Is the 2023 Subaru Ascent a Good Family Car?

Today we are taking a look at the 2023 Subaru Ascent!

I am so excited because I haven’t toured a Subaru in a while. The Ascent came out in 2019 and had a mid-cycle refresh in 2023. I am going to review this car based on multiple aspects. I have three car seats and a stroller and I am here to tell you how family friendly this car is.

In the meantime, check out my 2023 Hyundai Palisade tour here:

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or DM me over on Instagram @the_car_mom

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MY FAVORITE CAR SEATS:

INFANT SEAT:
My kids use this one!

CONVERTIBLE SEAT:
My kids are currently in this one.

ROTATING SEAT:
This is the one!

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[angelas]

The "Fisher-Price" multimedia screen made me LOL. Love your reviews!

[sura-quayarbon]

I have a 2022 Ascent w/captains chairs. It is a great family car. I have 2 kids, 2 adults and 2 100lb dogs plus a very active life style and live in a rural area on a daily drive dirt road and tow constantly (also have snow 5-6 months of the year). We regularly carry 3 kids though with family and friends. Oh and this is our 2nd Ascent LOL we had a 2020 with 2nd row bench but Subaru actually asked us to trade it in during Covid when used cars were going crazy and they gave us a better deal for a newer vehicle with more accessories! We regularly use our 3rd row because we have our kids friends with us and random adults. Big thing people don't talk about is how adjustable the 2nd row and 3rd rows are (3rd row even reclines), makes it a lot more versatile. We have comfortably fit 7 people: 4 adults and 3 kids. I have also fit a mix of booster seats and car seats with even an adult in the middle seat of the 3rd row and they could stretch legs fully out and not hit their head on the ceiling. We actually have looked at the Telluride but while nice interior and a great idea for suburbia it is not lasting on wear and tear for those in rural areas who daily drive on dirt roads and have intense winter weather (our friend went to the Telluride from a Subaru and keeps having things break - they are also having an issue as Kia advertising that it can tow but they did not build the 2022 forward to accept a hitch and don't have any wiring installed).

[rellagreen]

Your last review of the Ascent is the reason I bought one! I love my Ascent, it is a 2022 Touring and it works great for two kids and two dogs. We live close to Tahoe and the safety features are my favorite thing especially during this time of year. The X-Mode definitely came is handy this last weekend. Thanks for the review Kelly!

[SierrawithaT]

I think the final clip was forgotten, it ends abruptly. That has happened with a few of your videos in recent months. Just letting you know in case it wasn’t on purpose 🙂

[janicebryan]

The Ascent manual also states the captain chairs need to be slid all the way back when a carseat is installed. It leaves no leg room of any kind for the backseat. I agree it's an excellent 4 person vehicle.

[cristianstriblea]

We have an 2019 Subaru Ascent and we are happy with her .
Never had a problem with her . Subaru extended CVT transmission warranty till 2008 or 100, 000 miles ( since they had som issues ) .
The X drive is amazing on snow or rain …

[mckenna]

I love Subaru’s. I’m here for them to keep improving, in some areas. Applause to what they’re doing well.

[MegaRetr]

Wow awesome Subaru thanks for this video 😊

[chrisruddy]

The velcro straps on the back of the 3rd row seats also hold up the underfloor storage cover.

[katharinedominguez]

We just got our brand new 2023 Ascent Onyx Ltd (in white). We have an almost 7.5 yr old that JUST moved to a high back booster (Britax Highpoint) and a 5 yr old in a harness (Britax Grow with You ClickTight Plus - it’s BIG). The seats fit great and we absolutely LOVE our Ascent. We have a 2021 Forester and the Ascent is our 3rd Subaru, so maybe we are partial, lol. We just love Subaru’s safety features and the way they handle in all types of weather. ❤️

We also only really like the Forester and Ascent because of the interior (boxy) space/headroom and visibility. We do not like how the Outback compares at all… for us!! 😊

[Ididntwantayoutubehandl]

I'm really surprised as a CPST you didn't check the owner's manual for how car seats are supposed to be installed. I was planning to buy the ascent, luckily saw a random comment online stating the manual says you just move 2nd row seats all the way back on the slide when installing car seats. So if you have 2 kids in car seats, your 2nd row has to be slid all the way back and the 3rd row becomes unusable. It's literally some kind of sick joke. I'm angry at Subaru for this.

[keeli]

Love my ascent but hate that the new ones have that infontianment screen! It’s so distracting to have to use an IPad while driving for climate control features

[amyk.p.]

We were between the Ascent and the Telluride when we bought our vehicle in 2021 and I wanted the Ascent, my husband wanted the Telluride. We went with the Telluride in the end but my sibling went with the Ascent (her's is a 2023). We have two kids (one in a Nuna Aace booster and one that just got out of a booster), my sibling as one kid that is in a Britax 5-point forward facing Pioneer. I am 5'6" and have ridden in the third row in both vehicles (several times) and the Telluride has more space back there and is easier to get in and out of when climbing between the captains chairs....I really had to squeeze in the Ascent between the two and felt like I had to duck lower. The cargo space between the third row in both vehicles, the Telluride beats the Ascent in that area as well. The seats also had more cushion in the Telluride (in all three rows).

So while I love the Subaru Ascent, we are now 45k miles into our Telluride and we are happy we went with that over the Ascent. It may be what we switch to after our kids are grown and we are not using the 3rd row at all. Our third row does get used occasionally for friends/family/carpool but it definitely gives them more leg room while still giving a lot more cargo space in the rear with it up.

[MotionMayer]

What do you think about Lucid gravity?

[katepolster]

In stories or another video could you walk through the different trim level features… thinking I’d want an 8 passenger (primarily used for 4 people but optional 5th, with back row as trunk) … over a 7 🤔

[Ididntwantayoutubehandl]

Was this not supposed to go live yet? It just ends, we don't get a summary or trim levels or anything.

[piperpirate]

Do you think 3 cars seats across could be possible with the bench in middle row?

[sevenflashowls]

Car and Driver rates the Ascent at #28 in its class. That seems unfair, but the competition is really good.

[Lumatati]

Love the inside but the front exterior is a little weird to me. Wish it was more boxy and masculine looking

[Kyle]

Split screen mumbo jumbo, not the vibe 😂😂😂