Is the 2026 Subaru Ascent a good car?
Yes.
4 of 7checks
- First car: 3 of 5. Length 196.8 in. Class median 191.6 in.
- Commuter: $126 a month. Class median $111.
- Good buy: 5 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 3 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $126 vs $111 a month |
| Seniors | Yes | 2 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | Yes | 8.7 in, top 22% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 4% below predicted |
| Good buy | No | 5 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the Ascent a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 8 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 38.6 in | Median 38.5 in | 167 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 38.7 in | Median 38.7 in | 168 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 17.6 cu ft | Median 25.2 cu ft | 176 | No |
Is the Ascent a good first car?
No. Passes 3 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,795 | Median $47,693 | 176 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 260 hp | 175 hp to 373 hp | 182 | Yes |
| Length | 196.8 in | Median 191.6 in | 178 | No |
| Turning circle | 38.0 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 14.5 cents | Median 12.8 cents | 179 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the Ascent a good commuter car?
No. $126 a month to commute. Class median $111.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $126
- Median of 179 SUVs
- $111
- Highway mpg
- 26 mpg, top 58% of 139
Is the Ascent a good car for seniors?
Yes. Passes 2 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 8.7 in clearance, 76.0 in tall | 6.9 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.7 to 70.8 in tall | 156 | No |
| Front headroom | 41.2 in | Median 39.9 in | 169 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 38.0 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the Ascent a good off-road vehicle?
Yes. 8.7 in clearance. Top 22% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- Premium 7-Passenger AWD, 8.7 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the Ascent worth the money?
Yes. Priced 4% below cars like it.
- Price, Premium AWD
- $40,795
- Predicted price
- $42,626
- Gap
- -$1,831 (-4%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the Ascent a good buy?
No. 5 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent Premium AWD | $40,795 | 14.5 cents | 75.6 cu ft | 260 hp |
| Hyundai Santa Fe SE FWD | $35,050 | 13.3 cents | 79.6 cu ft | 277 hp |
| Nissan Pathfinder S 2WD | $37,500 | 13.9 cents | 80.5 cu ft | 284 hp |
| Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE FWD | $38,300 | 13.9 cents | 77.6 cu ft | 269 hp |
| Ford Explorer Active w/100A Pkg RWD | $38,465 | 13.3 cents | 85.3 cu ft | 300 hp |
| Volkswagen Atlas SE FWD | $39,310 | 13.9 cents | 96.6 cu ft | 269 hp |
Compared with 1,087 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
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