The Subaru Ascent is Subaru’s largest vehicle — a three-row family SUV built on the Subaru Global Platform with standard Symmetrical AWD, EyeSight driver assistance, and a turbocharged BOXER engine that can tow up to 5,000 pounds. It fills a specific gap in the market: buyers who want the all-weather confidence and reliability of a Subaru but need genuine three-row seating for a growing family. This guide covers every Ascent trim from Base to Touring, the turbocharged 2.4L powertrain, how it competes against the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, and what to know when shopping certified pre-owned at Grand Prix Subaru in Hicksville.
Bottom Line: The Subaru Ascent is the right three-row SUV for Nassau County families who prioritize all-weather capability, active safety technology, and Subaru reliability over luxury appointments or maximum towing.
- Standard Symmetrical AWD on every trim — no FWD option
- EyeSight standard from Premium trim up, including Pre-Collision Braking and Adaptive Cruise
- 5,000-lb towing capacity — strongest in the three-row mainstream SUV class
- Interior materials and infotainment lag behind the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander at comparable price points
What’s in This Guide
- Ascent Overview and Generations
- Trim Levels at a Glance
- Powertrain and AWD System
- Trim Levels: Base to Touring Explained
- Ascent vs. Outback: Which Subaru?
- Ascent vs. Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander
- EyeSight Safety Technology
- Ascent in Winter: AWD on Long Island Roads
- Total Cost of Ownership
- Certified Pre-Owned Ascent on Long Island
- Why Nassau County Drivers Choose the Ascent
- Why Buy at Grand Prix Subaru
- FAQ
Ascent Overview and Generations
The Subaru Ascent debuted for the 2019 model year as Subaru’s answer to a straightforward question: what do Subaru buyers do when they outgrow the Outback or Forester and need three rows? Before the Ascent, the answer was to leave the brand. Subaru designed the Ascent on a stretched version of the Subaru Global Platform with a dedicated turbocharged BOXER engine and available eight-passenger seating — a configuration no competitor in the mainstream three-row segment offers with standard AWD.
The Ascent entered its second generation for the 2024 model year with a substantially refreshed interior, updated infotainment with a larger 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen, improved rear seat materials, and revised suspension tuning for a more comfortable ride. The 2024+ generation addressed the most common criticism of the first-generation Ascent — interior quality and tech — while preserving its core strengths of AWD, EyeSight, and towing capability.
The Ascent’s competitive position is unique. At its price point, it offers standard AWD where the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade all charge extra for all-wheel drive. For a Nassau County family that intends to keep the vehicle for 10+ years across multiple New York winters, that structural advantage compounds over time.
Trim Levels at a Glance
| Trim | MSRP | Seats | Key Additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | $36,995 | 8 | Symmetrical AWD, 11.6" touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
| Premium | ✓ $41,995 | 8 | EyeSight standard, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, power liftgate |
| Limited | $46,595 | 7 | Leather seating, 10-way power driver seat, heated second row, navigation |
| Touring | $51,995 | 7 | Harman Kardon audio, panoramic moonroof, ventilated front seats, captain's chairs |
The Premium trim is where most Nassau County families should start. It’s the first Ascent with EyeSight pre-collision braking, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a power liftgate — features that become daily-use necessities once you’ve had them. The jump from Base to Premium is about $5,000 and worth every dollar.
The Limited and Touring trims switch from eight-passenger bench seating to seven-passenger captain’s chair second-row seating. If you regularly carry seven or eight passengers, evaluate whether the bench or captain’s chair configuration better fits your needs before choosing a trim — that choice is locked in.
Powertrain and AWD System
Every Ascent uses one engine: the 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER flat-four producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD. Unlike the Forester and Outback base engines, the Ascent’s turbo BOXER delivers genuinely strong performance — enough to feel unhurried when merging onto the LIE with a full load of seven passengers and cargo.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is a notable upgrade over the CVTs used in smaller Subarus — it delivers more conventional gear-change behavior that drivers of traditional automatics find immediately familiar. Fuel economy is 21 city / 27 highway, which is competitive but not class-leading; the Honda Pilot’s 3.5L V6 gets 20/27 and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 36/35.
