The Subaru Ascent is a Great Alternative to the Toyota Highlander in Albuquerque, NM

 

Right now, there are more three-row crossover SUVs that you can choose from than ever before. But two options may have climbed to the top of your list. The Toyota Highlander in Albuquerque, NM, and the Subaru Ascent have many shared traits and are both impressive on the surface. Nevertheless, an in-depth review of their abilities and amenities uncovers significant variations that could make a difference in your choice of SUV.

Pricing

When you make a big purchase like a car, price is a major factor in your decision. The entry-level 2022 Subaru Ascent starts at $32,295 MSRP, while the 2022 Toyota Highlander starts at $35,205 MSRP. With such a difference in price, you can upgrade to a higher trim level for the Ascent and delight in more features, all for about the same price as the base model of the Highlander.

Exterior Features

Your comparison will likely continue with the exterior of these two attractive family haulers. Despite being in the same automotive class of vehicles, the similarities begin to drift away when you get on the road. Functional features such as high ground clearance, AWD, and raised roof rails come standard on the Ascent but not on the Highlander.

  

The hood and sides of the Ascent have moderately defined surfaces, large headlights with an LED outline, and chrome accents. All combined, these give the rugged Ascent a sophisticated edge. The appeal of the Subaru Ascent stands boldly in contrast to the molded look of the Toyota. The Highlander has a downturned grille and lower front fascia that, joined with narrow LED headlights and a semi-flat hood, give the front end a frowning look. You'll find a power liftgate, fog lamps, black body trim, and heated side mirrors on both.

Interior of Subaru Ascent vs. Toyota Highlander in Albuquerque, NM

When you get into the Subaru Ascent, you'll appreciate its pleasing combination of modern features and aesthetics. A tall center stack, which is outlined with metallic accents, is the focal point of the dash. Vertical air vents flank the touchscreen on either side, and multiple knobs below it control the audio, climate system, and more. Having physical dials and touchscreen control is beneficial to the driver when looking at the screen could pose a hazard.

The interior of the Highlander, in contrast, has a marked separation between the center console and its tall display screen, giving a fractured look to the dashboard. The touchscreen sits in an angled port along with a pair of physical knobs and a pair of vents. Both crossovers have keyless ignition, power door locks, steering wheel mounted audio and safety controls, USB ports, and more.

Depending on the second-row configuration, both crossovers offer seating for seven or eight passengers, but the Ascent lets them stretch out more with 153 cubic feet of passenger space. The Highlander only yields 141.3 cubic feet of passenger room.

Performance

No matter where you drive in a Subaru Ascent, you can experience optimal traction and control regardless of the terrain you may face. That's because every new Subaru Ascent comes standard equipped with full-time Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Toyota Highlander in Albuquerque, NM. You can add all-wheel drive to any Highlander model, but it will cost you, which only increases the price gap between the two vehicles.

Impressive fuel economy is achieved by both models in highway miles and in the city, with the Toyota getting 1 mpg more combined than the Ascent. But the Ascent has a 19.3-gallon gas tank while the Highlander's tank holds 17.9 gallons, which means you can go farther in the Subaru Ascent on a single tank of gas.

Finally, beneath the hood of the Ascent, you'll find a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, whereas the Toyota gets its power from a 3.5-liter V6. The Toyota may have the edge on horsepower, but the Subaru provides 277 lb-ft of torque, compared to 263 lb-ft in the Highlander.

Visit Fiesta

When you're ready to try out a new Subaru Ascent, we invite you to go online or call to schedule your test drive. Then come over to 8100 Lomas Blvd in Albuquerque, New Mexico and get ready to be wowed!