Subaru Ascent vs Subaru Outback (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$5,800
- Ascent: 80 hp more, 2,300 lb more towing.
- Outback: $5,800 cheaper, 5 mpg better.
- Ascent wins 6 of 13 measures.
| Measure | Ascent | Outback | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $42,245 | $36,445 | Outback |
| Horsepower | 260 hp | 180 hp | Ascent |
| Torque | 277 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft | Ascent |
| MPG combined | 22 mpg | 27 mpg | Outback |
| Cargo, max | 75.6 cu ft | 80.5 cu ft | Outback |
| Cargo, seats up | 42.1 cu ft | 34.6 cu ft | Ascent |
| Rear legroom | 38.6 in | 39.5 in | Outback |
| Front legroom | 42.2 in | 43.0 in | Outback |
| Length | 196.8 in | 191.7 in | Not scored |
| Width | 71.7 in | 74.0 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 4,449 lb | 3,741 lb | Not scored |
| Towing | 5,000 lb | 2,700 lb | Ascent |
| Seats | 8 | 5 | Ascent |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | About the same |
| 0-60 mph | 6.8 s estimate | 7.9 s estimate | Ascent |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | About the same |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Ascent Premium AWD $40,795 | Outback Limited AWD $41,715 | $920 |
| Outback Premium AWD $34,995 | Ascent Premium 7-Passenger AWD $40,795 | $5,800 |
Cost to run
Outback costs $7,739 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Ascent | Outback |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $42,245 | $36,445 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,745 | $1,422 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $10,473 | $8,533 |
| Total, 6 years | $52,718 | $44,978 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Ascent wins.
Outback wins if Towing weight is 0 or less.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Outback | 14% |
| MPG | Outback | 19% |
| Power | Ascent | 31% |
| Space | Outback | 6% |
| Towing | Ascent | 46% |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree