Subaru is kind of like a modern-day old-school Volvo--practicality and function above trivial styling elements, but with Japanese reliability. I think they have finally fixed the head gasket issues from years ago. My parents and I have had very good experiences with them--two of theirs had 330,000+ km. They still have the one and it's running strong.
@@joshbrown7282 They do seem to inspire that kind of reaction. ;) I think it's also because they aren't cookie-cutter cars, they have some endearing quirks/differences.
not anymore they aren't take look at the new models. look at the 2020 ascent and the 2020 outback they are ridiculously nice, dare a say flirting with luxury
Great video Zach! After long consideration and comparison, we purchased the Subaru Ascent Limited trim. We are happy with this car. It drives smaller than it looks and it is very comfortable! Has more than enough power to pull it's own weight and everything else you throw in it. It is a great all around mid size SUV.
Coming from jeep and chevy vehicals then transitioning to the imprezza and crosstrek, i was looking for something that i could fit in, sleep in, and tow my sailboat with, so i was in the market for a bigger suv. To my dismay the forester can no longer tow and the outback had the same scrunched in interior that plagued my crostrek. Jeep somehow managed a 1 star safety rating and was hard to trade in my crosstrek for, but when i got into the Ascent, i was in love. The cockpit was spacious enough that my knee wasnt constantly pressed against the door handle rests or cupholder area, the back seats folder down to the point that i could put a camping mattress in, and the premium and above trims could haul 5000lbs which was perfect for my sail boat, and the 250 hp actually made the vehicle feel natural with the cvt as opposed to the sluggishness of the crosstrek. Its a great suv that meets my utilitarian needs.
Actually, they redesigned the forester and its more spacious and modern, and Subaru just announced that the subaru outback will be redesigned in 2020. P.S. the subaru legacy also got redesigned.
I ALWAYS HAD A GOOD IMPRESSION OF THE SUBARU BRAND. LONG TIME AGO MY BOTHER HAD A BRATT/NICE LITTLE TRUCK. I WAS ON THE SAAB MOOD FOR MANY YEARS. AFTER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HYDROPLANING IN A SAAB 9000 TURBO, I STARTED CONSIDERING AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. ACTUALLY, I HAVE A 2.012 TRIBECA. HARD TO COMPARE WITH ANY OTHER ON THAT RANGE. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT DRIVES, VERY SAFE & QUICK. MY NEPHEW JUST GOT AN ASCENT AND INVITED ME FOR A COMPARISON TEST DRIVE. I ENJOYED ALL THE HIGH TECH ON IT AND REALIZED WHAT I'M MISSING ON MY TRIBECA. SAME HP BUT ROOMIER. A LOT BETTER. I HAD READ AND CHECKED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE COMPETITOR: MAZDA CX9, PILOT, PATHFINDER, EXPLORER, ACADIA, TRAVERSE, JAGUAR, L R RANGE ROVER, HIGHLANDER, Q5, EVEN Q7, VW ATLAS, SANTA FE, K SORRENTO, DURANGO, JEEPS - JUST TO MENTION A FEW OF THE MOST POPULAR, AND NOT COUNTING THE BIG SIZES. IN BRIEF--- POUND BY POUND, DOLLAR BY DOLLAR, RELIABILITY NUMBERS, AWD EXPERIENCE, OWNER SATISFACTION, AND A FACT THAT NO OTHER HAS... FLAT-BOXER ENGINE- SYMMETRICAL LAYOUT. ANY DOUBTS? .PLEASE CHECK CONSUMER REPORTS 2019 ISSUE- 260 NEW VEHICLES RATED + REVIEWED/ APRIL 2019 -- PAGE 15. ASCENDER 96 OVERALL SCORE. SEE PAGE 35 FOR DETAILS ... HIGHLANDER 87, SANTA FE 81, PILOT 74, TRAVERSE 65, GRAND CHEROKEE 62. ABOUT ALL BRANDS STACK UP, OVERALL SCORE: PAGE 18 & 19 ... SUBARU 1ST PLACE. BECAUSE OF MY INPUT, SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS HAVE PURCHASED SUBARU IN THE LAST 7 YEARS. I'M CONSIDERING HAVING A PART TIME JOB SELLING THEM JUST FOR THE PLEASURE OF PROVIDING PEOPLE ONE OF THE BEST CARS IN THE WORLD. ENOUGH...ENOUGH...
Car and Driver had one for a year and averaged 18 mpg. Their only time towing on the highway they got 7 mpg. With a turbo you can have power or economy but not both.
Subaru clearly knows its market and the Ascent allows Subar-ites to forget about the Tribeca. That alone is a major accomplishment. The Ascent wasn't yet released when my wife and I were shopping for a mid-size crossover last year. If it had been available, we would have considered it seriously. I think, though, that several factors would still have placed it in second place behind the KIA Sorento. At least, for our family. I'm a longtime fan of 4 cylinder turbo engines going back to a much loved Saab almost two decades ago. And my current daily driver is a much loved GTI. But for a vehicle in the class of two ton plus crossovers, I think a naturally aspirated V6 is more appropriate. Smoother, more linear power delivery, and greater reliability and long term durability. I'm sure the Ascent's engine is adequate for its mission but I think there are better alternatives. And that is why virtually every competitor (with the exception of the Mazda CX-9) offers a V6. Second, I understand Subaru's (and other manufacturers') opting for CVT transmissions for their advantage in terms of fuel economy. But the evidence suggests that the advantage diminishes as the size and weight of vehicles increase. Overall, I prefer a traditional geared transmission over a CVT . Even one designed to be disguised with artificial gears. Finally, and this is a very personal preference, our family of three people and a big dog simply doesn't need a vehicle as large as the Ascent. Our KIA Sorento is almost seven inches shorter than the Ascent and provides comparable passenger space, even in the third row of seats. We don't need the third row often but when we do it's a great convenience. And having it in a vehicle that's easier to maneuver and park than its rivals is a double bonus. The Ascent looks like a great vehicle for many families. I can understand why Consumer Reports subscribers are crazy about it. It looks like it was designed for that precise market segment in mind. And for those who value cupholders over every other amenity, the 17 (!) in the Ascent sets a standard that will probably never be surpassed. :)
The turbo-4 tech has jumps leaps and bounds ahead of the old iron block, DI cassette days of Saab engines. I still have a 2004 Saab 9-5 Arc wagon and just picked our 4th Ecotec 2.0T in a Regal TourX wagon.
