Subaru Ascent vs Toyota Highlander

Subaru Ascent vs. Toyota Highlander - Compare Midsize Family SUVs on Long Island

Subaru is renowned for creating versatile, comfortable, and safe SUVs that excel both on and off the road. The midsize three-row Ascent delivers all the characteristics drivers look for in a Subaru, but with extra space and seatbelts to accommodate larger families.

With its spacious and flexible accommodations, standard advanced safety features, and real four-season capability, the Subaru Ascent is one of the most well-rounded and appealing options in its segment. As an example, here's a quick look at how it compares in a few key areas to another prominent class competitor, the Toyota Highlander.

Interior and Practicality

While the Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander both offer roomy and comfortable cabins, the Ascent is a bit more accommodating for the driver and front passenger thanks to its extra headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The difference in space is even more apparent in the third row, where the Ascent offers nearly four more inches of legroom and an additional two inches of shoulder room compared to the Highlander.

If max cargo space is a priority for your Sayville adventures, you'll find plenty of it in either model. Still, the Ascent retains 18 cubic feet for storage with all seats occupied, two more cubes than the Highlander.

Capability

The Subaru Ascent (260 horsepower) and Toyota Highlander (265 horsepower) each offer potent powerplants and quick acceleration for their size, ensuring you'll have no trouble getting up to speed for safe and confident merging and passing maneuvers. However, the Ascent has an edge in driving dynamics, with accurate steering and composed handling making it feel smaller than its on-paper dimensions suggest.

The Subaru Ascent also gains the upper hand when the going gets rough. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard equipment like Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive and X-MODE traction management, it's an ideal road companion for navigating snowy streets or exploring some trails. The Toyota Highlander is nearly an inch lower. And while it offers all-wheel-drive, it's not standard on any trim and isn't as well suited to venturing away from the asphalt.

Features

Both the Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander are well-equipped SUVs with many desirable standard features, including advanced driver-assist technologies, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and tri-zone automatic climate control. However, all Ascent trim levels include a larger, high-resolution 11.6-inch touchscreen, making it easier to navigate and absorb more information at a glance. The Highland comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, reserving its larger display for its penultimate tier.

The Ascent offers more value, with nicely equipped trim levels at a lower MSRP than the Highlander. For the cost of a base-model FWD Highlander, you can get an AWD Ascent Premium with heated, power-adjustable front seats, proximity keyless entry, a power liftgate, plus additional driver aids like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and evasive steering assist.

Test-Drive a New Subaru Ascent near Brentwood and Smithville

If you'd like more information about the latest Subaru Ascent models, available trims and options, financing offers, and reservation opportunities, please reach out to Riverhead Bay Subaru at your convenience. And if you'd like to experience its amenities, accommodations, and performance firsthand, we welcome you to visit our Long Island Subaru dealership to see for yourself what sets the Ascent apart from the competition. We'd love to give you a tour.