As drivers, we ask a lot out of our mid-size SUVs. These are the carpoolers that will carry coolers full of orange slices, lacrosse sticks, and the sweaty kids that come with them. They’re the nap zone after a long day of sightseeing or hiking and the media room during those long stretches of road when everyone is too tired to talk. So one thing is for certain: they have to be comfortable. The 2022 Subaru Ascent lives up to that challenge and more.
This SUV was clearly designed to ensure nobody has to fight about getting the good seat—because they’re all good seats. Some drivers don’t consider how important the comfort features are of a vehicle. At first glance, those aren’t the “money makers.” Fuel economy, towing capabilities, and re-sale value—those are things that catch one’s attention.
But wise drivers know: if your car isn’t comfortable, you do, in fact, pay a high price. It may not be a monetary price, but it’s still costly. You pay the price of passengers complaining. You pay the price of having to pull over often on long drives to stretch your legs because you’re just so uncomfortable in the captain’s seat. Comfort adds a lot of value. So let’s take a look at what people really want to know: What makes the Subaru Ascent so worthy of your attention?
Do the Seats Fold Down in the Subaru Ascent?
This mid-size SUV is rich with seats—eight to be exact. So there’s no denying that it’s a great passenger vehicle. But what about those times when you only need to transport five passengers and a couple of boogie boards? Or even three people and a ton of camping gear? What about when it’s just the front two passengers and you need the back for a pack of dogs? You can do that—all of that—in this car.
The second and third rows fold down in multiple configurations, allowing you to create several types and sizes of cargo areas. Each rear row of seats can be folded flat in their entirety, or they can be split, allowing you to fold down just one seat of either row. Plus, the seats have easy-to-access, marked levers that make the process of folding down the seats simple and painless. If you can’t anticipate what sorts of cargo you’ll have to carry but know you have a diverse lineup of trips ahead of you, this car was made for you. Its versatile folding seats mean you can pack just about anything.
How Big Is the Subaru Ascent?
As previously noted, the Subaru Ascent boasts up to eight seats. You can have a second row with two captain’s seats for a seven-passenger vehicle, or a second row with a bench seat for an eight-passenger option. In total, you’ll enjoy up to 152.3 cu.ft. of passenger volume. That’s a generous amount of room for your backseat riders.
Plus, tall riders don’t need to worry about feeling cramped in this car. Drivers of the new Ascent who are over six feet tall have said they feel very comfortable in this vehicle. That’s because it’s rich in leg room. Overall, the inside of this vehicle feels spacious for passengers of all sizes, so everyone can stretch out and enjoy the ride.
Is the Ascent Comfortable?
Here’s the question on everyone’s minds when considering a car of this type: Will passengers be happy on long car rides? If you pack up the whole family for a road trip, will you arrive at your destination with gripes and grudges over who got the “bad seat” and other trifles like that? You can rest assured that relationships will remain intact after many miles in the 2022 Ascent.
It has roomy, plush seats that are well-padded and nicely contoured to reduce body fatigue. The second row can either have two spacious captain seats or a bench seat. Either option is comfortable, but if you don’t need all eight seats, the one with the captain seats will provide the most comfort for all riders. Plus, leather upholstery is available for a luxurious upgrade.
Subaru paid attention to the details in this car, too. It’s those little things that make a big difference after hours in the car. Passengers will love that there are a total of 19 cup and bottle holders in the 2022 Ascent. That’s more than two beverage vessels per passenger, so everybody can have their water bottle, coffee, juice, and/or soda on hand. It also has wide door openings, so getting in and out of the car is a breeze.
Another feature that’s sure to keep passengers content is the tri-zone automatic climate control system, which comes standard. When everybody needs a slightly different temperature to stay happy, this feature eliminates arguments about who controls the climate in the vehicle. While the last feature isn’t exactly inside of the car, its benefits are apparent in the interior. The new Ascent has an excellent suspension system, which does an impressive job of smoothing out bumps on the road—making for a gentler, more soothing rider experience.
Does the Subaru Ascent Have Cooled (and Heated) Seats?
If this is going to be your road trip car, then you might take it through all sorts of climates and experience the four seasons in it. Every driver knows that when passengers get too hot or too cold, you hear about it. We know the car has those tri-zone automatic climate controls, but what about a little climate control from the seats? Here’s what you can expect in terms of heated and cooled seats in the Ascent.
Every trim of the Ascent has heated front seats—except for the base model. However, the Premium 8-passenger trims and up have this feature. Ventilated front seats are, unfortunately, only available for the very top trim of this car. As for second-row passengers, those in some of the upper trims will enjoy heated seats.
Ventilated seats are not available on any back rows of this vehicle. When traveling through extreme temperatures, back seat passengers might not enjoy quite as much climate control out of their seats as front row passengers in this car—at least not on lower trims.
Does the Subaru Ascent Have a Heated Steering Wheel?
When getting in the car after a long day on the slopes or a winter hike, every driver knows the feeling of stiff, cold hands. It’s almost impossible to operate your vehicle when your hands are frozen. But you won’t need to rub your hands together to get comfy in the Ascent—at least not on the Onyx Edition 7-Passenger and up—because these trims include a heated steering wheel. Lower trims don’t have this feature, so if you purchase one of those models, consider keeping mittens with good grips handy.
Is the Subaru Ascent Comfortable for Passengers and Drivers?
The 2022 Subaru Ascent was designed with the comfort of passengers and drivers in mind. It’s obvious throughout the vehicle that every element of the driver and rider experience was examined and addressed. Between the multitude of cup holders to keep everyone refreshed, the spacious seats, the tri-zone climate control, and the wide doors, the Ascent was made to eliminate some of those passenger inconveniences that come up on long road trips. In the front, heated and cooled seats on most trims—along with a heated steering wheel—will keep the driver content for long hours on the road. Plus, ample leg room makes this car ready for a tall driver. All in all, if you load up this car for a long trip, you can expect minimal complaints and requests to pull over.