I gave up on CR. They weigh factors other than dependability in evaluating vehicles. They create a soup of factors, some proven, some not. In their first Motorcycle evaluation they actually had a FUN factor that the actually figured in.
Zack, I'm driving Tribeca, had the B9, too and had Subaru's for decades, going back to Justy and SVX. The Ascent, as of last summer, is the first time I'm trying a Subaru and not purchasing it. Reasons? 1) Tried it first in the US and loved the remote app, quite needed in 2018. I was thinking about setting the temperature while in the office so I don't feel today's -20C when I get to the car. Guess what, Subaru Canada decided that it's too much to deal with ROBELUS and add LTE to the Canadian Ascent, even at way over $50K+HST. Really???? Hope that gets fixed before next winter. 2) Subaru brags about EyeSight and how it's offered even on the entry Ascent model. Yet, it goes nuts when it starts raining but you don't get rain-sensing wipers until you pay those same $50K for the top model. And if you have 4 kids and need the bench seat, then who cares about your family's safety?!? 3) Best innovation from Subaru is around safety... yes, DriverFocus is named AJAC's Best Safety Innovation for 2019 and it's not available in their top model car, even at $50K? Really, Subaru doesn't care about the safety of 8 people mover, they stop at 5? Sorry but this time you sounded like an used car salesman from the 90-ties :(
reminds of nissan pathfinder. not fast. but space/combined legroom is great. totally for family as well. Though that one is ageing, and needs changes. This Subaru is great family hauler
Great Review. I had to take out one for a test drive and here are my thoughts. The model I took out was the limited and I was impressed with the Ascent like Zack was except for a couple of things that was a deal breaker for me. First was the steering. The steering is way to light and not precise with little feel for the road. I know a lot of cars are like this today with the electric power steering systems, but this reminds me of cars from the 1980s or 90s. If they could dial back some of the power steering assist handling would be so much better. They should talk to some Mazda engineers. Their cars and SUVs handle a lot better. The other problem I had were the brakes. Let me say this is the first time I drove any Subaru and I found the brakes pedal felt mushy not firm and soilid. I have driven many different brand cars and their brake pedal feel was a lot more solid and inspired confidence when you have to stop fast. The Ascent brakes will stop the car, but sometimes you will saying a prayer. Also the brake pedal position seems very awkward compared to other cars. The brake pedal seems like it is not activating the brakes until you have pushed the pedal about halfway down. This might be a Subaru thing I do not know, but I did not like it. Other than those items the Ascent is really a nice SUV. Has good power and a very good ride with plenty of interior room. The CVT transmission felt fine to me. It does shift different than a regular automatic, but is something I could live. with. Engine power seemed fine with very little turbo lag and the interior seemed very quiet when cruising. The steering feel and brakes are important to me so I will wait for the 2020 model to see if there are any improvements made.
Dave Klein if the lane departure system is on, the steering is odd. I keep it off, steering is great. 2500 miles on my 2019 Ascent. I also drive 2 Porsches.
i felt totally opposite about the brake. the brake is great to me. very sensitive and effortless to break quickly. yeah i agree the steering is too soft and light, similar to highlander.
Sorry Zack, but you're way wrong. On the "one up from the base model" (also called the Premium, for some bizarre reason, as it only comes standard with 3 extra options), does not come standard with the moon roof. That's an upgrade. As is the tonneau cover for the cargo area. It also doesn't come with the weather protectant floor mats. AND, the only form of navigation you can get is through either Android Auto or IAuto. More importantly for both of those is that neither one connects to the car via bluetooth, but rather has to be plugged in. The Eyesight only works about 95% of the time and has some real quirks. Like if you're using cruise control, and a car immediately in front of you changes lanes, it will slow you down until that car is fully in the next lane. If you're using it and you are running slower than you've set the speed at, it will immediately accelerate you if you change lanes. This is great, except when the cars in the lane you're changing into are also stopped, but don't have their tail lights on, it will continue to accelerate until you're practically on top of the car ahead of you. It also won't slow you down very quickly if it doesn't recognize the vehicle ahead is stopped or slowing down. You can set how much distance to keep in seconds from the cars ahead, but, traffic is traffic. Another couple of things you didn't mention is the blind spot detector and the rear vicinity detector. Both them work, but they're really hit or miss. Sometimes the blind spot warning light will come on for a car that's passing you two lanes over, and won't come on at all if a car is passing you too fast for it to pick up. For the rear, it sometimes detects cars that are nowhere near you, but alerts you as if they are. You also missed the most annoying (yet for very long trips, quite useful) feature and that's the lane keeper assist. What's useful is that on long trips, it will move you back into the lane if you veer too far towards leaving the lane, and will alert you to it. However, with it on, it will actually fight you if you go to change lanes and don't put your signal on fast enough. Finally, the mirrors and steering wheel are both a tad small in my opinion. How do I know all this, well if you haven't guessed, I own one. I like it overall, but I don't love it, and probably will make it my last Subaru.
I love the Ascent, I'm highly considering one! I'm glad you did this review Zack! one thing, I don't want to hear about consumer reports.. if I wanted their opinion i'd look it up. I want your opinion. The mention of the "top pick" is great but seems like you mentioned them a few too many times. Give us you and Andrea's opinions.. maybe the kids too if they want to throw in their 0.2 cents. Great footage and shots of this unique color. Keep up the great content, thank you!
I have the 2017 Outback touring white and the brown leather. I wish there was another choice going forward 2020 of the interior color (Black or White) to better go with other exterior body colors.
Both are slowest when compared to V6 3-row crossovers. The Ascent was not discounted much when first introduced and didnt included surround camera for US$46,000.
Glad to hear good things about this, but how does it handle in the snow? I would imagine very well, but haven't heard. I work nights at one of North America's largest ski areas and we've received 718" (18.2m) of snow so far this year and often go over 600". I've owned three Subys and can get through conditions that 4WD trucks have problems with, so how does the Ascent fair?
I am sure Subaru had done a torture test on their CVT. But they have said nothing. How could anyone believe a CVT would last on a heavy vehicle like this?
@@zigzag00 They are not that smart... In late November 2017, Subaru extended their CVT warranty for 1.5 million vehicles BECAUSE of all the failures and public outcry.
@@MetaView7 dumbass, they stopped the head gasket issue on the new subaru platform (2017), please research before you comment, and also consumer reports did there research WHICH is why SUBARU is NUMBER 1 ON THE MOST *RELIABLE* CAR BRAND.
