2023 Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Highlander - Symmetrical AWD vs Torque Vectoring AWD Slip Test!
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- We compare the Toyota Highlander and Subaru Ascent, including a closer look at the all-wheel drive systems.
Let us know what you think of this Subaru and Toyota below.
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First-time Subaru owner - I bought an Ascent after being a huge fan of the Highlander for over a year. The value in this ridiculous market and ability to handle well in snow, along with knowing so many people who loved theirs made me decide to give them a try. So far, so good! This review gave me a bit more confidence that I made the right choice so thank you!
We have a Subaru ascent since 2019 and never had one problem with her. Now she has 70,000 miles and besides tire changed didn’t need anything .( it may be due for first change of brake pads soon )
@@cristianstriblea792 I've seen so many people in forums who've had issues with the 2019. I'm glad you're not part of that group! I'm still trying to figure out if mine fits the bill for what I need it to do - camping and hauling. If not, I will most likely be trading it in for a truck.
Owning both a Subaru and Toyota, I’m much more comfortable in adverse weather conditions in the Subaru.
I didn't buy Subaru because of a famous engine oil leak. Subaru (boxer engine ) often happens after a few years or after 60000km. It'll cost $2000 to fix it. I don't understand why nobody talks about this.
I’ve had five Subarus over a period of 30 years (put 321,000 miles on my Forester) and never experienced the oil leak you describe.
@@youknowme...1840 Leaks, no. Burns oil, yes. Very minimal though.
@@youknowme...1840 60k on outback, 65k on wrx no oil leaks. Maybe burns some more but VERY minimal.
People keep bringing up Subaru oil leaks/gaskets but it hasn’t been a problem foe more than a decade!
I haven’t driven the Toyota but I own a Subaru (2022 Outback, same AWD system), and with the nasty weather we had in Toronto throughout January and February, that thing ruled! It gives you so much confidence and control. You see other cars struggle to get through unplowed roads and for the Subaru it’s a cakewalk
same! except i took a road trip from NC, USA to CO, USA. (about 1800 miles/2900km~) during late december/ early January. There was a TON of snow in colorado, especially in the mountains where i stayed. i was at an AirBNB and the road to the airbnb wasnt plowed, AND it was on a pretty decent grade. the person living next to me couldnt get up due to the slope. me and 3 others had to help push him up. I forgot the make and model of the car but it was also AWD.
but anyway, then as i was leaving, my subaru went up and only the front right wheel slipped for like half a second and thats it! I was using stock tires, too.
Yes it is because of the symmetrical awd.
What if one of the tyres got punctured or deflated? good luck with the locking system. Subaru’s awd is one the lowest tolerance in the rim differential. It means you will have to replace all 4 sets if one of tyres becomes not repairable.
I agree, in 2018 i was shopping for a new suv, could not decide between outback and highlander so bought both. They both have great qualities but the outback is like the best of all worlds, best vehicle i ever had in the snow, handles better than any suv and i would argue better than most care. I just love it
Subaru Outback model XT is simply wonderful!
I wonder if a Honda Pilot-Subaru would be as good?
I own my third Subaru Forester, and truthfully wouldn't drive anything else in harsh winter conditions. The confidence it provides is unbeatable.
Have you ever experienced an engine oil leak? Subaru (boxer engine ) often happens after a few years or after 60000km.
@@youknowme...1840 96,000 miles on our '15 Forester Touring & it's as dry underneath as the day it was built. It's halfway through it's 3rd set of tires, it's on it's 2nd battery, and the only other expense besides general maintenance was a rear wheel bearing and new rear brakes @ 90,000 miles.
@@youknowme...1840 My chev was a POS and leaked and consumed oil constantly. Everything electrical broke! Subaru is nothing but excellent
Thank you again for showing the child car seat. To a lot of parents with young children still in child seats it's something we always think of but no one shows or talks about.
You're spot on with this one. I've watched so many car reviews and none of them talk about car seats unless you include "mom review" in the search
Once a Subaru owner always will be buying Subaru. I'm currently rocking in my Ascent and it's a little beast. I use adaptive cruise control 90% of the time, it's great for long road trip and superb in rush hours traffic. If Subaru ever make a minivan I will be the first to preorder it.
