Family Ties: 2022 Subaru Ascent Buyers Guide

Sometimes it seems like the coolest cars don’t accommodate families, which can create a temptation to have the “family car” and the “nice car.” The Subaru Ascent is designed to disrupt this pattern, and the new 2022 model has made significant improvements upon the finer design elements of the Ascent by introducing a brand new trim – the Onyx Edition. Now, there remain four other trims to choose from, so if the Onyx doesn’t speak to you, there are plenty of other directions to go with the Ascent. Here at Richard Lucas Subaru, we want to be more than your local NJ Subaru Ascent dealer; we want to help you make the best, most informed decision that will suit your family’s needs and assure that you feel good about the money spent on your vehicle. So, without further ado, here is our Buyers Guide:

Family-Friendly Design

Yes, this really is an SUV designed for the family. It may look like a small SUV from the outside, but the Ascent comes with both 7-passenger and 8-passenger options, depending upon the trim (more details below). The 153.3 cubic feet of passenger space ensures that this three-row SUV does not feel too cramped, especially as the kids grow older and they need extra legroom. Even with all of this interior space, the Ascent maintains a relatively compact exterior for an SUV, which keeps it from being too much of a monstrosity on suburban roads.

An Eye Towards Durability

The Ascent is built to last you and your family a long time. Let’s face it: you have other expenses, and you don’t want to spend your money on new cars or car repairs when that money could be spent on family vacations, taking the kids out, and so on. It may bring you peace of mind to know that 96% of Subarus sold in the last decade are still on the road. So, if you do your part and don’t abuse your car too much, your car will last you a good long while and let you spend your money on your family rather than the car.

Now, speaking of family vacations, your Subaru Ascent may play a part in those family vacations, especially if you like road-tripping. The Ascent comes with standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive (AWD), giving this car excellent traction for a safe, stable, and secure ride in all manner of weather conditions – be it snow, sleet, rain, or even a pleasant ride in the sun. Unlike other SUVs that have AWD added as an afterthought, Subaru bakes symmetrical AWD into the design of every SUV it builds, allowing for superior performance.

This family-oriented vehicle isn’t a wimpy little SUV designed for the sole purpose of transporting the family to and from school activities; it seriously holds its own on the road. The 2.4-L turbocharged boxer engine charges the Ascent with 260 horsepower, 277 lb-ft of torque, and 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. The engine is paired with a Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission, offering an 8-speed manual mode and steering wheel paddle shifters for control in all road conditions.

Trims with 18-inch wheels offer an EPA-rated fuel economy of 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, while 20-inch wheels offer 20 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. It might sound like a small difference, but it adds up over time. Either way, the Ascent provides solid fuel economy for a three-row AWD SUV.

Five Trims to Choose From

The Ascent offers five trims: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring, and the Onyx Edition, which is a brand new edition for 2022. For any newcomers to Subaru, you may not know where to begin with this information, so here is a helpful breakdown.

Base

The Ascent Base will be listed simply as the Ascent. It makes up the basic key features of the Ascent without some of the finer details of the other trims and thus offers the lowest price with an MSRP of just over $30,000. The Ascent Base is an 8-passenger model with 18-inch wheels. The Base does not have the full towing capacity of the higher-level models, but if you don’t require such towing capacity, the Base will be the most economical option for you.

Premium

The Ascent Premium adds to the Ascent Base by providing the option of either 7 or 8 seats with the choice of a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs. The Premium offers extra safety features by including Subaru Starlink Safety and Security as well as the All-Weather Package. For those of you who are looking for higher towing capacity, the Premium (and all the subsequent models) offer towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

As far as convenience goes, the Premium provides rear-seat climate controls and heated front seats, so everybody should be able to settle into a temperature that is comfortable for them. While we’re talking about convenience, we will note that this trim comes with optional 4G LTE Wi-Fi. You may want this if you suspect you’ll be traveling quite often and working from the car – it’s also a great way to keep the kids occupied during road trips.

Because of these extra features, the Ascent Premium comes at an MSRP of nearly $35,000. A little more expensive, yes; but if the extra features seem beneficial to you and your family, then it may be worth the extra money.

Onyx Edition

Now we arrive at the newest addition to the Ascent lineup. The sleek, black look is in right now, and you get just that with the brand-new 2022 Ascent Onyx Edition. The Onyx is a 7-seat trim that comes with 20-inch wheels and includes a unique interior featuring StarTex water-repellent material, making for much easier cleanup. Additionally, the Onyx builds upon the Premium trim’s features by adding standard Push-Button Start and PIN-code vehicle access, a smart-dimming rearview mirror, and reverse automatic braking.

Let’s pause for a moment. Perhaps you are taken by these new features on the Onyx but want to save some for something else and feel the Premium would be more budget-friendly. Something that we will note here is that the Premium offers an optional package that includes Push-Button Start, Power Rear Gate, Reverse Automatic braking (the new features to the Onyx), plus an Auto-Dimming Mirror with HomeLink. So, this package would bring the price of the Premium up to just below that of the Onyx Edition while providing most of the same features. Keep in mind, though, that this would take away the potential for 8-passenger seating.

However, to build upon the standard features of the Onyx, we are offering a package that includes a panoramic moonroof (a feature standard on the Touring trim, which both little kids and the young at heart will find awesome), built-in navigation, and retractable cargo cover. What’s exciting about the Onyx Edition is that, unlike a lot of new trims, the Onyx is not the most expensive option but is placed in the mid-range of the lineup, allowing you to have the newest trim for a more affordable price.

Limited

The Ascent Limited, like the Onyx Edition, builds upon the Premium trim. But, rather than go into the details, we’d like to let you in on a little buyer’s guide tip: Ultimately, you will likely find that the biggest difference between the Onyx and the Limited is that the Limited has leather-trimmed upholstery and offers 8-passenger seating. By purchasing the Onyx, you not only obtain the newest features and styles, but you can also save a couple of thousand dollars. It’s up to you, but we want to help you make the best purchase that you can.

Touring

The Touring trim, on the other hand, does offer significantly different features, mostly pertaining to style and technology. This 7-seat trim offers STARLINK Multimedia Navigation, a 180-degree front-view mirror, a state-of-the-art 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a cherry on top: a standard panoramic power moonroof. Yes, this is the most expensive trim, but your in-car experience will be improved because of it.

Choose Your Ascent

We hope that by now that you’re able to see why the Ascent is so highly rated. It provides a comfortable and efficient family experience, whether you are taking the kids to school or setting out on a wilderness adventure. Even better, it will still look good pulling up to the valet line when you leave the kids with the babysitter. With its five dynamic trims, we are sure that you’ll be able to find a version of this model that suits both your needs and your price range. Feel free to come on over to Richard Lucas Subaru, and we’ll get you inside a 2022 Ascent for a test drive!