We filmed this a few months ago, before we drove the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Watch our Hyundai Palisade video for our most current thoughts on this segment: ruclips.net/video/IcYcwbypv_s/видео.html
+1. We can thank the EPA for this feature. What's strange is how some cars literally dump fuel into the exhaust for the infamous "pops and crackles". How do they get by regulations?
@@oscarbedford9153 Apparently the Jaguar F-Type uses the fuel dump technique. Fuel overrun is one term I've heard used to describe it. Unburned fuel ignites inside the extremely hot exhaust manifold...screw the EPA.
@@csdstudio78 > How do they get by? FIXME but IIRC they can do it if they pay premium fines. Hence why Mercedes can afford putting a v6/v8 in their cars in Europe. FIXME though, it's just something I heard.
Agree with Jacob.. Those USB covers mean they aren't water proof and thank you Jacob for mentioning how that isn't prolly gonna hold up in used car market👍🏾. Maybe mention that stuff more in reviews if you can about quality and if will hold out.
I really like subaru's CVT compared to an ordinary 4spd or 8spd auto. You just can't expect it to behave the same. It shifts fast enough in manual mode and is really smooth in auto. Manual beats all for fun and engagement though.
Hey guys, you didn't really cover how DIFFERENT this vehicle is from other Subarus based on it having the CVT with turbo. What other CVT turbos are there? Maybe a Honda Accord or CR-V? But not really relatable to this vehicle as the engines are a liter smaller and vehicles different mass. I have owned two Ascents now (upgraded my 2019 Premium to a 2020 Limited) and have to say, the deal maker for me with this car vs the Forester/Outback was the turbo. Wanted a Suby family car, but 2020 Forester felt just like my 2016 Legacy. The turbo takes the edge off of the CVT for me, but there is still some CVTness. This thing RIPS if you want it to. I feel like it goes 60-100 mph in about 4-5 seconds, which is insane, especially for a car that weighs 4,500 lbs. Also, I can get 30 mpgs on a flat road going 75 mph with this thing. Try doing that with a 6 cylinder Honda/Toyota/Kia/Hyundai. The Ford Explorer with the 4 cylinder might approach that, but maybe not without the CVT. AWD system is WAY better than Toyota or any other Japanese/Korean car. What it comes down to with this car is that you just have to know how to drive it. The only real way this car has let me down is with abysmal city mpgs. About 16-18 mpgs if you are going short distances with hills.
I'm disappointed, that you guys jumped on that CVT hater bandwagon. I have a Subaru Outback and love it. I recently had an an VW Atlas and while I like the 8 speed, it felt strange and lagging. Same as my wife's Ford Escape with the 2.0 turbo.
I think Subaru's are awesome cars. Understand each car maker has a niche that they do... But I really really wish each model did not look bloated or shrunken form of the next. Sometimes I can't tell the different in them.
The price of a Subaru has sky-rocketed. $42k for a mid size SUV...? Lord helps us all. I remember when only new Mercedes and BMW's were at this price, now even Kia's SUV's are $45k. The world has gone crazy.
As a Tribeca owner, I agree this is the first 3row SUV Subaru has made. My 09 Tribeca doesn't have a 3rd row and I'm glad it doesn't; waste of time and space. The extra storage room I have without it is better. Our Tribeca has been a great car and plan on keeping it for awhile as our daughter will probably use it for school. We have a 09 Honda Pilot also and it has a 3rd row that is usable. When it's time to replace, I think I'd prefer a new Pilot over the Ascent mainly because of the CVT.
You guys should review a new Chevy Traverse, absolutely massive back seats and cargo room, lots of tech on the higher trims, and a real V6 and real auto-trans. I feel like this car gets overshadowed by other 3 row offerings like the Pilot and Explorer, but a lot of my family have Traverse's and they're great cars, dare I say it's pretty fun to drive too.
The new Traverse is probably the best-looking 3-row SUV on the market (in addition to the Telluride). I always do a double-take whenever I see one on the road.
Why do people hate on CVTs so much? There a much more efficient transmission, and how much "racing" are you trying to do? Like Yuri said, he was driving slow and completely forgot it had a CVT, because they're smoother! And technically they are faster then a normal transmission if you tune it correctly, because you can have the engine output at it's peak torque while the CVT spools through it's range allowing full utilization of the power! I for one am super happy Subaru has not ditched the CVT compared to other companies that buckle under peer pressure.
People hate CVTs because they don’t understand how they work. They wonder why it stays at 2000rpm and never shifts. People dislike what they don’t understand.
We looked at one and others but ultimately chose the CX-9 due to its responsive power train, great styling, and upscale interior. Towing, bad 3rd row, and lack of space compared to others was not an issue for us. Some of the other vehicles we compared it to were two row SUVs that just did not stand out to us compared to the CX-9.
10:37 "I forgot about the transmission(CVT) because I've been driving slow." If you totally forgot it was a CVT then clearly it wasn't so terrible and maybe you should change your views not expecting the worst from it. Honestly a 8-10 speed automatic seems more slow when it is hunting for gears instead of delivering constant power. After living with a cvt for over 4 years driving a traditional automatic feels lethargic and jarring always delivering intermittent power. Besides were not talking about a sports car or anything here.
daniel solis I came here to say something similar. I’m considering a new Outback and it will be my first CVT. The only complaints I hear are from reviewers who make the case it doesn’t work well for sporting aspirations. Uhh....yah. It’s a three-row crossover....who on earth is pretending it’s a sports car? I wish reviewers would review an auto based on what the cars mission is, not how they personally drive.
My thinking exactly. The people buying this car want huge space for road trips, the towing capacity for road trips, and comfort for long trips. Absolutely nothing to do with being sporty, it's a car for parents who've settled down and need to get their kids somewhere far away on a trip as easily as possible. Think they missed the point in this review.
I think it's the opposite on the whole CVT adaptation... It seems more automakers are embracing them, versus getting rid of them. Kia/Hyundai just put one in the Forte, pretty sure the next Elantra will too. Seems Asian manufacturers are more inclined to adapt them. Nissan just has the most widespread use of them.
