you needed to take to change the temp, radio station, or enter an address. The Ascent is simple - while not the biggest screen, or flashy features, it is very functional which is the most important thing since you can actually use the system easily while driving! There is a small info display screen for showing temperature, directions, or radio stations above the dash while the main screen is being used for navigation. The cup holders could be larger, but what the lack in size is made up in quantity, rivaling a minivan with 19. The engine is a boxer 4 cylinder, turbocharged and universally used for Subarus. It's low center of gravity make the GIANT SUV feel smaller than it actually is when making turns - the body roll is very dampened. The SUV is supposedly slower than our MDX was off the line - but it doesn't feel sluggish, and the ride is FAR smoother. The CVT and suspension is probably to thank for that. I found I am never going below the speed limit or worrying that I won't be able to merge onto the highway. The standard AWD make turning the long vehicle a breeze, the turning radius is pretty good for the length of the vehicle. Safety - the stereo camera system does an amazing job with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and mitigation braking. The rear doors have a giant latching lug that makes it feel like a tank. What I don't love are some of the luxury features that would make this rival any other vehicle. The keyless remotes are not personalized - meaning the car doesn't distinguish between Driver 1 or 2 based on the keys, even though the car has memory seats and driver profiles. You have to press 1 or 2 when you get in the car, and the profile is selected based on whose phone pairs first. If my wife gets the kid in the car while I'm fixing my cup of coffee, I have to go load my profile and hit 2 on the memory seats when I get in to drive. The touring also has power folding mirrors - but the button for them makes them fold in when pressed - not when the car is turned off - it's something so simple to build into the car - when activated, fold mirrors in when car turned off, unfold when car turned on - but that is not the case. The rear gate light is does not turn on when you open the trunk - so you have to flip a switch or unlock the car with the remote to get the interior lights to come on - annoying since the trunk is so big. For having all the luxury feel, they just missed some basic things to make this perfect. For instance - I get that wireless android and apple auto came in 2023 and would have been nice with a wireless charging pad, but the USB plugs for the connection are right in front of the gear shift. Just little things that aren't a big deal, but really would have made this feel luxurious and sporty at the same time. The car lacks parking sensors for some reason, so pulling into a spot or garage requires you to activate the extra front camera that only comes on the touring model so you can see what's directly in front of your bumper, I really wish it just activated when you hit your garage door opener, or the stereo cameras noticed you were parking. The rear sensors aren't such an issue since the backup camera is activated when you are reversing. On the touring model you can flip the rearview mirror and activate an additional rear camera mounted high that replaces your mirror view if the back window is obstructed - it's weird to use while but definitely helpful for specific situations. The 3-year 36,000 warranty on a complex engine is a painful point - compared to others being 40,000-50,000 miles (KIA's 100,000 warranty is VERY limited). We traveled to buy our Ascent in another state for $5,000 off MSRP and opted to use those savings for the 100,000-mile extended bumper to bumper warranty - still costing us less than a Kia Sorento. I wish Subaru (and Honda for that fact) just warrantied their vehicles as such since they tout their reliability. Not necessarily a Subaru thing alone, but don't brag about reliability without backing it up. Overall, this is a great vehicle - my family owned a 1988 Subaru Legacy Station wagon that got 188,000+ miles on before the head gasket blew. I imagine this will be with us for at least the same amount of time, but most likely longer.

Best car I've ever owned

Upstate1NY, 03/24/2022

2022 Subaru Ascent Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I have driven mostly SUVs throughout my life, and this vehicle is far superior to all the rest. The safety and convenience features available on the touring model are worth the extra cost. UPDATE: I am handicapped and need a walker. It fits well in back with the third row folded down. The car has many safety features which make driving a lot easier, for example, lane departure warning …

The safest car ever!!!

Alexander Hathaway , 02/23/2023

2022 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

This suv is amazing. It's so safe to drive. It's an 8 seater which is perfect for my huge family. We couldn't find an 8 seater anywhere without ordering it and waiting almost 2 months. Apparently captain chairs are popular. We're so happy Subaru has 8 seaters and readily available. My wife said to me she didn't know she was such a terrible driver until we got our Subaru lol. she …

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2022 Ascent Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$32,795
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$160/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Ascent models:

Reverse Automatic Braking: Automatically applies the vehicle's brakes if an obstacle is detected while you're in reverse.
EyeSight Assist Monitor: Provides a head-up display of the EyeSight system's status and warnings on the windshield.
Blind-Spot Monitoring: Scans vehicle blind spots and alerts you of vehicles on either side via mirror-mounted indicators.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover17%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Good
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2022 Subaru Ascent Review

Price & Payment