The Subaru Ascent is a perfectly fine three-row midsize SUV that offers a standard all-wheel-drive powertrain, plenty of cabin space, and an impressive 5,000-pound towing capacity. But the Ascent can be a bit less exciting to drive than dominant competitors like the Kia Telluride and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Pricing for a 2022 Subaru Ascent starts at $33,970, while the top-shelf Touring trim starts at $46,570. Most notable about the Ascent is its healthy offering of standard safety and tech features, along with standard all-wheel drive. It also gets fairly good fuel efficiency for its size, since its turbocharged 2.4-liter I-4 engine and CVT do a lot to conserve power.

If you’re trying to decide between the Ascent and its closest competitors, read on. Jerry, the

car insurance

expert and trusted comparison tool, is here to break down the Subaru Ascent competitors to watch out for. And if you need

Subaru Ascent car insurance

(or insurance for any other vehicle), Jerry’s got you covered there, too!

1. Kia Telluride

Starting price: $34,725 to $44,625

Selling points: Top-rated SUV, perfect family adventure vehicle

Weak spots: Unimpressive fuel economy, a bit boring on-road

The Kia Telluride has set the mark for what value should look like in the midsize SUV category. It’s nothing fancy per se, but it’s packed full of standard features that still make it feel far more luxurious than many of its rivals.

The Telluride is great off-road, although it’s not quite as rugged as certain competing models that were designed specifically with off-roading in mind. Beyond that, it’s comfortable, looks great, and gets fantastic safety ratings. Seating for eight is available, and there’s plenty of space left for cargo.

The Telluride’s 291-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 outperforms the Ascent’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But you’ll get better fuel economy with the Subaru, which delivers the same 5,000-pound towing capacity as the Telluride. Buyers looking for something a bit smaller can also find incredible value from the

Kia Sorento

, which is similarly fuel-efficient but less towing-capable than the Ascent.

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

2. Ford Bronco

Starting price: $32,895 to $54,595

Selling points: More fun to drive, brilliant off and on the road

Weak spots: Lower towing capacity, five-passenger seating only

If you do not require a third row or hefty towing capability, you simply have to consider a

Ford Bronco

. The Bronco is a ute designed to compete with the Jeep Wrangler, and let’s just say the heat is on.

Reviewers have noted that the Bronco is much more fun to drive on regular roads than the Wrangler, so there’s no doubt it’s more fun than the Subaru Ascent. However, as should be expected, fuel efficiency is the trade-off.

The Bronco’s base engine provides 300 horsepower, and the upgrade achieves 330. You’ll still have a solid 3,500-pound towing capacity, and it’ll be hard to resist taking your Bronco out for fun romps in the mud.

MORE: 8 top Jeep Wrangler competitors

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee/Grand Cherokee L

Starting price: $40,120 to $76,095

Selling points: More power, more utility, more towing capability

Weak spots: More expensive, V8 sacrifices fuel efficiency for power

While the Bronco does the Wrangler-style ute better than the Wrangler itself, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a fantastic step up in style, performance, and power in the family SUV category. You’ll pay a higher price for a Grand Cherokee than a Subaru Ascent (or many of its other competitors), but you’ll still get plenty of value along with enough seating for the whole crew.

There are plenty of customization options available for the Grand Cherokee, with a plug-in hybrid equipped on the most expensive trims. All-wheel drive is standard with the PHEV powertrain, as well as the powerful V8, which unlocks 7,200 pounds of towing capacity.

The regular Grand Cherokee only offers two rows of seats, but the Grand Cherokee L adds a third row.

MORE: Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo towing capacity

4. Honda Pilot

Starting price: $39,375 to $53,165

Selling points: Top quality all-round, sold fuel economy

Weak spots: Minivan undertones, better Hondas are available

Honda’s offering in the three-row midsize SUV/crossover segment is the

Honda Pilot

. It’s equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that manages about the same fuel economy as the base four-cylinder on the Subaru Ascent.

You’ll get 3,500 pounds of towing capacity with a two-wheel drive model, but all-wheel drive unlocks a maximum 5,000-pound capability, keeping it in the same league as the Subaru Ascent.

Seating for up to eight is available, as the Pilot is built on the same platform as the classic Honda Odyssey minivan. Because of this, the Pilot can offer fantastic passenger space and plenty of cargo storage.

MORE: The 10 best SUVs for towing

5. Mazda CX-9

Starting price: $36,855 to $48,785

Selling points: Attractive inside and out, great towing capacity

Weak spots: Mediocre engine power, not great off-road

The

Mazda CX-9

may not be able to tow a full 5,000 pounds, but if 3,500 is all you need, it has plenty of other great things going for it. First of all, it’s stylish. It looks great from the outside, and it feels great on the inside—so long as you’re not trying to fit your adult-sized body in the third row of seating.