Toyota puts direct-shift CVT into RAV4 on the Japanese market. I am not sure how much truth there is in it but Subaru claims their EyeSite works only with CVT. I bet it is possible to do a lot with AT/DCT but it should be easier with CVT. The safety concerns are more important in Japan right now.
Dedrean....I think you're right. A CVT helps bring the corporate fuel average down, so more companies will likely put them in some models. The one in the Forte is pretty good. They already have the CVT in the Elantra here in Korea.
What you are describing sound a lot like rev hang. The newer, manual, Subaru cars do this and people end up buying tuners to remove it. I believe it's done for emission purposes.
Well, you use the infotainment practically every day, since you use it for radio, music, navigation and so much more. You'd use it more than a AWD system or the third row, and since the other cars he was comparing had that too, it makes sense
@@Pabla98 I drove one last year to compare it to my 2011 legacy because I'm looking for my wife. I liked it. Yeah it's slow but you really shouldn't be gunning it in a 3 row suv. I loved the overall package though. Very smooth, comfy, easy upkeep cause the engine layout is shockingly very simple to work on. Honestly with the outback getting the engine next year I would by the outback over this. For the size of the ascent and being the cvt for a transmission choice it needs some torque and hp behind it. I personally do not think the cvt is the bad idea but the cvt with a heavy vehicle and fairly meh power is what makes you want more. They need to just enhance the ez36d engine to get more power and put it in there. I mean it is a high compression engine that is very detuned. They could make it where you could get more power out of 93 octane and get up to 275hp and 300ft lbs easily. The more torque the better for larger vehicles.
Your comment about the seats smashing the 3rd row people. If you hold the bottom and lock the back of the seat it will stay much further forward when the bottom locks in. I own one and it took a random person using the third row to know this lol
This may date myself, but I lament what Subaru has become. Subaru used to be an auto maker that would take risks and be different, even revolutionary. Aside from VW and Porsche, they were the only manufacturer to use the boxer engine (large scale). They brought awd to small cars and made it popular. They brought one of the first turbocharged, awd sport sedans to the US. Their styling was quirky and interesting. Now, they pump out generic boxes in mass quantities with absolutely nothing special about them. Even the sti has become generic because it's still basically the same car they came out with in 2008 and uses the same drive train that it did in 2004. I've owned 5 Subarus over the years and currently own 3, the newest being a 2006 Legacy GT. There is not a single new Subaru that I would buy, because pretty much no matter what kind of Subaru you are looking at, there is another manufacturer who does the same thing better. And their "legendary" awd system is the same awd system they were using in the 1990 Legacy. Only difference is now it has traction control, the awd system itself is the same. It's not that great, other manufacturers do it much better than them now.
I like Subaru but the CVT has to go. My choice for a 3 row is the Ford explorer. V6 and no CVT, comfy seats but it is a boat. The newer ST is interesting but not as fast as the SRT durango
Owners of 2019 ascent are reporting transmission issues on their cars. Hopefully this issue is to be fixed on incoming 2020 model. Highlander and Pilot are safe bet if u are in the market for new car to get away from CVT.
I think a Subaru Outback will be my next car just look at the miles you see on these cars and they hold their resale value better than most cars. Plus I want everyone to think I'm this big outdoor environmentalist when I love Oil and Gas and will only drive a vehicle running on fossil fuel.
Hm, a lot of reviewers seem to say the Ascent is one of the bigger 3 row crossovers with a more usable 3rd row, and they say the CX-9 is smaller with a less usable 3rd row. But compare Straight Pipes videos of them testing the third rows. I think the CX-9’s third row is actually more usable than a lot of other 3 row CUVs. It’s certainly bigger than the Highlander and Ascent.
Looking to replace a not-so-satisfying (and infotainment-fail-prone) 2018 Odyssey Touring (which replaced a totalled 2017 Pacifica) I chose a 2020 Ascent Limited. So far, 3 weeks and 1300 miles with the Ascent and it is pure LOVE. But nothing...NOTHING will make my heart smile as much as that Pacifica.
My aunt just bought a 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited about 2 months ago. It has the tan leather interior with captains chairs. I have never been a fan of CVT transmissions or Subaru’s. I’m not sure how I feel about the Ascent. It looks good but I still don’t like Subaru
I don't know what we did wrong but when we tested a Pilot my wife, who is in NO way a speed freak, found it boring as hell then completely forgettable. I would expect that from me, but never her. Anyway that plus the great visibility let us to the Ascent.
It's like,..they took a minivan and tried to make it look cooler, but unintentionally make it look less cool. How does that happen? Oh but, the world definitely needs another 3-row "SUV/Crossover" -- can never have enough of those!
@@devin1229 And i'm not saying do supercar reviews, just less boring CVT garbage vehicles. That's my opinion and it's worth literally nothing. I love watching these guys regardless what cars they review. 😉👍🙏🤟
I don't get the hate for the CVT. I have an outback with a CVT and it works fine. I have no complaints on how it functions and I'm a car guy. Other cars I own are a 6spd manual wrx and a manual 500 Abarth so it's not like I'm not comparing it to some other boring cars.
Youll never see the 2.4L Turbo engine off the Ascent in an impreza. Subaru won’t bring back the Forester XT anytime soon. They weren’t big sellers for the last generation. Which is why it got canned
John Anderson sorry but there is no way a Durango or grand Cherokee hold a better resale value than a Subaru and when you throw a hemi v8 into those models you refer to there is no way it is only $120 more per year in fuel... maybe per month though
@@MaxSpeedMike Mostly right. But most people don't like that 9 speed in the Pilot. It's just confused....all the time. They should steal Acura's 10 speed.
