Subaru is one of the leading family truck brands, especially for those with a more adventurous bent. In recent years, models like the Outback and Crosstrek have become hugely popular models for people who want an SUV without the bulk. The Forester remains the mainstay of the Subaru SUV. However, we rarely hear the Subaru faithful talk about the Subaru Ascent. Why is that? For such a great car brand, why is there a Subaru model that no one seems to want?
Is the Subaru Ascent a good SUV?
2023 comes highly recommended by Consumer Reports. His road test landed at the top of the charts in his category. It even scored higher than the much-loved 2023 Subaru Outback on the test drive. It’s comfortable, roomy, and the ride is said to be better than some luxury competitors. The Subaru dark horse is also fuel efficient due to its turbocharged four-cylinder. Like most Subaru of its type, it is very slow.
So if the 2023 Subaru Ascent is so good, why don’t we see them or at least hear more about them? Consumer Reports has found out.
How reliable is the 2023 Subaru Ascent?
The Ascent scored worse than all of its brand peers in just two categories: predicted reliability and predicted owner satisfaction. These two scores tend to mirror each other. No matter how good a car is in other ways, if you’re experiencing a lot of problems, chances are you’re not happy with the car overall.
For the 2022 model year, the Ascent has made great improvements in reliability since 2019. However, Subaru continues to have issues with the car’s brakes, bodywork, and electronics.
Factoring in the issues that cropped up on the 2022 models, Consumer Reports rated it just 3 out of 5 for reliability. Following suit, Consumer Reports asked existing Ascent owners if they would repurchase to indicate customer satisfaction.
On average, more than 75 percent of owners liked the driving experience, more than 80 percent liked the comfort, but only 59 percent found that the money they spent reflected the value of the car. This last figure shows that almost half of Subaru Ascent owners were not satisfied with the product, given the money they spent.
Should you buy a 2023 Subaru Ascent?
This is a question that only you can answer. The facts are that Subaru makes some of the safest and most reliable cars on the market these days. There aren’t many better options than a Subaru SUV for young families who need to bring a few kids and still want something contemporary, fun, and adventurous. However, the Ascent’s spotty reliability and owner satisfaction has given many buyers pause. As a result, the popularity of models like the Forester, Outback, and the little Crosstrek has skyrocketed.
Given the state of the current car market, perhaps the Ascent could be bought without battling dealer markups and long waits as one would expect with more popular models.