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The 2022 Subaru Ascent is the biggest SUV in the brand’s lineup and offers standard all-wheel-drive along with slick technology.
What’s new for the 2022 Subaru Ascent?
For 2022, Subaru has added a new trim called the Onyx Edition to the lineup that ultimately amounts to little more than an appearance package. It features black exterior trim, black 20-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and simulated leather upholstery.
2022 Subaru Ascent – subaru.com | Shop 2022 Subaru Ascent on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Classy interior
Great AWD system
Full of safety tech
Third row is cramped
Noisy interior
Just one powertrain
Could use more refinement
2022 Ascent Specs
- 260 horsepower from base engine
- 277 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 17.8 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 5,000-lb towing capacity
- Subaru STARLINK infotainment system
- Standard warranty coverage
2022 Subaru Ascent Powertrain
The 2022 Subaru Ascent features one of the most punchy base engine’s in its class and is rated at 260-horsepower and 277lb-ft of torque. Around town it’s quite responsive and while we’ve heard complaints that it’s too touchy, we quite like the pedal engagement. It provides good quick thrust without having to drop the pedal to the floor. Only at higher speeds will buyers notice any lack of gusto as the four-cylinder powerplant won’t keep up with rivals premium-level engines.
The continuously variable transmission is a bit of a letdown though and we’d much prefer any sort of gearbox with actual gears. It’s smooth enough on the highway and the addition of paddle-shifters allow for a little more control, but it’s loud and feels under-refined compared to the rest of this package.
Where the Ascent is really special though is when conditions aren’t perfect outside. Subaru’s AWD system is outstanding and gives us confidence behind the wheel when it’s snowy, rainy, or when the road runs out. It’s also worth noting that since the Ascent isn’t as long as many of its rivals, it’s much easier to place in tighter spaces.
Towing & Payload
Aside from the base model which can only pull up to 2,000-pounds, the Ascent tows a maximum of 5,000-pounds. That’s a solid performance for its class but if you need more pulling power you have options.
Fuel Economy & MPG
The EPA rates the Ascent at 21 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. That’s above average for its class but at the same time, some rivals offer hybrid options that will do far better.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Subaru has created a sincerely comfortable experience inside of the 2022 Ascent. Every model features supportive seating and lots of space for passengers in the first two rows. The top two trims feel like affordable luxury offerings thanks to exceptional upholstery and nice features like second-row heated seats. Climate control is a breeze in the Ascent too and we love that all versions get at least tri-zone adjustability. It feels like a bigger, more posh Forester in many ways.
The third row doesn’t offer as much space as some rivals but it’s big enough to fit smaller people or kids without much complaint. Some will want more space in the cargo area too but we like the balance Subaru has struck here as it’s unique in the segment. Again, the Ascent isn’t as long as some rivals and while that might hurt cargo and third-row interior space, it makes for an easier driver. We also like how easily the seats fold down when more cargo space is required. We would love to see Subaru include more sound deadening next year as the cabin doesn’t keep road, engine, or transmission noise out very effectively.
Entertainment & Technology
Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system is above average thanks to fast responses, easy-to-understand menus, and simple smartphone integration. Subaru also equips the Ascent with more than enough USB power points so that passengers throughout the cabin can stay topped off during the journey.
We also like the way they’ve integrated both physical and touch-sensitive buttons. There’s a physical knob for volume and scrolling as well as finding the home menu on the touchscreen. The steering wheel controls offer simple straightforward buttons that remove the frustration that might come with swapping radio channels or other functions that could’ve been touchscreen only.
Safety Features
We love the advanced driver safety aids offered by Subaru that are standard on every Ascent including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and forward collision mitigation. The IIHS gave the Ascent its highest award, a Top Safety Pick+. It also scored 5-stars in the NHTSA’s crash testing.
2022 Subaru Ascent Trims & Pricing
Base – $33,470
Every Subaru Ascent comes with the same 260-horsepower four-cylinder engine paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. They also get adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and seating for eight passengers. The base adds on with 18-inch wheels, tri-zone climate control, LED headlights, and a 6.5-inch infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Maximum towing capacity for the base is capped at 2,000-pounds.
Premium – $35,920
The Ascent Premium gets a higher towing capacity of 5,000-pounds and adds a slew of desirable features. They include a larger 8-inch infotainment system, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and blind-spot monitoring. Buyers can also opt for captain’s chairs in the second-row. If they do, it automatically adds a power liftgate, proximity keyless entry, push button start, and rear automatic braking.
Onyx Edition – $37,995
The new Onyx edition gets black exterior trim, black 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, and LED fog lights.
Limited – $40,720
Genuine perforated leather upholstery, and heated second-row seats are a big highlight of the Ascent Limited. It also gets folding mirrors, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and gray 20-inch wheels.
Touring – $46,570
As the top-tier trim on the Ascent, the Touring gets ventilated front seats, a 180-degree front parking camera system, integrated navigation, a panoramic sunroof, 14 speakers, and a 120-volt household style power-outlet.
Warranties
Subaru offers the 2022 Ascent with a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s about as basic as it gets and we’d love to see Subaru compete with companies like Kia or Hyundai in this regard. Both of those brands offer longer warranties and Hyundai includes complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2022 Subaru Ascent – subaru.com | Shop 2022 Subaru Ascent on Carsforsale.com
Subaru has built a really competent three-row SUV in the 2022 Ascent. It’s above average in basically every category and has desirable standard features like all-wheel-drive and adaptive cruise control. We can see the case for other vehicles that offer more space, more horsepower, or even better warranty coverage, but Ascent buyers shouldn’t feel shortchanged. While this SUV doesn’t do anything better than the rest of the field, it doesn’t have any glaring flaws either.
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