When I test drove a Subaru Forster, I actually thought the lane keep was amazing. Like I legit took my hands off the wheel for a few seconds and it kept me in the middle of my lane. I don't know if it was just the vehicle they had for test driving and it had some altered settings or something, also it was a last gen (2018 model) not the current gen eyesight which the Ascent has iirc but yeah way better than Honda Pilot or Toyota Avalon. Also drove a Volvo XC90 that weekend but for some reason the lane keep was turned off and we only realized when we got back to the dealer and played with the infotainment, and my family didnt want to stay and go out again, and we also looked at Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC but neither had adaptive cruise w lane keep even thouh we requested it. Almost got to try out the Pallisade smart cruise the other day but didnt :( Please do a big semi autonomous driviing or at least lane keep test at some point! Or at least like a vid where you talk about which ones youve experienced and how they work and stuff
@@chadhanson4369 The Mercedes and Audi didn't give us ones with acc and lane keep simply because they didn't have any in stock. The manufactures keep numbers limited on those models and don't have all that many allocations, and most sell out quickly, so they just didn't have any carried. They said my family could special order one or wait until the dealer got one but my grandparents really liked the Subaru and ended up going with that one.
@@chadhanson4369 Because it was easiest to get into and out of and the Benz just didn't drive as nice as the price would suggest. Didn't try the Grand Cherokke because it doesn't have the same safety tech, it was too big, and they're not a fan of American Cars, plus there wasn't a dealer nearby.
The Subaru Ascent has to be behind the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. Subaru CVT’s aren’t as bad as Nissan’s but the lack of a NA V6 or boxer flat H6 option doesn’t bode well for the reliability of a three row suv 30 years from now. Subaru’s Turbo Boxer 4 cylinders are nowhere near as mechanically solid nor simple as Toyota and Honda’s engines. I will put the Ascent as a tie to the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, as time will tell which will prove more reliable. Miss me with that vw tiguan and mazda cx8 unreliability.
I'm a long time Subaru fan from a snowy state in the US. They are so great at what they're intended to do. That said, Subaru.....please for the love of god get rid of the CVT!!! The Ascent or Outback XT would be high on our list to replace our current 2015 Outback, but that CVT has me looking at the Mazda CX-9.
Link me those adds. Plz. Like what year is the jeep and so on. Maybe where you are that is true but here in Ontario its different. Still would love to see.
Hi guys. I’m your follower and and want to say thank you for such a great quality products you produce. I would like to ask for one more thing to add to all your videos. Gas consumption per 100km. City /highways. Thanks
Y'all were the most luke warm on this car - which is ok but I wish Subaru could have done more to wow y'all. Owell maybe the new Outback with Java brown leather will bring the WOW factor for Subie
The manufacturers are getting rid of CVTs? Wat? O_o Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Kia/Hyundai all use plenty of CVTs. Toyota and Kia/Hyundai have just recently introduced brand new desgins... I don't think CVTs are going aynwhere anytime soon (unfortunately). They could make up for it by always offering a manual option but often they don't.. :(
Excellent assessment. Quick and concise, which I think is straight pipes (pipes'?) (Pipe's?)style. I love the styling of the CX9, it wins hands down. I like the front end of the Ascent. I'm indifferent to the rear styling. I agree that the engine and trans in the Pilot are much better. I did not know the CX9 offered 4 wheel drive. For me CX9 then Kia Telluride and then the Pilot.
Great video as always! A fun test of the back hatch safety sensors would be closing the hatch on something like a hotdog or banana or something funny. I’m sure you guys will think of something good
I can understand that choice if you need a third row only very occasionally and can put a bound and gagged hostage in the third row. I faced a similar choice looking for a three row crossover that I could actually fit in a garage. In my case I went with the KIA Sorento.
Did you guys forget to post this or did winter come super early in Canada? At first I thought maybe you just had a cold front move in with the rain but then I saw all the trees.
its a fkin suv not a performance car stop talking about the cvt most don't even notice the difference between conventional and cvt its a dam good suv with awesome all wheel drive.
What can I say I love your Channel. I watch it even if there's vehicles I don't really care for cuz you guys are very entertaining. Keep up the great content guys.
Team Minivan>>>>>Team 3 row CUV Minivans just do a better job when you need to haul 5+ people AND also carry cargo at the same time parents 2005 Odyssey fits more stuff in the rear with the 3rd row up than my uncle's pilot with his 3rd row up
@@ericmotion4488 i live in NYC and frequently travel around the Northeast so yeah they're not exactly uncommon Although I do see more Pilots still Case in point the Ascent isn't all that special in this segment Id rather have a Telluride because Kia nailed the interior in them
My notifications are coming in late I just got this video 9 hrs later from when it actually came out and this is happening to other RUclips channels I watch
I always WANT to like Subaru. I do think their AWD system is great. But they always underpower, they put in that stupid CVT, and they are just kind of boring both inside and outside. I drove one of these, and it just felt blah. And I know you young Canadian whippersnappers may think us older folk with kids don't want interesting, but I think many of us do. Driving in the snow is no fun in a minivan and so many are not AWD. So there is a reason why the SUV is a nice choice. The Mazda is okay, but with a pitiful lack of space for the size. The Ford was too boring with their new Explorer failing to take the vehicle to the next level, seeming more like a mid-cycle refresh than a whole new car. The Atlas has very narrow seats and is a bit too expensive. The Honda is boring, lacks auto brake hold, and has an ugly gauge cluster and forgettable exterior. So yeah, going to get a Telluride I think. We already put a deposit on it, so it just remains to be seen if they can get us one at the right time.
I really like the space, look and efficiency of this Subaru. But it's 4 grand more expensive than the far superior Korean twins. Palisade/Telluride still rule the roost, in my opinion. Gotta wait and see what the new Highlander brings to the table.
I actually quite like the exterior of the Ascent, but strangely the the wheels to me always look like an ad where they’ve photoshopped different wheels on the car, but they’re real lol.
@@chadhanson4369 Actually, where I live, we don't have Subaru cars. I'd buy the Telluride if I were shopping in this class. But thanks for the info John!
