2019 Subaru Ascent Airstream Towing Test
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- In Premium, Limited and Touring trim levels the new 2019 Subaru Ascent can tow up to 5,000 lbs. In this video, host Ryan Douthit tows a 4,300-lbs Airstream caravan around a cone course to see just how capable this new Subaru is at hauling.
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not useful at all. not much of a test if you are towing 4300 pounds going 40 km/hr. What matters to everyone is the ability to tow 4000 lbs going on highway speeds up to 100 km/hr or at least 55 mph and then would like to know peak torque at what RPM and how the CVT benefits the towing capability vs. standard transmissions. Also uphill towing scenarios. And lastly need to know about fuel economy MPG when towing 4000 lbs at highway speeds. Thanks.
I am already a loyal Subi owner with an Impreza and Crosstrek. I've wanted to join the RV crowd for a few years and kept putting the decision off due to tow limitations because I didn't want to buy a vehicle dedicated to just towing. The Ascent potentially solved that problem. This video (as well as the two companion videos) definitely was what I wanted to see. However, the topic of trailer breaking and a break control device was burning in my mind as was with many others. I can see the trailer 7-way cable plugged in. Some suggested that the trailer's break lights never turned on and when I played back the video, neither did the Ascent's break lights. So much for that. During their discussion, there never was a mention of the Ascent controlling the trailer's breaks. One comment mentioned a wireless break controller. I've been checking those out on other RUclipss, and to my surprise, they claim to function just off the power coming from the 7-pin connector. If that's the case, is a break controller even necessary (except to adjust the % of break power)? Regarding the wireless BlueTooth break controllers I've seen, I don't like the size of them dangling from the connector. It looks like a liability, like it will fall out or damage my connector socket. I just want a discrete controller under the dash that has a % +/- dial for adjusting on the slopes and grades. We I recently took the plunge. The Subi is in hand and the trailer is on order. So when I have more, I'll share an update.
How is your subi and trailer working out 3 yrs later?
We towed nearly 5,000lbs(probably ~4900) at 70-80mph on the highway. 70mph is more comfortable, with a brake controller and the trailer has electronic braking. Only thing that's weird is if ur lane assist tries to fix ur lane it's a weird correction with the tracer attached
May I ask which break controller you selected and why?
thinking of an intech rv sol about 3500
What trailer were you towing and what do you estimate your total payload?
From my understanding the capacity is 5000lbs so you’re gonna mess your vehicle up towing that much
@@CJ-lr4ej oh, oops... We took it from Illinois to Colorado, Kansas, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee over the years several times a year. 😰Seems fine.. Also seen others do the same thing..we hauled a car on a big tex trailer.
Go up a hill of any grade, that'll be a much better indication of a "towing test."
Wei Sami Zhuang Yes, or braking at highway speeds to on off ramp with 25 mph turn!
It feels like you guys are missing the point. Nobody is concerned about starting or stopping on flat ground. The concern is that the transmission will melt when towing up a hill, or the brakes could fail when trying to stop downhill.
Question on Tongue weight allowed. Subaru says 500 lbs. This trailer is 525 lbs. Also Airstream dealer said he won't sell us an Airstream without a weight distributing hitch. However the Subaru Ascent manual says do not use a WDH!!! I noticed in the video that the trailer did not seem to lower the back of the Ascent so maybe it can handle that tongue weight without a WDH. The subaru has a trailer assist that corrects sway so maybe it doesn't need a stabilizer bar either. Can anyone comment on the WDH question? Is it safe to tow with a WDH?
Odd that Subaru would recommend not using one.
There weren't any passengers or cargo in the car so I'm guessing 25 lb over the tongue limit wasn't anything dangerous
@@MrBings714t's not about recommendations, the cars frame/unibody is not designed for a WDH, which could cause significant damage to it
I tow my airstream with my 2001 Silverado...you def want the WDH...also own a 2019 Ascent...my Airstream is 26ft though
Just got done pulling a 1800 pound popup camper from South Dakota to Yellowstone, with our 2019 Ascent. Worked well no trailer brakes so took our time down hill.
I really think Subaru nailed it with this model. I hope it sticks unlike the Tribeca
Ascent is an overall success, imo better than highlander and pilot
That's not a towing test. Take it on the highway, run it up to 65 and have a few semi's pass you. What do you think people are going to pull their camper around a parking lot?