@@sabeauchamp What exactly are all the "public failures and public outcry"? Idk what u even mean, but okay, because first, in 2017 which was the new Subaru platform on all the models, they fixed the headgasket issues and cvt issues, but actually the cvt was fixed way back like in 2015 or even 2016. As you can see you didnt do ur research about Subaru and consumer reports did, which is why Subaru is *number 1* on the most reliable car brand! Even in j.d. power and Kelley blue book. Stating some _facts_
@@normt5463 "Pricey" first, it is not pricey at all and is one of the cheapest and at the same time has the most standard features in a vehicle starting from the *base* model! And second, of course it might have quality issues, its the first model year! Jesus.....
Atlas was the worst ride quality I ever felt in an SUV, very rough for rear passengers. I found the Ascent CVT with the turbo to be much smoother and compliant with good low end torque. As a far as space its an extra 9 cubic feet over Ascent which to me is negligible since most people never pack their cars that much. Roof Rack boxes resolve that issue
I'm not sure how well that drive train will hold up towing a 4000 lb boat for long distances. CVT's are not great for towing. It's a nice rig though and I looked at it but I went for the CX-9. We don't have kids or need the space. CVT kills it for me. There's a reason they are not in higher end european brands.
been towing with a CVT for quire sometime at near capacity first with pathfinder and now with a Subaru Ascent and its been great. The CVT paired with the Turbo is especially good when towing in elevation and plenty of low end torque to get moving and manage tow load.
Subaru's CVT does well in hauling boats. It's already been proven with their smaller vehicles like the outback and forester. We've been doing it for 2 months already too with our ascent. There are also mercedes and bmws that have a cvt in them too which you'll see more of in the future. The transmission is actually very smooth with this particular cvt.
How long this CVT and turbo going to last? 50k or 100k mile before they fail? With direct injection, engine, intake valves with carbon covered before 50k miles.
Replying to Robert Hein. Can you confirm that about the audible warning with the blind spot detector? Ours remains silent and the dealer said that was the way it was. Thanks
On my 18 Crosstrek at least the mirrors just light up no noise. When backing up and a car or person is coming it makes noise. Not sure if that answers your question. :)
On the ones we drove there was no audible warning but in my friends new Outback it was noisy as hell about all sorts of things, like speed, etc. I suspect it is the trim level? We drove the 2 tier premium today and there was no audible noise, only the light.
Atlas is HUGE by comparison. They're both an excellent choice. probably the only two i'd consider along with Traverse. I've heard about some comfort issues related to driving position in Atlas. drive one for a long time before you buy!
@@Motormouth... we own both the Atlas and Ascent and we find that the Atlas is much more comfortable and pleasurable to drive on road trips. As far as mileage, the Atlas is doing much better than the Ascent. Atlas 26.5 Hwy while Ascent 22.5 Hwy.
Reza Marandian subaru in term of space, resale value, awd and price. MDX 3rd row is smaller than ascent, a bit more expensive, resale is ok. (because its honda) awd is good if the MDX has the SH-awd system if not its a trash.
Just traded in my highway only driving of the Subaru Ascent. New transmission at 40K. Bad CVT!! They did not get it right!!! I can't afford to replace my transmission every 40k. :( Got a Lexus instead.
Subaru needs to realize that it's cars are the ugly duckling of a fairy tale. Not just the exterior but also the dashboard. Another thing that people like me hate is the thing Subaru will never get rid of and that's their CVT. Why i'm watching this video? it's because i love the interior seats design and color. i also love that manufacturers are realizing turbo is good on a 4-cylinder
don't purchase this Truck. Don't get me wrong I use to live for the motto "love its what makes Subaru" but it should be more like "Subaru we will not be held responsible" I purchased the ascent Last year and already we have gotten the rotors replaced, and the brake pads we have had to take it in for electrical malfunctions with the radio and sounds, cosmetically we have had to take it in because one of the handles on the car doors was not properly assembled, that should have been huge warning signs. WELL THE CHERRY on the top of this terrible cake is that we took it to La Jolla we paralleled parked on a nice street and left! We enjoyed our evening, but when we came back to leave the wheels wouldn't turn, we thought something must have been in the way, well I got off of the passenger side and circled the truck making sure that nothing was hindering the truck was turning or moving. NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY, I stood on the side walk and asked my husband to turn the wheel, and when he did that was a noise that came from the inside, he asked me if everything was good, and I thought it was, the left wheel finally turned perpendicular and I told him to move forward, but when he did I didn't check the right wheel and because it was still pointed at an angle when he pushed the gas the truck slid. We didn't even move 2 feet before we called the towing company and had the truck towed. The next day they examined the truck and said our warranty wouldn't cover it because we had damaged the truck. We had no fault in the failure of the disengagement of the steering rack system. The suspension was hurt because of the friction of the one wheel being at an angle. THIS IS A NEW TRUCK, its a Subaru! we loved the truck despite its many failures. We reasoned with the ass for an hour and he still blamed us. We called Subaru of America and they said they would get a second opinion. EVEN IF WE WERE TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX IT ALL THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE WE CAN NOT MANUALLY OR EXTERNALLY CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK AND NOT DISENGAGE!! I can not tell you now how unsafe I feel in this Truck, I will be making a WHOLE dedicated video on my channel. I will not be silenced on this, they could potentially put people in danger for their failure to acknowledge the trucks failures. IF you had in mind of buying one of these DON'T get the MDX its up there in price, but the bugs have been fixed and you don't have to worry about the company not taking action on their faulty vehicles. I have a Subaru 2019 ascent its a lemon. I purchased it for 51,000 dollars, I will be selling this piece of shit for 37,258.15. IT IS BY FAR THE WORST TRUCK I have ever owned and I've owned Toyotas, Nissans and tundras, we had a rubicon and it was a dream, this is a solid nightmare. @subaru TAKE responsibility for your trucks failures.