@@chadhanson4369 but i dont want to resale. I want the best used 2-3 years SUV that i will own until it dies of old age cuz the mechanic will work. Also that is not a mknster at drinking gas. Does your suggestion still stands?
forgot to comment about the USB port for carplay/android auto is only available with the one port in front of the shifter, which is annoying as hell to have a cable connected there all the time
first of all, guys, love this channel. Great job! Okay, that being said....I'd probably go Mazda for the handling, Subaru for the capacity and reliability and Honda for the transmission. I hate CVT transmissions because they are loud and buzzy and annoying if you need anything but flat land driving. I had a CX-5 for a couple of years but couldn't stand the 2.5L normally aspirated engine with the lazy ass (meant for mileage) transmission. I need a transmission that shifts, a car that can carry square items and an engine that's willing to get the job done when passing a truck on a 2-lane road.
@@brz757 mine was a 6-speed AT. Garbage. Designed to put you in the highest gear possible before 25 mph. All but sport mode resulted in deadly slow response times.
As usual, great review, but I am actually surprised you guys did not mention Hyundai Pallisade or Kia Telluride in the competition?? Is your group of competitors more like the best sellers or what? Because from where I can see, those vehicles are the absolute best in this segment (3 row mid size SUVs) until something completely catastrophic happens in their long time reliability. Please do explain, why was none of the above mentioned vehicles put in the competition spot?
We filmed this a few months ago, before we drove the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Watch our Hyundai Palisade video for our most current thoughts on this segment: ruclips.net/video/IcYcwbypv_s/видео.html
this car screams "timmy get in the damn car, we have soccer pratice!."
please review the new 2020 toyota corolla xse sedan
Review the New Toyota Supra,and compare it to the old generation Supra, that will bring a lot of people to your channel
Haha, you could have edited out the "still working on the prowler" bit and nobody would have noticed :)
Love the vid but I don't rlly like Subaru I like the g wagon 👍
Yuri: the first three-row SUV from subaru.
Subaru Tribeca: Am I a joke to you?
Yes. That thing was a joke in every sense of the word
Subaru: shhhhh, let's just forget about that.
I was thinking the same thing. But it's ok to forget it
I drove a couple Trbecas when I was looking for a new daily (ended up with an Outback), it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out...but it is bad.
exactly what i wanted to say lol
You can do a "finger test" to test the strength of the trunk. Just use hot dogs
Do they make bone-in hot dogs?
TheStraightPipes or try bone in chicken wings 🤣
Carrots, I’ve heard, break about as easily as fingers
Mitchell O'Bryan Definitely carrots.
@@james2042 That's called a corn dog.
‘Well it kinda means something but it doesn’t mean as much as it should’
-Jakub 2019
True
It's a deep statement
I thought I was getting old and not understanding the lingo anymore. Glad I'm not the only one. Like. For real. Kinda. Amazinggg. ✌️
It means a lot to me! Successor to the Tribeca. Eh..you know me because of the community. I won’t let anything neg about Subie go!
PedalToTheFloor You came from my vid on this didnt you
The Rev hang is to keep stoich burn ratio while closing the throttle, which helps with emissions
+1. We can thank the EPA for this feature. What's strange is how some cars literally dump fuel into the exhaust for the infamous "pops and crackles". How do they get by regulations?
@@csdstudio78 AFAIK crackles and pops aren't fuel dumping, you might be thinking of throttle plate antilag which is and sounds similar
@@oscarbedford9153 Apparently the Jaguar F-Type uses the fuel dump technique. Fuel overrun is one term I've heard used to describe it. Unburned fuel ignites inside the extremely hot exhaust manifold...screw the EPA.
@@csdstudio78from what I know, cracks/pops are caused by turbulence in the exhaust, while antilag is fuel dumping. In that case it's probably for both
@@csdstudio78 > How do they get by?
FIXME but IIRC they can do it if they pay premium fines. Hence why Mercedes can afford putting a v6/v8 in their cars in Europe. FIXME though, it's just something I heard.
Honda Pilot.
Subaru Ascent.
Mazda CX-9
VW Atlas
and way below
Chevy Traverse
Dodge Durango
alex martens Highlander, Telluride, Palisade?
Not the first 3-row SUV from Subaru, Yuri (0:29). The B9 Tribeca was around in the 2000s.
alliejr damn, i meant first once since I started reviewing cars
I think Subaru would like all of us to forget the Tribeca.
@@kevingorder3549 The what?
@@kevingorder3549 yeah the Tribeca was a little polarizing to say the least until 2008 when Subaru gave it a facelift
GMC Sierra C3 true
Agree with Jacob.. Those USB covers mean they aren't water proof and thank you Jacob for mentioning how that isn't prolly gonna hold up in used car market👍🏾. Maybe mention that stuff more in reviews if you can about quality and if will hold out.
a usb cover shouldnt deter u that much about a car
I really like subaru's CVT compared to an ordinary 4spd or 8spd auto. You just can't expect it to behave the same. It shifts fast enough in manual mode and is really smooth in auto. Manual beats all for fun and engagement though.
Hey guys, you didn't really cover how DIFFERENT this vehicle is from other Subarus based on it having the CVT with turbo. What other CVT turbos are there? Maybe a Honda Accord or CR-V? But not really relatable to this vehicle as the engines are a liter smaller and vehicles different mass. I have owned two Ascents now (upgraded my 2019 Premium to a 2020 Limited) and have to say, the deal maker for me with this car vs the Forester/Outback was the turbo. Wanted a Suby family car, but 2020 Forester felt just like my 2016 Legacy. The turbo takes the edge off of the CVT for me, but there is still some CVTness. This thing RIPS if you want it to. I feel like it goes 60-100 mph in about 4-5 seconds, which is insane, especially for a car that weighs 4,500 lbs. Also, I can get 30 mpgs on a flat road going 75 mph with this thing. Try doing that with a 6 cylinder Honda/Toyota/Kia/Hyundai. The Ford Explorer with the 4 cylinder might approach that, but maybe not without the CVT. AWD system is WAY better than Toyota or any other Japanese/Korean car. What it comes down to with this car is that you just have to know how to drive it. The only real way this car has let me down is with abysmal city mpgs. About 16-18 mpgs if you are going short distances with hills.
I'm disappointed, that you guys jumped on that CVT hater bandwagon. I have a Subaru Outback and love it. I recently had an an VW Atlas and while I like the 8 speed, it felt strange and lagging. Same as my wife's Ford Escape with the 2.0 turbo.
