7600 Industrial Rd
Florence, KY 41042
We pledge a truly exceptional experience.
In 2023, the Subaru Ascent is among the safest and most practical three-row SUVs on the Market. When compared to the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, those attributes are even more noticeable. While the Ascent certainly faces some stiff competition from its closest contemporaries, it's the standout Subaru formula that puts this SUV ahead of the pack.
The updated Toyota Highlander is certainly a worthy challenger for the Subaru Ascent. However, it's the Ascent's standard powertrain and interior space that put it ahead of the Toyota three-row contender.
Under the hood, the 2023 Subaru Ascent comes standard with a 2.4-liter flat-four engine delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The Highlander has a slight edge here, offering 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet from a similar four-cylinder setup. However, only the Subaru Ascent comes standard with all-wheel drive across all trims. And since the Ascent is already $1,200 less than the Highlander without all-wheel drive, it's clear which model provides the better value for adventurous families.
Inside, both the Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander offer three-row seating with room for up to eight. In fact, the two are almost perfectly match for both front and second-row legroom. However, the Ascent offers an additional two inches of rear shoulder room when compared to the Highlander, so sitting three across is easier when you have a cabin full of passengers. Furthermore, the Ascent offers more standard cargo room at 17.8 cubic feet, compared to just 16 cubes in the Toyota SUV.
Regarding safety, both the Toyota Highlander and Subaru Ascent earn high marks for their standard safety tech. With features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist, both Subaru EyeSight and Toyota Safety Sense will keep you safe on the road.
Contrasting the Subaru Ascent and Honda Pilot is equally difficult, though the Ascent once again pulls an edge over the updated Honda SUV. Both under the hood, at the pump, and overall practicality, it's a close race but the Subaru has some advantages that make it a better option.
While the Subaru Ascent makes use of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Honda Pilot uses a 3.5-liter V6. As such, you'd expect the Honda to have vastly more power than the Subaru, but it doesn't. Instead, the Hodna has just 15 horsepower on the Subaru Ascent, while the Ascent's 277 pound-feet of torque puts it above the 262 pound-feet in the Honda.
As such, efficiency is easier to achieve in the Subaru Ascent. At 20 mpg city, it's one better than the Pilot around town. On the highway, the Pilot has a slight advantage at 27 mpg versus 26 in the Subaru.
Critically, the Subaru Ascent provides nearly identical fuel economy to the Honda Pilot despite coming standard with Symmetrical all-wheel drive. The Honda comes stock with just front-drive capability, meaning you'll have to pay extra to get the type of versatility you want. Not only does the cheapest AWD Honda Pilot cost $8k more than the Ascent, but fuel economy dips to 25 mpg, putting it behind the Subaru across the board.
Much like the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot offers competitive safety tech when compared to the Subaru Ascent.
If you're ready to see how the Subaru Ascent stacks up compared to the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, don't hesitate to visit Joseph Cadillac Subaru for a test drive around Cincinnati today!
* Indicates a required field
Joseph Subaru of Florence
7600 Industrial Rd
Florence, KY 41042