I just ordered a ‘23 ascent touring my wife really seems to like it. We went with brown leather I was a little skeptical and heard a lot of negatives but my brothers swear by the brand and I figured what the heck. I really thought it drove well. I guess there just seems to be a lot of Subaru haters and then there’s a lot of Subaru lovers. Torque heads seem to do nothing but diss the brand. I have different priorities in my life now than just insane levels of torque and what not. So thanks for letting me know you like it.
I also would love to see a Subaru minivan. I would get one also.
@@timkc1638 hardcore Subaru addict here….1st, yes Subaru is such a great capable brand to own….2nd, yes there are haters out there who know nothing about nothing….3rd, most of the hate have to do with the CVT…..again haters who just want to hate because CVT Subarus can off-road just as good if not better then old Subarus….I have over 300 videos on my channel to prove it!!!!
Great review.....
I just bought a ascent to be delivered in sept.. I’m surprised that you use the cruise control in rush hour. My current car, cx9, is not smart enough to do this. I’m excited to try it
I will take Subaru. My Outback handles bad weather like nothing else I owned. I feel so safe and comfortable in bad weather conditions.
All though the Subaru doesn’t come with a wireless charger as a standard, mine did come with one as a dealer installed option and they can be added after the sale as well. We love our 2023 Ascent Touring!
We just bought one this week. Picking it up on Friday!
Just bought a 2023 highlander, it's great in the snow .
What I don't like is under hard accelerating, it's got torque steer because it is heavily weighted front drive .
I have a 2023 Subaru Ascent Touring with the optional wireless charger. We test drove several SUVs including the Toyota and opted for the Ascent hands down.
A friend of mine from Houston moved up north. He always remarked on how the Subarus were always zooming around on snow-covered roads when everyone else was slipping and sliding.
Have owned both brands, not the Ascent but an Outback and Forester and you really notice the lower centre of gravity of the boxer engine. No one is going to track these cars but the Highlander has a horrible turning radius and the Subs generally are way better in this regard. I think the AWD on the Subs really help with all driving experiences. My Toyota always dives into corners. Thanks for the vid.
2023 Highlander is a bit longer body than our last, 2006, but turning circle (often misstated as radius) at 37.4' is the same. And that is a quarter foot tighter than the Ascent FWIW.
Wow, a minor celebrity sighting while car shopping...
Get the sport package, stiffer suspension.
I test drove the Toyota Highlander a half hour before trying the Subaru Ascent, which I bought, so you know I agree with your assessment. My wife had so much trouble climbing up into my 2005 F150 for the past 17 years that I finally took pity and decided to downsize. I'd tried an Explorer a week prior. I'm 6'3" and 245 lbs. The Explorer center console hit a pressure point on the outside of my right knee. So not good for long drives. The Highlander had an even tighter cockpit plus hit pressure points on both knees. After that, instead of looking at features I found myself trying on cars like shoes. The Subaru was much roomier and the shape of the console creates no problems with pressure points. That, plus Subaru's reputation was good enough for me. I had no clue how many features this car had until I got home and started going through the Quick-Start guide. I didn't even know it had paddle shifters until I was driving home. I like the way the thigh bolster not only supports thighs but also captures and contains crumbs while snacking on long drives for easier cleanup later (that's not in the Quick-Start guide). The rear seat is designed to convince kids to grow up and move out sooner. (Also not in the Quick-Start guide). I did not use the CD player much in my truck but one thing, unlike satellite radio, it never stopped playing when I stopped under an overpass. I've had the car for six days now, maybe I should go pop the hood (bonnet) and see what the engine looks like... I know what you are wondering, so why did I buy this car if I knew nothing about it? Because my wife liked the color.
The color 🤣
I’m roughly the same size, a tad taller heavier, and your right about trying on cars like shoes. Yes I know the highlander is the most practical choice but do I really want a car that lasts 20 years if I’m uncomfortable after 20 minutes
Wait til there's a blizzard. You'll dislocated your shoulder from patting yourself on the back so much! We have a Tundra and a Forester. The Subaru is superior in snow.