Trim Levels: Base to Touring Explained
The Base Ascent is a credible entry point but notably omits EyeSight, which means no Pre-Collision Braking, no Adaptive Cruise Control, and no Lane Centering Assist. For a family vehicle that will be driven by multiple adults through Nassau County traffic daily, skipping EyeSight is a harder tradeoff than in a single-driver commuter car.
Premium: The Value Sweet Spot
The Premium trim unlocks EyeSight, heated front seats, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a power liftgate, and a StarTex water-repellent seating material that handles spills and muddy gear better than the Base’s cloth. For families with young children — who generate mess at an industrial rate — the StarTex upgrade alone has daily practical value.
Limited and Touring: Seven-Passenger Captain’s Chairs
The Limited and Touring replace the eight-passenger bench with seven-passenger second-row captain’s chairs. The captain’s chairs improve comfort for second-row adult passengers substantially and make accessing the third row far easier — important when the Ascent is the vehicle school-age kids pile into daily. The tradeoff is losing one passenger of capacity.
The Touring’s Harman Kardon 14-speaker audio system is genuinely impressive for a family SUV. If long road trips with kids are in your future, the audio upgrade and ventilated front seats make the Touring worth considering even at its premium price.
Read our full guide: Subaru Ascent Trim Levels Compared: Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring
Ascent vs. Outback: Which Subaru Should Nassau County Families Buy?
The Ascent and Outback answer different questions. The Outback is a two-row wagon-proportion crossover for one or two adults who want capable all-weather transportation and cargo flexibility. The Ascent is a three-row family SUV for households with three or more children, regular carpooling duty, or frequent group travel.
The Outback wins on fuel economy (26/33 mpg vs. 21/27 mpg), starting price (lower by several thousand dollars), and driving dynamics — it’s more car-like and engaging on twisty roads. The Ascent wins decisively on third-row seating, maximum cargo capacity (86.5 vs. 75.7 cu ft), towing (5,000 vs. 3,500 lbs for the XT), and passenger capacity.
Where the comparison gets interesting is the Outback XT. The turbocharged Outback at $40,000+ overlaps in price with the Ascent Premium, and if you genuinely never use the third row, the Outback XT delivers more driver satisfaction per dollar. Test-drive both; the driving experience difference is significant.
Also see: Subaru Outback Complete Guide - Nassau County and Subaru Forester Complete Guide - Nassau County
Read our full guide: Subaru Ascent vs. Outback: Which Subaru Should Long Island Families Buy?
Ascent vs. Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander
These three three-row SUVs compete for the same Nassau County family. The Pilot was completely redesigned for 2023, the Highlander for 2024, and the Ascent for 2024 — all three are current-generation vehicles at comparable price points.
Honda Pilot
The Pilot’s interior is the class benchmark. Honda’s material quality, storage solutions, and rear entertainment system on higher trims outclass the Ascent’s cabin at every comparable price point. The Pilot’s TrailSport trim offers genuine off-road capability beyond any Ascent variant. The Pilot’s AWD is optional rather than standard — adding cost and a decision that Subaru eliminates entirely.
Toyota Highlander
The Highlander Hybrid is the choice for fuel-focused buyers at 36/35 mpg combined — roughly 60% better fuel economy than the Ascent. The Highlander’s third-row access is excellent, and its reliability reputation is comparable to Subaru’s. AWD on the Highlander is also optional on most trims; the Hybrid gets standard AWD through its dual-motor setup.
Where the Ascent Wins
The Ascent’s advantages over both are standard AWD (no option charge), the highest towing rating at 5,000 lbs, and the longest warranty coverage on the powertrain when combined with Subaru’s VIP+ program service at Grand Prix. For Nassau County families who prioritize those three factors and want factory warranty continuity from a single dealer relationship, the Ascent makes a compelling case.
Read our full guide: Ascent vs. Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: The 3-Row SUV Showdown for Long Island Families
EyeSight Safety Technology on the Ascent
EyeSight on the Ascent is particularly well-suited to family SUV use cases. The Pre-Collision Braking system responds to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists — not just cars — which matters when navigating Nassau County school zones, suburban crosswalks, and parking lots where children move unpredictably.
The Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering on highway use substantially reduces driver fatigue on the LIE or Northern State Parkway. Set your following distance and speed, and the system manages the stop-and-go cadence of Long Island traffic automatically. This is especially meaningful for parents who arrive at school pickup mentally exhausted from a commute.
