The Subaru Ascent is likely one of the smaller three-row crossovers on the skin, however not in contrast to the Honda Pilot, engineers managed to squeeze as a lot inside house as doable from that footprint to create one of the crucial space-efficient selections within the section. Meaning you get a 3rd row that is truly snug for teenagers and most adults, in addition to one of many extra helpful cargo areas behind that third row.
The official numbers say it has 17.6 cubic-feet of house, however once more, just like the Pilot, the Ascent has an underfloor storage space that frees up a substantial quantity of house for luggage.
Right here is the house behind the third row with the ground raised and the ground lowered. You possibly can clearly see how a lot depth is gained.
Sadly, a not-insignificant quantity of that underfloor house is eaten up by spare tire-related instruments. That is in the end the explanation why the Pilot (and Kia Telluride) can maintain greater than the Ascent.
Earlier than we get to the baggage, be aware how the ground is definitely hinged upward towards the seat again. This implies it does not should be faraway from the automobile as within the Kia Telluride (the Pilot’s ground slides all the way down to grow to be the underside of the underfloor space).
To maintain that ground board up, Subaru got here up with this intelligent resolution: Repurpose the third-row folding mechanism straps and their Velcro backing. Simply de-Velcro them from the carpeted seat again, raise into air, raise up ground board, connect Velcro to ground board. Achieved.
I imagine that is new to the Ascent, probably for final 12 months’s midcycle replace, as my earlier Ascent take a look at autos didn’t have it. You needed to take away the ground fully earlier than.
The Ascent has a cargo cowl, which may be saved underneath the ground. That is clearly useful, however it does imply that if you happen to overlook to take it out, you possibly can’t use the underfloor bonus house. As such, I will be testing with and with out the bonus house.
As with each baggage take a look at, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that might must be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 huge, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embody my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
This may be one of many greater check-in baggage, one medium roll-aboard, the smaller blue roll-aboard, and naturally, fancy bag. Going greater wouldn’t be doable with out transferring the third row into an uncomfortably upright angle. I am guessing that is what Subaru means by 17.6 cubic-feet. That is nonetheless higher than the Toyota Highlander.
OK, now let’s chuck the cargo cowl and prop up that ground.
This may be all the baggage besides the most important and smallest. It was additionally simple to load and also you in all probability might prop one thing up above the blue towards the super-tall head restraint.
There’s an alternate formation, nevertheless, which I apparently found again in December 2021 in an unpublished Ascent baggage take a look at I fully forgot about. I blame the lethal cocktail of pandemic, holidays and a 16-month-old.
Apparently, the flamboyant might technically match on its stomach adjoining to the spare tire instruments. One of many medium black baggage can then match on its stomach subsequent to it. This successfully provides the flamboyant bag to the combo.
Actually, I do not love this. If there was stuff within the fancy bag, it in all probability would not work, and the remainder of the baggage are moderately haphazardly positioned. Visibility could be impinged, and the blue bag is certainly resting towards that tall head restraint.
So, I am going with the newest formation as Baggage Take a look at canon, with this as a bonus risk.
Both means, the Ascent comes slightly below the Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, Volkswagen Atlas and, to a lesser extent, Hyundai Palisade on the three-row crossover leaderboard. Which I actually do have to get round to creating.