I would be interested to read a the techincal inspection report from a professional techniction that diagnosed the problem you were having. As I just bought a forester and might be affected by what your story tells.
this video missing safety part of the vehicle ( if they are paying you for this half ass video , feel sorry for them) first cruise control is really one of the best , you can lock vehicle between the line and if you fall to sleep or any health issues vehicle stays in its lane doesnt hit any vehicle left or right( you cant really force it out of lane, it is really hard to do so), if you purposely take your hands off string wheels its worns you put your hands on streering wheels, lets say if you have heart attack or seizure while drivin (god for bit) cruize control, lane safety wouldnt let you hurt anyother people, the car stops if the vehicle front of your vehicle stops or any subjects on front of car it stops! only dangeorus thing is it doesnt stops on red light. over roll i love my ascent, i had x5 and e350 as comfortable as they are (if not more) more safety for sure
Subaru!! Disappointed ... Bad paint on my front bumper!!! started coming off from a bad original paint’g from factory- car is just a bit over 2 months still waiting to hear back from Subaru as to if they will honor & fix this bad paint job!!??? 5th time my new car will be in the shop !! other stuff that had to be taken care of: bad front speaker when getting ready to pick up my newly purchased vehicle, 2x bluetooth issues and background noise, and passenger side molding at dash and roof between front windshield & side window was just hanging loose and away from its placement ??? have no idea why that jiggled free?? So far, pretty disappointed !! my husbands Outback has been wonderful So sad .... possibly the Ascent is in high demand and quality control slipping Subaru??!
Detroit automakers have been led amok by their designers, chasing exterior styling and sacrificing rear seat passenger visibility and drivers visibility out the rear and through the rear quarter panels. In many Detroit vehicles, a driver can't clearly see their blind spot and has to rely on mirrors. No thank you Detroit. Subaru has the design balance right. I don't want a car that I can't see out of. These panoramic sunroofs though are silly. The front passengers don't need it and kids in the back seat don't want it (being on their games, computers, phones). Unfortunately, Subaru has fallen pray to what is possible rather than what I believe their customers really want. I keep the sunroof as is (traditional). One more thing: Subaru hasn't fallen for the other design atrocity: center stacks that are so wide and tall that the driver can't move their legs at all, boxed in like a coffin. When I'm on the highway, I want to put the car on cruise and stretch out, even a little bit. So many cars not have center stacks that are so humongous it makes me believe that the designs never drive the vehicles they are designing. Or perhaps they like blind spots as part of their designs.
TruthHasSpoken I agree about poor visibility in modern designs, but I don’t think it is unique to American brands. Toyota, Mazda, BMW have their fair share
What were the idiots that chose this smoking ? I own one .GARBAGE recall after recall. Back gate has issues.Good fuel economy my ass, Gas hog. Front windows have an issue you roll the windows up it will go up and back down half way. the pinch sensor has been replaced twice as has the track. I have mine set to unlock all 4 doors when I shut the car off, it works 4 out of 10 times. No driving lights so at night turning down a dark street it unsafe cant see whats off to the side while turning . Had the carpet replaced after just 30k miles the front passenger side had a hole in it after very little wear .
Sounds more like a commercial. When Nissan started putting CVTs in their vehicles, all reviewers cried over it. Now Subaru adds insult to injury by putting a 4cyl in a midsize SUV and people are impressed?!
@@golfben86 Beats a v6 with less horsepower, 4 cyl noise and vibration, turbo reliability and REAL WORLD mpg problems. Thanks but no thanks. I'll get a v6 by Toyota, Honda & Nissan.
@@Hosein868 The reviews are there to guide your decision making process, but ultimately as a consumer you hold the dollars to make your decision on what you actually want to buy. Test driving and weighing the pro's & con's is the right method. This is a new vehicle part of a lot of people's consideration list. No need to be so patronizing.
@@alexyangers and the comments are there to provide additional info when the reviewers fails to point out important aspects such as long term reliability of a new turbo engine and CVT transmission combo.
volvo, BMW, Audi, Honda, mercedes, toyota everyone is going to turbo 4s. I had a nissan CVT for 7 years no issues, subaru CVT is proprietary and not shared with any other brand so unless you have spent some time behind the wheel cant appreciate what a good job they did
CVT, and AWD with poor MPG? no... I like the utility and good visibility of the older Subaru wagons/small CUV's, but they are too big, stretched out and expensive now, and all time AWD is a waste, unneeded and uneconomical. CR always has an overriding affinity for Subaru/Prius/Volvo.
best AWD in the market. Best gas mileage in its segment except for Mazda Cx9 which is notably smaller. If you have not driven one you much check out. Drives like a luxury brand costing twice as much
![เปิด อาณาจักร หมื่นล้าน "สาระตั้ม" l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3XE0nPF4YkQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Subaru is kind of like a modern-day old-school Volvo--practicality and function above trivial styling elements, but with Japanese reliability. I think they have finally fixed the head gasket issues from years ago. My parents and I have had very good experiences with them--two of theirs had 330,000+ km. They still have the one and it's running strong.
Well put, Maestro_T! I ❤️ my Subie as well.
@@joshbrown7282 They do seem to inspire that kind of reaction. ;) I think it's also because they aren't cookie-cutter cars, they have some endearing quirks/differences.
not anymore they aren't take look at the new models. look at the 2020 ascent and the 2020 outback they are ridiculously nice, dare a say flirting with luxury
Zack, just like you said: this vehicule is for practical's peoples and not for racers. Very good review as usual. Thank you.
Great video Zach! After long consideration and comparison, we purchased the Subaru Ascent Limited trim. We are happy with this car. It drives smaller than it looks and it is very comfortable! Has more than enough power to pull it's own weight and everything else you throw in it. It is a great all around mid size SUV.
Good choice
Coming from jeep and chevy vehicals then transitioning to the imprezza and crosstrek, i was looking for something that i could fit in, sleep in, and tow my sailboat with, so i was in the market for a bigger suv. To my dismay the forester can no longer tow and the outback had the same scrunched in interior that plagued my crostrek. Jeep somehow managed a 1 star safety rating and was hard to trade in my crosstrek for, but when i got into the Ascent, i was in love. The cockpit was spacious enough that my knee wasnt constantly pressed against the door handle rests or cupholder area, the back seats folder down to the point that i could put a camping mattress in, and the premium and above trims could haul 5000lbs which was perfect for my sail boat, and the 250 hp actually made the vehicle feel natural with the cvt as opposed to the sluggishness of the crosstrek. Its a great suv that meets my utilitarian needs.
Actually, they redesigned the forester and its more spacious and modern, and Subaru just announced that the subaru outback will be redesigned in 2020. P.S. the subaru legacy also got redesigned.
Subaru really has everything covered and there's nothing compared to full time AWD.