I think Subaru's are awesome cars. Understand each car maker has a niche that they do... But I really really wish each model did not look bloated or shrunken form of the next. Sometimes I can't tell the different in them.
The price of a Subaru has sky-rocketed. $42k for a mid size SUV...? Lord helps us all. I remember when only new Mercedes and BMW's were at this price, now even Kia's SUV's are $45k. The world has gone crazy.
Mango22 inflation exists
As a Tribeca owner, I agree this is the first 3row SUV Subaru has made. My 09 Tribeca doesn't have a 3rd row and I'm glad it doesn't; waste of time and space. The extra storage room I have without it is better. Our Tribeca has been a great car and plan on keeping it for awhile as our daughter will probably use it for school. We have a 09 Honda Pilot also and it has a 3rd row that is usable. When it's time to replace, I think I'd prefer a new Pilot over the Ascent mainly because of the CVT.
You guys should review a new Chevy Traverse, absolutely massive back seats and cargo room, lots of tech on the higher trims, and a real V6 and real auto-trans. I feel like this car gets overshadowed by other 3 row offerings like the Pilot and Explorer, but a lot of my family have Traverse's and they're great cars, dare I say it's pretty fun to drive too.
The new Traverse is probably the best-looking 3-row SUV on the market (in addition to the Telluride). I always do a double-take whenever I see one on the road.
Why do people hate on CVTs so much? There a much more efficient transmission, and how much "racing" are you trying to do? Like Yuri said, he was driving slow and completely forgot it had a CVT, because they're smoother!
And technically they are faster then a normal transmission if you tune it correctly, because you can have the engine output at it's peak torque while the CVT spools through it's range allowing full utilization of the power!
I for one am super happy Subaru has not ditched the CVT compared to other companies that buckle under peer pressure.
Colton Ingram I totally agree, I love em! We’ve owned them for years and have been totally pleased.
People hate CVTs because they don’t understand how they work. They wonder why it stays at 2000rpm and never shifts. People dislike what they don’t understand.
Foster Rich totally agree!
We looked at one and others but ultimately chose the CX-9 due to its responsive power train, great styling, and upscale interior. Towing, bad 3rd row, and lack of space compared to others was not an issue for us. Some of the other vehicles we compared it to were two row SUVs that just did not stand out to us compared to the CX-9.
10:37 "I forgot about the transmission(CVT) because I've been driving slow." If you totally forgot it was a CVT then clearly it wasn't so terrible and maybe you should change your views not expecting the worst from it. Honestly a 8-10 speed automatic seems more slow when it is hunting for gears instead of delivering constant power. After living with a cvt for over 4 years driving a traditional automatic feels lethargic and jarring always delivering intermittent power. Besides were not talking about a sports car or anything here.
I dont know what 8 speeds you've been driving that hunts for gears but my ZF8HP tranny is perfect...
Vultite me too.
daniel solis I came here to say something similar. I’m considering a new Outback and it will be my first CVT. The only complaints I hear are from reviewers who make the case it doesn’t work well for sporting aspirations. Uhh....yah. It’s a three-row crossover....who on earth is pretending it’s a sports car? I wish reviewers would review an auto based on what the cars mission is, not how they personally drive.
My thinking exactly. The people buying this car want huge space for road trips, the towing capacity for road trips, and comfort for long trips. Absolutely nothing to do with being sporty, it's a car for parents who've settled down and need to get their kids somewhere far away on a trip as easily as possible. Think they missed the point in this review.
I think it's the opposite on the whole CVT adaptation... It seems more automakers are embracing them, versus getting rid of them. Kia/Hyundai just put one in the Forte, pretty sure the next Elantra will too. Seems Asian manufacturers are more inclined to adapt them. Nissan just has the most widespread use of them.
Toyota puts direct-shift CVT into RAV4 on the Japanese market.
I am not sure how much truth there is in it but Subaru claims their EyeSite works only with CVT. I bet it is possible to do a lot with AT/DCT but it should be easier with CVT. The safety concerns are more important in Japan right now.
Dedrean....I think you're right. A CVT helps bring the corporate fuel average down, so more companies will likely put them in some models. The one in the Forte is pretty good. They already have the CVT in the Elantra here in Korea.
@@johnholst Right on, perceptive comment as usual, John.
@@stephenhendricks103 Thanks Stephen!
I'm Jakub , I'm Yuri and we are going to ASCENT.
What you are describing sound a lot like rev hang. The newer, manual, Subaru cars do this and people end up buying tuners to remove it. I believe it's done for emission purposes.
Really weird to have rev hang in an auto. Makes sense in a manual since power is no longer going to the trans but in a CVT...
I love the look of the Ascent and I would drive one, I'm just confused on why Subaru put 19 cupholders instead of 20, I guess we'll never know 😂
I love when they were comparing the Ascent’s competitors Yuri based his choice solely on infotainment 😂😂 there’s more to a car than that!
I understand Yuri though. A car with crappy infotainment cough...Toyota.... cough. Really drowns the experience of the rest of the car
Well, you use the infotainment practically every day, since you use it for radio, music, navigation and so much more. You'd use it more than a AWD system or the third row, and since the other cars he was comparing had that too, it makes sense
eSteven how about the actually drive it’s self, ride handling etc? Infotainment does have a big role in choosing a car just not the only role
@@Pabla98 I drove one last year to compare it to my 2011 legacy because I'm looking for my wife. I liked it. Yeah it's slow but you really shouldn't be gunning it in a 3 row suv. I loved the overall package though. Very smooth, comfy, easy upkeep cause the engine layout is shockingly very simple to work on. Honestly with the outback getting the engine next year I would by the outback over this. For the size of the ascent and being the cvt for a transmission choice it needs some torque and hp behind it. I personally do not think the cvt is the bad idea but the cvt with a heavy vehicle and fairly meh power is what makes you want more. They need to just enhance the ez36d engine to get more power and put it in there. I mean it is a high compression engine that is very detuned. They could make it where you could get more power out of 93 octane and get up to 275hp and 300ft lbs easily. The more torque the better for larger vehicles.
