2022 Subaru Ascent After 60,000 Miles - Right Choice or Buyer’s Remorse?

[@wholoveskjs]

Nice, honest review without any hype. Good Job!

[@TheEpling]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@fowlcurse]

I bought the same car, limited trim and love it so far. Your shirt is what caught my attention lol, welcome back to Trench! 🤘🏽thanks 4 a great review.

[@TheEpling]

Wait, what? 😄 That’s my favorite shirt. Huge TOP fan. Got my kids into it when they were young now I can’t go around the house without hearing TOP playing or being sung by someone in the family. Glad you liked the video!

[@CB-se4rs]

'22 Covid Car - Yep, we bought a '22 OBW. 54,000 miles. Same engine oil leak earlier on. Had all four front and rear shocks replaced earlier on as well. Afraid to open the sunroof. Color - White, chipping like nobody's business. 🙃On our third windshield. Thanks for the review. 👍

[@TheEpling]

You’re welcome! Yikes! I hope you have better luck from here out. Thanks for watching!

[@ljastrong78]

Great video! I'm enjoying my 2023 Limited 8 seater.

[@TheEpling]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback.

[@bb_lz9790]

Great video, thanks for sharing! We just took delivery on a brand new '24 Ascent last week (adding it to our 2015 Forester) and have a whopping 70 miles on it so far! We opted for the hitch (for bike rack purposes), the seat back protectors (2nd and 3rd rows), wireless phone charging pad and the windshield sun shade. Doing or delivery orientation, the dealer removed the thumb screws when showing us how to access the hitch receiver. Doing that might make it a bit easier to remove the cover, but then have to be careful not to lose them. Have you ever had the "nut" part fall off the car when using your bike rack? If they're that loose, I might just remove those too when taking the cover off. Before we bought it, I never thought to try to put my water bottle in the door (which easily fits in the Forester). Was quite surprised the other day when it didn't fit. New water bottle time I guess...

[@reidbartlett3862]

We had an Ascent. I hated the transmission. It was terrible. We had that car for 2.5 years before growing out of it. We too went back and forth between the Hyundai and Kia, but liked the captains chairs in the middle row of the Ascent. But now we are in a Suburban. It seemed like the next logical move up in size.

[@GeorgeENorkus]

About the window reopening after hitting the top. Apparently that is a function Subaru built into the car. To have it act normal again, hold the window "up" control for about 10 seconds. That works for my 2020 Forester. To have it revert back to the window opening again, hold the window "down" for about 10 seconds. (Weird) I think that is so you can have the window stay open when you need the keys inside while working on the car so you don't lock yourself out. BTW, I have 128,600 miles on mine and other than normal maintenance, (including a transmission fluid change), I've only had a right rear wheel bearing go bad at around 116,000 miles.

[@keilmillerjr9701]

The same exact bearing is starting to go on my 2021 Forester with 108k miles.

[@TheEpling]

Thanks! That’s a good tip.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

We test drove the 2019 version and finally got one, 2024 Touring that addresses some of the issues you noted. I’ve owned three two other Subarus and overall they’re great, well made vehicles. You can beat the driving dynamics.

[@TheEpling]

What were some of the issues addressed in the 2024?

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@TheEplingCVT coolers, Transmission mapping and programming (fixed 2020) improved eyesight, steering responsive lights standard (I think that was a 2023 change)

[@TheEpling]

⁠@@freedom_foz_6337Nice. Those are some good changes.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@TheEplingthank you for doing the long term update! This is our third Subaru and so far it’s my favorite. Not the coolest looking but overall the driving and space is fantastic

[@TheEpling]

⁠@@freedom_foz_6337You’re welcome! This is my first Subaru. We had a couple of them as a kid but that was a long time ago. I agree. It doesn’t win any coolness contests but it’s my second favorite cars I’ve owned.

[@kathleensampogna2138]

I was having the same issue with sometimes not connecting to CarPlay. I switched cords and haven’t had a problem since.

[@TheEpling]

I’ve discovered when my phone charge port is dirty it won’t connect to airplay even though the phone shows it’s charging.

[@ricodeguzman5338]

Had a Mazda cX-9. Waiting to get the CX-90 but just couldn't justify the price. Drove kia and Hyundai not impressed. Got the ascent as it is the most utilitarian and good AWD is a must for me

[@TheEpling]

Yup. I came to the same conclusions. Great minds think alike…so you must be brilliant.

[@WilliamK-e1j]

FYI, I checked Mazda CX-90 and was disappointed to see that outside dimensions are comparable to the Pilot & Grand Highlander, but inside volume is comparable to the CR-V.

[@TheEpling]

I didn’t believe it. I had to go do some research. You’re 100% right. CX-90 is 75.2 cubic feet behind the front seats with all other seats down. CR-V is 76.5 cubic feet. That’s crazy!

[@WilliamK-e1j]

@@TheEpling obviously Mazda is focusing on driving dynamics/ handling being fun to drive and upscale interiors, but it lacks on the utility side.

[@TheEpling]

⁠​⁠@@WilliamK-e1jThat’s very true. Subaru, of course, is big on utility. Cargo space is huge (86.5 cubic feet), built in tow hitch, 5,000 lbs towing capacity, X Mode, etc. Mazda is all about the driving experience and Subaru is more about what you can do with the car and where you can go in it.

