Rugged athleticism to the core

From its muscular silhouette to its powerful stance, the 2019 Subaru Ascent is clearly a mid-size SUV designed to perform in extreme conditions and under extreme pressure. While the exterior design bears a strong resemblance to other vehicles in the Subaru fleet, it makes an even more rugged statement through sheer size and stature. From the bold front fascia on back, the first-ever Subaru Ascent is designed to make a lasting impression.

Raised profile Roof Rails

Engineered to bring increased versatility to what is already an unquestionably capable SUV, these roof rails are durable enough to support all types of cargo carriers. Despite their rugged construction, these roof rails are also streamlined to carve the wind, helping to ensure stellar fuel efficiency.

Power Tailgate

This available power tailgate makes packing for a serious adventure quicker and easier than ever. A quick-release button on the key fob activates the tailgate, which also features auto-closure and auto-reverse that’s triggered the moment contact is made with anyone or anything. You can also set the opening height of the tailgate through the stop-position memory function.

Large Panoramic Sunroof

This available power sunroof features a double-panel design that allows in ample natural light while still preserving one of the largest headroom measurements in the segment. The front glass panel slides above the roof to allow in fresh air without encroaching into the passenger cabin. The fixed back panel features a retractable roller sunblind that provides shade for second-row passengers while ensuring an airy, spacious feeling for all.

Substantial Ground Clearance

With a lofty 220 mm of ground clearance, the Ascent possesses genuine go-anywhere capability. Despite the ability to clear obstacles both large and small, this SUV also features supreme ride quality and comfort courtesy of the long-travel suspension system. These characteristics combine to create an authentic duality that’s perfectly suited to all types of road surfaces.

Auto On/Off Headlights

These headlights automatically turn on under low-light conditions, such as at sunset or when driving through a tunnel, and turn off when the vehicle is turned off. The headlights also have a built-in welcome feature, switching on automatically when the doors are unlocked and triggering the interior lights to do the same. The Limited and Premier trim levels offer Steering Responsive Headlights with high-performance LEDs that cast a brighter, whiter beam and angle in the direction of the turn while cornering.

Supreme space, comfort and convenience

The Subaru Ascent has been engineered from the inside out to provide new levels of space, comfort and convenience. Not only is there room for up to 8 passengers, but each passenger is treated to a wealth of desirable features, from the airy cabin to the ergonomic seats to the smartly designed storage compartments. The picture comes into sharper focus with high-grade interior materials and a range of next-generation infotainment systems.

6.5-inch Infotainment System

The AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA infotainment system for the Convenience trim level revolves around a 6.5-inch, high-resolution, capacitive touchscreen. This system also incorporates Subaru STARLINK™ smartphone integration, including Aha Radio®, as well as Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ functionality. Additional standard features include front- and second-row dual USB ports/iPod® control, auxiliary audio input, steering wheel-integrated controls and 6 speakers. A free 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM® Satellite Radio† is included, along with SiriusXM® Advanced Audio Services†.

8-inch Infotainment System

Available on the Touring trim level, this AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA infotainment system features an 8-inch, high-resolution, capacitive touchscreen. This system also incorporates Subaru STARLINK™ smartphone integration, including Aha Radio®, as well as Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ functionality. Front- and second-row dual USB ports/iPod® control, auxiliary audio input, steering wheel integrated controls and 6 speakers complete the hardware picture. This system also features SiriusXM® Satellite Radio† and SiriusXM® Advanced Audio Services† pre-installed and available on a free 3-month long subscription.

8-inch Infotainment System with Navigation

The focal point for this premium AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA infotainment system is an 8-inch, high-resolution, capacitive touchscreen with voice-activated GPS navigation. This system also operates through Subaru STARLINK™ smartphone integration, which incorporates Aha Radio®, as well as Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ functionality. Standard features also include front-, second- and third-row dual USB ports/iPod® control, auxiliary audio input, steering wheel-integrated controls, 14 Harman Kardon speakers with a 792-watt amplifier. The free 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM® Satellite Radio† includes SiriusXM® Advanced Auto Services† and Traffic†. This premium system is available on the Limited and Premier trim levels.

