Subaru Ascent (2019-2024)

Base / Premium / Onyx Edition / Limited / Touring · Symmetrical full-time AWD · 8.7" clearance · 86.5 cu ft cargo · 23 mpg combined

Subaru Ascent 2019–2024

Platform context: Ascent is Subaru's 3-row (7 or 8 seat) on a stretched platform. Same symmetrical AWD + 8.7" clearance as Forester/Outback. 2019 is first model year (redesign-first-year risk). 2024 is end-of-gen before 2025 refresh. Shares FA24 turbo H4 + heavy-duty CVT across the generation.

Reliability

FA24 2.4L turbo — the central question

The FA24 is a new engine family for Subaru introduced with the Ascent in 2019. On paper it's a design improvement over the FB25 — direct injection instead of port, "beehive" valve springs (smaller top/wider middle, rated for higher pressure), no thermo control valve issue that plagued the FB25.¹⁵¹⁶ That's the marketing story. The field story is more mixed:

Fuel pump recall (2019-2020): NHTSA-initiated recall on ~40,950 Ascent SUVs built 6/26/2018 – 1/18/2019 for low-pressure fuel pump impeller failure. Impeller could deform, jam, disable the pump — stall risk.⁴⁵ Fix available; if buying a 2019-2020, verify recall completion via VIN.
Valve spring failures: Reported on 2021 Ascent forum threads with catastrophic engine failure (broken intake valve spring, rocker floating in cam carrier). Not a formal recall — appears as isolated incidents rather than systemic defect, but it's the exact failure mode the "beehive" redesign was supposed to eliminate.⁶⁷
PCV valve defect (2019): Recalled — could cause engine failure. Fix available.⁸
Oil leaks: Reported camshaft carrier oil leaks on 2019s, some requiring engine removal to repair ($$$).⁸

Verdict on FA24: The engine is probably fine on 2022+ (direct injection + beehive springs = actually better than the FB25 it replaces). On 2019-2020 you're rolling the dice unless recall completion is verified and service records are clean. Valve-spring failures remain an edge-case concern even on later years.

Heavy-duty CVT

The Ascent's CVT is a different unit than the Forester/Outback version — rated for 5,000 lb towing. Durability picture:

2019 had a documented CVT computer-control issue that caused outright transmission failure. Subaru issued recall + warranty replacement. If you see a 2019 with 60k+ miles, "it either never had the problem or already had the transmission replaced."⁸⁹
Post-2020 reports are better but forum/Reddit users flag that the Ascent is the heaviest Subaru and the CVT works harder. Anecdotal reports of CVT failures at 60-80k miles vs the 200k+ these units should deliver — heavily correlated with skipped fluid service ($189 preventive vs $7,000-8,000 replacement).¹²¹³
Towing stresses it hard: A Subaru employee with a 2019 Ascent Limited + hitch says "I wouldn't tow unless flat ground, short distance." Mountain towing in hot weather is explicitly called out as damaging.¹⁴
Mitigation: Fluid change every 30-60k miles if towing or mountain driving. For Hannah (Salida, CO + Denver metro) this is mandatory maintenance, not optional.

Starlink infotainment freezing

Active class-action lawsuit (in federal court NJ, survived motion to dismiss) against Subaru for defective Starlink infotainment on 2019-2023 Outback, Forester, WRX, Legacy.¹⁷¹⁸
Ascent not specifically named in current Starlink suit, but shares the same head unit hardware. Owner reports of freezing, rebooting, ghost-touch, screen delamination on Ascent forums are common.¹⁹
Root cause is hardware (screen delamination + processor), not software — only fix is full head-unit replacement. Not covered unless class action settles.

Windshield cracking — Powell v. Subaru (class action SETTLED)

Ascent IS in scope of the Powell settlement. Covered: 2019-2022 Ascent, 2019-2022 Forester, 2020-2022 Outback, 2020-2022 Legacy.²⁰²¹
Settlement extends NVLW to cover qualifying cracks 8 years / 100,000 miles from in-service date. One-time original-windshield replacement. Cash reimbursement for prior repairs.
Final fairness hearing was 4/21/2025. This is a net positive: buying a 2019-2022 Ascent means the windshield warranty is legally extended.