The magazine just came out and Consumer Reports gave the Ascent a lofty 96 and it's on the cover of the magazine!
Sensible, reliable, looks good, what else do you want
No CVT.
This vehicle made sense for them to manufacture. Thanks for the video.
I
ALWAYS HAD A GOOD IMPRESSION OF THE SUBARU BRAND. LONG TIME AGO MY BOTHER HAD A
BRATT/NICE LITTLE TRUCK.
I WAS ON THE SAAB MOOD
FOR MANY YEARS. AFTER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HYDROPLANING IN A SAAB 9000 TURBO, I
STARTED CONSIDERING AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. ACTUALLY, I HAVE A 2.012 TRIBECA. HARD
TO COMPARE WITH ANY OTHER ON THAT RANGE. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT
DRIVES, VERY SAFE & QUICK. MY NEPHEW JUST GOT AN ASCENT AND INVITED ME FOR
A COMPARISON TEST DRIVE. I ENJOYED ALL THE HIGH TECH ON IT AND REALIZED WHAT
I'M MISSING ON MY TRIBECA. SAME HP BUT ROOMIER. A LOT BETTER. I HAD READ AND
CHECKED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE COMPETITOR: MAZDA CX9, PILOT, PATHFINDER, EXPLORER,
ACADIA, TRAVERSE, JAGUAR, L R RANGE ROVER, HIGHLANDER, Q5, EVEN Q7, VW ATLAS,
SANTA FE, K SORRENTO, DURANGO, JEEPS - JUST TO MENTION A FEW OF THE MOST
POPULAR, AND NOT COUNTING THE BIG SIZES. IN BRIEF--- POUND BY POUND, DOLLAR BY
DOLLAR, RELIABILITY NUMBERS, AWD EXPERIENCE, OWNER SATISFACTION, AND A FACT THAT
NO OTHER HAS... FLAT-BOXER ENGINE- SYMMETRICAL LAYOUT. ANY DOUBTS? .PLEASE
CHECK CONSUMER REPORTS 2019 ISSUE- 260 NEW VEHICLES RATED + REVIEWED/ APRIL
2019 -- PAGE 15. ASCENDER 96 OVERALL SCORE. SEE PAGE 35 FOR DETAILS ...
HIGHLANDER 87, SANTA FE 81, PILOT 74, TRAVERSE 65, GRAND CHEROKEE 62.
ABOUT ALL BRANDS STACK
UP, OVERALL SCORE: PAGE 18 & 19 ... SUBARU 1ST PLACE. BECAUSE OF MY INPUT, SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
HAVE PURCHASED SUBARU IN THE LAST 7 YEARS. I'M CONSIDERING HAVING A PART TIME
JOB SELLING THEM JUST FOR THE PLEASURE OF PROVIDING PEOPLE ONE OF THE BEST CARS
IN THE WORLD. ENOUGH...ENOUGH...
Car and Driver had one for a year and averaged 18 mpg. Their only time towing on the highway they got 7 mpg. With a turbo you can have power or economy but not both.
Wow, cool video. Subaru made a great job with this one....a real winner, I think is the best in its class.!!
Subaru clearly knows its market and the Ascent allows Subar-ites to forget about the Tribeca. That alone is a major accomplishment. The Ascent wasn't yet released when my wife and I were shopping for a mid-size crossover last year. If it had been available, we would have considered it seriously. I think, though, that several factors would still have placed it in second place behind the KIA Sorento. At least, for our family.
I'm a longtime fan of 4 cylinder turbo engines going back to a much loved Saab almost two decades ago. And my current daily driver is a much loved GTI. But for a vehicle in the class of two ton plus crossovers, I think a naturally aspirated V6 is more appropriate. Smoother, more linear power delivery, and greater reliability and long term durability. I'm sure the Ascent's engine is adequate for its mission but I think there are better alternatives. And that is why virtually every competitor (with the exception of the Mazda CX-9) offers a V6.
Second, I understand Subaru's (and other manufacturers') opting for CVT transmissions for their advantage in terms of fuel economy. But the evidence suggests that the advantage diminishes as the size and weight of vehicles increase. Overall, I prefer a traditional geared transmission over a CVT . Even one designed to be disguised with artificial gears.
Finally, and this is a very personal preference, our family of three people and a big dog simply doesn't need a vehicle as large as the Ascent. Our KIA Sorento is almost seven inches shorter than the Ascent and provides comparable passenger space, even in the third row of seats. We don't need the third row often but when we do it's a great convenience. And having it in a vehicle that's easier to maneuver and park than its rivals is a double bonus.
The Ascent looks like a great vehicle for many families. I can understand why Consumer Reports subscribers are crazy about it. It looks like it was designed for that precise market segment in mind. And for those who value cupholders over every other amenity, the 17 (!) in the Ascent sets a standard that will probably never be surpassed. :)
The turbo-4 tech has jumps leaps and bounds ahead of the old iron block, DI cassette days of Saab engines.
I still have a 2004 Saab 9-5 Arc wagon and just picked our 4th Ecotec 2.0T in a Regal TourX wagon.
The VW Atlas has 17 cup holders, and the Ascent has 19.
@@mikem2253 My error. You're correct. The cupholder race, much like the nuclear race, is a hot one and it's difficult to keep up. Mea culpa. :)
I gave up on CR. They weigh factors other than dependability in evaluating vehicles. They create a soup of factors, some proven, some not. In their first Motorcycle evaluation they actually had a FUN factor that the actually figured in.
I was interested in this Subaru but read about a recall on the transmission,is that still a problem or has it been fixed?
Zack, I'm driving Tribeca, had the B9, too and had Subaru's for decades, going back to Justy and SVX.
The Ascent, as of last summer, is the first time I'm trying a Subaru and not purchasing it. Reasons?
1) Tried it first in the US and loved the remote app, quite needed in 2018. I was thinking about setting the temperature while in the office so I don't feel today's -20C when I get to the car. Guess what, Subaru Canada decided that it's too much to deal with ROBELUS and add LTE to the Canadian Ascent, even at way over $50K+HST. Really???? Hope that gets fixed before next winter.
2) Subaru brags about EyeSight and how it's offered even on the entry Ascent model. Yet, it goes nuts when it starts raining but you don't get rain-sensing wipers until you pay those same $50K for the top model. And if you have 4 kids and need the bench seat, then who cares about your family's safety?!?