@@stevene5352 if you have awd it is used everytime the car is put in gear??
You guys need to do an adaptive cruise / LKA comparison
Why am I watching a video review for a car I can't even get in my country and wouldn't want even if I could? I've no idea but I'm enjoying it
Your comment about the seats smashing the 3rd row people. If you hold the bottom and lock the back of the seat it will stay much further forward when the bottom locks in. I own one and it took a random person using the third row to know this lol
This may date myself, but I lament what Subaru has become. Subaru used to be an auto maker that would take risks and be different, even revolutionary. Aside from VW and Porsche, they were the only manufacturer to use the boxer engine (large scale). They brought awd to small cars and made it popular. They brought one of the first turbocharged, awd sport sedans to the US. Their styling was quirky and interesting. Now, they pump out generic boxes in mass quantities with absolutely nothing special about them. Even the sti has become generic because it's still basically the same car they came out with in 2008 and uses the same drive train that it did in 2004. I've owned 5 Subarus over the years and currently own 3, the newest being a 2006 Legacy GT. There is not a single new Subaru that I would buy, because pretty much no matter what kind of Subaru you are looking at, there is another manufacturer who does the same thing better. And their "legendary" awd system is the same awd system they were using in the 1990 Legacy. Only difference is now it has traction control, the awd system itself is the same. It's not that great, other manufacturers do it much better than them now.
Can’t wait for the 2020 highlander review
I like Subaru but the CVT has to go. My choice for a 3 row is the Ford explorer. V6 and no CVT, comfy seats but it is a boat. The newer ST is interesting but not as fast as the SRT durango
Owners of 2019 ascent are reporting transmission issues on their cars.
Hopefully this issue is to be fixed on incoming 2020 model.
Highlander and Pilot are safe bet if u are in the market for new car to get away from CVT.
I was contemplating sending you guys a message last night asking if you would review this bad boy! Seems like you answered my prayers
Yes, very bad boy...www.ascentforums.com/forums/subaru-ascent-complaints-issues-and-problems.137/
I think a Subaru Outback will be my next car just look at the miles you see on these cars and they hold their resale value better than most cars. Plus I want everyone to think I'm this big outdoor environmentalist when I love Oil and Gas and will only drive a vehicle running on fossil fuel.
Still waiting for a Forester review! Even I knew it’s a flat four with a CVT.
Everything about the Forester:
-My mom has that car
-Standard CVT
-Apple CarPlay
-Available Power Lift-gate
-Heated Seats
Another comments section full of people who think all CVTs are as bad as a 10 year old Nissan (JATCO) CVT
Andrew Ollila people really need to stop already. yes nissans went downhill with cvt but that doesn’t mean subaru has bad cvts
The cvt overview was great on this vid!!!
the intro song reminds me soo much of Rihanna's Love On The Brain
The weather screen said "Hamilton, ON"...That's where I'm from too. 😎
I've never seen less effort applied to a car's exterior design.
Subaru owners care more about how the awd is split when they feel scared in the rain over the cars looks
John Anderson dodge really getting desperate eh?
Hm, a lot of reviewers seem to say the Ascent is one of the bigger 3 row crossovers with a more usable 3rd row, and they say the CX-9 is smaller with a less usable 3rd row. But compare Straight Pipes videos of them testing the third rows. I think the CX-9’s third row is actually more usable than a lot of other 3 row CUVs. It’s certainly bigger than the Highlander and Ascent.
I would get Telluride over this for sure.
Looking to replace a not-so-satisfying (and infotainment-fail-prone) 2018 Odyssey Touring (which replaced a totalled 2017 Pacifica) I chose a 2020 Ascent Limited. So far, 3 weeks and 1300 miles with the Ascent and it is pure LOVE. But nothing...NOTHING will make my heart smile as much as that Pacifica.
My aunt just bought a 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited about 2 months ago. It has the tan leather interior with captains chairs. I have never been a fan of CVT transmissions or Subaru’s. I’m not sure how I feel about the Ascent. It looks good but I still don’t like Subaru
Can you guys consider recording in 4K? 1440p, it's time fellas!!! As always love the content!
Everything in the last 2 months has been 4k. Except this, see the top comment
I don't know what we did wrong but when we tested a Pilot my wife, who is in NO way a speed freak, found it boring as hell then completely forgettable. I would expect that from me, but never her. Anyway that plus the great visibility let us to the Ascent.
It's like,..they took a minivan and tried to make it look cooler, but unintentionally make it look less cool. How does that happen? Oh but, the world definitely needs another 3-row "SUV/Crossover" -- can never have enough of those!
Ideas for next review:
No CVTs
No SUVs or Vans
No autos
Must haves:
Manual trans
Sideways slowmo drift shots taken at cliche corner.
Thanks. 😎
@@devin1229 And those people are women.
@@devin1229 And i'm not saying do supercar reviews, just less boring CVT garbage vehicles. That's my opinion and it's worth literally nothing. I love watching these guys regardless what cars they review. 😉👍🙏🤟
I don't get the hate for the CVT. I have an outback with a CVT and it works fine. I have no complaints on how it functions and I'm a car guy. Other cars I own are a 6spd manual wrx and a manual 500 Abarth so it's not like I'm not comparing it to some other boring cars.
Wow Yuri looks so psyched to be driving this! Loll
BTW when is Subaru bringing this motor in the impreza?! Or even the forester XT?!
They put it in the New Outback and Legacy.
next WRX/STi probably getting this motor
Forester XT is dead now
@@chadhanson4369 the track hawk doesn't start at $30,000 though
Youll never see the 2.4L Turbo engine off the Ascent in an impreza.
Subaru won’t bring back the Forester XT anytime soon. They weren’t big sellers for the last generation. Which is why it got canned
John Anderson sorry but there is no way a Durango or grand Cherokee hold a better resale value than a Subaru and when you throw a hemi v8 into those models you refer to there is no way it is only $120 more per year in fuel... maybe per month though
You guys are HILLARIOUS! THANKS for the review on a different Subaru...😁
4:27 Seeing Jakub go into the third row while the car rocks back and forth... SET THE HANDBRAKE/PARKING BRAKE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I was looking for something like this, I'd definitely consider the pilot.