The CX-9 isn’t quite the off-road champ that the Ascent, Bronco, or Telluride might be. Rather than driving like one of the more true SUVs on this list, the CX-9 seeks to thrill fans of sports cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

MORE: Mazda CX-9 towing capacity

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

6. Toyota Highlander

Starting price: $37,190 to $50,845

Selling points: Traditional hybrid available, ample standard safety and driver-assistance tech

Weak spots: Not particularly fun to drive, higher starting price

If you’re a fan of the continuously variable automatic transmissions found in models like the Subaru Ascent, you might prefer the hybrid version of the

Highlander

, which does wonders for limiting fuel consumption. The Highlander Hybrid gets about 35 mpg both on the highway and in the city.

The hybrid models can tow up to 3,500 pounds, but if you get a model equipped with the standard 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, its capability increases to 5,000 pounds.

MORE: Are Toyotas expensive to maintain?

7. Volkswagen Atlas

Starting price: $34,725 to $44,625

Selling points: Comfortable third row seating for adults, good value

Weak spots: Mediocre performance, mediocre fuel-efficiency

If it’s space you need, the

Volkswagen Atlas

has it covered, and it’s hard to deny its competitive pricing. Buyers will have a choice between a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a classic V6, although neither are all that exciting in terms of power or fuel economy.

Where the Atlas shines is offering plenty of comfortable seating in all three rows and maxing out the cargo area while still looking and feeling like an SUV.

MORE: Volkswagen Atlas V6

8. Nissan Pathfinder

Starting price: $34,895 to $48,585

Selling points: Sister vehicle of the Kia Telluride, great family budget SUV

Weak spots: Not built for off-roading

Admittedly, the old days were better for the

Nissan Pathfinder

, and it’s struggled to come into its own among more attractive and affordable options. But overall, the Pathfinder delivers on the basics.

Nissan offers plenty of standard safety features on this model, and upgrading to the SL trim adds a 360-degree camera system to inform driver-assistance tech. With 6,000 pounds of towing capability, it is also a jump up from the standard 5,000 seen from most vehicles in this segment.

MORE: Why you should consider an SUV over a sedan

Subaru Ascent vs. the competition

While the Subaru Ascent may have its charms and selling points, there are plenty of other great options to choose from in the midsize SUV category. Here’s how the Ascent looks on paper compared to our favorite competitors.

Model	Starting price range	Engine options	Maximum seating	Maximum cargo capacity	Maximum towing capacity	Fuel economy (city/highway/combined)
2022 Subaru Ascent	$33,970 to $46,570	Turbocharged flat-4	7 seats	86.5 cu ft	5,000 lbs	20/28/23 mpg
2022 Kia Telluride	$34,725 to $44,625	V6	8 seats	87 cu ft	5,000 lbs	20/26/23 mpg
2022 Ford Bronco	$32,395 to $54,545	Four-cylinder or V6	5 seats	52.3 cu ft	4,500 lbs	20/21/20 mpg
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee	$40,120 to $76,095	V6, V8, plug-in hybrid	5 seats	62.8 cu ft	7,200 lbs	25/32/29 mpg
2022 Honda Pilot	$39,375 to $53,165	V6	8 seats	109 cu ft	5,000 lbs	20/25/22 mpg
2022 Mazda CX-9	$36,855 to $48,785	Turbo I-4	7 seats	71.2 cu ft	3,500 lbs	20/26/23 mpg
2022 Toyota Highlander	$37,190 to $50,845	V6	5 seats	84.3 cu ft	5,000 lbs	35/35/35 mpg (hybrid)
2022 Volkswagen Atlas	$35,630 to $52,800	Turbo I-4, V6	7 seats	96.8 cu ft	5,000 lbs	21/25/23 mpg
2022 Nissan Pathfinder	$34,895 to $48,585	V6	7 seats	80.5 cu ft	5,000 lbs	21/26/23 mpg

MORE:

How to get car insurance before buying a car

How to compare car insurance quotes in under a minute

Now you can hopefully make a more informed decision on which SUV is right for you, and it very well may still be the Subaru Ascent!

Regardless of what you drive, make sure to protect your vehicle with the best car insurance—without overpaying for it! By using the

Jerry

app’s optimized comparison shopping method, you’ll join a community of users who save an average of $800 or more on their

car insurance

each year.

“
Jerry
was quick and provided me with various choices. I found the policy I wanted in 10 minutes and was able to drive off with my new car!” —Emiya S.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?

Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month

Check your rate!