3) Best innovation from Subaru is around safety... yes, DriverFocus is named AJAC's Best Safety Innovation for 2019 and it's not available in their top model car, even at $50K? Really, Subaru doesn't care about the safety of 8 people mover, they stop at 5?
Sorry but this time you sounded like an used car salesman from the 90-ties :(
Great review. I just got this car in white. Same trim model your reviewing
Great video indeed Zack ! I’m now thorn between this and the new RAV4 🤔
reminds of nissan pathfinder. not fast. but space/combined legroom is great. totally for family as well. Though that one is ageing, and needs changes. This Subaru is great family hauler
This is a nice car
Great Review. I had to take out one for a test drive and here are my thoughts. The model I took out was the limited and I was impressed with the Ascent like Zack was except for a couple of things that was a deal breaker for me. First was the steering. The steering is way to light and not precise with little feel for the road. I know a lot of cars are like this today with the electric power steering systems, but this reminds me of cars from the 1980s or 90s. If they could dial back some of the power steering assist handling would be so much better. They should talk to some Mazda engineers. Their cars and SUVs handle a lot better. The other problem I had were the brakes. Let me say this is the first time I drove any Subaru and I found the brakes pedal felt mushy not firm and soilid. I have driven many different brand cars and their brake pedal feel was a lot more solid and inspired confidence when you have to stop fast. The Ascent brakes will stop the car, but sometimes you will saying a prayer. Also the brake pedal position seems very awkward compared to other cars. The brake pedal seems like it is not activating the brakes until you have pushed the pedal about halfway down. This might be a Subaru thing I do not know, but I did not like it. Other than those items the Ascent is really a nice SUV. Has good power and a very good ride with plenty of interior room. The CVT transmission felt fine to me. It does shift different than a regular automatic, but is something I could live. with. Engine power seemed fine with very little turbo lag and the interior seemed very quiet when cruising. The steering feel and brakes are important to me so I will wait for the 2020 model to see if there are any improvements made.
Dave Klein if the lane departure system is on, the steering is odd. I keep it off, steering is great. 2500 miles on my 2019 Ascent. I also drive 2 Porsches.
i felt totally opposite about the brake. the brake is great to me. very sensitive and effortless to break quickly. yeah i agree the steering is too soft and light, similar to highlander.
Sorry Zack, but you're way wrong. On the "one up from the base model" (also called the Premium, for some bizarre reason, as it only comes standard with 3 extra options), does not come standard with the moon roof. That's an upgrade. As is the tonneau cover for the cargo area. It also doesn't come with the weather protectant floor mats. AND, the only form of navigation you can get is through either Android Auto or IAuto. More importantly for both of those is that neither one connects to the car via bluetooth, but rather has to be plugged in. The Eyesight only works about 95% of the time and has some real quirks. Like if you're using cruise control, and a car immediately in front of you changes lanes, it will slow you down until that car is fully in the next lane. If you're using it and you are running slower than you've set the speed at, it will immediately accelerate you if you change lanes. This is great, except when the cars in the lane you're changing into are also stopped, but don't have their tail lights on, it will continue to accelerate until you're practically on top of the car ahead of you. It also won't slow you down very quickly if it doesn't recognize the vehicle ahead is stopped or slowing down. You can set how much distance to keep in seconds from the cars ahead, but, traffic is traffic. Another couple of things you didn't mention is the blind spot detector and the rear vicinity detector. Both them work, but they're really hit or miss. Sometimes the blind spot warning light will come on for a car that's passing you two lanes over, and won't come on at all if a car is passing you too fast for it to pick up. For the rear, it sometimes detects cars that are nowhere near you, but alerts you as if they are. You also missed the most annoying (yet for very long trips, quite useful) feature and that's the lane keeper assist. What's useful is that on long trips, it will move you back into the lane if you veer too far towards leaving the lane, and will alert you to it. However, with it on, it will actually fight you if you go to change lanes and don't put your signal on fast enough. Finally, the mirrors and steering wheel are both a tad small in my opinion. How do I know all this, well if you haven't guessed, I own one. I like it overall, but I don't love it, and probably will make it my last Subaru.
Amazing review as always.
I love the Ascent, I'm highly considering one! I'm glad you did this review Zack! one thing, I don't want to hear about consumer reports.. if I wanted their opinion i'd look it up. I want your opinion. The mention of the "top pick" is great but seems like you mentioned them a few too many times. Give us you and Andrea's opinions.. maybe the kids too if they want to throw in their 0.2 cents. Great footage and shots of this unique color. Keep up the great content, thank you!
You can watch my original review on the channel
I have the 2017 Outback touring white and the brown leather. I wish there was another choice going forward 2020 of the interior color (Black or White) to better go with other exterior body colors.
Zach I could really use a comparison between CX9 and Accent. Studied a few videos and still couldn't make up my mind. Thought?
Both are slowest when compared to V6 3-row crossovers. The Ascent was not discounted much when first introduced and didnt included surround camera for US$46,000.
Real awd
The Mazda does not have a CVT. CVT means No buy.
Can you please review the 2020 corolla sedan and tell us about pricing in Canada
This is a tough segment. The Telluride and Palisade will now give everyone more competition.
Glad to hear good things about this, but how does it handle in the snow? I would imagine very well, but haven't heard. I work nights at one of North America's largest ski areas and we've received 718" (18.2m) of snow so far this year and often go over 600". I've owned three Subys and can get through conditions that 4WD trucks have problems with, so how does the Ascent fair?
If you work at a resort decent snow tires would be all you ever need. No chains on a Subaru!
I am sure Subaru had done a torture test on their CVT. But they have said nothing. How could anyone believe a CVT would last on a heavy vehicle like this?
Subaru Engineers are smart enough to know that it will not break, there not dumb.
@@zigzag00 they were dumb enough to make oil leak from the head gasket.
@@zigzag00 They are not that smart... In late November 2017, Subaru extended their CVT warranty for 1.5 million vehicles BECAUSE of all the failures and public outcry.
@@MetaView7 dumbass, they stopped the head gasket issue on the new subaru platform (2017), please research before you comment, and also consumer reports did there research WHICH is why SUBARU is NUMBER 1 ON THE MOST *RELIABLE* CAR BRAND.
