The 2021 Subaru Ascent and 2021 Ford Explorer are affordable, midsize 3-row SUVs. Here’s how they compare.
2021 Subaru Ascent
2021 Subaru Ascent Starting Price: $33,005 | Price Yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Off-road capable; standard active safety features; no extra charge for AWD.
Below Average: Just one powertrain; somewhat rough throttle response; light power steering.
Consensus: The 2021 Subaru Ascent delivers the brand’s traditional virtues in a larger package, and is Subaru’s first competitive 3-row offering. Its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is spunky and economical, and all-wheel drive is standard.
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Ford Explorer Starting Price: $33,470 | Price Yours or View listings near you
Above Average: A variety of engine offerings; performance ST version; available hybrid; polished driving manners.
Below Average: Most versions seat only six; hard plastic surfaces; expensive top trims.
Consensus: The 2021 Ford Explorer is roomy and refined. It offers a wide variety of models and powertrains, including an economical hybrid and a powerful twin-turbo V6.
Ascent vs. Explorer: Battle of the midsize 3-row SUVs
Subaru Ascent
The 2021 Subaru Ascent is the brand’s largest vehicle yet, with dimensions that place it in the thick of the midsize, 3-row SUV fray. The third row is standard, and a 3-passenger bench or two captain’s chairs can be had in the second row, which allows room for seven or eight. Passenger and luggage space not as large as some other 3-row SUVs, but it’s sufficient.
There’s only one engine. It’s a turbocharged 4-cylinder, which has enough muscle to move the Ascent along. The accelerator response with the CVT transmission isn’t always linear, though, and left our testers feeling a bit underwhelmed. AWD is standard and includes an off-road X-Mode, which, together with the Ascent’s 8.7-inches of ground clearance, means you can still take this Subaru offroad. For 2021, Subaru has added to the Ascent’s list of active-safety features and driver-assists. Ascent also earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is roomy, with seating in a 2-2-2 configuration in all but the base trim (which gets a 3-passenger middle bench). That means it offers seating for up to seven passengers. Like the Ascent, luggage and passenger space are decent. The base 2.3-liter turbo I4 is economical and has enough grunt with 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft. Upgrade choices are a 322-hp V6 hybrid and a twin-turbo V6 with 365 or 400 horsepower (in the Platinum and ST, respectively). AWD is standard with the turbo V6 and optional with the others. The RWD hybrid is the most fuel-efficient at 28 mpg combined; the twin-turbo V6 is the least at 20 mpg.
This latest-generation Explorer offers a more premium driving experience, and the sporty ST is a credible high-performance SUV. The base, XLT, and Limited get the 2.3-liter, with the Limited also available with the hybrid. The twin-turbo is exclusive to the ST and the Platinum, which also gets a digital instrument cluster and offers the option of a 14-speaker 980-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 10.1-inch vertical touchscreen. An 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Wi-Fi is standard, along with forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Upper trims offer adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, a power-folding third row, a panoramic sunroof, leather, a 360-degree-view camera, and more.
Similarities
Near-identical dimensions; ability to carry seven or eight; economical standard engines; strong list of standard active-safety features.
2021 Subaru Ascent Advantages
Lower starting price; standard AWD; third-row seat space.
2021 Ford Explorer Advantages
Variety of engines and trims.
Final Recommendation
The Subaru Ascent and the Ford Explorer are relatively closely matched in this comparison. For our money, because you get a bit more variety of engine choices, we might lean more towards the Ford Explorer in this face-off. While the top-end trims get pricey, we like that you can choose the right engine for your driving needs. If you need seating for eight, though, the Subaru is the better bet.
Ready to buy a Subaru Ascent or Ford Explorer? Shop for one on sale now near you.
| 2021 Subaru Ascent | 2021 Ford Explorer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbo flat-4 | 2.3-liter turbo I4 |
| Horsepower | 260 hp @ 5,600 rpm | 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | 10-spd automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 23 mpg (21 city/27 hwy) | 24 mpg (21 city/28 hwy) |
| Also Available | 3.0-liter turbo V6; 3.3-liter V6 hybrid; AWD | |
| Specs | ||
| Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 119.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 196.8 inches | 198.8 inches |
| Width | 76.0 inches | 78.9 inches |
| Height | 71.6 inches | 69.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.0 feet | n/a |
| Headroom, Front | 41.3 inches | 40.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd row | 40.0 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd row | 36.3 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.2 inches | 43.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd row | 38.6 inches | 39.0 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd row | 31.7 inches | 32.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.1 inches | 61.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd row | 60.3 inches | 61.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd row | 57.2 inches | 54.6 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 153.5 cu. ft. | 152.7 cu. ft. |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 86.5 cu. ft. | 87.8 cu. ft. |
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December 08, 2020 at 12:29PM
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2021 Subaru Ascent vs. 2021 Ford Explorer Comparison - Kelley Blue Book
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