Already popular for its spacious and flexible interior and outstanding standard safety features, the 2020 Ascent adds a host of new options that make it more family-friendly than ever, including a Subaru-first rear seat reminder, one-touch interior lighting switch and a centralized close and lock button on the tailgate, as well as power-folding door mirrors.
Big on Versatility
Beyond being the biggest Subaru ever built, with seating for up to eight people, the Ascent is also the most versatile and offers the choice of second-row bench seating or captain’s chairs, while offering up to nine different seating configurations and 2,449 litres of cargo capacity. Outside, the Ascent features standard roof rails to accommodate everything from bikes and kayaks to canoes and cargo boxes, while boasting a towing capacity of up to 2,270 kg (5,000 lbs.).
The Ascent also has the versatility to handle both on- and off-road adventures thanks to its generous 220 millimetres of ground clearance and standard Symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive, as well as X-Mode with Hill Descent Control.
Whether staying on the beaten path or heading off it, the Ascent has the power to get there. Packing a turbocharged 2.4-litre Subaru BOXER engine under its hood, the Ascent is rated at 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque, providing the output of a six-cylinder and the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. In fact, the family-sized Subaru achieves a fuel consumption rating of 10.4 L/100 km combined — an impressive figure considering its family-sized proportions and full-time all-wheel drive.
Putting Safety First — Again
The first Subaru model in Canada to feature the brand’s award-winning EyeSight driver-assist system as standard equipment, the 2020 Ascent continues to offer outstanding levels of safety and peace of mind through the well-rounded suite of features. In fact, EyeSight, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure and sway warning, pre-collision braking and pre-collision throttle management, helped Ascent models equipped with specific headlights earn a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the second year in a row.
The Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection (SRVD) system, which includes blind spot detection, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert, is also available, as is Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB), High Beam Assist, a front-view camera and a smart rearview mirror.
New for 2020, all Ascent models come equipped with a rear seat reminder system designed to help mitigate the risk of children or pets being left in the vehicle by reminding the driver to check the rear seat area before exiting the vehicle. While unable to detect the presence of children or pets in the rear seat area, the system is triggered a number of ways to enhance safety and peace of mind.
The system triggers include any time a rear side door is opened or closed while the vehicle is running and stationary, the rear side doors remain closed but the vehicle is turned off and back on within 30 minutes, or the vehicle is started within 30 minutes of a rear side door being opened and closed.
Not yet familiar with the biggest Subaru ever built? No problem. Click the TEST DRIVE button below to schedule a complete tour and road test of the 2020 Subaru Ascent.