Our ascent ended up warping the rotors from normal everyday driving, no hard braking or anything attached. I can't imagine towing something with it...
The maximum tongue weight for the ascent is 500lbs. I think that model of the airstream has a tongue weight of 550. This is not recommended.
Tribeca has a 3500 lb towing capacity, not 2000 lb.
Like it was mentioned the Tribeca in North America is rated 3500lbs. In Europe it was rated 4400lbs! Same vehicle!
I believe that is because trailer brakes are mandatory in Europe but not here in the wild west.
Not a valid review. Driving at low speeds around a flat parking lot does not provide meaningful information about towing capabilities. Also, 7-pin connector was not attached -- no signals, no electric braking.
Might want to plug in the trailer/ car power cord....no wonder it was working to stop... no trailer brakes!!
It doesn't look like the electrical connection is hooked up from the vehicle to the trailer, which means the trailer brakes won't work.
I'm guessing the idea of the video was to test out the car's capability without any trailer assisting brakes
A small Turbo 4, add some hills and I think this might have a problem with a trailer this heavy. I would think there would be a lot of heat to dissipate.
Good thing it has both transmission and differential coolers. Its not like the engineers didn't do their homework. During trials they loaded these things full of passengers, cargo, and a 5000 pound trailer and drove them up long grades over and over.
The real terrible thing about these ratings in general is that they can be country specific. For instance, the 2015-2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i is rated to tow 2700lbs (over 1000 requires trailer brakes according to Owners Manual). But check out the specs for UK or Australia or Japan and some of these number go up anywhere from 20 to 50%. So it is possible that these cars are capable of far more than is stated. The other terrible thing is the Ascent is only being built for the US market so we won't see alternate country specs for this build.
kuriusly23 - it's because each region has their own methods for determining towing capacity. Obviously, North America has the most stringent ones, hence the very low towing capacity numbers.
The US has the state of Colorado, which will give any tow rig a thorough workout. The baseline is Vail Pass, with 7% grades that extend for miles, all above 8k' elevation and on the interstate. I'd love to know how the Ascent does pulling 4300 lbs. over that. There are steeper grades to be found but they are not typically required in order to get across the country, aren't at such high elevation, don't extend for such long distances, etc.
The Ascent is a bad choice for "real" towing - it doesn't have side view mirrors that extend, a transmission temp. gauge, etc. If you're towing a pair of jet skis across the plains a few times a year, it's probably suitable, particularly with a good driver. It's probably no worse than a half ton gasoline pickup, although the turbo will help at higher elevations.
@@BlueStratDude No way I'd do that tow with this Ascent.
Tribeca rated for 3500lbs not 2000. I personally would favor the larger 3.6na (256hp) over a 2.4t (260hp) engine when towing 3500lbs or a bit more. That said the Accent looks nice.
Why? Ascent has more low end torque as well.
@@prodigy2k7 Personal preference. I like more displacement vs turbo. The 3.6 is fairly simple motor that delivers decent power. I am not on board with smaller displacement motors with turbo's yet.(for light trucks/towing etc) Maybe someday I will change my mind.
Towing a trailer around a parking lot does not tell you a thing. Lets see what happens when you get up to 60mph and go up a hill. This was complete waste of time.
Should also have had passengers and luggage in the vehicle as that's more realistic. And that weight may bring the Gross Vehicle Weight close to the max.
Plus towing an airstream is easier than towing a box trailer
At :26 the 7-way plug is undone and I never saw the brake lights go on in the video. Were the trailer brakes functional in the video?
Maybe it was a wireless brake controller?
Ryan Burke so weird right?I actually rewound and paused the video. Then kept an eye later to see if I could spot the dangling cord in the wide shots. I do wonder if they did that intentionally to test the trailer sway correction software.
@1:59 it appears that the 7-pin does get plugged in. A concern that I have with this video is the mention of the adjustable brake controller @3:11 from the Subaru rep in the passenger seat. To clarify, when you get the hitch installed on the Ascent from the Dealer, you also receive the ball mount w/o a ball and a wiring harness to plug an aftermarket trailer brake controller into the factory harness without splicing. There is no factory option with a integrated controller. I had the dealer install the hitch on my Ascent on 7/6/2018. I also concur with most of the comments regarding the lack of grade and highway speed testing. Hopefully TFL Truck will do a tow test with the Ascent soon.
