I drove Subaru's priciest SUV. It's perfect for families who outgrow the Outback or Forester — but the safety tech is vexing.

Benjamin ZhangMay 5, 2024, 17:21 IST

Our 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring test car in Dark Mahogany PearlBenjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Subaru Ascent SUV was recently updated with fresh styling and upgraded technology.
I loved its edgier styling, safety features, turbo engine, and comfortable cabin.

The Ascent is Subaru's first true contender in the brutally competitive bloodsport we call the family SUV market.

I first had the chance to test a 2019 Ascent Touring six years ago. The big Subie made such a strong impression that it was a finalist for Business Insider's Car of the Year award that year.

I eventually bought my own 2022 Subaru Ascent Touring in Ice Silver Metallic.

After a few years on the market, Subaru gave the Ascent a mid-cycle refresh in 2023 with revised styling, updated infotainment, and new safety tech.

I spent a week on the roads of Atlanta with a 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring, dressed in an eye-catching Dark Mahogany Pearl paint job, to see if it can still compete against the latest from Honda and Toyota.

I found the SUV to be a well-made and capable family hauler with a great all-wheel-drive system and comfortable cabin, but its new tech and the overall driving experience still need work.

The Ascent's arrival in late 2018 was a game changer for Subaru.

The 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring we drove back in 2018. Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

A slew of new rivals hit the market in the years after Ascent's debut.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander.Toyota

The 2024 Subaru Ascent is available in 8 different trim levels.

The Subaru Ascent's new updated looks. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The revised front facia leads the Acsent's mid-cycle updates.

Subaru updated the Ascent's front facia in 2023 with a larger, more aggressive front grille.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Here's a closer look at the new LED headlights.

The Subaru Ascent's LED headlights turn along with the steering wheel.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Out back, the styling updates are less pronounced.

The Ascent revised rear-end design also features a prominent chrome bar across the tailgate.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Ascent received redesigned wheels with 18-inch aluminum alloys standard on base trims and larger 20-inch alloys (seen here) available on higher trims.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring with optional 20-inch wheels.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Overall dimensions of the Ascent remain unchanged.

The Ascent and its a boxy side profile.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

On the inside, I remain impressed with the Ascent's cabin, especially, in Touring trim.

Subaru updated the Ascent's dash with a larger 11.6-inch screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The interior fit and finish are outstanding. Everything feels solidly put together with quality materials.

The Subaru Ascent is available with a second-row bench seat or captain's chairs.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Changes to the interior are headlined by a redesigned center console.

Subaru updated the Ascent's dash with a larger 11.6-inch screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

All of those functions have been incorporated into a the touchscreen.

The Subaru Ascent's Starlink Infotainment system lives on a large 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The content that once lived in the small info display now occupies a scrollable ribbon at the top of the main touchscreen.

Content from the separate info screen is now integrated into the main infotainment screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The virtual climate controls occupy the bottom edge. Both the top and bottom sections are permanent fixtures of the screen.

The climate controls are located at the bottom of the large 11.6-inch screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Subaru also gave the Ascent an optional surround-view camera that provides a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle.

The Subaru Ascent's backup camera is activated.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

I found Subaru's TomTom-powered navigation system easy to use but its graphics dated.

The Subaru Ascent's Tom Tom-power navigation system.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The updated Starlink Infotainment looks great and intuitively organized. However, we did experience some lag in response time, especially when the wireless Apple CarPlay is deployed.

The Ascent's new 11.6-inch infotainment screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The updated Starlink Infotainment looks great and intuitively organized. However, we did experience some lag in response time, especially when the wireless Apple CarPlay is deployed.

My fully loaded Touring tester came equipped with the 14-speaker Harman-Kardon QuantumLogic sound system. We enjoyed its rich and powerful sound.

Our Subaru Ascent Touring came equipped with the optional Harmon Kardon QuantumLogic surround sound system.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Instead of going with a large digital display in the dash, Subaru has gone for the tried and true setup of a pair of large analog gauges flanking a central digital instrument display.

The Ascent's instrument cluster features a pair of large analog gauges flanking a central digital information display.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Instead of going with a large digital display in the dash, Subaru has gone for the tried and true setup of a pair of large analog gauges flanking a central digital instrument display.

In front of the driver is a nicely contoured, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and a pair of paddle shifters.

The Ascents updated steering wheel.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Ascent Touring test car came with an optional rear-vision camera display embedded into the mirror.

The Ascent is available with a smart rearview mirror.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The rear camera itself is located on the tailgate at the top of the rear window.

The Ascent's Smart Rearview Mirror Camera on the rear windshield.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Near the rearview mirror is a sunglass holder with an integrated panoramic mirror handy for keeping tabs on the rest of the cabin.

The Ascent's panoramic mirror is a handy tool to keep tabs on your passengers.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Ascent boasts a total of 19 cupholders.

The Subaru Ascent Touring's back door features wood trim, tan leather accents, and 3 bottle holders.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Ascent can be had with a large, powered panoramic moonroof that fills the cabin with light.

The Ascent's panoramic moonroof bathes the cabin with sunlight.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

The Ascent Touring's perforated Nappa leather seats and wood grain trim inject a dose of luxury into a cabin that puts a premium on utility.

The Ascent's front seats are both heated and cooled. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

We found the captain's chairs, which are also heated on the Ascent Touring, to be comfortable and supportive.

The Subaru Ascent's Nappa-leather lined rear cabin.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Passengers in the back have their own climate controls, USB-C and USB-A charging plugs, as well as a 120V AC plug.

The Ascent Touring has dedicated rear cabin climate controls, USB chargers, and a 120v plug behind the front seats.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Second-row passengers are treated to 38.6 inches of legroom.