Three-Zone Climate Control

This brand-new, three-zone climate control system incorporates separate controls for front-seat occupants, and for passengers in the second and third rows, ensuring the perfect temperature for all involved. Standard on all trim levels are both floor ducts and ceiling vents for both the second and third rows. Certain trim levels also feature rear HVAC controls for even greater comfort and convenience.

Heated Front and Second-Row Seats

The Subaru Ascent brings the heat in more ways than one. All trim levels come standard with three-stage heated front seats. On certain trim levels, the second row gets two-stage heated captain’s chairs or outboard bench seats, depending on the seating configuration. For the coldest of Canadian days, there’s no replacement for a toasty undercarriage.

Rich and Spacious Cabin

The passenger cabin features excellent visibility, incredible quietness, superior spaciousness, and room for either 7 or 8 passengers, depending on trim level and personal choice. The seats are covered in base cloth, premium cloth, perforated leather or, on the Premier trim level, rich brown leather. The Limited and Premier trim levels feature double-stitching on the dashboard. All versions showcase plenty of soft-touch surfaces and the expansive comfort that only comes from superior ergonomics.

Ultra-Versatile Cargo Area

For the 8-seat version of the Ascent, both the second and third rows feature 60/40-split flat-folding seats to accommodate items of all sizes and descriptions; on the 7-seat version, the second-row captain’s chairs fold flat as well. For easier loading and unloading, the cargo opening is square-shaped, and the cargo area itself is wider and longer than on any direct competitor. For even greater flexibility, all trim levels feature standard roof rails, cargo hooks and tie-downs, while a cargo cover is available on select trims.

Introducing new standards in safety

A tradition of excellence continues with the 2019 Subaru Ascent, which is built on the new Subaru Global Platform (SGP) to deliver class-leading agility, strength and security. This stellar starting point is reinforced with the most sophisticated active and passive safety systems available. All of these advances are designed to work in perfect harmony to protect you and your family on all roads and in all conditions—full stop.

Always on guard

The combination of the world-class Subaru Symmetrical Full-Time AWD system, surprising agility, superior visibility and class-leading technology makes the Subaru Ascent a case study in active safety. Next-generation thinking that powers the Subaru EyeSight® ◊ Advanced Driver Assist Technology, Vehicle Dynamics Control, Active Torque Vectoring and X-MODE represent the critical first line of defense—and the most effective way to avoid a potential accident in the first place.

360 Degrees of Visibility

The Subaru Ascent is engineered from the ground up to provide 360 degrees of visibility. The placement of the side pillars, design of the windshield, elevation of the seats and generous ground clearance — all are incorporated with this goal in mind. These qualities are supported by advanced technology found in the standard rearview camera, available front view camera with 180-degree view and available Smart Rearview Mirror, which displays the image captured by yet another camera mounted on the rear hatch.

EyeSight® Advanced Driver Assist Technology

This award-winning active safety system, which comes standard on all versions of the Subaru Ascent, utilizes two cameras to monitor activity on the road ahead, help identify potentially hazardous situations and provide assistance to the driver when needed most. This technology incorporates several different advanced active-safety systems: Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, and Vehicle Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. Vehicles equipped with EyeSight®, earn the highest possible front-crash prevention ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)**.

Smart Rearview Mirror

This innovative mirror has two modes activated by a single switch: one mode sees the rearview mirror function like an everyday rearview mirror, the other mode displays the image captured by a camera mounted on the rear hatch. This feature comes in especially handy when there are passengers or cargo blocking the view out the back window, ensuring that the driver always has a clear view of what’s behind. Available on the Premier trim level.

High Beam Assist

By automatically switching to high beams from low beams when traffic in the road ahead is clear, this feature helps ensure optimum nighttime visibility at all times. High Beam Assist is available on the Limited and Premier trim levels.