@@sabeauchamp What exactly are all the "public failures and public outcry"? Idk what u even mean, but okay, because first, in 2017 which was the new Subaru platform on all the models, they fixed the headgasket issues and cvt issues, but actually the cvt was fixed way back like in 2015 or even 2016. As you can see you didnt do ur research about Subaru and consumer reports did, which is why Subaru is *number 1* on the most reliable car brand! Even in j.d. power and Kelley blue book. Stating some _facts_
Check the Ascent forum and Facebook group page to research more on actual Ascent users for a more educated decision when purchasing the Ascent.
Yeah, it is pricey and includes allot of quality related issues.
@@normt5463 "Pricey" first, it is not pricey at all and is one of the cheapest and at the same time has the most standard features in a vehicle starting from the *base* model! And second, of course it might have quality issues, its the first model year! Jesus.....
@@zigzag00 no discounting either.
@@normt5463 Oml, its the first model year and yes there is 0.99 percent discount going on for all subaru ascent models. Please check ur facts.
Reliability is #1 key for me that has me questioning buying this vehicle. It's new with no history
Then Toyota is your best play.
I love Subaru!!!
We kicked their tires at the Suabru stand at the autoshow. They are very cheaply made cars charging top dollar. Much better deals if you shop.
Accurate. Good value. Blind spot detector very poor. No audible warning if you’re going to hit someone in blind spot.
Mine beeps at me with a collision warning if i recall an incident properly.
Not true - at least in mine... Beeps when there's someone in the blind spot if you get too close
Hi do you know if those windows in the back have UV protection ??
It’s nice! But I think I’ll go with the VW Atlas with a normal transmission. Also it has more space which I like! Subarus are nice though!
Atlas was the worst ride quality I ever felt in an SUV, very rough for rear passengers. I found the Ascent CVT with the turbo to be much smoother and compliant with good low end torque. As a far as space its an extra 9 cubic feet over Ascent which to me is negligible since most people never pack their cars that much. Roof Rack boxes resolve that issue
I'm not sure how well that drive train will hold up towing a 4000 lb boat for long distances. CVT's are not great for towing. It's a nice rig though and I looked at it but I went for the CX-9. We don't have kids or need the space. CVT kills it for me. There's a reason they are not in higher end european brands.
been towing with a CVT for quire sometime at near capacity first with pathfinder and now with a Subaru Ascent and its been great. The CVT paired with the Turbo is especially good when towing in elevation and plenty of low end torque to get moving and manage tow load.
Subaru's CVT does well in hauling boats. It's already been proven with their smaller vehicles like the outback and forester. We've been doing it for 2 months already too with our ascent. There are also mercedes and bmws that have a cvt in them too which you'll see more of in the future. The transmission is actually very smooth with this particular cvt.
Until the CVT drops out and you have to replace the entire unit for several thousand since there is virtually nothing that can be repaired in it
How long this CVT and turbo going to last? 50k or 100k mile before they fail? With direct injection, engine, intake valves with carbon covered before 50k miles.
? lol
Wahhh, wahhh, wahhh….
Replying to Robert Hein. Can you confirm that about the audible warning with the blind spot detector? Ours remains silent and the dealer said that was the way it was.
Thanks
On my 18 Crosstrek at least the mirrors just light up no noise. When backing up and a car or person is coming it makes noise. Not sure if that answers your question. :)
This is no audible warning. If there was, it would drive you crazy on the highway.
On the ones we drove there was no audible warning but in my friends new Outback it was noisy as hell about all sorts of things, like speed, etc. I suspect it is the trim level? We drove the 2 tier premium today and there was no audible noise, only the light.
You were at Iona Beach!
Yup
What color code is that?
Zack, how do you like compare between Ascent and Atlas?
Atlas is HUGE by comparison. They're both an excellent choice. probably the only two i'd consider along with Traverse. I've heard about some comfort issues related to driving position in Atlas. drive one for a long time before you buy!
Atlas is way bigger and uses more gas
@@Motormouth... we own both the Atlas and Ascent and we find that the Atlas is much more comfortable and pleasurable to drive on road trips. As far as mileage, the Atlas is doing much better than the Ascent. Atlas 26.5 Hwy while Ascent 22.5 Hwy.
Does the Atlas have AWD as well?
@@rollingreclinerRecumbent atlas and quality and comfort issues....
MDX vs ASCENT , which one is better? Any thoughts?
Reza Marandian subaru in term of space, resale value, awd and price. MDX 3rd row is smaller than ascent, a bit more expensive, resale is ok. (because its honda) awd is good if the MDX has the SH-awd system if not its a trash.
Just traded in my highway only driving of the Subaru Ascent. New transmission at 40K. Bad CVT!! They did not get it right!!! I can't afford to replace my transmission every 40k. :( Got a Lexus instead.
What’s the difference between this rig and the forester Zack??
Bigger, three rows and a turbo engine
thanks Zack gotta take it for test drive to see if the turbo is actually helping with the CVTs shortfalls @@Motormouth...
Subaru needs to realize that it's cars are the ugly duckling of a fairy tale. Not just the exterior but also the dashboard. Another thing that people like me hate is the thing Subaru will never get rid of and that's their CVT. Why i'm watching this video? it's because i love the interior seats design and color. i also love that manufacturers are realizing turbo is good on a 4-cylinder
What is CVT? AWD?
Continuous Variable Transmission and All Wheel Drive
don't purchase this Truck. Don't get me wrong I use to live for the motto "love its what makes Subaru" but it should be more like "Subaru we will not be held responsible" I purchased the ascent Last year and already we have gotten the rotors replaced, and the brake pads we have had to take it in for electrical malfunctions with the radio and sounds, cosmetically we have had to take it in because one of the handles on the car doors was not properly assembled, that should have been huge warning signs. WELL THE CHERRY on the top of this terrible cake is that we took it to La Jolla we paralleled parked on a nice street and left! We enjoyed our evening, but when we came back to leave the wheels wouldn't turn, we thought something must have been in the way, well I got off of the passenger side and circled the truck making sure that nothing was hindering the truck was turning or moving. NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY, I stood on the side walk and asked my husband to turn the wheel, and when he did that was a noise that came from the inside, he asked me if everything was good, and I thought it was, the left wheel finally turned perpendicular and I told him to move forward, but when he did I didn't check the right wheel and because it was still pointed at an angle when he pushed the gas the truck slid. We didn't even move 2 feet before we called the towing company and had the truck towed. The next day they examined the truck and said our warranty wouldn't cover it because we had damaged the truck. We had no fault in the failure of the disengagement of the steering rack system. The suspension was hurt because of the friction of the one wheel being at an angle. THIS IS A NEW TRUCK, its a Subaru! we loved the truck despite its many failures. We reasoned with the ass for an hour and he still blamed us. We called Subaru of America and they said they would get a second opinion. EVEN IF WE WERE TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX IT ALL THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE WE CAN NOT MANUALLY OR EXTERNALLY CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK AND NOT DISENGAGE!! I can not tell you now how unsafe I feel in this Truck, I will be making a WHOLE dedicated video on my channel. I will not be silenced on this, they could potentially put people in danger for their failure to acknowledge the trucks failures. IF you had in mind of buying one of these DON'T get the MDX its up there in price, but the bugs have been fixed and you don't have to worry about the company not taking action on their faulty vehicles. I have a Subaru 2019 ascent its a lemon. I purchased it for 51,000 dollars, I will be selling this piece of shit for 37,258.15. IT IS BY FAR THE WORST TRUCK I have ever owned and I've owned Toyotas, Nissans and tundras, we had a rubicon and it was a dream, this is a solid nightmare. @subaru TAKE responsibility for your trucks failures.
