Under the hood of every 2027 Ascent is a 2.4-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER four-cylinder producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque from 2,000 all the way to 4,800 rpm. That wide torque band is what makes a loaded three-row feel unbothered pulling onto I-75, and the engine is happy on 87 octane.

Power runs through a Lineartronic CVT with a selectable eight-speed manual mode and steering-wheel paddle shifters, into Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive that is standard on every trim. X-MODE is standard across the range as well, and the Limited and above step up to X-MODE Dual Mode with dedicated Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings.

• 2.4L turbocharged BOXER: 260 hp and 277 lb-ft
• Torque peak from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm
• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard on every trim
• Lineartronic CVT with eight-speed manual mode
• X-MODE standard; Dual Mode from Limited up
• 19.3-gallon fuel tank

An 11.6-inch touchscreen is standard on every 2027 Ascent, along with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, AM/FM HD Radio, Bluetooth and SiriusXM with 360L. The Premium runs the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus System, and the Limited and above move to the Multimedia System with Navigation, which uses TomTom mapping with what3words.

Audio steps from a six-speaker system on the Premium to a 14-speaker Harman Kardon QuantumLogic Surround setup with a subwoofer and a 792-watt-equivalent amplifier from the Limited up. New for 2027, USB-C charging ports join the USB-A ports at the right rear quarter trim, so the third row has modern connections of its own.

• 11.6-inch touchscreen standard on every trim
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard
• Navigation with TomTom and what3words from Limited up
• 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio from Limited up
• Third-row USB-C ports are new for 2027
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is standard on all five trims, using a wide-angle mono camera to run Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Lane Keep Assist, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Lead Vehicle Start Alert and Emergency Stop Assist.

Subaru fits a lot more than EyeSight as standard equipment here. Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Reverse Automatic Braking and Automatic Emergency Steering all come on the Premium and carry through the range, and the Limited and above add the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System and a 360-degree Surround View Monitor.

• EyeSight Driver Assist Technology standard on all trims
• Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist standard
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert standard
• Reverse Automatic Braking standard
• DriverFocus and Surround View Monitor from Limited up
• LED Steering Responsive Headlights standard

Seating is seven or eight depending on how you order it. The Premium and Limited are each offered with a second-row bench for eight or captain's chairs for seven at the same price, while the Limited Bronze Edition, Touring and Onyx Edition Touring are seven-passenger cars with captain's chairs.

Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on every trim, which is not a given in this class, and tri-zone climate control with second-row controls and vents for all three rows is standard as well. Subaru counts 19 cup and bottle holders across the three rows. The Touring and Onyx Edition Touring add ventilated front seats and perforated Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery.

• Seats seven or eight at the same price on Premium and Limited
• Heated front seats standard on every trim
• Heated steering wheel standard on every trim
• Tri-zone climate control standard
• 19 cup and bottle holders
• Ventilated front seats on Touring and Onyx Edition Touring

The Ascent measures 196.8 inches long on a 113.8-inch wheelbase and stands 71.6 inches tall with its roof rails, riding on 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Raised ladder-type roof rails are standard on every trim and carry 700 pounds parked or 176 pounds while driving.

Wheels run 18 inches on the Premium and 20 inches from the Limited up, with the Limited Bronze Edition wearing bronze-finish alloys and the Onyx Edition Touring a black-finish set. Two colors are new for 2027: Daybreak Blue Pearl and Deepwater Blue Pearl, which Subaru offers only on the Ascent.

• 196.8 inches long on a 113.8-inch wheelbase
• 8.7 inches of ground clearance
• Roof rails standard, 176 pounds while driving
• 18-inch wheels on Premium, 20-inch from Limited up
• Deepwater Blue Pearl is exclusive to the Ascent
• Power Rear Gate standard on every trim