Wireless brake controller still requires the 7 pin connector to be installed (provides power to the brakes). The wireless styles are generally used when either the person wants to move between vehicles or for some reason you can't get an intermittent power signal based on brake activation to the connector (issue with some 2018'ish F150's as an example)
i'd like to see mpg towing up a grade
Probably in the low teens if I had to guess 🤣
Doesn’t prove much, unloaded trailer, no hills so it make towing capabilities unrealistic. I may pull a trailer that weighs 2,500 lbs unloaded in real life!! Time you add water, propane and gear no way it could even start to pull this Airstream.
I mean... this isn't the right car for you, obviously. If the empty weight is already 1/2 the max. If it is rated for 5,000lbs, then I expect it will do fine. It has similar weight and power to my H3... I suspect it will be a bit slow up the steepest grades, but 5,000lbs should be totally doable. I have pulled a 16' tandem with a load behind the H3, and while it wasn't pleasant in the hills, it isn't like it couldn't do it.
What is the hitch weight with this Airstream? Manual says nothing over 500 lbs. I believe this trailer has a hitch weight over 500 lbs.
This setup needs a WD hitch, torsion bars, and sway bars. Ideally, you would also install a custom receiver from CanAm in London, Ontario. makes all the difference.
Is the 4300# trailer "loaded" of is that it's dry weight? What is the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of the Ascent?
They said that the total weight was 4,300 pounds.
bug512 must be true loaded weight, though that could also be the same as dry weight since I doubt they’d fill it with anything just for an automotive review. No GVWR released yet to my knowledge but if since curb weight and payload are similar to the Pilot and Ridgeline, I’d bet it’ll be similar in GCWR to their near 10k lb limit as well.
I’m not sure where they got the 4300# from. It’s an Airstream Sport 22 with a curb weight of 3634# when empty.
Ryan Burke That makes sense since they would also include the weight of the passengers in this test.
Ryan Burke well they probably weighed it on a scale just prior to the reviews and after filling it with fluids and other accessories to hit the weight they were targeting.
Useless test. How does it do on the highway going up hills/mountains and with a 25 mph headwind? That's towing reality, not driving around cones in a parking lot!
Does Subaru recommend a brake controller?
Yes. To reach the 5000lbs limit you should have a brake controller if your trailer has brakes.
@@chinooky5625 i just bought a 2021 subaru ascent touring,and i asked dealer to install a braker controller. Told me that they are not selling any brake controller and installation. also part department told me 2021 subaru ascent touring transmission only can support 2000lbs ,otherwise might damage it. What a joke if that is true !!!
These automakers are really getting very carried away with their towing capacities. The vehicle has the power to tow it but in an emergency situation these vehicles will become the reason for the emergency...Sure the F150 has the power to get a 12k trailer moving, but slam on the brakes at freeway speed and see where that trailer takes you.
Actually many of the cars sold in the USA have conservative tow ratings when compared to the same cars sold in Europe.
The trailer is not is not pluged into the Subaru, the trailer breaks won't work (Not early in the vidio)
How'd they know the back road to Culver's?
Do you need brakes installed on the camper?
The Airstream is equipped with trailer brakes. It’s a 7 pin. The TV doesn’t stop the trailer, the trailer brakes stop the trailer.
Ryan, in the video your guest mentions an adjustable brake controller in the Ascent. Is that OEM? Aftermarket and part of the tow package? Aftermarket and not part od the tow package? Thanks!
I believe it was an aftermarket addition. Not part of tow package. I’ll verify and post a reply here. RD
Driving Sports TV thank you for the quick reply!
4 months later and no reply... Is is aftermarket since Subaru only supplies the cables for the brake controller when you buy the OEM hitch.
towing/hitch does not include a brake controller, just wiring. I am trying to figure out what brake controller to get. Subaru (in Boise anyway) does not sell it and will not recommend one.
Yes, you need an aftermarket brake controller. Subaru doesn’t make one and it is not built in the car. I just bought a cheapish one. I don’t remember $30ish or $40ish.