@@sharkskin3448 I live North of San Francisco. Might be a long wait for a blizzard. Southern California just had their first tropical storm in almost a century so stranger things have happened. My new Subaru is now our old Subaru. My wife just got a new Forester. When that blizzard hits, we're ready.
@@patricklundquist9869 mud slides?🤷🏼♂️
Great review! Thanks for showing and talking about how car seats would fit. I'm leaning toward the Subaru.
Great comparison and commentary. I am a Subaru owner but both of these are on our list. This was a helpful side by side.
Thanks for the informative review. We're on our second Subaru and just LOVE the full-time 4WD, particularly with a nice set of proper A/T's (Falken Wildpeaks work amazingly). Also, wireless charging in the Ascent is an available option, so you have that covered 👍
I have the 22 limited subaru. I do love my Subaru Ascent!! I rode in a Highlander for a trip last year. It was very nice but I was in the 2nd row seat. It was nice, but I felt cramped. I have ridden in the back seat of my Subaru. Not for a long trip, but for an hour trip. The door has better storage. I like thar upper cup holder. I do have the bucket seats so I was more comfortable. It felt roomer for some reason. I did add a console in the back. I do like we did that. All I needed was more cup holders!! Actually it was for my dogs when I use the hammock seat cover so they don’t fall in a hole. I use the extra storage bin as as well. To have some things on hand. However.. the dogs have been ban from the car since they shed so bad. We have taken my daughters family out and they said it was very comfortable. Even the kids in back liked it back there. Even my inlaws loved it the second seat because it was such a smooth ride and comfortable. The wide backdoor is easier for everyone to get in and out.
I’ve seen this in action on snow and ice on a modest incline driving home from boarding. we had to start up the hill which was also slightly sloped right to left: our outback was started moving immediately without a tire breaking traction and the Toyota Highlander in front of us (driven by my friend)broke the front tires free causing his front end to slide left/downhill and then the back tires kicked in and also broke free causing him to slide slowly sideways and backwards down the hill until he ended up against the plowed snowbank at the shoulder. He ended up needing to back down the hill until it flattened out and make one entire run because if he stopped on any incline, he couldn’t start again. He bought an Ascent over summer 😂 Best part was there were early 90s Subarus cruising around no problem that same day while all the other makes and models, other than some earlier 2000s Volvos, we’re struggling in the conditions and sliding everywhere
This my thought and experience. Even when I had a Jeep this was common in mid and snow. We opted for the 2023 Ascent Touring edition and haven't looked back. Although the model and color we wanted was hard to find, we finally found one in Kennesaw, Ga.
@@AS-pm2ng I’ve had a myriad of vehicles with different AWD and 4WD systems in them. My jeep grand Cherokee was worse than my RWD ‘88 Volvo sedan in slick conditions like plowed down to hard pack snowy roads. So far nothing beats the Subarus I’ve owned including the 2 5spds and my wife’s CVT outback; nothing beats the full time directly proportional center differential design with no side to side offset for balance.
Great reviews, as always. Thanks guys. The "eyesight" system is a little unnerving but like you say, it's a welcomed safety feature... especially on longhaul journeys when whiteline fever sets in.
We just bought a 2023 Ascent Premium and love it.
Great comparison, we have the Ascent Touring model 2023. The choices for us came down to the Toyota and Ascent. Ascent won out. My wife is the main driver and the sightlines for the Subaru are just way better. Other interesting tidbits were the factory installed hitch as we need to tow with the vehicle. The Toyota hitch was expensive and does not come with a 7 pin connector. The Subaru has both. Kind of nuts that the factory OEM Toyota hitch does not have it. It was suggested to get it installed after market.....no way in hell I would buy a $50K + vehicle and put on a 7 pin after market towing electrical pin. One thing I hate about our Subaru is the side bolsters, they are to small (or I have a big ass). Really hate that. Fixed by getting a small seat cushion. Overall in a Manitoba winter it will perform better than the Toyota. Gas mileage is ok as per the video. Either one would be a good choice, but for smaller women the sight lines in the Subaru might be the biggest deciding factor. It was for us
You are so right about the side bolstering. I test drove an Outback and our son's Forester and they are too narrow. Not so much, I find, on the Ascent. I asked salesman if he had heard comments from others about this narrow seat deal and he had.......