DriverFocus — available on Limited and Touring — adds a forward-facing camera that monitors the driver’s eye tracking and head position to detect drowsiness and distraction. It’s the same technology found in much more expensive vehicles. For parents driving early-morning sports carpools or late-night school pickups, DriverFocus provides a meaningful safety net.
Read our full guide: Subaru EyeSight on the Ascent: Safety Technology for 7-Seat Family SUVs
Ascent in Winter: AWD on Long Island Roads
The Ascent’s AWD architecture is structurally different from competitors who add AWD as an option. When Honda or Toyota engineers add AWD to a FWD platform, the rear axle attachment creates physical asymmetries that compromise handling precision under power. Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD is designed into the vehicle from the ground up — equal shaft lengths, centered differential, longitudinally mounted engine — with the result that the Ascent responds identically in all weather conditions.
X-MODE is standard on the Ascent across all trims — not an option or an upgrade. It manages throttle, transmission ratio, and per-wheel braking to control the vehicle through deep snow, icy inclines, and off-pavement surfaces. For Nassau County’s occasional significant snowfall, X-MODE means the Ascent handles conditions that strand less capable vehicles without requiring specialized driver skills.
Ground clearance of 8.7 inches means the Ascent clears accumulation that high-centers many crossovers and SUVs in the 6-7 inch range. Combined with the 5,000-lb towing capacity, an Ascent owner can pull a boat trailer out of a snowy marina or tow a camper trailer to a winter weekend destination where smaller crossovers would struggle.
Read our full guide: Subaru Ascent in Winter: 8-Passenger AWD Performance on Long Island Roads
Total Cost of Ownership
The Ascent’s five-year ownership cost competes favorably with the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. Subaru’s reliability track record for the turbocharged 2.4L BOXER used in the Ascent and Outback XT is strong; the engine has accumulated substantial real-world data since 2019 and has not developed the chronic issues that have affected some competitor turbocharged small-displacement engines.
Fuel costs at 21/27 mpg run higher than the Highlander Hybrid — roughly $400-600 more per year at average New York gas prices and 15,000 miles annually. Insurance rates for the Ascent are moderate for the three-row class; its IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating and Subaru’s owner demographic keep rates reasonable compared to larger-displacement trucks and SUVs.
Resale value is solid — the Ascent typically retains 48-52% of its value after five years, comparable to the Pilot and Highlander. The certified pre-owned market for 2021-2023 Ascents at Grand Prix Subaru offers strong value, particularly in Premium and Limited trim, where the second generation’s interior improvements are the primary reason to consider going new.
Read our full guide: Total Cost of Owning a Subaru Ascent for 5 Years: Insurance, Maintenance, Resale
Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Ascent on Long Island
A CPO Subaru Ascent is one of the lowest-risk used family SUV purchases available. Subaru’s Certified Pre-Owned program covers vehicles up to five years old with under 80,000 miles, includes a 152-point inspection, and provides 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage from the original date of sale. For a vehicle as complex as a three-row SUV with AWD and driver assistance technology, that coverage depth matters.
Focus your CPO search on 2021-2023 Premium and Limited trims, which include EyeSight and the full safety suite. The 2022 and newer models include updated EyeSight hardware. Avoid CPO examples that show evidence of third-row heavy use without documented seat cleaning and carpet maintenance — three-row family SUVs absorb significant wear from child occupants.
Ask Grand Prix Subaru’s pre-owned team specifically about tow package history on any Ascent you consider purchasing. An Ascent that has towed regularly at or near its 5,000-lb rating requires more attention to transmission and differential service history. Well-maintained high-mileage examples are often excellent values; deferred maintenance on a tow-heavy history is the flag to avoid.
Read our full guide: Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Subaru Ascent on Long Island: What to Look For
Why Nassau County Drivers Choose the Ascent
The Ascent’s towing capacity is the feature that surprises Nassau County buyers most. At 5,000 lbs, it tows more than any other mainstream three-row SUV without moving to a truck-based platform — meaning you can pull a boat to Captree State Boat Channel, haul a camper trailer to Bear Mountain, or tow a car trailer for a motorsports weekend, and still have a comfortable family vehicle for the school run on Monday.
Hicksville, Bethpage, and Plainview families who manage multiple after-school activity schedules find the Ascent’s passenger capacity — eight seats in Base and Premium trims — genuinely useful for carpooling that would otherwise require two vehicles. The third row is accessible for adults, not just children, which is unusual at this price point.
