Subaru Ascent

Anyone have any real experience with one of these?

My wife is in love with them. Her first new car purchase was a Subaru Outback a year and a half ago and she has loved that car but with our first little one on the way she is getting the bug to have something bigger.

We test drove one yesterday and I was quite the fan. It had great power, compared to the Outback and handled very well. The capabilities on the Ascent are also fairly impressive. 5000lbs towing would allow us to pull our rpod-style camper in a little more comfort than my old truck. I know it’s always a risk buying the first model to come out, but I feel like with Subaru it’s a fairly safe bet.

 

Doubt you'll get much response here rather than a Subaru specific forum. They've also only been on the road for less than 6 months.

That said, I'm pretty much in the same boat. Wife has a 2015 Outback, and now is jonesing for the new Ascent (there goes my hopes for steering her into a Land Cruiser). In any case, I'd be interested in feedback. I know by the 2017 model year, the Outbacks already had numerous little enhancements that the 2015s didn't. Other than that, it's been a solid wagon even though it was a first run. It may be worth while to sit out the first MY and wait for the next run and greater availability.

What are the stats on your rpod-style camper? If its anything close to 5k lbs, I wouldn't really want a turbo H4 on a CVT/unibody to pull it (regardless of the tow ratings); but I've always been super conservative when it comes to tow ratings. Max torque at 2000 RPMs likely helps alleviate some of that.

OA

 

We are in the same boat. We drove it and really like it. It’s rated well and is a typical Subaru with great visibility and it’s safe.

 

All the reviews I've seen they've complained about the lack of room in the 3rd Row (I've never sat in one so I don't know).

If it has a CVT I'd steer away but thats just my personal preference!

 

It has a CVT that simulates shifts. It’s actaully quite smooth. The SUV had plenty of legroom in the third row but it’s only 196 inches long so it can only have so much room. I have a Yukon XL and we actually want to downsize so we are selling it. And in typical GMC fashion I’ll lose $20K for a less than 2 year old vehicle with 24K miles just to get something smaller.

 

Saw one a couple days ago. Big for a Subie. Looks like it will haul as many people as a mini van without being as ugly.

 

I had a 17 Outback not too long ago and got a letter in the mail about them extending the warranty on the CVT. Looks like they’re still having issues with them.

I don’t have anything else to contribute but good luck Op

 

Why do you think the Outback would be too small for one kid?

 

Got the same email. 10yr/100,000 mike warranty after September of 2019. We haven’t had any specific issues out of our outback, but if we end up keeping it for awhile it’s good to know that it will be covered.

 

I believe the outback will be just fine for one kiddo, but since when does a husband’s opinion matter about anything? Lol

 

I agree about the Subaru forums, but this is one of the most active forums I have ever been a part of so I thought I’d reach out here.

I also agree on the towing. Camper weighs in at 3000lbs so well within the rating. It wouldn’t be our number one tow vehicle but having a second vehicle with the ability to handle it would certainly be nice.