2022 Subaru Ascent: Choosing the Right Trim

The midsize 2022 Subaru Ascent fills the bill for loyal Subaru owners who need a three-row SUV to graduate into. Providing all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability and seating for up to eight, it’s ideal for Outback or Forester owners seeking more interior room.

Except for the all-new Onyx Edition, Subaru changed little in the Ascent for 2022. Even the pricing for the other four established grades remains the same.

Solid fuel economy and a comprehensive array of technology features still rank among the top reasons to buy the Ascent.

It also scored well in government crash tests, along with tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  In fact, the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, the highest possible score, for the 2021 model year.

2022 Subaru Ascent (starting at $32,295)

Subaru calls this the base trim level. Like all Ascent models, it comes with a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

AWD with X-Mode and hill-descent control is standard. X-Mode provides better trail-driving capability by limiting wheelspin on slippery surfaces.

Delivering an EPA-estimated 444-miles of range on a tank of gas, the Ascent’s fuel economy is 21 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. (Models in Limited or Touring trim with larger 20-in. wheels drop 1.0 mpg across the board.)

While it anchors the Ascent’s trim levels, the 8-passenger base model comes with 18-in. alloy wheels, seven airbags, power windows, power door locks, and power outboard mirrors. Automatic on-off LED headlights are also standard.

Additional standard features include automatic tri-zone climate control, a Starlink Multimedia system with 6.5-in. touchscreen, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite-radio capability.

Every Ascent comes with the EyeSight suite of active safety features, this includes adaptive cruise control with lane centering, steering-responsive headlights, automatic high-beam assist, forward-collision warning with emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.

Subaru did increase the Ascent’s destination charge by $75, to $1,125. Adding it to the base price brings the total to $33,420. Financing that for 60 months at a 3% interest rate with no money down works out to $574 per month. Find a 2022 Subaru Ascent for sale

2022 Subaru Ascent (base) includes:

• Starlink Multimedia system – Comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and satellite-radio capability
• EyeSight technology – Includes features like forward-collision warning with emergency braking and adaptive cruise control
• Auto high-beam assist – LED high beams engage and disengage automatically

2022 Subaru Ascent Premium (starting at $34,795)

The Premium trim adds a lot of bang for the buck and allows for second-row captain’s chairs as a no-cost option. It’s the trim we’d highly recommend to value-conscious SUV shoppers.

In addition to the base Ascent’s features, the Premium grade adds blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and an 8-way power driver’s seat.

A leather-wrapped steering wheel and second-row independent automatic climate control are also included.

The Premium trim gets the Starlink 8.0 Multimedia system with an 8-in. touchscreen and Wi-Fi hot-spot capability. Subaru also adds its All Weather Package with heated seats, heated outboard mirrors, and windshield-wiper de-icer.

For $1,460, you can add the Convenience Package with a power rear liftgate, keyless access with push-button start, reverse automatic braking, and more.

Adding the $1,125 destination charge to the Premium base price totals $35,920. With no down payment, financing this amount for 60 months at 3% interest results in a $617 monthly payment. Find a 2022 Subaru Ascent Premium for sale

2022 Subaru Ascent Premium includes:

• Starlink 8.0 – Includes an 8-in. touchscreen and Wi-Fi hot spot capability
• More driver’s aids – Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert
• All Weather Package – Heated seats, heated outboard mirrors, and windshield-wiper de-icer

2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition (starting at $37,995)

This grade’s name sounds as though it’s just the 7-passenger Premium gussied up with black trim accents inside and out. That’s partly true, but Subaru packs the Onyx Edition with valuable added content, too.

To the Premium trim’s lineup of standard features, the Onyx Edition adds 20-in. alloy wheels, water-repellant seat fabric, and reverse automatic braking.

Also included are a hands-free power rear liftgate, heated steering wheel, and keyless access with push-button start.

You can toss another $2,200 into the mix for an options bundle that comes with a panoramic power moonroof, navigation system, and cargo cover.

Adding the $1,125 destination charge to the Onyx Edition base price brings the total to $39,120. With no money down, financing the total for 60 months at 3% interest results in a $672 monthly payment. Find a 2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition for sale

2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition includes:

• Convenience – Hands-free power liftgate and keyless entry with push-button start
• Safety – Reverse automatic braking
• Design – Black trim accents and black-painted 20-in. alloy wheels

2022 Subaru Ascent Limited (starting at $39,595)

Building on the Premium trim, the Limited grade adds reverse automatic braking, keyless entry with push-button start, and a power rear liftgate with an auto-lock button for it and the doors.

Other added features include leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a 4-way power front-passenger seat, and two more USB ports (six in total).

LED fog lights, turn signals integrated into the outboard mirrors, and heated second-row seats are standard equipment, as well.

A $2,950 option package includes a 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system, panoramic power moonroof, and navigation system.

Adding the $1,125 destination charge to the Limited base price brings the total to $40,720. With no money down, you can finance that for 60 months at 3% interest for $699 per month. Find a 2022 Subaru Ascent Limited for sale

2022 Subaru Ascent Limited includes:

• Upgraded seating – Leather upholstery
• Front-seat comfort – 10-way power driver’s seat and 4-way power passenger seat
• USB ports – Two more USB ports, for a total of six

2022 Subaru Ascent Touring (starting at $45,445)

Given the Touring trim includes all the Limited’s standard features, as well as those in the options package, you’d think there wasn’t more to add to the Ascent. Yet, the range-topping trim includes a few extra touches.

The Touring interior comes with perforated leather upholstery, wood grain-pattern accents, plus three-mode heated and ventilated fronts seats.

A rear-facing camera provides a full digital image in the rearview mirror, to aid overall visibility. Rain-sensing wipers and a 180-degree front-view camera are added to the Ascent’s other safety features.

Adding the $1,125 destination charge to the Touring’s base price brings the total to $46,570. If you finance that amount for 60 months at 3% interest without any money down, the monthly payment is $799. Find a 2022 Subaru Ascent Touring for sale

2022 Subaru Ascent Touring includes:

• More luxury – Perforated leather seating
• Added safety – Rain-sensing wipers and a rearview camera display
• Extra comfort – Three-mode heated and ventilated front seats