I would be interested to read a the techincal inspection report from a professional techniction that diagnosed the problem you were having. As I just bought a forester and might be affected by what your story tells.
I don’t know why “Ascent” sounds like a Chrysler name...
I thought it ran on both gas either regular for less power and premium for more power?
You are thinking of the Mazda CX-9.
this video missing safety part of the vehicle ( if they are paying you for this half ass video , feel sorry for them) first cruise control is really one of the best , you can lock vehicle between the line and if you fall to sleep or any health issues vehicle stays in its lane doesnt hit any vehicle left or right( you cant really force it out of lane, it is really hard to do so), if you purposely take your hands off string wheels its worns you put your hands on streering wheels, lets say if you have heart attack or seizure while drivin (god for bit) cruize control, lane safety wouldnt let you hurt anyother people, the car stops if the vehicle front of your vehicle stops or any subjects on front of car it stops! only dangeorus thing is it doesnt stops on red light. over roll i love my ascent, i had x5 and e350 as comfortable as they are (if not more) more safety for sure
Subaru!! Disappointed ...
Bad paint on my front bumper!!! started coming off from a bad original paint’g from factory- car is just a bit over 2 months
still waiting to hear back from Subaru as to if they will honor & fix this bad paint job!!??? 5th time my new car will be in the shop !!
other stuff that had to be taken care of: bad front speaker when getting ready to pick up my newly purchased vehicle, 2x bluetooth issues and background noise, and passenger side molding at dash and roof between front windshield & side window was just hanging loose and away from its placement ??? have no idea why that jiggled free??
So far, pretty disappointed !!
my husbands Outback has been wonderful
So sad .... possibly the Ascent is in high demand and quality control slipping Subaru??!
Warranty.
why the quality is so low?
It's still processing
Detroit automakers have been led amok by their designers, chasing exterior styling and sacrificing rear seat passenger visibility and drivers visibility out the rear and through the rear quarter panels. In many Detroit vehicles, a driver can't clearly see their blind spot and has to rely on mirrors. No thank you Detroit. Subaru has the design balance right. I don't want a car that I can't see out of. These panoramic sunroofs though are silly. The front passengers don't need it and kids in the back seat don't want it (being on their games, computers, phones). Unfortunately, Subaru has fallen pray to what is possible rather than what I believe their customers really want. I keep the sunroof as is (traditional). One more thing: Subaru hasn't fallen for the other design atrocity: center stacks that are so wide and tall that the driver can't move their legs at all, boxed in like a coffin. When I'm on the highway, I want to put the car on cruise and stretch out, even a little bit. So many cars not have center stacks that are so humongous it makes me believe that the designs never drive the vehicles they are designing.
Or perhaps they like blind spots as part of their designs.
TruthHasSpoken I agree about poor visibility in modern designs, but I don’t think it is unique to American brands. Toyota, Mazda, BMW have their fair share
4 cylinder for 7 seats .!!!
Just buy Highlander
Pilot is way better. Highlander is much worse than the pilot. I have the 18 Highlander and the 19 Pilot. No comparison
@@aa6355-r4m Why do you have both?
In his dreams...
What were the idiots that chose this smoking ? I own one .GARBAGE recall after recall. Back gate has issues.Good fuel economy my ass, Gas hog. Front windows have an issue you roll the windows up it will go up and back down half way. the pinch sensor has been replaced twice as has the track. I have mine set to unlock all 4 doors when I shut the car off, it works 4 out of 10 times. No driving lights so at night turning down a dark street it unsafe cant see whats off to the side while turning . Had the carpet replaced after just 30k miles the front passenger side had a hole in it after very little wear .
Sounds more like a commercial. When Nissan started putting CVTs in their vehicles, all reviewers cried over it. Now Subaru adds insult to injury by putting a 4cyl in a midsize SUV and people are impressed?!
pridetobedifferent try it. It’ll surprise you. Beats the heck out of the pathfinder’s v6 and on paper you’d never suspect that.
@@golfben86 Beats a v6 with less horsepower, 4 cyl noise and vibration, turbo reliability and REAL WORLD mpg problems. Thanks but no thanks. I'll get a v6 by Toyota, Honda & Nissan.
@@Hosein868 The reviews are there to guide your decision making process, but ultimately as a consumer you hold the dollars to make your decision on what you actually want to buy. Test driving and weighing the pro's & con's is the right method. This is a new vehicle part of a lot of people's consideration list. No need to be so patronizing.
@@alexyangers and the comments are there to provide additional info when the reviewers fails to point out important aspects such as long term reliability of a new turbo engine and CVT transmission combo.
volvo, BMW, Audi, Honda, mercedes, toyota everyone is going to turbo 4s. I had a nissan CVT for 7 years no issues, subaru CVT is proprietary and not shared with any other brand so unless you have spent some time behind the wheel cant appreciate what a good job they did
CVT, and AWD with poor MPG? no... I like the utility and good visibility of the older Subaru wagons/small CUV's, but they are too big, stretched out and expensive now, and all time AWD is a waste, unneeded and uneconomical. CR always has an overriding affinity for Subaru/Prius/Volvo.
best AWD in the market. Best gas mileage in its segment except for Mazda Cx9 which is notably smaller. If you have not driven one you much check out. Drives like a luxury brand costing twice as much
CVT...... no thanks.
Mitsubishi Outlander is better 🤣😄