mmarshall

A colleague of mine, in my church, just bought a new Subaru Ascent for him and his wife...a nice chocolate-brown color (Subaru calls it Cinnamon Brown). Saw it a couple of days ago. Not really anything out of the ordinary on the outside (except for a nice paint-job), but it was nice inside...easily the best and most plush Subaru interior I've seen yet, even more so than the old upscale L.L. Bean models that were discontinued. I briefly looked at it, but, of course, did not do anything else.

Is anyone in Car Chat interested in an Ascent? I'm just trying to decide if I should take the time to test-drive one and write it up or not....there are a number of other vehicles I'm waiting to take a look at as well. There was very little interest in the Subaru Tribeca when it was offered, and probably for good reason.....even though this type of vehicle is not intended to be an Ultimate Driving Machine, the Tribeca's road-manners still felt like a complete appliance on wheels, and driving it, even for a generally sedate and conservative driver like me, was about as dull as watching its paint dry. The interior, particularly the dash, was also quirky and over-styled. Its very low sales numbers were not surprising. The Ascent, of course, replaces the former Tribeca, though I have no idea what it will feel like on the road.

SC300Es

My brother-in-law just bought a Touring. Very nice indeed.

For me it's a toss up between this and the Telluride/Palisade.

mmarshall

Congratulations on his purchase. Best of luck to him.

Good comparison. Yep, the two of them are not only more or less comparably-priced but, in length/wheelbase, are almost identical, although the Telluride is a couple of inches wider. You will get a much longer standard warranty, though, with the Telluride, particularly in the American market.

sm1ke

iTrader: (5)

I have a friend who bought an Ascent recently as well. He doesn't have any complaints yet, but he's only had it for a few months. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it, though I should say that it's just out of curiosity as I'm not in the market (and probably won't be until the wife's Civic kicks the bucket).

situman

Question regarding DI engines carboning up. Does it happen to non-dual injected engines like the one in the Ascent?

mmarshall

The 2.4L twin-scroll turbo in the Ascent is a new design, so we probably won't know its long-term reliability or questions about carbon-buildup for some time.

Sulu

Carbon build-up is a problem with direct-injected gasoline engines but not all direct-injected engines. Some automakers' direct-injected engines have build-up problems while other engines from the same automaker do not; it is dependent upon the design of the engine.

Toyota's D-4S injection system, that has both direct and port injection, do not have this problem (engines with port injection, where the intake valve is bathed in gasoline from the fuel injected in the intake port upstream of the intake valve, do not have a carbon build-up problem).

Since the Ascent's 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine is a new engine, I would assume that all design considerations to prevent carbon build-up have been taken into consideration. Time will tell.

mmarshall

I'm surprised that Subaru chose a turbo engine that small for its new flagship...but I guess it fits in with what we've seen from some other automakers using 2.0L turbos on some of their upmarket or flagship vehicles (A6, S90, V90, etc...). Cadillac even tried using a 2.0L Turbo four as the base engine in the CT6 sedan flagship....until common sense told them they had to drop it.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

I think the Ascent is easily the best Subaru ever.

but that’s like saying it’s the least ugly vehicle in their line-up.

but it’s a competitive, nicely designed roomy ute.

mmarshall

It's also, arguably, the most mainstream in design.....though most of the actual Subaru sales, of course, go to the Forester and Outback.

SW17LS

I don't own nearly enough tweed jackets to drive a Subaru lol

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

^^^ no idea where that stereotype came from... people from all walks of life drive subarus these days.

SW17LS

I was joking lol

jadu

iTrader: (42)

saw one on the road in matte black and debadged with only the subaru logo. i dont how it got to be matte black nor if it was a wrap, but it was the biggest suby I've ever seen

JDR76

There are a couple of these in my work parking lot. I always do a double-take. Out of the corner of my eye I think it's an Outback, then I realize it's too big. Definitely breaks no new ground styling wise, but looks good enough.