Production 2019 Subaru Ascent Will Go on Sale in 2018

Just after Subaru’s press conference at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America Tom Doll confirmed that the Ascent will go on sale sometime in 2018 as a 2019 model. He also strongly hinted that the production Ascent will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The turbocharged, direct-injection horizontally opposed 2.4-liter four-cylinder “boxer” engine powering the Ascent will mark an entirely new engine family for Subaru. The shift away from six-cylinder powertrains is a very big deal for the small company – as is the expansion of Subaru’s new “Subaru Global Platform.” While it’s hard to believe that the large, three-row, seven-passenger Ascent rides on a modified version of the SGP floorpan that underpins the significantly smaller Impreza and Crosstrek, this was confirmed by a Subaru spokesperson.

The Ascent concept shrinks down from the 204.7-inch length of the massive VIZIV-7 concept that debuted at the 2016 L.A. auto show, bringing it closer in size to competitors like the Mazda CX-9, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, and Nissan Pathfinder. Styling remains similar to the L.A. show concept, but is toned down slightly for a more production-ready appearance. The interior features dual captain’s chairs for the second row and shares its design language with the new Impreza and Crosstrek.

Stay tuned for more details on the production 2019 Subaru Ascent.

Alex Nishimoto and Stefan Ogbac contributed to this post

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