[@keilmillerjr9701]

​​@@TheEplingThe base model ascent is 2000lbs. I think it is due to the lack of a heat exchanger for the transmission fluid. Subaru is deceiving their marketing.

[@lanelipkin6399]

I’m not a huge Kia or Hyundai guy but the size of the palisade and telluride is much bigger than the ascent. The sorento is more comparable to an ascent.

[@TheEpling]

It’s true.

[@spoutingfiction]

The Napa leather in mine has never gotten hot when parked outside (maybe about 100 days out of the year). Granted the weather doesn’t get scorching here but on 95+ degree days with the moon roof open they haven’t gotten hot. The car has a couple cons for me but I love everything else about it. 2022 just under 40k miles

[@TheEpling]

Love it! Leather is the way to go.

[@MrTV-fd5hr]

About your USB, you can try to update the firmware of the headunit via your home wifi (strong signal recommended). Make sure your engine running and on Park. It could fix it because I had the same usb problem.

[@TheEpling]

Interesting. I’ll give it a shot. Thanks!

[@coryscomputerrepair]

"When you're driving, and you turn on the radio, your kids in the back seat are going to be asking you to turn it up" As a father of a 10yr old daughter, 13 year old son and 16 year old daughter, I have to disagree with you lol. They would love that feature because they will be into their devices and annoyed, they cant hear them if the radio overpowers it so honestly they might be fighting for who gets to sit in the third row lol. Either way, thank you for this video!

[@TheEpling]

😂 Great point…and you’re right. We usually put the smaller kids in the back who don’t have devices. They always complain about the volume. But when my 18 year old is back there she never complains.

[@ricodeguzman5338]

You can buy a quick release tab for the bumper cover

[@TheEpling]

I did not know that! I will definitely look into that. Thank you!

[@beerme844]

Ours purchased new is a 2020 Ascent touring with only 31K miles. 3 recalls, factory defect a/c repair, chintzy Falken tires from factory worn out at 25K and the coup de grâce: transmission failure needing new transmission. Keeping fingers crossed replacement transmission doesn't fail early and wishing I would have considered other manufacturers.

[@TheEpling]

Yikes! I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you have better luck with it from here on out.

[@liorlevi3991]

Overall it looks like a very good car, I like that there are quite a few features and it also looks good. I would recommend that you glue the clips that the tow hook cover is screwed into and then they won't fall off. I wonder if in the future the cx90 will fix the The things you're missing. As always, 👍

[@TheEpling]

Thanks for the tip. That’s a good idea. And thanks for the continued support!

[@Joeybz1]

My 22 Limited I got just 2 years ago with 11 miles on it just turned 18000 miles.

[@TheEpling]

Nice. Lots of life left.

[@adamkinowski2354]

Do you know a trick to open the trunk while the car is on and in Park? When I press the button it just beeps at me until I turn the car off

[@wallykosh6383]

I thought this car has a CVT with no gears. The paddle shifting is not really shifting into gear.

[@TheEpling]

You’re correct. It’s really just changing the RPMs so you can accelerate.

[@marysmith4811]

But what is a normal water bottle? They are getting bigger and bigger.

[@TheEpling]

So true. If it’s a wide base water bottle it won’t fit in most cars but a 24 oz ThermoFlask or even a 40 oz Stanley Tumbler is what I consider normal. A narrow base. But, ya. They are getting huge.

[@sansin6250]

What kind of highway mpg are you getting?

[@TheEpling]

I need to check that. It’s been a while since I’ve driven it on the freeway for more than a couple miles at a time to really know. I’ll answer this when I know. Sorry!

[@matperez1168]

Congarts good for camping off road

[@TheEpling]

Never tried it but I’m sure it is!

[@agak61]

Do you like the red color ? I think I will also get red 🤨 still deciding

[@TheEpling]

I do like the red. I think it’s my favorite color it comes in.

[@WilliamK-e1j]

How often did you change the CVT transmission oil ?

[@MrApplesaucestuff]

you dont change the oil. yopu change the entire tranny

[@freedom_foz_6337]

60k miles in 2 years would be a good time to change the differential oil and CVT fluid.

[@TheEpling]

In the research I’ve done you don’t change the transmission fluid in this car. So I don’t plan to.

[@MrApplesaucestuff]

@@WilliamK-e1j you don’t change the fluid, you change the whole tranny when it blows at 101 k

[@ericpizarro3084]

@@TheEplingThat’s what some Subaru dealers advise, however you should change the transmission fluid. I have exactly the same color that you have but, a 2019 Limited. It have 67,000 miles with zero issues for over 6 years now. We did feel a more smooth transmission performance once we change the tranny fluid. Our dealer recommended the high torque fluid because (as you know) the Subaru Ascent is turbo so the engine and so the transmission, run at higher temperature. We have an extended 100,000 miles transmission warranty. Once we get there most probably we will add a transmission oil cooler. Better safe than sorry….

[@ralphabreu5022]

Should have got a Tahoe

[@Dano896]

Have you seen the crash test on a Tahoe ?

[@TheEpling]

We actually owned a YukonXL and didn’t love it. It was a good vehicle but we didn’t love it enough to get another one. Switched to a Nissan Armada and then to this Subaru. We’ve liked the Subaru the most.

[@zhengguili520]

It looks like made in US

[@TheEpling]

It is. Made in Indiana.