The 2027 Ascent is rated to tow 5,000 pounds, and Subaru lists that figure for all seven configurations, from the Premium in eight-passenger form through the Onyx Edition Touring. Gross vehicle weight rating is 6,000 pounds. Subaru's own note on the rating reads that maximum towing capacity varies by trim level, that trailer brakes may be needed, and to see your retailer for details.

Trailer Stability Assist is standard on every trim, working with Vehicle Dynamics Control to detect trailer sway through the yaw sensors and brake individual wheels to settle it. Paired with the 277 lb-ft of torque available from 2,000 rpm and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, that is a well-sorted package for a boat or a pair of jet skis heading to the Rainbow River.

• 5,000 pounds on every trim
• 6,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating
• Trailer Stability Assist standard on all trims
• Trailer brakes may be needed
• 277 lb-ft of torque from 2,000 rpm
• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard

Every Ascent leaves the factory with a trailer hitch access panel, so the body is prepared for towing from the start. The hitch itself is a Genuine Subaru Accessory rather than factory-fitted equipment: a heavy-duty Class III unit with a two-inch receiver, rated to the full 5,000 pounds with a 500-pound tongue weight.

Subaru notes that the hitch requires both the hitch and the wiring harness to work properly, and that the hitch ball and ball mount are sold separately. Our parts department can spec the whole set for you, which is worth doing before you buy a trailer rather than after.

• Trailer hitch access panel standard on all trims
• Class III hitch with a two-inch receiver
• Rated 5,000 pounds with 500-pound tongue weight
• Hitch and wiring harness required together
• Ball and ball mount sold separately
• Hill Descent Control and X-MODE standard

Cargo volume depends on whether the car has the panoramic moonroof. A Premium, which is built without it, holds 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet behind the second and up to 75.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. From the Limited up, where the moonroof is standard, those figures are 17.6, 42.1 and 72.8 cubic feet.

The practical dimensions are generous either way: 45.9 inches between the wheel housings, a rear gate opening 47.0 inches wide at the floor, and a load floor stretching 82.9 inches with the second and third rows down. Liftover height is a manageable 32.0 inches, an underfloor storage tray is standard on every trim, and the Touring and Onyx Edition Touring add a 120-volt AC outlet back there.

• 17.8 cu ft behind the third row on Premium
• 43.5 cu ft behind the second row on Premium
• 75.6 cu ft with both rows folded on Premium
• 72.8 cu ft maximum on moonroof-equipped trims
• 32.0-inch cargo liftover height
• Underfloor storage tray standard