This helps a bunch. My wife is looking at replacing her 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum and the Ascent w/Touring Package keeps coming to the top of her list.
Excellent, simple and straight forward review. It is Thumbs up Subaru ascent for overall value.
Absolutely sold on the Highlander. It's an SUV, not made for speed but made for a great ride. That being said, a fast engine will give you the speed but not the fuel mileage. You choose. Love the rear brake rotors which are just like the front as opposed to the single fanless disk. Wish they mentioned that. 😊
Excellent review as usual guys thanks for the great content
You bet
Nice to see you adding the slip test.
I wonder how the Highlander would do on the slip test in AWD mode? Otherwise a very fair comparison between vehicles.
@@benspindler8768 Probably Not as good as Subaru in "X- mode" 😉
I love my AWD Subaru especially in the rain in Florida gets very slick and it works great on the wet roads in Florida
Bought a new 2021 Subaru Ascent, have 31K miles now with highway driving consistently average between 31 and 32 mpg. Used to have a 2019 Forester and even though the Ascent is guite a bit heavier than the Forester the mileage not much less.
Both great brands & vehicles. Subaru gets my vote.
To add on to the drive monitoring system, the Subaru Ascent has the option of having up to five profiles. It will scan your face as your sitting down and automatically detect whoa driving the vehicle. Also, for the wireless charge, it is an option on the Ascent.
I’ve had both a Subaru with S-AWD and a 2021 highlander platinum AWD with torque vectoring. Both of them felt well planted in adverse weather conditions. However, when off the beaten path, the TV-AWD of the highlander has some clever tricks up its sleeves to ensure you never slip a tire, even starting up a gravelly hill from a stop like I did. It’s wicked capable.
Planning to buy Highlander hybrid XLE. We are family of 2 (husband and wife). We'll hopefully have kids in 2 years. Do you think it's worth it to buy Highlander now? I live in Toronto
I’m very pleased with our Highlander. I would recommend it to anyone with a family or planning for a future family. In particular, the AWD model that I have (non-hybrid) is plenty capable.
@sansinutube That makes sense. As of now, the waiting for Toyota hybrids is crazy.
@sansinutube Rav4 hybrid does not have dynamic torque vectoring at all.
@@shrinidhikulkarni479 You might want to take a look at the New Outlander PEHV ...
I bought my first subaru a month ago and i was so impressed. I've driven the highlander and the honda crvs and pilots but subaru just did it for me. so much so that i went back the next week and traded in my mazda cx9 for another subaru ascent.
Great video! Can you comment on which one has a more comfortable front row passenger seat? Comfort on the seat bottom is a priority for my wife.
Another thing to consider, Being to large sized people sitting in the two different vehicles in the front seat, I noticed that there is more width room in the Subaru. You both appear to be sitting more comfortably as well. Just food for thought. Which one would be more comfortable on a long road trip with the family, or by yourself?
P. S. I'm on my 3rd Subaru with no problems on eithher one of them. Nice video, thanx.
Excellent review. I wonder which will be more reliable over 8 years. And will the turbos fail in time?
The symmetrical and is awesome, I own a 2019 subaru outback and she handle very well in snow and ice especially going up steep hills. My Subaru outback is fantastic on gas very fuel efficient and extremely reliable, I am extremely satisfied
I have a Subaru Ascent although it sucks up for gas its fine. Its almost like v6. But you dont know what kind of scenario you'll be in one sec makes a big difference especially when you have little ones in the car.
I’ve owned one Toyota. My wife and I are on our 7th (her Impreza) and 8th (my WRX) Subaru. I throw the Rex around in the Utah dirt and Colorado mountain snow on the same day without thinking twice.