I'd get the Telluride
@@ElectronikReviews also a good choice 😎
@Gerard Ferry Mitsubishi automatics will not trump a Honda automatic lol
@@MaxSpeedMike Mostly right. But most people don't like that 9 speed in the Pilot. It's just confused....all the time. They should steal Acura's 10 speed.
When I test drove a Subaru Forster, I actually thought the lane keep was amazing. Like I legit took my hands off the wheel for a few seconds and it kept me in the middle of my lane. I don't know if it was just the vehicle they had for test driving and it had some altered settings or something, also it was a last gen (2018 model) not the current gen eyesight which the Ascent has iirc but yeah way better than Honda Pilot or Toyota Avalon. Also drove a Volvo XC90 that weekend but for some reason the lane keep was turned off and we only realized when we got back to the dealer and played with the infotainment, and my family didnt want to stay and go out again, and we also looked at Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC but neither had adaptive cruise w lane keep even thouh we requested it. Almost got to try out the Pallisade smart cruise the other day but didnt :( Please do a big semi autonomous driviing or at least lane keep test at some point! Or at least like a vid where you talk about which ones youve experienced and how they work and stuff
@@chadhanson4369 The Mercedes and Audi didn't give us ones with acc and lane keep simply because they didn't have any in stock. The manufactures keep numbers limited on those models and don't have all that many allocations, and most sell out quickly, so they just didn't have any carried. They said my family could special order one or wait until the dealer got one but my grandparents really liked the Subaru and ended up going with that one.
@@chadhanson4369 Because it was easiest to get into and out of and the Benz just didn't drive as nice as the price would suggest. Didn't try the Grand Cherokke because it doesn't have the same safety tech, it was too big, and they're not a fan of American Cars, plus there wasn't a dealer nearby.
@@chadhanson4369 I'm curious do you work for a Dodge or Jeep dealership or are you just a massive fanboy?
When anyone mentions the Ascent the first thing I think of is that accident when a poor Tacoma was rearended by one coming in at full pelt.
The Subaru Ascent has to be behind the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. Subaru CVT’s aren’t as bad as Nissan’s but the lack of a NA V6 or boxer flat H6 option doesn’t bode well for the reliability of a three row suv 30 years from now. Subaru’s Turbo Boxer 4 cylinders are nowhere near as mechanically solid nor simple as Toyota and Honda’s engines. I will put the Ascent as a tie to the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, as time will tell which will prove more reliable.
Miss me with that vw tiguan and mazda cx8 unreliability.
New finger chop test? The transmission sounds like what you get in the CRV (2017+)
At least Honda CVT's don't give out..www.ascentforums.com/threads/major-transmission-problem.4809/
Hey guys. The other CVT you liked was the Nissan Pathfinder because it felt like a traditional transmission.
Jonathan Atamaniuk damn you’re good!
Chris Jacks I try. These guys are good, I’ve rewatched that video a couple times to confirm stuff.
The hood gap looks really big. Looks like it’s not aligned correctly.
Noticed that too
FWIW, those Continental LX are SHIIIIITE. Our 2016 RAV4 came equipped with it and are NOISY AF! /rant
I'm a long time Subaru fan from a snowy state in the US. They are so great at what they're intended to do. That said, Subaru.....please for the love of god get rid of the CVT!!! The Ascent or Outback XT would be high on our list to replace our current 2015 Outback, but that CVT has me looking at the Mazda CX-9.
I want to love the Ascent, but the CVT kills it for me. No deal.
John Anderson is this a comment or a Jeep ad?
Doesn't Subaru have the best reslae value lol whatever man enjoy your jeep
Link me those adds. Plz. Like what year is the jeep and so on. Maybe where you are that is true but here in Ontario its different. Still would love to see.
Hi guys. I’m your follower and and want to say thank you for such a great quality products you produce.
I would like to ask for one more thing to add to all your videos. Gas consumption per 100km. City /highways.
Thanks
Y'all were the most luke warm on this car - which is ok but I wish Subaru could have done more to wow y'all. Owell maybe the new Outback with Java brown leather will bring the WOW factor for Subie
My 7th generation maxima with cvt was a fast car and the cvt pulled hard and sounded fine to me
Its number 1 for me because I
own one.
The manufacturers are getting rid of CVTs? Wat? O_o
Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Kia/Hyundai all use plenty of CVTs. Toyota and Kia/Hyundai have just recently introduced brand new desgins... I don't think CVTs are going aynwhere anytime soon (unfortunately). They could make up for it by always offering a manual option but often they don't.. :(
CVTs are increasingly prevalent in smaller vehicles. Not so much in large 3-row SUVs.
Excellent assessment. Quick and concise, which I think is straight pipes (pipes'?) (Pipe's?)style. I love the styling of the CX9, it wins hands down. I like the front end of the Ascent. I'm indifferent to the rear styling. I agree that the engine and trans in the Pilot are much better. I did not know the CX9 offered 4 wheel drive. For me CX9 then Kia Telluride and then the Pilot.
Great video as always! A fun test of the back hatch safety sensors would be closing the hatch on something like a hotdog or banana or something funny. I’m sure you guys will think of something good
lol love how ya threw the Durango in there, it was like a wonderful relief from all the lame lol.
I just was in the market for a three row suv. But I went with a 2018 vw’s Tiguan
I can understand that choice if you need a third row only very occasionally and can put a bound and gagged hostage in the third row. I faced a similar choice looking for a three row crossover that I could actually fit in a garage. In my case I went with the KIA Sorento.
You know that interior looks nothing like the Legacy interior. It is closest in design to the Forester.
Did you guys forget to post this or did winter come super early in Canada? At first I thought maybe you just had a cold front move in with the rain but then I saw all the trees.