2019 first-year redesign issues

The 2019 Ascent is widely flagged as "year to avoid". 398 NHTSA complaints, 6-8 recalls, Motor Trend long-term test called it "unusually troublesome."⁸⁹¹⁰ Specific issues beyond the above: brake problems (pad/rotor wear, pulsation, ABS, parking brake) from 2019-2022, tailgate/battery-drain electrical glitch, stock battery undersized.

Consumer Reports reliability by year

Year	CR Rating	Notes
2019	Below average	8 recalls, worst MY¹
2020	Improved	Most 2019 issues corrected¹¹
2021	4/5	Best CR year³
2022	4/5	Best CR year³
2023	3/5 predicted	Downgrade³
2024	Below average	Fresh issues flagged²

The sweet spot is 2021-2022. That's where the fuel pump recall is behind you, the CVT is de-risked, AND the CR rating is at peak before the 2024 regression.

Safety

IIHS: Ascent has earned Top Safety Pick or TSP+ for 7+ consecutive years through 2024 (and again 2026).²²²³ 2024 = TSP+. Pre-2022 years likely TSP (not TSP+) under older criteria.
NHTSA: 5-star overall ★★★★★ consistently across the generation.²⁴
EyeSight standard across all trims/years — adaptive cruise, pre-collision braking, lane departure.

Safety is not a differentiator between Ascent and Forester/Outback — they all sit at the top of their classes.

CPO Availability (Denver)

Subaru CPO terms: ≤5 MY, ≤80k mi, 152-point inspection, 7-yr/100k powertrain from original in-service date, free CARFAX, included roadside assist.²⁵²⁶
April 2026 eligibility: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 model years.
Denver inventory reality: Ascents exist at Mike Shaw (Boulder), AutoNation Subaru West, AutoNation Subaru Arapahoe, Groove Subaru. Supply is thinner than Forester/Outback (lower production volume). Sample listing: 2023 Ascent Onyx Limited at AutoNation Arapahoe, 6,988 mi, $30,198 — above budget.²⁷
Hard truth: CPO 2022-2023 Ascents in Denver are generally $28-32k. A CPO 2021 Premium under $25k is possible but requires hunting (and 2021 = end of eligibility window in 2026).

Pricing (Denver market)

Triangulation on used listings (April 2026):

Year/Trim	Denver Avg	Source
2020 Premium/Limited (non-CPO)	$12k-$17k (resale ~$17,090 for 2020 Premium)	KBB/Edmunds³⁰³¹
2021 Ascent (mixed trims, Denver)	$22,647 avg list	Edmunds/CarGurus²⁹
2021 Limited non-CPO	~$24,898 seen	Cars.com Denver³²
2022 Ascent (Colorado avg)	$30,356 avg	TrueCar³³
2022 Premium AWD CPO	~$28-31k	Mike Shaw / AutoNation²⁸
Premium trim national avg	$27,326	KBB³⁴

The Critical Question: can Hannah get a 2022-2023 CPO Premium under $25k?

Realistically: no, not CPO. A 2022 Premium CPO in Denver is $28-31k. To get under $25k: - Non-CPO 2021 Premium AWD with 50-70k mi → $22-25k range is achievable. Loses CPO warranty but keeps factory powertrain warranty residuals + the Powell windshield settlement benefits. - Non-CPO 2020 Limited → under $20k is achievable, but this is at the edge of the post-2019 recall-cleanup zone. Needs careful inspection. - 2019 Touring under $18k → possible but crosses "year to avoid" line for Hannah's ex-lemon-truck risk tolerance. Don't recommend.

Note: the earlier hypothesis that Ascent depreciates faster than Forester/Outback turned out to be wrong. 2022 Ascent depreciates 21% over 5 yrs, Forester 22%, Outback 24% — Ascent actually holds value slightly better than its siblings.³⁵³⁶ So no budget advantage from faster depreciation — if anything the Ascent is premium-priced on the used market.