In the subaru you will also get a pop-up if you take your hands off steering wheel, it will say keep hands on steering wheel
Subaru all day everyday day. Lighter, faster, ground clearance, softnesses, comfort, suspension articulation/travel while staying not boaty. And 10 grand cheeper on average. So what Toyota?
Have you ever experienced an engine oil leak? Subaru (boxer engine ) often happens after a few years or after 60000km.
@@youknowme...1840135k miles on our Subaru and no oil leaks!
These reviews are so well done 👏🏻
Thanks so much!
Enjoyed your review. Have an Outback and Crosstreak, love them.
I've been a Toyota fan since i started researching cars at 14. Reliability was the key to that.
I just bought my first Subaru (a '23 Outback Limited. Wanted the Ascent, love that sunroof, the Dark Mahogany Pearl with brown leather interior! Just couldn't afford it and the garage would have been too tight). If the reliability ends up being similar to Toyota, i think i found my new brand. I really like driving this thing! 19k miles in the first year. Only issue has been some rattling noise in the roof, but they have fixed that. We'll see if anything else comes up over time. Nice job, Subaru!
Interesting test guys, particularly the AWD on rollers. Of course, Subaru has had superior AWD systems for decades and it has been refined and bullet proof. One thing you didn't mention on the road test is the excellent ride of the Ascent, rated highly by Consumer Reports and, I can attest to that. The Highlander is well accepted by the public but, as mentioned, is too highly priced yet a great product. Well done fellows.
Thank you so much guys!! Super helpful!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Traded a 23 Outback Wilderness for a 23 Wrangler unlimited Sahara. Other than the removable top it felt like I moved backwards. Jeep was great as a “toy” but hated kids driving it as it has zero, repeat zero safety technology features. Since my plans for a separate kids car changed, traded the jeep in for a brand new Ascent Onyx Limited. Right away got that same “planted” feel the Outback had. Interior adjustments, room, features all blow away the Wrangler. Add in all the safety tech and a 3rd row as a bonus and although I can’t take the top off it’s 10x more practical and safer for my kids to use.
I’m about to buy a Subaru Ascent Touring. For all the features it has at the price, better value than 4Runner and Highlander. 4Runner more capable off-road sure but I don’t do a lot of that just want something that comfortable handles bad weather whenever I see it
You'll love it.
Thank you for this video, am still in a dilemma between ascent and toyota suv, could you please throw some light on ascent reliability especially the transmission and the oil problem it had..will it hold for long if I decided to buy it..anything to be aware in particular?
Great job guys 👏👏👏.....HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE.....
Family of long-time Toyota owners - Camry in the 90s (over 200K miles), Sequoia in the 00s (over 150K miles), and Sienna in the 10s (currently over 225K miles). After buying a Crosstrek in '22 for our oldest (18), we tried the Ascent (Touring) to replace the Sienna, and compared it to G. Highlander and Mazda CX90. Ended up an easy decision. Ascent checks the boxes - price, safety, ease of driving, and performance in poor road conditions. Plus the first two rows are downright cavernous (I'm 6'8" and fit easily everywhere except the 3rd row - which is only for kids and carpool).
Great explanation on AWD between both.
10k price different if you want a highlander with all of the amenities the top trim Ascent has. That's what sold me on the Ascent. The Onyx limited looks great.
Would like to of also seen this test done with a acura super handling awd very revealing interms of how longer the Toyota took too react
My Dad has a 20 Ascent and I had a 17 Explorer from new. I wanted another Explorer but they’re only 7 seater and they he initial crash tests worried me too much to consider putting my family in. I looked at Ascents and they are great initial value, they drive well and undeniably beat the competition on a dollar to dollar purchase price. That said, although I thought I’d walk away with an Ascent, the transmission issues (my Dad has had them since new also) worried me enough that when the turbo Highlander came out, I walked away with an LE Highlander instead. The MPG is better than estimated on the freeway, I get 30+ all the time if I touch the freeway. That’s crazy! I also have more faith in the 8speed auto that the Highlander has. So I do think that if you’re only going to keep your vehicle short term, the Ascent is superior and better value. I don’t that I’ll keep my Highlander long term, but I know that if I do I should be better off. I ended up buying a 23 for lots of reasons, but the dealership experience was vastly better at my local Toyota dealer than my Subaru dealer. El Cajon Subaru is a total joke and treated me (Father of 4 and had 2 with me when I went in) like trash. As if it was a privilege for me to be there. The Toyota of El Cajon dealer directly across the way treated me well and actually were willing to make a deal. The Subaru dealer was awful. That made a big difference. I will look at explorers again in future, because we loved ours and it was a reliable work horse, but just not this generation due to higher price and bad initial crash test results.
