Subaru officially announced the pricing and details of the all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent, marking their grand entry into the three-row SUV segment. As the largest Subaru ever crafted, the Ascent is engineered to deliver a superior driving experience, blending a spacious interior with flexible seating and cutting-edge safety and technology features. For families seeking the pinnacle of comfort and sophistication, the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring trim stands out as the premier choice.
The Ascent, built upon a reinforced and extended Subaru Global Platform, is powered by a dynamic 2.4-liter BOXER engine. This robust SUV is equipped with a newly developed high-torque Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, all encased in a design that exudes both style and ruggedness. While the base models boast impressive fuel economy, the Touring and Limited trims, often equipped with larger 20” wheels, offer a slightly adjusted but still competitive fuel efficiency. However, for drivers prioritizing top-tier features and luxury, the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring offers an unmatched blend of amenities and capabilities.
Unrivaled Family Space and Versatility
The 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring is truly designed with family in mind. Its expansive 113.8-inch wheelbase creates the most spacious Subaru interior to date, offering a massive 153.5 cubic feet of passenger volume and up to 86.5 cubic feet of cargo space. This ensures ample room for passengers and all their gear, making family road trips and daily commutes equally comfortable. The rear doors open wide to 75 degrees, providing easy access to the third row – a crucial feature for parents managing car seats and children. Inside the cabin, you’ll find an astonishing 19 cup and bottle holders, ensuring everyone stays hydrated and organized on the go.
The Subaru Global Platform underpins the Ascent, contributing to enhanced stability, agile handling, and superior ride comfort. This platform, with its optimized framework and stiffened joints, also excels at minimizing noise, vibration, and harshness. The 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring further enhances the quiet cabin experience with advanced soundproofing, including an acoustic windshield and front door glass, creating a serene environment for both driver and passengers.
Versatility is a key aspect of the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring. It offers up to nine distinct seating configurations, with 60/40 split flat-folding seats in the second and third rows, maximizing cargo space when needed. The Touring trim comes standard with second-row captain’s chairs, providing a luxurious 7-passenger configuration and easier access to the third row. Roof rails are also standard, ready to accommodate a range of accessories for bikes, kayaks, and extra cargo, further enhancing the Touring model’s practicality for active families.
Performance and Capability Tuned for Adventure
The 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring delivers a perfect balance of SUV capability and car-like driving dynamics. Standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, combined with Active Torque Vectoring and 18-inch wheels, ensures confident handling in various driving conditions. The impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance surpasses many SUVs in its class, yet the Ascent maintains a comfortable step-in height for both front and rear passengers.
At the heart of the Ascent Touring is the all-new 2.4-liter BOXER engine. This engine leverages direct fuel injection, high compression, Dual Active Valve Control System (DAVCS), a twin-scroll turbocharger, and an intercooler to achieve both powerful performance and efficiency. It produces 260 horsepower and a robust 277 lb-ft of torque across a wide rpm range, ensuring responsive acceleration and ample power for daily driving and highway cruising. The high-torque Lineartronic CVT, featuring an 8-speed manual mode with paddle shifters, and X-Mode with Hill Descent Control, are also standard, providing enhanced control in various terrains and conditions. Notably, the Ascent boasts a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs, the highest of any Subaru to date, making the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring ready for family adventures that include trailers or boats. Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) further enhances towing confidence by mitigating trailer sway through selective braking.
Staying connected is easy in the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring with available in-car Wi-Fi via high-speed 4G LTE. SUBARU STARLINK Connected Services offer a range of features, including remote engine start (via smartphone), concierge services, anti-theft immobilizer, and child safety features like geofencing and speed alerts. The Safety Plus package adds SOS emergency assistance, automatic collision notification, maintenance alerts, and vehicle health reports. Upgrading to Safety Plus & Security Plus includes stolen vehicle recovery, remote lock/unlock, and vehicle locator, adding peace of mind for Touring owners.
Top-Tier Safety Features for Peace of Mind
Safety is paramount in the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring, and it comes standard with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. This suite includes Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management. The Touring trim also features the EyeSight Assist Monitor (EAM), projecting system warnings and status onto the windshield for easy driver awareness. Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are also standard on the Touring, further enhancing driver awareness. High Beam Assist automatically manages headlight beams for optimal visibility without dazzling other drivers. Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) is another key safety feature, automatically applying brakes if an obstacle is detected while reversing.
Inside, the Ascent Touring is equipped with Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side pelvis/torso airbags, and side curtain airbags covering all three rows. Brake Assist and Brake Override System are also standard, ensuring maximum braking effectiveness and preventing unintended acceleration.
Touring Trim: The Peak of Ascent Luxury
The 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring sits at the top of the Ascent trim lineup, distinguished by exclusive styling and premium features. Building upon the well-equipped Limited trim, the Touring model adds satin silver side mirrors with integrated turn signals, chrome door handles, and unique chrome accents on the front and rear.
Inside, the Touring trim elevates the interior with luxurious Java Brown leather seats and upholstery, an upgraded leather heated steering wheel, and woodgrain-pattern matte finish trim. Ventilated front seats with three modes enhance comfort in any climate. A 120-volt power outlet and up to 8 USB ports ensure all devices stay charged. The Touring also includes the 8.0-inch Multimedia Navigation system, a premium Harman Kardon Quantum Logic surround sound system with 14 speakers, a panoramic power moonroof, and rain-sensing wipers. For enhanced visibility, the Touring features a Smart Rear-View Mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces easier and safer.
Priced at $44,695 (MSRP), the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring represents the pinnacle of the Ascent range, offering a comprehensive suite of luxury, safety, and technology features designed to cater to the most discerning families. Built in the USA at Subaru’s Indiana plant, alongside the Outback, Legacy, and Impreza, the Ascent Touring embodies Subaru’s commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. For families seeking a three-row SUV that doesn’t compromise on space, performance, safety, or luxury, the 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring is an exceptional choice.