Forgot to post it
@@TheStraightPipes Hey, it's always a good thing to have a few in the can ready to go.
its a fkin suv not a performance car stop talking about the cvt most don't even notice the difference between conventional and cvt its a dam good suv with awesome all wheel drive.
What can I say I love your Channel. I watch it even if there's vehicles I don't really care for cuz you guys are very entertaining. Keep up the great content guys.
Thanks!
Can you guys review a Toyota Highlander? It will fit in with the 3 row suvs
It's going to be replaced with a brand new Highlander later this year. Why review the old one when it almost at the end of the line?
This is not the first 3 row SUV from Subaru. Did you forget about the Subaru Tribeca?
The guys are probably still kids when the Tribeca was around
Team Minivan>>>>>Team 3 row CUV
Minivans just do a better job when you need to haul 5+ people AND also carry cargo at the same time
parents 2005 Odyssey fits more stuff in the rear with the 3rd row up than my uncle's pilot with his 3rd row up
The 2019 Subaru Ascent, the "I'm going to not follow trends" dad SUV.
this is literally following every single CUV trend
the main difference here is that you get a turbo boxer engine instead of an inline 4 turbo or a V6
@@ShaiyanHossain IDK where you're from, but I hardly ever see these on the road; not even top 8. Go argue with your Aunt Helen; FOH!
@@ericmotion4488 i live in NYC and frequently travel around the Northeast so yeah they're not exactly uncommon
Although I do see more Pilots still
Case in point the Ascent isn't all that special in this segment
Id rather have a Telluride because Kia nailed the interior in them
enough with the cvt diagnostics it's for driving around town not for the speedway you both keep knocking it most people don't even care let it go .
My notifications are coming in late I just got this video 9 hrs later from when it actually came out and this is happening to other RUclips channels I watch
Maybe it’s just that I have a android🧐😂 Jk
Only paetrons get their vids sooner.
I was waiting for this video from the morning...
2nd. Tribeca did exist once. And I'm sure there was a Suzuki minivans in Asia
Go review and automatic Corolla Hatchback! I love that CVT with launch gear:)
I always WANT to like Subaru. I do think their AWD system is great. But they always underpower, they put in that stupid CVT, and they are just kind of boring both inside and outside. I drove one of these, and it just felt blah.
And I know you young Canadian whippersnappers may think us older folk with kids don't want interesting, but I think many of us do. Driving in the snow is no fun in a minivan and so many are not AWD. So there is a reason why the SUV is a nice choice.
The Mazda is okay, but with a pitiful lack of space for the size. The Ford was too boring with their new Explorer failing to take the vehicle to the next level, seeming more like a mid-cycle refresh than a whole new car. The Atlas has very narrow seats and is a bit too expensive. The Honda is boring, lacks auto brake hold, and has an ugly gauge cluster and forgettable exterior.
So yeah, going to get a Telluride I think. We already put a deposit on it, so it just remains to be seen if they can get us one at the right time.
I really like the space, look and efficiency of this Subaru. But it's 4 grand more expensive than the far superior Korean twins. Palisade/Telluride still rule the roost, in my opinion. Gotta wait and see what the new Highlander brings to the table.
I actually quite like the exterior of the Ascent, but strangely the the wheels to me always look like an ad where they’ve photoshopped different wheels on the car, but they’re real lol.
Waiting for your Outback review 👌
Durango rt, Mazda CX-9 because I have one, acsent, and pilot doesn’t have a need to the line up
The car with cvt that you didn't mind was the Nissan Pathfinder.
No one:
Me:
Third row seats: Roger Roger
Please test drive the 2020 Ford Explorer ST. I’m thinking about buying it and am curious about your opinion!
the ridiculous touchscreen in those turn me off
id rather just save and wait for an Aviator
Jonny...The ST is really nice. But it's RWD/AWD, and costs 67K in Canada loaded. A lot more money than everything else in this class.
@@chadhanson4369 Actually, where I live, we don't have Subaru cars. I'd buy the Telluride if I were shopping in this class. But thanks for the info John!
Review the Land Rover Discovery! It’s such a big and interesting car to describe!
Hey i oove your video, why not do the TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ??? Please i want to buy it but i'm waiting for your review
@@chadhanson4369 but i dont want to resale. I want the best used 2-3 years SUV that i will own until it dies of old age cuz the mechanic will work. Also that is not a mknster at drinking gas. Does your suggestion still stands?
@@chadhanson4369 You are the Real MVP :-) thanks
Any plans to test the 2020 Subaru Outback XT?
forgot to comment about the USB port for carplay/android auto is only available with the one port in front of the shifter, which is annoying as hell to have a cable connected there all the time
first of all, guys, love this channel. Great job! Okay, that being said....I'd probably go Mazda for the handling, Subaru for the capacity and reliability and Honda for the transmission. I hate CVT transmissions because they are loud and buzzy and annoying if you need anything but flat land driving. I had a CX-5 for a couple of years but couldn't stand the 2.5L normally aspirated engine with the lazy ass (meant for mileage) transmission. I need a transmission that shifts, a car that can carry square items and an engine that's willing to get the job done when passing a truck on a 2-lane road.
Maybe if you get the 6 speed, that 9 speed is expensive trash.
@@brz757 mine was a 6-speed AT. Garbage. Designed to put you in the highest gear possible before 25 mph. All but sport mode resulted in deadly slow response times.
As usual, great review, but I am actually surprised you guys did not mention Hyundai Pallisade or Kia Telluride in the competition?? Is your group of competitors more like the best sellers or what? Because from where I can see, those vehicles are the absolute best in this segment (3 row mid size SUVs) until something completely catastrophic happens in their long time reliability.
Please do explain, why was none of the above mentioned vehicles put in the competition spot?
Read the top comment
@@TheStraightPipes sorry, my mistake. Just read the top comment
El intro 😍😍, saludos desde Puerto Rico
word of the day at 5:11 - Reticle - way to drop that on us Jakub; hasn't gone unnoticed
Haha thanks
How would you compare it to the 2020 Highlander and the Kia Telluride?
Guys, this is not the first 3 row. They had the Tribeca.