Premium 8-Passenger
The straightforward Ascent when carrying eight matters.
- 2.4L turbo BOXER — 260 hp
- Up to 19 city / 26 highway MPG
- 8-passenger seating
- Up to 5,000 lb towing
- StarTex upholstery
Meagan says: Need the extra seat? Start right here.
Three rows, room for up to eight, standard AWD, and enough towing muscle for the bigger adventures. Here's what you actually need to know about the Ascent.
The Ascent is Subaru's big-family answer: three rows, real passenger room, strong towing capability, and the familiar all-weather confidence Subaru people expect.
The Ascent is the largest SUV in Subaru's lineup. It gives you a choice of seven- or eight-passenger seating, depending on configuration, so it's the Subaru to start with when a third row is actually part of the assignment.
Every 2026 Ascent uses a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter BOXER engine, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it Subaru's towing heavyweight and a much better fit when your family adventures involve a larger trailer, boat, or more gear.
Three rows with seven- or eight-passenger configurations.
Up to 5,000 pounds — the highest towing capacity in the Subaru lineup.
Lots of passenger room, flexible seating and space for everybody's gear.
Standard AWD and 8.7 inches of ground clearance on every trim.
The 2026 lineup keeps the Ascent focused on what it does best: family space, turbo power, serious towing, and a broad list of standard safety equipment.
Choose seven- or eight-passenger layouts on Premium and Limited.
The 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine is standard across the lineup.
Every 2026 trim is rated for up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.
Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking are standard on all trims.
Limited Bronze Edition adds bronze-finish details and a distinctive StarTex interior.
The top-end Onyx treatment combines dark exterior details with Touring-level equipment.
Seven configurations, but the decision is easier once you know how many seats you need.
The straightforward Ascent when carrying eight matters.
Meagan says: Need the extra seat? Start right here.
Same core Ascent, with second-row captain's chairs instead of a bench.
Meagan says: Captain's chairs make third-row access way less dramatic. 😂
Keep the eight-seat layout while adding the nicer Limited equipment.
Meagan says: Eight seats without giving up the nice stuff.
A very easy family pick when comfort and captain's chairs both matter.
Meagan says: This is where I'd start if you want the Ascent to feel properly upgraded.
Limited practicality with the bronze details doing exactly what they're supposed to do: looking cute.
Meagan says: Yes, choosing a trim partly because the wheels are cute is valid. 🤎
The luxury-leaning Ascent with the premium cabin treatment.
Meagan says: For when “family SUV” does not mean sacrificing the fancy stuff.
Touring equipment with the darker, sportier Onyx look.
Meagan says: Big family Subaru, but make it moody. 🖤
Standard on every 2026 Ascent.
260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque from the standard 2.4-liter turbo BOXER engine.
The highest maximum towing capacity of any 2026 Subaru.
Large multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
On upper trims, your voice can play through the rear speakers so third-row passengers can actually hear you.
Standard on Limited and above to make parking the biggest Subaru a little easier.
The Ascent numbers you'll probably get asked for first.
Forester is the easier five-seat choice. Ascent is where you go when you genuinely need the third row.
Explore Forester →Outback is lower, smaller and more wagon-like. Ascent adds the third row and raises maximum towing to 5,000 pounds.
Explore Outback →If you regularly need six to eight seats, more passenger room or Subaru's maximum towing capacity, probably yes.
See the FAQs →The Ascent questions that come up all the time.