Business Fleet, September/October 2018

WWW BUSINESSFLEET COM 17 BUSINESS FLEET September October 2018 The brand new 2019 Subaru Ascent is the automakers biggest vehicle yet extending its offerings from the BRZ Coupe through the Forester and Outback crossovers into a full fledged three row SUV The Ascent sits in a crowded midsized three row SUV category alongside the likes of Ford Explorer Toyota Highlander Chevrolet Traverse Dodge Journey Nissan Pathfinder Mazda CX 9 Volkswagen Atlas and Honda Pilot In other words Subaru needed to spread the love to compete in an important American segment The engine for all trim levels is a 24 liter turbocharged four cylinder that produces 260 horsepower That might give potential buyers pause compared to the six cylinder standard offerings of its competitors However the Ascent never felt underpowered even with kids and gear Its also rated to tow 5000 pounds which is on the higher side for the segment That said the EPA rated fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg highway on our Limited trim model 21 27 mpg for the base and Premium trims doesnt particularly stand out in the competitive set We only averaged 174 mpg over a couple hundred miles of city and highway driving On the safety front Subaru sets itself apart by offering active safety features as standard such as pre collision braking and throttle management lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto The Ascent looks like a Subaru the brawniest of the bunch Fleets in inclement weather states gravitate toward Subaru for its ground clearance and allwheel drive capabilities The Ascent is no exception Interior dimensions are about average for the segment but space is accessed more easily with easily foldable and sliding second row seats Selecting captains chairs for the second row is a great idea for those wanting frequent access to the third row though the third row doesnt offer any extra space surprises Like every third row in the category its best used for kids needing a timeout In fitting with the categorys wide price range the Ascent runs from just under 32000 MSRP for the base model to more than 45000 for the Touring edition With standard AWD Ascent can claim at least a 2000 price savings over the competitions premium for four wheel drive The Outback wont get a major overhaul until 2020 So for fleet users in the Subaru family who want the inclement weather security features latest technology and a step up into extra space the Ascent is a good bet BY CHRIS BROWN 2019 SUBARU ASCENT