The 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen added in the 2024 refresh resolved the first-generation Ascent’s most common criticism. The current system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, has fast response, and the portrait orientation works well for navigation with the map in full view. Nassau County families who spend significant time in traffic benefit from clear navigation that doesn’t require squinting at a small screen.
Why Buy at Grand Prix Subaru
Grand Prix Subaru in Hicksville is Nassau County’s Subaru dealer with full Ascent inventory across trims and the pre-owned depth to find certified examples quickly. The service team handles every Ascent’s specific maintenance needs — the turbocharged 2.4L BOXER requires full-synthetic oil and specific service intervals — with factory-trained technicians who work on these drivetrains daily.
VIP+ membership at Grand Prix Subaru includes lifetime complimentary oil changes and tire rotations for as long as you own the vehicle, free loaner cars during scheduled service, and access to the dealer’s certified pre-owned inventory before public listing. For a family vehicle that will see regular service for 10+ years, the cumulative value of lifetime maintenance is substantial.
Browse new Ascent inventory at Grand Prix Subaru or explore certified pre-owned options. Schedule a test drive — load the third row with your family and run through the EyeSight demo on Northern State Parkway. That’s the test that closes most Ascent decisions.
"The Ascent buyers I see are usually coming from a minivan or a smaller SUV that they've outgrown. Once they sit in it and run through the third-row access and the EyeSight demo, it clicks quickly — this is the vehicle that keeps the family in one car."
General Manager, Grand Prix Subaru
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Subaru Ascent reliable long-term? The turbocharged 2.4L BOXER in the Ascent has accumulated a strong reliability record since its 2019 debut. Consumer Reports rates the Ascent above average for predicted reliability, and the eight-speed automatic has proven more durable than earlier CVT applications in smaller Subarus. Full-synthetic oil at proper intervals is non-negotiable for the turbo engine.
How does the Ascent compare to the Honda Pilot for interior quality? The Pilot edges the Ascent on interior material quality and storage ergonomics at comparable price points — Honda’s cabin design is best in class. The Ascent counters with standard AWD (optional on the Pilot), higher towing capacity, and the EyeSight safety system. If interior quality is your top priority, test-drive both before deciding.
Can the Ascent actually seat eight adults? Eight adults is a tight fit — the third row is adult-accessible but not adult-comfortable on long drives for anyone over 5’10”. For family use where the third row carries children or shorter adults on shorter trips, the eight-passenger configuration works well. Seven-passenger captain’s chair configurations (Limited and Touring) are more comfortable for regular adult third-row use.
What is the Ascent’s towing capacity and what can it actually pull? The Ascent is rated at 5,000 lbs with the factory trailer hitch package. In practice, this accommodates most personal watercraft on trailers, boats up to 18-20 feet, pop-up campers, and enclosed utility trailers. Full-size travel trailers approach or exceed this limit; verify your specific trailer’s loaded weight before purchasing.
Is EyeSight standard on all Ascent trims? No — EyeSight is standard from Premium trim and above. The Base Ascent omits EyeSight, which means no Pre-Collision Braking, no Adaptive Cruise Control, and no Lane Centering. For a family vehicle that will drive Nassau County traffic regularly, the upgrade to Premium to get EyeSight is strongly recommended.
How does the Ascent handle Nassau County winters? Exceptionally well. Standard Symmetrical AWD, X-MODE terrain management, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance make the Ascent among the most winter-capable mainstream family SUVs at any price. It handles unplowed local streets and highway snow conditions without drama and without requiring driver mode selection.
What certified pre-owned Ascent years are the best value? 2022 and 2023 model years hit the best value window — they include the updated EyeSight hardware from the mid-cycle refresh, have accumulated enough depreciation to show meaningful price advantage over new, and remain under Subaru’s Certified Pre-Owned eligibility. Premium and Limited trims in these years offer the strongest combination of features and value.
Visit All Subaru Locations in the Region
- Grand Prix Subaru - Hicksville, NY
- South Shore Subaru - Lindenhurst, NY
- Mid Hudson Subaru - Wappingers Falls, NY
Ready to find your Ascent? Browse new inventory or explore certified pre-owned options at Grand Prix Subaru — and ask about VIP+ membership benefits when you visit.