Reverse Automatic Braking

This technology detects obstructions behind the vehicle and automatically applies the brakes when it judges that the risk of collision is high. Another part of this safety system is the rear obstruction warning feature, which signals drivers using different alarm patterns according to the distance from the obstruction. Reverse Automatic Braking is available on the Touring, Limited and Premier trim levels.

Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection System (SRVD)

This SRVD system has three distinct functions: Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Blind Spot Detection identifies vehicles behind the C-pillars and in other blind spots, while Lane Change Assist detects fast-approaching vehicles when changing lanes. Using a sensor in the back of the vehicle, Rear Cross Traffic Alert signals drivers while reversing that a vehicle is approaching from the right or the left. Available on the Touring, Limited and Premier trim levels.

Front-view Camera

A first for a Subaru vehicle, this camera captures a 180-degree view of what’s surrounding the front of the vehicle. This image is displayed on the centre console screen, which can prove incredibly useful when parking close to an obstruction or attempting to pull out into an obscured intersection. Available on the Premier trim level.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

The braking system includes such advances as Electronic Brake-force Distribution (which automatically adjusts front/rear brake pressure under different vehicle loads), Brake Override (cuts engine power when the brakes are applied) and Brake Assist (boosts stopping power in emergency-braking situations). Another feature, Auto Vehicle Hold, keeps the vehicle in place, even with the transmission in gear and the brake pedal released.

Steering Responsive Headlights

These LED headlights automatically angle in the direction of the corner to provide better visibility through the turns at night. The LED lighting system also casts a brighter and whiter beam than conventional headlights for improved illumination. Available on Limited and Premier trim levels.

Rearview Camera

Standard on all trim levels, this system sees a crystal-clear image of what’s behind the vehicle projected onto the centre console screen. For an even more natural image that’s free of all distortion, the rear camera is located close to the centre of the vehicle and provides a wide-angle view.

VDC with Active Torque Vectoring

Standard on all trim levels, the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)† system utilizes multiple sensors to assess when the vehicle is approaching the limits of stability and then automatically adjusts the AWD torque distribution, engine output and brakes at each wheel to help stay on-course. The system is further aided by standard Active Torque Vectoring, which automatically applies brakes to the inside wheels and distributes more torque to the outside wheels during cornering. These systems work together to create superior stability, cornering prowess and accident avoidance capabilities.

†VDC is also known as electronic stability control.

Seamless and ultra-strong levels of protection

In the event that a collision proves unavoidable, it’s vitally important that a vehicle is strong enough and advanced enough to help protect all occupants from potential harm. The Subaru Ascent takes this notion to heart and takes things to new levels with an all-new platform, higher grades of high-strength materials and more advanced technology than ever before seen in a Subaru vehicle.

Advanced Ring-shaped Reinforcement Frame

This robust frame design incorporates high-tensile steel, connects the roof to the side pillars and the floor, and uses cross-members to create a super-strong structure that dissipates and diverts crash energy away from the passenger cabin. A front crumple zone provides further protection in the event of a frontal impact. And the rear structure is specifically engineered to deliver never-before-seen levels of safety for third-row passengers in the event of a rear collision.

Injury-reducing Seats and Seatbelt Systems

The front seats are engineered to reduce the chance of whiplash in the event of a collision and include height-adjustable front seatbelts, shoulder pretensioners, load limiters and a locking tongue design for added restraining strength. The position of the ISO-FIX/LATCH lower anchor bars has been optimized for easier use and greater security with child seats. There are up to 7 lower anchor bars and 6 tether anchors in the rear two rows, depending on seating configuration.

Airbags

The Ascent features a full complement of supplemental restraints engineered to protect passengers across all three rows of seating. For the driver and co-driver, the grouping includes dual-stage deployment front airbags, a driver knee airbag and front seat-mounted side-impact airbags. The driver, co-driver, second-row outboard occupants and third-row outboard occupants are also safeguarded by side-curtain airbags.

