Why the 2025 Subaru Ascent Handles Toronto Traffic and Cottage Country Roads
August 27 2025,
When you're driving the busy streets of Vaughan or heading north to cottage country, you need a vehicle that handles both situations well. The 2025 Subaru Ascent gives you this flexibility while keeping your entire family comfortable and safe.
This three-row SUV works for family life by offering real capability without making everyday driving harder. Drop the kids off at school in Maple or load up for a weekend at the lake – the Ascent handles these different needs smoothly.
Standard All-Wheel Drive for Year-Round Confidence
The Ascent comes with Subaru's Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive system as standard equipment across all trim levels. You don't pay extra for this feature – it's built into every Ascent.
This system watches road conditions and automatically adjusts power between the front and rear wheels. During those spring storms or early winter snowfalls that catch GTA drivers off guard, you'll maintain traction and control.
The system distributes power continuously rather than waiting for wheels to slip before engaging. When you accelerate from a traffic light on wet pavement or navigate construction zones with loose gravel, the AWD system keeps all four wheels working together.
Highway merging becomes more predictable with AWD, especially during those moments when you need to accelerate quickly onto the 401 during rush hour. The system ensures maximum power reaches the pavement regardless of road surface conditions.
Three-Zone Climate Control for Family Comfort
The Ascent knows that different passengers want different temperatures. The three-zone automatic climate control system lets the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers set their own preferred temperatures.
During summer drives to cottage country, this means the kids stay cool in the back while the adults keep their preferred temperature up front. Rear vents for both the second and third rows keep everyone comfortable during longer journeys.
The system includes humidity sensors that adjust fan speeds automatically based on cabin conditions. During humid summer days or when multiple passengers create extra moisture inside the vehicle, the climate control compensates without manual intervention.
Separate controls for each zone mean no more family arguments about temperature settings. Parents can maintain their comfort level while ensuring children in different rows stay at their preferred temperatures.
Generous Cargo Space That Actually Works
With 504 litres of cargo space behind the third row, the Ascent provides more storage than many two-row SUVs. When you need maximum cargo capacity, the 60/40-split flat-folding rear seats create a total of 2,141 litres for everything from hockey equipment to camping gear.
The wide liftgate opening and low cargo floor height make loading heavy items easier, while multiple storage compartments keep smaller items organized and accessible.
The cargo area includes tie-down points and hooks for securing loose items during transport. These anchor points prevent groceries from sliding around during turns or sudden stops. The flat load floor, when seats are folded, allows larger items to slide in easily without catching on uneven surfaces.
The power liftgate on higher trim levels includes adjustable height settings, useful when parking in garages with low ceilings. You can program the liftgate to stop at a specific height, preventing damage to both the vehicle and garage ceiling.
Advanced Safety for Urban and Rural Driving
The Ascent comes standard with Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Pre-Collision Braking helps during sudden stops in heavy traffic, while Lane Centring Assist reduces fatigue during long highway drives.
The available Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection system provides confidence when changing lanes on busy highways or backing out of crowded parking spaces.
EyeSight uses stereo cameras mounted behind the rearview mirror to monitor the road ahead. These cameras identify vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles, calculating their speed and distance continuously. The system can apply brakes automatically if it determines a collision is likely and the driver hasn't responded to warnings.
Adaptive Cruise Control maintains your set speed while automatically slowing down when traffic ahead requires it. The system can bring the Ascent to a complete stop in heavy traffic and resume when vehicles ahead begin moving again.
Power When You Need It
The turbocharged 2.4-litre SUBARU BOXER engine produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. This provides the power needed for highway merging and mountain passes while maintaining reasonable fuel efficiency for daily driving.
The engine works with a Lineartronic CVT that includes an 8-speed manual mode and paddle shifters, giving you control when you want it and smooth automatic operation when you don't.
The BOXER engine design places cylinders horizontally opposed to each other, creating a lower center of gravity than traditional upright engines. This configuration improves handling and stability while reducing vibration throughout the vehicle.
The CVT transmission continuously adjusts gear ratios to keep the engine operating in its most efficient range. Unlike traditional automatic transmissions with fixed gear ratios, the CVT provides seamless power delivery without shift points that can interrupt acceleration.
Seating for Growing Families
The Ascent accommodates up to eight passengers across three rows of seating. Second-row configurations include either a three-person bench seat or individual captain's chairs, depending on your family's needs and preferences.
Captain's chairs provide easier access to the third row through the center aisle. The bench seat configuration maximizes passenger capacity when you need to transport more people. Both second-row options fold flat to increase cargo space when passengers aren't occupying those positions.
All seating positions include appropriate restraint systems and mounting points for child safety seats. Multiple LATCH anchor points accommodate various child seat installations across different seating positions.
Experience how the 2025 Subaru Ascent handles both city streets and cottage roads during a test drive at Subaru of Maple in Vaughan.
