The Top 8 Subaru Ascent Competitors
The Subaru Ascent offers impressive standard features, but so do other midsize SUV favorites like the Kia Telluride and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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™
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers2. 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.
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.
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.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers6. 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.
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.
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 |
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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
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