The AWD system doesn't matter after the trans detonates or the head gaskets give up the ghost.
I work for Subaru. The Subaru actually takes regular 87 gas where the Toyota takes premium gas so that makes up for the gas problem. Also 2024. We do have a wireless charger.
Try this with the rollers on the rear wheels and see if it yields the same results.
It won’t, just check some of the other channels.
Also, this speaks to the limited testing scope as lacking in thoroughness
Ascent owner here. Toyota looks better and mpg is better. Curious about the fuel injection in highlander vs Subaru DI?
26 to 29mpg is only a difference of 3180 over 200k miles at $4/gal usd. Idk about in canada but in the us subarus usually have much cheaper insurance. My 2011 legacys insurance with full coverage has the same premium cost as my 2006 toyota matrix. Its gonna work out about evenly between just those two costs alone
With my 2021 Ascent, I can usually achieve a fuel efficiency of 8L/100km, or even lower.
When comparing apple to Apple use same trims. Limited and Platinum has all the bells and whistles. Limited Platinum will be the same price range as fully loaded Subaru.
Like your reviews man👍
As a fellow Calorie Challenged individual , I really enjoyed watching the Toyota 3rd row seat exit. Lol!
I have a Forrester. I like the Symmetrical AWD system. I can go where I want, when I want.
Will the 2.4 Turbo Highlander feel lighter on the front than the V6 version ?
hey guys great video, i made my choice. im going for a subaru. thanks for sharing. and teaching
This is a really cool demo to show the difference between full-time awd and reactive AWD. However what it doesn't show is the comparison of brake activated torque vectoring vs the dynamic torque vectoring...that would also be interesting. Mitsubishi AYC system dominated Subaru's in virtually all the recent WRCs before they dropped out because of that and also shown in the top gear track testing through the years. What that means is that Subaru's symmetrical AWD system doesn't make it a superior system every time just because it's symmetrical....there are a lot of other factors and systems that can offer more grip on slippery situations even if you're not gunning for pole position.
Very good review
I have a 2020 Ascent. I fully agree. That boxer engine has not comparison plus all the Symmetrical all wheel drive Subaru experience throughout the years. As far as I know there are several 2023 Subaru models with wireless charger. There is an original Subaru accessory available for that porpoise from several years ago.
interior on subaru much nicer, seatbottoms in the highlander are way to short, used to have thigh extention like subaru in previous gen, not anymore. on long trips those seats are no comfortable if you have long legs
I noticed that too.
Toyota seems marked to shorter people , at 6,2 it is not very comfortable.
As well the armrest on the door is too low !
Toyota sports mode has Always AWD on. Also Limited and Platinum has real leather seats
I wish you guys would of added trunk space comparison to this video.
Thank you! Loving the accent
If you can do more overdrive test, it’ll be great. But not on a roller. Prefer on a icy hill going upwards.
Ascent owner with wireless charging, wireless texting, and wireless android auto as well as wireless Apple play.
excelente revision. Saludos desde Ciudad de México.
You know... I don't think I imagined it, but the highlander seems to have you guys jammed closer together with their interior?
I really was expecting more traction system in real live longitudinal test and more.
Personally I prefer the body style of the Subaru. I wish you would have put the back seat down and checked the cargo for camping/sleeping in the car. I'm curious as to whether or not my impression of the Subaru bodystyle being functional as well as (to me) attractive is accurate. As for the AWD system, they both would probably be functional enough,but I think I like the Subaru's even better. Having said all of that, I don't think I would be ashamed of either one. I just think I would like the Subaru even better.
