While other manufacturers are churning out small SUVs, Subaru is offering a family-sized SUV. The Ascent is a 7-passenger (or 8, if you choose it) SUV with symmetrical all-wheel drive, a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, a mind-boggling 19 cup holders and 72.6 cubic feet of available cargo space. It competes with Ford Explorer and similar SUVs. If you’re in need of that kind of vehicle, the Ascent is something you should definitely check out.

To begin with, let’s make sure we understand what the Ascent is and what it isn’t. It is not an economy vehicle; although, its affordability isn’t terrible. It will do 25 miles to the gallon and starts at a reasonable $35,000. The base Ascent gives you the choice of cloth or leather seats and includes a 260-hp engine, AWD and EyeSight® driver assist technology. EyeSight® includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, sway warning, pre-collision braking and pre-collision throttle management.

The Subaru, with its 5-year / 60,000-mile warranty, is a smart financial choice if you want a car that’s fairly luxurious. Subaru brags about the fact that 98% of its vehicles sold in the last ten years are still on the road today, and Subie’s resale values tend to be strong. 

Above the base trim, you have a range of features available to you. Power rear gate, panoramic moonroof, roof rack, 360-degree camera, high-beam assist, remote start, keyless entry, 792-watt (wow!) Harman Kardon audio and heated seats give the Ascent an impressive array of options.

Starlink™ multimedia, with an 8-inch touch screen, comes standard on all Ascents, according to Subaru. It includes compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless pairing and a host of apps such as iHeartRadio and Magellan. TomTom navigation is built in. Along with that, take advantage of dual climate control with controls in the center console, separate from the infotainment system.

Remember, you shouldn’t simply walk into your local Subaru dealership and pay whatever the salesperson asks for. Start by comparing prices from all your local dealers. You can easily negotiate a better price when you have multiple offers in hand.

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