After weighing multiple options (Toyota 4-runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and the Subaru Ascent) I honed in on the Ascent. I liked the features of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk - seems very capable and with good new technology however, I worried about the reliability as well as the cost. My wife is not a Jeep fan (had a Jeep Liberty for years which she didn't really like).
I had been pretty gung-ho about the 4-runner till a neighbor talked me out of it. He was in the process of selling his trail rated 4-runner after just 1 year. He complained that it drove poorly as a commuter and that it had virtually no new technology for on road safety/convenience. It also handled poorly in wet/snowy road conditions. He is a big "off roader". Growing up in the rural south, I didn't realize that there was such a thing as paying to go on off road trails that are rated similar to down hill skiing trails. Anyhow, he sold the 4-runner and bought a Subaru Crosstrek which he's been very happy with.
This got me refocused on Subarus and the Ascent in particular. I like the 5,000 pound towing capacity and the capacious interior. I really look forward to driving with an adaptive cruise control with our crazy crowded East Coast highways. Hopefully lane keep assist will also work well. I'm also keen to use Apple Play for navigation/music/phone. Although our 2012 4 cylinder outback has performed admirably, one definitely "feels" it back there when towing. I had to slow down to around 45-50 mph last weekend going up Western Maryland mountains. This should be much easier with the Ascent.
I put in the order yesterday at a local dealer with an expected delivery of early August. I'll be happy to report back my experiences after a couple of trips if there is interest. Ben H
I had been pretty gung-ho about the 4-runner till a neighbor talked me out of it. He was in the process of selling his trail rated 4-runner after just 1 year. He complained that it drove poorly as a commuter and that it had virtually no new technology for on road safety/convenience. It also handled poorly in wet/snowy road conditions. He is a big "off roader". Growing up in the rural south, I didn't realize that there was such a thing as paying to go on off road trails that are rated similar to down hill skiing trails. Anyhow, he sold the 4-runner and bought a Subaru Crosstrek which he's been very happy with.
This got me refocused on Subarus and the Ascent in particular. I like the 5,000 pound towing capacity and the capacious interior. I really look forward to driving with an adaptive cruise control with our crazy crowded East Coast highways. Hopefully lane keep assist will also work well. I'm also keen to use Apple Play for navigation/music/phone. Although our 2012 4 cylinder outback has performed admirably, one definitely "feels" it back there when towing. I had to slow down to around 45-50 mph last weekend going up Western Maryland mountains. This should be much easier with the Ascent.
I put in the order yesterday at a local dealer with an expected delivery of early August. I'll be happy to report back my experiences after a couple of trips if there is interest. Ben H