Look, you need to state the GCWR (total maximum capable weight of vehicle, cargo, tongue weight and tow/trailer vehicle) if you are doing a towing review. Just stating the tow rating is not helpful as it is generally based on an empty and NOT a loaded vehicle. Once you add four people (say, 600 pounds) and some gear (say, 400 pounds) you will add 1000 pounds to the wight of the vehicle--likely means you can only tow a max of 3500 or so. BUT YOU DO NOT CLARIFY! Even doing some research on the Subaru website it is hard to find the GCWR--very frustrating and it suggests that as soon as you add real-world weight to the vehicle the tow rating drops dramatically. Last comment: A 2,000lb tow rating is still useful for towing a lawn/utility trailer or a teardrop. Not "useless." First time I have watched this channel for a review and it will be the last given these shortcomings of the information.
Subaru clearly states in their manuals : the tow capacity is the TRAILER only. What is in the vehicle is another weight. So much people argued with me and I showed them my Tribeca Manual.
This tow test was bogus. The driver gets on my nerves.
Why can the new 2020 outback only tow 3500(turbo varient) and the ascent do 5000 of they have the same engine?
this partially ties into the vehicle weight. It's not only about the ability to get the trailer moving, but also about the ability to stop and maneuver. The Ascent is 1000lbs heavier than the Outback, which is why it can handle the 5000lb trailer without the fear that 'the tail is going to wag the dog'
cool planes!
No 360° camera available on any trim of the Ascent.
nO 360 DeGrEeS CaMeRa AvAiLabLE oN AnY TrIM oF THe AscEnT
yeah who needs that? what?
Andrew Once you've used it to back up evenly between the lines in a parking spot you'll understand.
If you really need. 360 cam it's time to start riding the bus
A10
How much can 2018 Subaru Forester XT tow?
1500# , trailer brakes recommended at max.
It doesn’t lol
Hello guys do the Subaru Ascent has an Eye sigth too.. thanks
Yes, Eye Sight is standard on all Ascents.
what they don't show is how low the hitch is from the ground... maybe about 6"... so if you never have to go over a dip or over a bump you'll not have an issue... good luck with that one!!!!! bottoms out with nothing in it.. all the wait is in the front of trailer.... 2 batteries..propane tanks and of course hitch.... my car dropped down to about 4" off the pavement once the trailer was attached... YIKES!!!!!!! this is terrible ....
that's why you have weight distribution set up. and sway bars
I thought the max tow weight is 3000lbs?
towing is important..mini vans cant
Subarus have been known for long-term durability. Any car guy who’s been around for a while can tell you it is not a good idea to tell the so-called claim to 5000 pound towing capacity with a four-cylinder turbo gas engine and to make it even worse a CVT transmission! Would’ve loved to seen a test where they actually total 5000 pounds maybe even up a slight grade and see how this vehicle performs and then that’s viewers could’ve imagined it doing that several hundred or thousandTimes and guess how long this vehicle would last. Every vehicle in this class content 3500 pounds Subaru wants to distinguish themselves by claiming a 5000 pound towing capacity. Which only a Durango RT with the V8 can do adequately. Look for a future amendment to that claim 5000 pound towing capacity after all the warranty and claims and class-action lawsuit a couple of years from now.
Tread lightly with Subaru. They get butt hurt easily. Just ask The Fast Lane Car guys. Lol.
+pra3t0rian We have a long history with Subaru PR vehicles. Actually met Roman for the first time at the WRX launch (back when they were still getting cars from them)
This car is a joke for a vehicle to tow any thing. I suggest anyone who looks to buy this to tow a small trailer or boat read the owners manual before you sign the dotted line. This car failed towing a 3300 lb trailer.
Do you have a link with more information about that failure towing 3300lbs.?
BlueStratDude I don't. It happened to my brother on Hwy 395 in California. Had to pull over a total of six separate time to cool the rear differential. They took into Subaru and they found metal in the resend and replaced it.
@@jasonwalker5430 Thanks for this info. I was looking at the Subaru Ascent as a possible tow vehicle for trips to Mammoth (up the 395 in California). I'll take it off my list.
These new Subarus have a problem with head gaskets.
How many of the 2.4-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine have head gasket issues?
alot !!
killersushi99 none, since none are on the road yet.
All you have to do is Google it or youtube it. Big time head gasket problems with the Subees. BIG time !! You are the liar. Anyone can google it and see its a terrible problem with these Subees. I hope you buy a Subaru. A liar like you deserves one.
There are a ton of subees with new head gaskets back on the roads. The older subees never had this problem as the wall and gaskets were thicker.