Love my Ascent. Most bang for buck too. Also favor my CD player! 2021.
HAVE YOU COMPARIED THE ACENT TO THE MAZDA cx9
I had both Toyotas and Hondas before getting my first Subaru. I’m never going back.
I want the fuel savings with the toyota so my children can have a bit more inheritance when I slide off the road
Actually, you skewed the outcome of this test. The rollers for the Subaru test are not aligned with the front tires. They are both pointed outward which hinders them from rolling and gives the tires some traction. In the Toyota test they are perfectly aligned with the front tires which starts them rolling right away. An initial scene shows the driver side roller angled, but for the test itself, the Toyota rollers are perfectly aligned. The Subarus are great vehicles in the snow, but gee, do a fair test.
I'm a toyota guy. Currently driving a 2022 Highlander. They are comparing the price point of the vehicles but thats still a top of the line Ascent Vs a mid grade Highlander. If you want those extra convenience things Subaru is offering you will need a limited or platinum trim. when i was in the market for my highlander i did test drive the Ascent and its a good drive. i just prefer the power of the V6 (2023 and up will be a 2.4L 4cycliner turbo) and overall quiet comfortable ride it was offering. but i must say this there's not a brand in this world that has a better AWD(does not include 4x4 that's a different system) than Subaru. The closest system Toyota have to Subaru and may be better is if you get a Land Cruiser which can be AWD all the time plus a lot of other all road goodies.
Cool video, thanks for the review. I have a 23 ascent on order, so you made me feel a bit more reassured about my decision. I generally agree with all the things you liked about the Ascent, bummer about no wireless charger though, but it does have wireless android auto and carplay.
I have a 23 Ascent Onyx and it's been great so far. The wireless charger is a dealer accessory, but it is available.
Nice thing about that is you can get it on any trim you want.
@@mountainrig7929how do you like the wireless charger so far? I originally ordered it on my 23 Ascent but I changed my mind based on numerous forum comments and had the dealer remove it from my order. Basically people were complaining that it gets too hot while charging, and it doesn't charge fast enough. It apparently just keeps your phone from discharging while in use. Has that been your experience?
You won't regret it. I have a Legacy. It's a snow beast.
I've got a 2023 Subaru Ascent Limited and it's a beast in offroad and adverse weather conditions. I live near the Cascade mountains (western washington) and have taken my family of 6 (and our dog!) into several forest service roads. Deepest snow we found was 18" and it had zero issues, never even needed to engage x-mode and the tires never slipped. We also started overlanding with it and have taken it on several offroad trails in the mountains, again, no x-mode needed, the thing feels like it's meant to drive off-road. And yet on-road it's extremely comfortable too. Subaru really nailed an awesome SUV with the Ascent. I like it so much I ended up making a youtube channel for our adventures. lol
The Ascent's reputation for safety and reliability is truly impressive. Can owners vouch for its performance?
Reputation for reliability? My buddy’s legacy had his tranny go, wheel bearings, and is starting to use oil, all before he hit 70k miles. Left him stranded twice. More like a One trick pony that’s a piece of garbage.
What about the trunk space in these vehicles with the 3rd row up? And does the Highlander have heated 2nd row seats? I think the Subaru does, right?
There are no 2nd row heated seats in the highlander.
We went with the Ascent for the safety features, and the handle..forget about it!
A good succinct review - thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
The best front based full time AWD system is SH-AWD(Acura) and i-VTM4 in the Passport/Pilot/Ridgeline.
They can send 70% of power to the rear under some conditions and 100% of that power can go to either, the left rear or right rear tire using a torque vectoring rear differential.
This also helps a lot with handling, not just low traction situations.
I agree with your entire video comparison except the part about the wireless charger. Subaru makes it an accessory even on the top trim Ascent (Touring here in the USA). To add the wireless charger port cost $345 and the dealer can do it at delivery so while not a standard feature as it should be on the top level trim, it can be added for minimal cost. In addition, I. Florida where I live, you can buy a $51k MSRP Ascent Touring for 10% off the MSRP all day long as I just bought two last month in March. People seem to be more concerned about gas mileage vs safety with all the rain we get during summer here in Florida. I will take a safer vehicle for much less money all day long over the Toyota as it will take me years to overcome the fuel cost difference and I can't buy any Highlander for 10% under the MSRP where I live. Great video otherwise!
