Subaru’s first-ever eight-seat SUV has been a long time coming, but now it’s finally here and, apparently, it’s got off to a good start.
The Japanese automaker has been taken by surprise by the huge demand: it sold 4,000 Ascents two months before the vehicle even arrived in showrooms. No wonder, given the great value for money it offers.
For a base price of $31,995, buyers get a massive three-row SUV that comes fitted as standard with a 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (yes, it’s got standard AWD when most of its rivals don’t), EyeSight Driver Assist, a three-zone automatic climate control and much more.
It’s also got 19 (!) cupholders, and Doug DeMuro goes through all of them in his detailed video about the Ascent. As expected, he finds other corks about Subaru’s biggest model, such as the Lead Vehicle Moving Monitor function that alerts the driver when the car in front drives off.
Also read: Some Subaru Ascent Owners To Get A Brand-New Model Thanks To A Recall
As you can imagine, the Ascent is immensely practical and versatile. But is the driving experience typical of a Subaru? Well, the reviewer says the Ascent is not sporty at all and complains that the steering feels really vague. The acceleration is decent, but it goes without saying that 260 horsepower can’t do wonders with an SUV that tips the scales at 4,430 lbs (2,009 kg) in base specification.
Overall, the Ascent is a very straightforward vehicle and maybe that’s why people are going crazy for it — and why DeMuro says it’s one of the hottest models on sale today.