Subaru Ascent VS Ford Explorer:

There is a new 3-row family SUV to take your family on weekend adventures, the Subaru Ascent. No matter where the road may go the Ascent is ready with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, 27 highway mpg., and the ability to tow up to 5,000 lbs. The Ford Explorer, however, isn't nearly as fuel-efficient with its less capable all-wheel-drive system that will cost you extra.

Not only is the Subaru Ascent more fuel-efficient and equally as powerful as the Ford Explorer, but it is also more spacious. The Explorer can only seat up to 7 with 81.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. While the Ascent offers seating for up to 8 and 86.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.

Standard safety is just one more way that the Subaru Ascent leaves the Ford Explorer behind. EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and Rear-Seat Reminder are standard on every Ascent. Many of the same safety features are only available on select trim levels of the Ford Explorer.

Subaru Ascent vs. Honda Pilot

• The Subaru Ascent has both more cubic feet of passenger room, with a large advantage in the legroom for the front row and a higher max cargo capacity in its cabin than the Honda Pilot.
• Subaru models are popular among New England drivers because of their ability to conquer tough winter driving conditions with confidence, and the Subaru Ascent comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive that helps with just that. Concord car shoppers will have to pay extra for all-wheel drive.
• Also coming standard in the Subaru Ascent, the EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology includes features like pre-collision braking and adaptive cruise control, which are only found standard on the two priciest trims of the Honda Pilot.
• The Subaru Ascent also comes standard with tri-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay™, and Android™ Auto to make drives simpler and comfier, which is not true of the Honda Pilot.

Subaru Ascent vs. Toyota Highlander

• Both models come standard with a four-cylinder engine, but the Subaru Ascent's engine has much more horsepower, 260 vs. 185 in the Highlander, and torque, 277 pound-feet vs. 184 pound-feet in the Highlander, which helps with towing and off-road driving near Laconia.
• Paired with the engine of the Subaru Ascent is all-wheel drive that helps maintain traction when winter hits Plymouth, and engineering features like active torque vectoring and X-MODE® with Hill Descent Control, but with the Toyota Highlander, all-wheel drive remains a $1,460 extra and it does not have the same performance features.
• The Subaru Ascent makes it so fully grown passengers remain comfortable in each of the three rows with much more leg, head, and shoulder room for the third row than what the Toyota Highlander delivers.
• Whether it's the standard Android™ Auto and Apple CarPlay™ connectivity features or the available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, the Subaru Ascent has much more ease of use than the Toyota Highlander.

Subaru Ascent vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee

• The biggest difference between these two is the size as the Subaru Ascent has seating for up to eight while the Jeep Grand Cherokee maxes out at five, and the Subaru Ascent has nearly 20 more cubic feet of max cargo room. Passengers and large items fit much more easily in the Ascent than the Grand Cherokee.
• While the Jeep Grand Cherokee is known for its off-road capability, it comes standard with two-wheel drive that is nowhere near as ready for dirt trails as the all-wheel drive that comes standard on the Subaru Ascent.
• Another standard feature of the Subaru Ascent, EyeSIght® Driver Assist Technology, which includes Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Pre-collision Warning, and available safety features like LED Steering Responsive Headlights, either don't come standard or aren't available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
• The infotainment system of the Subaru Ascent has a range of standard features, like HD Radio, that the same system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee does not offer.