Hi, James. I am from Florida as well. Where can I get 10% off msrp. I am looking for 2023 Ascent as well. What dealership did you go to. Thanks.
@@papapaul226 Subaru of Jacksonville. Salesman is Steven Barba. Great guy and no pressure sales tactics. Good luck!
I’m 6’6” and when driving I can totally straighten out my legs. I don’t know of a car with more driver leg room.
What gas mileage did you actually get on the Highlander after driving for a week when you filled up? Our Subaru ascent usually gets around 24 miles per gallon mixed driving to school and back and occasional highway.
Road trips pure Highway we rarely get over 25 miles per gallon
My 2021 Ascent can do 26 to 31 MPG. 90% on highway. The best one I did was 33 MPG.
14:12 Are those fuel economy numbers as tested, or off the sticker? Because if the latter, then my decades of experience have taught me to completely disregard what companies put out as "EPA numbers".
Those are the EPA numbers. Which are based on a test that has 5 different drive regimes. In my 30ish cars I’ve owned I’ve hit plus/minus 5% EPA on all of them.
That highlander looks good
Very good video. Not in the market for anything, but love watching car videos. One comment, Toyota really needs to update that nasty interior. Maybe it looks better in person?
Subarus are really excellent for difficult winter driving, and are a very interesting value proposition. There's also an extensive aftermarket community to pick up any slack in OEM systems. However, some weird problems can crop up including power windows that won't close due to a sensor failure, and quite a lot of trouble with CVT transmissions. For the longest time you could get all Subaru cars as manuals too. I'm not sure if that's still the case. Great video.
The CVT Fluid in Subarus should be changed at around 30k miles intervals, preferably with Amsoil 100% synthetic CVT fluid to avoid any trouble. In addition, since it has a turbo and direct injection (which are punishing to motor oil due to higher heat from those systems), you'll find the Amsoil 100% synthetic Signature Series Motor Oil to be highly protective. Also, change the gear lube in the differentials with Amsoil 100% synthetic Gear Oil. You'll gain more torque/hp from using these Amsoil products and they save on fuel too! I have the above mentioned fluids in my 2013 Subaru Tribeca (predecessor to the Ascent), except my Tribeca doesn't have a CVT, so a put Amsoil 100% synthetic ATF in my automatic transmission and also in my power steering reservoir (it also has Amsoil Coolant and Brake Fluid). My other vehicle is a 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid and all the fluids are also Amsoil, except the brake fluid (which will get flushed next month). Both vehicles run like tops! I guess you can tell I am an Independent Amsoil Dealer (all dealers of Amsoil are independent contractors).
I loved my Subaru Legacy. I loved my Subaru Outback until its CVT broke to bits. Brilliant AWD system until that point though...
Broke to bits?
Good thing those issues have been resolved and are irrelevant now
The subaru does have wireless charging is right above the usb ports
The Subaru and Toyota systems, I don't know which is better for any case, but you guys did a great test out there. The only concern is the Boxer engine oil leak, which costs you a lot.
You keep spamming this engine oil leak thing but it's not really a concern with modern subarus
That’s true, you just have to worry about the CVT blowing now.
Both are great vehicles. For me I’d choose Toyota and here’s my reasoning. I’ve spoken with mechanics and they’ve all said Subaru parts cost more. My neighbor just replaced his Subaru rear window which cost him $504. More than Toyota and Honda. Also my current Toyota has the original factory brake pads at close to 90k. One axle they are still in the green and the other in the yellow. I’d say their parts just last. From my experience. Also better mpg coupled with cheaper cost over its lifetime. Not knocking Subaru here either though because they’re tough and can be reliable. There’s the old saying, you either swear by them or swear at them. Said about Subaru. I think they are well made. So either is a win to buy. Much better than Ford, Chevy etc.
Tacomas need the adjustable thigh support thing...