Many consumers with a growing family are turning to mid-sized three-row crossovers to satisfy the need for space without having to go too large. The Subaru Ascent fits this description nicely. It has an easy city drive, it has the space needed for seven or eight passengers, a flexible cargo area and it comes with one of the best all-wheel-drive systems offered. That鈥檚 just what鈥檚 needed in a good Canadian winter.

After a significant upgrade last year, the Subaru Ascent remains unchanged for 2024.

All Ascent models come one way and that鈥檚 with a 2.4L turbo-four that works with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with an eight-speed manual mode and Subaru鈥檚 symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. The engine twists out 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm, which is enough to give the Ascent a run to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and a tow capacity of 2,270-kg for all but the base Convenience model, which is capped at a modest 908-kg.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent has a posted average fuel economy of 11.0 L/100 km and an annual fuel cost of $3,190.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2023 Ascent its Top Safety Pick+. This means it has Good ratings for all crash tests, the top Superior rating for forward crash prevention for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests and a Good rating for the adaptive headlight performance. The National Highway Traffic Association (NHTSA) gives the Ascent its top Five Star rating.

The Subaru Ascent gets a 3-out-of-5 score for reliability from Consumer Reports, which is average reliability when compared to the average new car. This prediction was based on data from 2020, 2021 and 2022 models.

The Ascent has a refined cabin and an easy-to-use infotainment system that鈥檚 centred around an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen. It uses a blend of hard controls and touchpoints to control the key functions, which makes it an easy system to master. It also supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and, on the richer models, navigation and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer and amplifier.

All Ascents have better-than-average outward visibility and arrive with Subaru鈥檚 comprehensive EyeSight suite of safety aids along with auto high beams. The base Convenience model, however, is missing blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The seven-seat Ascent is, perhaps, better suited to carrying four adults and their cargo; the eight-seat model is best if you have three (or more!) kids and need to carry the paraphernalia that comes with them. The third row, in either case, is on the tight side with 804-mm of legroom compared to the 979-mm you鈥檒l find in the middle row.

The Subaru Ascent starts with the Convenience at $41,995. The Touring model comes in at $46,495, the Onyx at $48,295 and the Limited at $51,895. The lineup tops out at $54,995 for the Premier. There鈥檚 no cost for switching out the three-seat middle row and opting into the two captain鈥檚 seats in the Touring and Limited models.