Subaru took a step forward with the 2025 Ascent, leaving the base model behind and making this three-row midsize SUV a little more upscale right from the start.

The Ascent competes in a vehicle class with many players. This means Subaru must work hard to keep up with the likes of the Mazda CX-90, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Ford Explorer. The Ascent brings everything we love about Subaru SUVs to the market, giving us an excellent three-row midsize SUV with room for eight passengers. This SUV could be everything you need for your time on the road.

Are there any weak links?

As much as we’d love to tout all the goodness of the Ascent, the powertrain could be a lot better. This is one of the few three-row SUVs with a CVT and a small engine. The 2.4-liter turbocharged flat four-cylinder engine only produces 260 horsepower in this Subaru, which isn’t nearly enough for exciting and high-spirited driving. Still, if you want a comfortable SUV that has lots of room in the first two rows, the Ascent is an excellent choice, especially when you consider the extra versatility of the third row in this midsize SUV.

Is there anything new?

The base model of the Subaru Ascent is gone, leaving the Premium trim to take up the mantle as the starting point for this SUV. This gives the Ascent a more upscale feeling and better features at the base trim, giving you the benefits of:

• • Blind-spot detection with lane change assist
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Emergency stop assist
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • USB ports in every row

Subaru also added a new Bronze Edition model with bronze-colored wheels and matching accents. There’s also a new trim at the top called Onyx Edition Touring, which is the new top-of-the-line version of this Subaru SUV.

What’s it like to drive this SUV?

The Ascent rides on 20-inch wheels that deliver a comfortable feeling on the road. The wheels and suspension handle bumps and abrasions on the road extremely well, which makes the ride feel good. Unfortunately, you’ll have a lot of road and wind noise while driving on the highway. This SUV doesn’t have the same fun nature as others in its class, but the composed driving under normal conditions makes it easy to experience everything you want while you’re on the road.

The surprise inside (outside)

Despite the low power figures coming out of the engine, the Subaru Ascent is capable of towing a relatively heavy load. This SUV can pull up to 5,000 pounds, which is pretty impressive for an SUV with only 260 horsepower coming out of the engine. This weight is more than enough for most small fishing boats, an Airstream camper, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. Pulling a trailer causes the fuel mileage to drop, but that’s expected when towing a trailer with any vehicle.

The cabin is right for your family

The Ascent has a raised driving position, to make it easy to see what you want and enjoy the versatility of a comfortable drive. Every seating position is versatile and accommodating, ensuring you can set the cabin area for cargo or for passengers. You’ll have three rows of seats and plenty of room for all of your gear.
The Ascent also features items that make your life easier, including:

• • • A power liftgate with height memory
    • A leather-wrapped steering wheel
    • Heated front seats
    • 19 cupholders

The cargo area behind the third row is relatively tight, but there’s more space available as you fold down seats. If you need to keep all the seats up and enjoy more cargo space, you’ll need to utilize the roof rack for some of your luggage.

How’s the tech?

The Subaru infotainment system isn’t as customizable or as intuitive as systems found on premier competitors, but it’s still useful. This system has the most popular features for you, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The standard 11.6-inch touchscreen is large enough to give you the icons and views you need, which are easy to see and utilize. The system responds to your inputs quickly, and some of the vehicle controls have been moved to the infotainment system.

Should you drive the Ascent?

If you aren’t looking for a spirited drive that rockets down the road, the 2025 Subaru Ascent could be a good three-row midsize SUV for you to drive. This new model has good towing figures, an upscale feeling from the new base Premium model, and the tech items you need and want in your vehicle.