Cargo Fit (1 dog + field gear)

17.8 cu ft behind deployed row 3 / 47.5 cu ft behind row 2 / 86.5 cu ft max with rows 2+3 folded.³⁷
With row 3 folded flat (Hannah's likely default config): significantly more cargo volume than Forester (74.2 max) or Outback (75.6 max).³⁸
Extra-wide rear doors, under-floor storage compartment.
Dog + field gear verdict: Genuinely more useful cargo than Forester for archaeology field loads. 3rd row becomes an occasionally-deployable bonus (field crew rides, gear overflow barrier).

Fit vs Forester/Outback

Metric	Ascent	Forester	Outback
Length	196.9"	182"	191"
Width (no mirrors)	76.0"	71.5"	73.0"
Curb weight	~4,400-4,600 lb	~3,500 lb	~3,900 lb
Ground clearance	8.7"	8.7"	8.7"
Cargo (max)	86.5 cu ft	74.2 cu ft	75.6 cu ft
Seat height / "truck-feel"	Highest	High	Medium-high

Trade-offs for Hannah's context: - Mountain-town parking: 196.9" long × 76" wide is a meaningful jump. Owner reports: "I still can't park it right after a year, never got it into a space first try, came from a Forester" — Ascent is ~4" wider.³⁹ Salida downtown parking spots are not generous. - Altitude performance: FA24 turbo handles altitude better than a NA engine would — turbochargers are less affected by thin air. Ascent is ~500 lbs heavier than Forester, but Colorado owners at 6,500' report 19-22 mpg real-world (EPA says 23), and the turbo pulls mountain grades well.⁴⁰⁴¹ Note: real-world MPG runs 10-20% below EPA in CO. - Truck-feel sit-height: Ascent is the tallest seating position in Subaru lineup — closest to the F-150 feel Hannah had. Forester seats high too but smaller overall footprint. Outback sits lower.

EyeSight

EyeSight standard across all 2019–2024 Ascent trims (same system family as Forester/Outback; 2023+ uses the next-gen wide-angle stereo cameras with slightly fewer false-positive complaints). Annoyance profile, cold-weather shutoff, windshield/camera failure costs, and both active class-action settlements (Powell v. Subaru windshield covers 2019–2022 Ascent; Jan 2026 EyeSight system-failure covers 2013–2024) apply.

See: Forester page — EyeSight section for full breakdown. Ascent-specific note: the larger windshield pushes replacement + recal toward the top of the range (~$1,200–1,600).

Verdict

🟡 YELLOW — qualified consider, with constraints

Where Ascent wins over Forester: - Genuinely more cargo (86.5 vs 74.2 cu ft max) - Taller seating position (closest to F-150 truck-feel) - Turbo handles altitude better than Forester's NA FB25 (though 2026 Forester now has FA24 option) - Same AWD + 8.7" clearance — CO winter capability is identical - Windshield class-action coverage (Powell) is a real financial benefit on 2019-2022 units

Where Ascent loses to Forester for Hannah: - Budget math is harsher: CPO 2022 Premium is $28-31k in Denver vs Forester CPO regularly under $25k. Non-CPO 2021 Premium is the realistic path at ~$22-25k. - CPO supply is thinner — lower production volume means fewer Denver CPO units to choose from. - New-powertrain risk is real but manageable: 2019-2020 FA24 has the fuel-pump recall + isolated valve-spring failures. 2021-2022 is the sweet spot (recall past, CR peak, still in CPO window through 2026-2027). - Bigger footprint for Salida parking — 4" wider than Forester. Real daily friction. - CVT is worked harder — mandatory 30-60k fluid service if any towing or mountain use. Ignore this and you get a $7-8k transmission bill.

Recommendation: If Hannah really wants the truck-feel sit-height and the cargo, a non-CPO 2021-2022 Premium AWD with clean service history, verified recall completion, and <60k miles at ~$22-25k is the play. If she's flexible on sit-height, the Forester is the simpler/cheaper/more-Salida-friendly package at the same money with less new-powertrain exposure.

The FA24 is NOT a dealbreaker — it's a manageable risk that inverts by 2021-2022 model years. The bigger issues are CPO supply + parking footprint + CVT maintenance discipline.