The Ascent second-row captain's chairs.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Third-row passengers get 31.7 inches of legroom, which is roughly the same as a coach seat on an airplane.

The Ascent's third row.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Open up the powered tailgate and you'll find 17.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.

The Ascent's cargo area.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

There is also an underfloor compartment where you'll find the cargo cover, the jack, and the access point for the spare tire.

The Ascent's cargo cover is stored in an underfloor compartment behind the third row of seats.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

With the third row folded, capacity increases to 42.1 cubic feet

The Ascent's has plentiful cargo space.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

And with all rear seats down, the maximum cargo capacity behind the driver's seat is 72.8 cubic feet.

The Ascent's cabin with second and third-row seats folded.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Power for the Ascent comes from Subaru's F24F 2.4-liter, turbocharged, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.

The Subaru Ascent's FA24F turbocharged four-cylinder engine.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

As with almost all Subarus, the Ascent is equipped with the brand's signature Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system.

Subaru's signature Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive System.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

So, what's it like to drive?

The 2024 Subaru Ascent Touring from the driver's seat. Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Subaru's signature EyeSight Driver Assist System also received major changes in 2023 with the addition of a new wide-angle camera.

The Ascent now features Subaru's updated 3-camera EyeSight Driver Assist System.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Subaru's new DriverFocus system uses a camera mounted on top of the front dash where the small information screen once lived to scan the driver's eye and head movements constantly.

Subaru updated the Ascent's dash with a larger 11.6-inch screen.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Subaru's new DriverFocus system uses a camera mounted on top of the front dash where the small information screen once lived to scan the driver's eye and head movements constantly.

Ascent owners can remotely start, lock, and unlock their vehicles using their smartphones through the MySubaru App.

The MySubaru App.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Subaru's latest updates keep the Ascent a worthy option for those seeking something outside the status quo.

Our Subaru Ascent test car in its natural environment, the supermarket parking lot.Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

I drove the Tesla Cybertruck. These 7 design flaws surprised me.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

I drove Subaru's priciest SUV. It's perfect for families who outgrow the Outback or Forester &mdash; but the safety tech is vexing.

The Ascent's arrival in late 2018 was a game changer for Subaru.

A slew of new rivals hit the market in the years after Ascent's debut.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent is available in 8 different trim levels.

The revised front facia leads the Acsent's mid-cycle updates.

Here's a closer look at the new LED headlights.

Out back, the styling updates are less pronounced.

The Ascent received redesigned wheels with 18-inch aluminum alloys standard on base trims and larger 20-inch alloys (seen here) available on higher trims.

Overall dimensions of the Ascent remain unchanged.

On the inside, I remain impressed with the Ascent's cabin, especially, in Touring trim.

The interior fit and finish are outstanding. Everything feels solidly put together with quality materials.

Changes to the interior are headlined by a redesigned center console.

All of those functions have been incorporated into a the touchscreen.

The content that once lived in the small info display now occupies a scrollable ribbon at the top of the main touchscreen.

The virtual climate controls occupy the bottom edge. Both the top and bottom sections are permanent fixtures of the screen.

Subaru also gave the Ascent an optional surround-view camera that provides a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle.

I found Subaru's TomTom-powered navigation system easy to use but its graphics dated.

The updated Starlink Infotainment looks great and intuitively organized. However, we did experience some lag in response time, especially when the wireless Apple CarPlay is deployed.

My fully loaded Touring tester came equipped with the 14-speaker Harman-Kardon QuantumLogic sound system. We enjoyed its rich and powerful sound.

Instead of going with a large digital display in the dash, Subaru has gone for the tried and true setup of a pair of large analog gauges flanking a central digital instrument display.

In front of the driver is a nicely contoured, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and a pair of paddle shifters.

The Ascent Touring test car came with an optional rear-vision camera display embedded into the mirror.

The rear camera itself is located on the tailgate at the top of the rear window.

Near the rearview mirror is a sunglass holder with an integrated panoramic mirror handy for keeping tabs on the rest of the cabin.

The Ascent boasts a total of 19 cupholders.

The Ascent can be had with a large, powered panoramic moonroof that fills the cabin with light.

The Ascent Touring's perforated Nappa leather seats and wood grain trim inject a dose of luxury into a cabin that puts a premium on utility.

We found the captain's chairs, which are also heated on the Ascent Touring, to be comfortable and supportive.

Passengers in the back have their own climate controls, USB-C and USB-A charging plugs, as well as a 120V AC plug.

Second-row passengers are treated to 38.6 inches of legroom.

Third-row passengers get 31.7 inches of legroom, which is roughly the same as a coach seat on an airplane.

Open up the powered tailgate and you'll find 17.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.

There is also an underfloor compartment where you'll find the cargo cover, the jack, and the access point for the spare tire.

With the third row folded, capacity increases to 42.1 cubic feet

And with all rear seats down, the maximum cargo capacity behind the driver's seat is 72.8 cubic feet.

Power for the Ascent comes from Subaru's F24F 2.4-liter, turbocharged, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.

As with almost all Subarus, the Ascent is equipped with the brand's signature Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system.

So, what's it like to drive?

Subaru's signature EyeSight Driver Assist System also received major changes in 2023 with the addition of a new wide-angle camera.

Subaru's new DriverFocus system uses a camera mounted on top of the front dash where the small information screen once lived to scan the driver's eye and head movements constantly.

Ascent owners can remotely start, lock, and unlock their vehicles using their smartphones through the MySubaru App.

Subaru's latest updates keep the Ascent a worthy option for those seeking something outside the status quo.

I drove Subaru's priciest SUV. It's perfect for families who outgrow the Outback or Forester — but the safety tech is vexing.