When you’re in the market for a new vehicle, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by your options. Even if you have it narrowed down to a midsize crossover, there’s a lot to consider when it comes down to choosing the best possible model for you. At some point, they all start to blur together. We totally get it. That’s why our team here at Adventure Subaru in Fayetteville did a little homework and gathered some information for you. Below, we’ll compare the all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent with the 2018 Honda Pilot and the 2018 Toyota Highlander. All three are good 3-row crossover SUVs with a lot of great features and space for up to 8 passengers. But there are a lot of differences between the three too, and that’s what we’re going to lay out for you below.
Capability
All three vehicles — the Ascent, the Pilot and the Highlander — were built on car platforms to seat the same number of people, and they can all tow 5,000 pounds of weight. So comparing the three might be confusing at first, understandably. When you look a little deeper, though, you discover some things about the Ascent that the other two vehicles don’t have. With 8.7 inches, the Subaru Ascent has the advantage of more ground clearance over both the Honda Pilot (7.3) and the Toyota Highlander (8). So if you want to avoid scraping the bottom of your car and have the option to do more adventuring, the Ascent has the edge in this category. The Ascent is also the only vehicle in the lineup that offers all-wheel drive, and it’s the only vehicle that offers the Boxer engine. Unfortunately we don’t have any information on the fuel economy just yet, but we do know that the Ascent’s fuel tank range exceeds 500 miles. The Pilot has a range of 507, while the Highlander has a range of 460.
Convenience
As we mentioned before, all three of these midsize crossovers offer seating for up to 8 people, and they’re all pretty roomy. The Ascent does offer the most cargo space (20 feet) out of all the vehicles when both rows of seats are up. Another perk of the Ascent, especially if you’re putting all 8 seats to good use, is the number of cupholders you can find throughout the vehicle. The Ascent has an incredible 19 cup holders spread out across all three rows. So when you make a fast-food stop, you won’t have to hassle with drink carriers or kids fighting over who gets to use the in-car cup holders.
Durability
There’s only so much you can say about a vehicle before it’s been on the road for a while, but we’ll give you some insight into what we know so far. We know that all three vehicles are nothing to scoff at in the safety department. Both the 2018 Honda Pilot and the 2018 Toyota Highlanders have the title of IIHS Top Safety Picks. While the 2019 Ascent has not yet been rated by IIHS, we fully expect it to earn the highest rating of Top Safety Pick Plus. We already know the Ascent includes a host of STARLINK Safety and Security services to keep you informed, entertained and secure no matter where the road takes. Eyesight Driver Assist acts a second pair of eyes while you’re on the road, alerting you of anything you might have missed and stepping in to protect you when need be. And if there’s one brand you can trust when it comes to safety, it’s Subaru.