Break-away Drivetrain

The SUBARU BOXER engine and Lineartronic CVT both feature low-profile designs that are mounted low in the frame of the Subaru Ascent. In the event of a head-on collision, the engine and transmission are designed to absorb impact energy first, then break away from the vehicle structure and drop to the ground to prevent encroachment into the passenger cabin.

Taking driver confidence to new heights

The 2019 Subaru Ascent scales new heights with a new SUBARU BOXER engine, new high-torque Lineartronic CVT and new version of the Subaru Global Platform (SGP). This family-sized SUV also showcases the legendary Subaru Symmetrical Full-Time AWD system and a long-travel independent suspension system developed over decades of motorsport competition. The combination of proven core technology and the latest advances creates genuine all-road/all-weather performance, surprising handling prowess and a level of confidence behind the wheel unmatched in this class.

An all-new SUBARU BOXER engine

In developing the all-new, turbocharged, direct-injection 2.4L SUBARU BOXER 4-cylinder, the focus was on improving low-end torque, generating superior towing capacity and reducing weight overall. The result: an engine with the performance of a 6-cylinder, the fuel efficiency of a 4-cylinder and the freedom to pursue bigger adventures.

Transmission + Symmetrical AWD

The completely reengineered, high-torque Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been tailored to provide improved acceleration, fuel efficiency and towing capacity through a new set of transmission ratios. This CVT is linked to a multi-plate transfer clutch AWD system that creates predictable handling and automatically shifts torque to the rear wheels to balance power distribution under hard acceleration or in low-traction conditions

High-torque Lineartronic® CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)

This high-torque Lineartronic® CVT incorporates a new set of transmission ratios optimized for overall performance, fuel efficiency and towing capability. The use of new lightweight parts helps reduces noise, reduce vibration and increase responsiveness. The Auto Stepped Speed Control feature, which mimics the gearshifts of a traditional automatic transmission, creates superior driveability, as does the 8-speed manual mode with paddle shifters, which are available on all trim levels.

X-Mode

With the push of a button, X-MODE automatically controls the engine, AWD system and braking system to help tackle the trickiest of driving conditions. By managing the torque distribution to all four wheels, X-MODE delivers added confidence and stability, even on uneven surfaces and during challenging climbs. The system also incorporates Hill Descent Control, perfect for descending steep inclines.

Hill Descent Control

With the X-MODE system activated, Hill Descent Control automatically maintains a constant speed when the vehicle is going down steep inclines. With this system in play, the driver is free from the demands of controlling the gas or brakes, and can focus exclusively on steering and negotiating curves in the road.

Designed for dynamic handling and heavy lifting

The lightweight, ultra-rigid chassis is engineered to create a smooth and comfortable ride, combined with unsurpassed capability over rough roads. The suspension system was designed for optimum balance between on-road agility and off-road capability, while the long wheelbase and wide track ensure increased stability overall. All of these qualities combine to create surprisingly precise steering, class-leading handling and a level of comfort normally found at a much higher price point.

Subaru Global Platform (SGP)

The all-new Subaru Global Platform (SGP) delivers greater rigidity than comparably sized SUVs through the increased use of high-tensile materials, as well as a strengthened structure at the sides and rear of the vehicle. This proprietary design sets the stage of excellent straight-line stability, superior driving dynamics and quick steering response, all while delivering incredible levels of comfort.

Front Suspension

The MacPherson strut-type front suspension features a long-stroke design, new springs and new mounts, all engineered for superior ride comfort. This design helps ensure tremendous stability, steering response and driver feedback. When paired with the 220 mm of ground clearance, this suspension system also provides excellent capability over rough roads and represents an inspired choice for all kinds of adventures.

Rear Suspension

The double-wishbone rear suspension system utilizes stabilizer bars for a smooth ride and a truly stable feeling, especially in the corners—rare for a mid-size SUV. The system has been engineered to create superior rigidity, reduce noise and reduce vibration, while increasing control and stability. The rear stabilizer bar is mounted to the body instead of through rubber bushings to help reduce body roll, creating a composed driving experience.