2023 Subaru Ascent Review
Price Range: $22,858 - $38,998
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Average price: $36,707
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Pros
- High-quality interior materials
- Generous ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive
- Excellent outward visibility
- Strong towing capacity
Cons
- Accelerator pedal is too touchy
- Invasive engine and tire noise
- Not much second-row shoulder room, and third row is tight
What's new
- Revised front and rear styling
- Some advanced driver aids have been enhanced
- Updated standard tech includes a larger touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Part of the first Ascent generation introduced for 2019
Overview
The 2023 Subaru Ascent, a three-row midsize SUV, is Subaru's largest model. Like the smaller Forester and Outback, the Ascent comes with standard all-wheel drive and enough ground clearance to help you maneuver in inclement weather or off road. It's not as capable in the dirt as off-road-focused SUVs such as the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but the Ascent is certainly one of your better midsize choices for getting up to eight passengers out into nature.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
839 listings
- $24,799great price$2,962 below market
- 45,469 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 8 Seats, 20 City / 26 Hwy MPG
- Hampstead Pre-Owned (52 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Third-row seating
- Upgraded Headlights
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Located in Hampstead, MD
Our 2023 Ascent is a one-owner vehicle and features all-wheel drive, heated seats, back-up camera, lane keep assist, steering wheel audio controls, an...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/26 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S4WMABD3P3441498
Stock: SGF441498
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 02-10-2026 - $30,250good price$1,949 below market
- 21,592 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 7 Seats, 19 City / 25 Hwy MPG
- Beyer Subaru of Alexandria (29 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Alexandria, VA
Clean CARFAX. CARFAX One-Owner. Odometer is 13737 miles below market average!2023 Subaru Ascent Limited 2.4L 4-Cylinder DOHC 16V AWD Lineartronic CVT...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S4WMAUD6P3443601
Stock: T23681G
Certified Pre-Owned: Yes
Listed since: 01-22-2026
Subaru launched the Ascent for the 2019 model year. For 2023, it receives a variety of updates.
Changes include updated front and rear styling, with new lighting, bumpers and grille. The Ascent also comes standard this year with a bigger center touchscreen display. This is the 11.6-inch unit Subaru has been putting in its latest models, and it finally makes its debut here. Other changes include an improved forward collision mitigation system, a newly available top-down parking camera system, and a new Onyx Edition Limited trim.
There is no shortage of rivals in this class. Some of Edmunds' favorites include the corporate siblings Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, as well as the Honda Pilot and Volkswagen Atlas. Ford's Explorer in the outdoorsy Timberland trim is another midsize three-row SUV worth a look. If you don't need a third row, check out the Honda Passport or Subaru's midsize Outback. There are certainly lots of models to pick from, but the Ascent's 2023 updates should make it a bit more competitive.
2023 Subaru Ascent trim level differences
The 2023 Subaru Ascent is available in six trim levels: base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition Limited, Limited and Touring. All Ascents use a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (260 horsepower, 277 lb-ft of torque) paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive comes standard across the lineup. Feature highlights include: Compare the 2023 Subaru Ascent trim levels in-depth.
Which Ascent trim does Edmunds recommend?
We think most people will be best served by the Premium trim. For not much more than the base model it adds several amenities, including heated seats, upgraded interior materials, blind-spot warning and a higher towing capacity.

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$182/mo for Ascent Base
Ascent Base
vs
$258/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Reliability
The 2023 Subaru Ascent has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
3 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 23V647000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- WRN-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 4311
- Defect Description:
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
- Defect Consequence:
- Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
- Recall Number:
- 23V392000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- WRJ-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 5
- Defect Description:
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles. The left or right front lower control arm may have an improperly tightened ball joint castle nut which can result in retention pin failure and separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
- Defect Consequence:
- Ball joint separation while the vehicle is in motion can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRJ-23.
- Recall Number:
- 23V258000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- WRH-23
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 4409
- Defect Description:
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. The internal tire bead may have been damaged during the wheel mounting process.
- Defect Consequence:
- A damaged tire may experience a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will replace all four tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-23.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
Subaru Ascent Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(73%)
4(11%)
3(5%)
2(4%)
1(7%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
The best deal and a great car if you need AWD
5 out of 5 starsHouston, 08/02/2023
2023 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
My review will focus mostly on how my impressions differ from the the "expert" review at Edmund. First in terms of size, the Ascent is shorter than most 3-row but it utilizes the space well. It has just the right size for a family of four but I have carried two full size adults, one is >6ft tall, in the third row across town with no complaints. A car that is bigger than the Ascent … will be more difficult to park and drive in tight corner. On paper, Ascent's second row passenger room may be smaller than that in the Highlander — is that why Edmund thinks the second row is small in the Ascent? In reality, the Ascent's second row is roomy and spacious, even for people over 6ft, and the seats are very comfortable. In terms of ride comfort, the Ascent's ride is almost luxury car like, comfortable and quiet. Most reviews I read are consistent with that. The gas peddle on a turbo-charged car can be "touchy" but you should be able to quickly learn to adapt. By reading driving experience from people owning earlier and the 23 models, the throttle responses seem to have improved with the latest model. Once you get used to it, together with a tight turning circle and assist from the AWD system, you would find it fun to drive with lots of power passing on the highway with a full load. While most SUVs offer AWD as an option for at least $2,000, AWD is standard on the Ascent, and Subaru has the best AWD for a main stream car. I am tired of hearing about the Telluride. The reviews should take into consideration the markups they are charging, plus the added cost of the AWD, before comparing it to the Ascent.
Great in snow and at high speeds
5 out of 5 starsWickedPete, 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 … 2 lanes, sometimes pushing significantly over the 70 mph speed limit. Very comfortable on a long trip. Only issue has been a bad battery, which Subaru paid for a new Interstate AGM battery.
Negatives... Limited passenger seat only adjusts 4 way. Brakes could be a little better in the mountains. Android Auto is a bit quirky but works fine.
Great family car!
5 out of 5 starsTJ , 02/09/2024
2023 Subaru Ascent Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
We love our Subaru ascent. we previously owned a 2020 Subaru ascent premium. We moved up into a 2023 limited version. Both cars are terrific family vehicles. We love the fact that it has a great safety rating, the all wheel drive system is wonderful, especially in the hills of West Virginia and during the winter time. It has the third row, which creates lots of extra space for the … family. It has great ground clearance, the engine sits lower in the chassis, so the car has a great low center of gravity with less top roll. So the car handles very well on all sorts of terrain. We love some of the driving features such as the headlights will rotate left and right with the steering wheel a little bit, which gives you great vision at night. The ability to see the car from the top using the camera is a wonderful thing especially when trying to park in tight spaces. The eyesight is a great feature and helping keep you out of a crash situation. With our limited version, we have leather heated seats which are really nice, and I never thought I would enjoy it, but we love the heated steering wheel. We also have premium speakers which the audio sounds really great. There’s many other features about the car that we love, but the overall fact that the car handles great, is very safe, has plenty of space inside, and can go anywhere you need with the all wheel drive system makes it a great car for us.
Smooth, quiet and nice interior
4 out of 5 starsCLTGUY, 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.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Subaru Ascent, so we've included reviews for other years of the Ascent since its last redesign.
2023 Ascent Features & Specs
Base
| MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee | $33,895 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $182/month |
| Seating | 8 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 17.8 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
| Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
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
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover17%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedGood
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedGood
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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