The 2022 Subaru Ascent Aced Consumer Reports’ Road Test but Still Came Up Short
While the 2022 Subaru Ascent performed well in Consumer Reports' road test, it still lags behind in reliability.
Written by Andrew Kidd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Even if a vehicle performs well shortly after driving it off the lot, it's only as good as its reliability—and the owner's satisfaction—down the line.
That's the reasoning behind Consumer Reports' overall opinion of the 2022
Subaru
Ascent. Despite having a great performance in its CR road test
with a rating of 93 out of 100, the publication slapped Subie's largest SUV
with a mediocre overall rating of 60 out of 100. Jerry
has everything you need to know about the Ascent’s spotty ratings.What’s up with the Ascent?
First, let's talk about where it excelled: the road test.
CR noted that the
Subaru Ascent
performed great overall, with a plush ride comparable to a luxury car, a peppy turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a functional cabin that's as easy to use as it is to get in and out of.They go on to state that the Ascent is a functional, comfortable SUV that would be perfect for many families, giving it its 93 out of 100 road test rating.
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How does it stand up in terms of reliability?
The Subaru Ascent has an
Consumer Reports reliability score
of just 18 out of 100—which ranks it 11th out of the 13 similar vehicles assessed by CR. The only SUVs with a lower score than the Ascent are the Ford Explorer (8/100) and the Kia Sorento (5/100). These scores are averaged from a model's overall reliability for the newest three model years that haven't undergone any major refreshes or redesigns.It's not dead last, but being at the top of the bottom three isn't a great look for the vehicle in the eyes of prospective customers. CR goes on to predict that the 2022 Subaru Ascent will be "much less reliable" than average new vehicles on the market, based on reliability data from those previous model years.
Take note that this is data from past models
This data does focus on past models, but it also takes into consideration any quality of life fixes the automaker might have implemented for the most recent model year.
These changes are apparent if you look at the detailed reliability report, which shows how the vehicle has improved over the previous model year. Compared with the 2021 model year, for example, the 2022 Ascent resolved a number of trouble spots, though the report doesn't say much on the extent of those fixes other than claiming the current model year performs better or worse than it used to.
Based on this, though, the Ascent's engineers seemed to have improved major and minor engine problems, some transmission issues, climate control systems as well as brakes and suspension.
It still has issues, however, when it comes to in-car electronics, body hardware and integrity, power equipment and paint and trim. As far as overall reliability, Consumer Reports indicated about average progress over the previous model year.
MORE: Subaru Has an Exciting New Trim for the 2023 Ascent
What about owner satisfaction?
The Subaru Ascent has an average predicted
CR owner satisfaction
rating of 3 out of 5, suffering mostly when it comes to perceived value, with a rating of 53 out of 100. It notes that 64% of Subaru Ascent owners said they'd definitely buy it again when the opportunity arises.With a base MSRP range between $32,795 and $45,945, it's not the cheapest SUV out there. But if you want to take the plunge on an otherwise great vehicle, you could try saving elsewhere—like with your car insurance.
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