Page 74 - MotorTrend (March 2020)

Despite being a big
UPDATES
three-row crossover,
the Ascent retains
much of what makes a
2019 Subaru Ascent Subaru a Subaru.

Service life:
10 mo/16,211 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 21.0 mpg

“Instead of keeping a wheel
on dry ground, I wanted all
four to get wet.” Alisa Priddle

Avg CO2 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons 160 kW-hr/100 mi
Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 (oil change,
inspection, tire rotation) Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $39,970 WET MICHIGAN WEATHER HAD CREATED

As-tested $43,551 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 20/26/22 mpg PERFECT CONDITIONS TO TEST X-MODE.

It climbed a rock pile and
The Ascent drove up, over,
T he Ascent is a three-row reason when I started to get or through all obstacles on the the foothills of a boulder patch.
family crossover. Does
cocky. Getting stuck would
that mean it loses the mean a long walk back to the somewhat moderate trails we The suspension impressed on
Subaru adventurous spirit? We parking lot and a call for a tow. chose. It navigated a steep dirt a series of dirt moguls; the 8.7
took the Ascent on a road trip The Ascent has a hitch in back hill with a sharp left between inches of ground clearance
to an off-road park in Genesee but only an eyelet in front to trees and over terrain that left cleared every mound.
County, Michigan, to test its slide a tow strap through. the front passenger-side tire Hill descent control kicked
mettle in the wilds. A typical stretch of wet happily spinning in the air until in whenever the nose was
With colleague Frank Markus Michigan weather had created the vehicle inched forward and pointed down. It worked seam-
in tow, we left MotorTrend’s perfect conditions to test the touched down gently. lessly but made sure we knew
Royal Oak office and headed standard X-Mode, which uses it was putting in the effort with
north on a dreary day after lower gear ratios to generate a loud grunching sound, like
a weekend of rain. Those two extra power at the wheels that a tennis player grunting with
factors meant the park was have grip. We started with each shot.
empty when we arrived, and smaller ponds and progressed At the end of the day, the
we found no shortage of water to bigger ones as our confi- Subaru Ascent returned to
to ford or mud to slog through. dence mounted with each the MotorTrend office with a
Frank was spotter, tester of successful water passage with spectacular mud splatter and
water depths, and the voice of virtually no slippage. a happy driver.

Good looks sometimes come with
2018 BMW X2 compromised viewing angles.

hard to park in tight spaces. The
X2’s overall compactness helps
overcome this challenge; for the
most part, it’s a cinch to park.
Good visibility or not, the X2 is
my preferred city car to navigate
the dense streets of West Los
Angeles. It’s easy to squeeze
into tight parking spots or past
oncoming traffic on narrow resi-
Service life: dential streets and alleyways. Furthermore, the high-res backup
7 mo/10,683 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 24.0 mpg camera makes for perfect parking jobs when paralleling to a curb
or backing up to those big blue trash cans on garbage day. Just
“Color choice is crucial with the X2. make sure to avoid curb-feeling with the large rims; they poke out
It looks good in white, but painted in slightly past the low-profile tires.
gray, olive, or black, the shape goes The X2 has lots of user-friendliness built in and is bestowed
all but invisible.” Brian Vance with thoughtful add-ons that make life easier. The hands-free
Avg CO2 0.81 lb/mi Energy cons 140 kW-hr/100 mi hatch, for example, works seamlessly. After-work jogs in the
Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Hollywood Hills are made easier by pocketing the X2’s key fob
Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $37,395 As-tested $44,920 and leaving my phone and wallet in the netted cubby on the
EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 23/32/26 mpg
right side of the cargo hold. Upon return, a quick foot swipe
below the rear bumper opens
A s compelling as the X2’s exterior design is, time spent the hatch to reveal my hidden
in similarly sized but higher-roofed compact SUVs
belongings and a ledge to sit on to
(including the X1) is a reminder that the X2 is challenging
to see out of in all directions. The squatted roof, high beltline, and change out of my running shoes.
I’m not a fan of the X2’s engine
smaller panes of glass result in great curbside appeal yet lead to stop/start feature, but I do appre-
compromised visibility. This includes the small rear window; when ciate that the kill button is directly
you look through it, your sightlines are decidedly cropped. next to the ignition button, making
With a high beltline comes tall windowsills, which make it hard it easy to switch off as soon as the
to see where the corners of the vehicle are and thus makes it engine fires up.

74 MOTORTREND.COM MARCH 2020