Page 43 - Motor Trend (May 2020)
P. 43

COVER STORY


             LAYOUT, SUBARU ASCENT








                                                71.6”








                         64.4”                               64.2”                                            113.8”
                         76.0”                                                                                 196.8”


                                                          one of the best safety suites, and it’s stan-
             2020 Subaru Ascent
                                                          dard on the Pilot. Lane keep assist kept
             HEADROOM, F/M/R          40.1/38.7/36.3 in   the Pilot centered in its lane, and adaptive
             LEGROOM, F/M/R           42.2/38.6/31.7 in   cruise control was easy to engage.
             SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R     61.1/60.3/57.2 in      The Telluride’s lane keeping assist had
             CARGO VOLUME BEHIND      86.0/47.0/17.6 cu ft  trouble reading some of the lanes during
             F/M/R                                        the freeway portion of our drive, and we
             CURB WEIGHT; DIST, F/R   4,594 lb; 54/46%    criticized its adaptive cruise control for
             GROUND CLEARANCE         8.7 in              having difficulties in stop-and-go traffic—
             APPROACH/DEPART ANGLE    17.6/21.8 deg       something that new vehicles should
                                                          perform flawlessly.
             TURNING CIRCLE           38.0 ft                                                           The Ascent’s top screen shows what safety
                                                             The CX-9 and Ascent joined the
             TOWING CAPACITY          5,000 lb                                                          features are actively working.
                                                          Hyundai and Kia in receiving the IIHS’
             control; you can only set a distance alert   second highest honors, but we preferred      your pocketbook relative to comparably
             for the automatic emergency braking          the Subaru’s smart cruise control, which     equipped competitors.
             system. The Pilot  received five stars        detected distant vehicles slowing down          The Explorer XLT starts at a tempting
             from NHTSA but fell short from getting       earlier than other systems.                  $37,770, but our model came with almost
             the 2020 Top Safety Pick award from                                                       $10,000 in options, bumping its price
             the IIHS. (The 2020 Pilot was tested and     Value There are many ways to                 to $47,715—yet the amount of cheap,
             rewarded with a 2019 Top Safety Pick         look at value. Some SUVs have low            black plastic on its grille, profile, mirror
             award, but it’s disqualified from earning a   starting sticker prices, which can give      caps, and throughout its interior had
             2020 Top Safety Pick because it didn’t get   an impression of a smart purchase, but       us wandering if this was the work truck
             a Good rating in the passenger-side small    when you step up from the base trim          version. For that price, you’re better
             overlap crash test, a new requirement for    and start adding options, you can find        off with the Hyundai Palisade or Kia
             this year.) Honda Sensing continues to be    huge gaps in how much they’ll lighten        Telluride, which drive better, have more














































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