2026 Subaru Ascent vs the Competition

The Toyota Grand Highlander is the longer-wheelbase version of one of the brand’s oldest SUV nameplates. It became popular as a three-row vehicle that accommodates families. It offers a mix of hybrid and turbocharged drivelines, including a turbocharged hybrid. Consumers can choose between the LE, XLE, Limited, Platinum, Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Platinum, Hybrid Nightshade, Hybrid MAX Limited, and Hybrid MAX Platinum.

• The Grand Highlander has a rather small 17.17 to 17.83-gallon fuel tank -depending on driveline – compared to a 19.3-gallon tank in the Subaru.
• When you own an SUV, it is only natural to want good ground clearance to ensure that during times of inclement weather or when traveling off the main roads, you aren’t snagging the bumpers or undercarriage on anything. Toyota gave the Grand Highlander 8.0 inches of ground clearance, which isn’t bad, but Subaru gave the Ascent 8.7 inches of total ground clearance.
• All Subaru Ascent models get 18.2 degrees of breakover angle compared to the Grand Highlander’s 16.8 degrees. This means that when driving over off-road obstacles, it’ll be much more likely that the Grand Highlander gets stuck.
• Most SUVs need quite a bit of space to make U-turns or complete circles in a parking lot, and the Toyota is no different, with its turning circle of 39.0 feet. The Subaru Ascent needs 38.0 feet.
• As far as value goes, you can’t beat the 2026 Subaru Ascent with standard Symmetrical all-wheel drive. It is about $1,500 less than the base, front-drive Grand Highlander’s MSRP.

The Honda Pilot was given a mid-cycle refresh this year. It has been a popular choice since 2003. Honda looks to keep its grip on a loyal customer base. The Pilot is available in Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trim levels.

• The 2026 Honda Pilot starts from $41,650 for the base Sport trim level with front-wheel drive. Optioning all-wheel drive adds $2,100 to the base price, bringing the total to $43,750. That’s $3,420 more than the base model Subaru Ascent Premium.
• Honda gave the Pilot an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, which is smaller than the 19.3-gallon tank in the Subaru. When you are busy and driving around, running errands, the last thing you want to do is stop to get gas. In city driving alone, the Subaru will have more than 30 extra miles of range.
• SUVs should always have good ground clearance for when you need to traverse an obstacle in the road, cross a large puddle of water during or after a storm, or go off-roading on camping trips. Sadly, though, Honda only gave the Pilot 7.3 inches of ground clearance, meaning it will have more issues snagging its bumpers and such compared to the Ascent with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
• The Pilot TrailSport, the more off-road-ready version of the Pilot, still only offers 8.3 inches of ground clearance, compared with 8.7 inches for the standard Ascent.
• All Subaru Ascent models get 18.2 degrees of breakover angle compared to the Pilot’s 16.0 degrees. This means that when driving over off-road obstacles, it’ll be much more likely that the Pilot gets stuck.
• For those who purchase two-wheel-drive Pilots, your towing capacity will be only 3,500 pounds. The Ascent, however, offers 5,000 pounds of towing capacity to all buyers.
• The Subaru offers the driver and front passenger an extra 1.2 inches of front legroom. This allows both occupants to have a little extra space to stretch out on longer drives.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is Jeep’s practical answer to a full three-row SUV. Even though the Grand Cherokee L isn’t quite as luxurious as the Wagoneer, it’s still a nice option. For 2026, Jeep has dropped the option for a V8 and now offers the famous Pentastar V6, which produces 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can choose between many trim levels, including the Laredo A, Laredo, Laredo X, Altitude, Altitude X, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve.<

• Like all the other SUVs in this comparison, the Grand Cherokee L comes standard with rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive, whereas the Subaru Ascent comes standard with all-wheel drive.
• The Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers owners decent total passenger volume with 141.9 cubic feet, but that’s considerably less than the Subaru’s 150.2 cubic feet.
• Jeep’s Grand Cherokee L has 41.3 inches of front legroom compared to 42.2 inches of front legroom in the Ascent.
• When it comes to shoulder room, the Ascent also has an extra 1.9 inches for front seat occupants, 2.3 inches for second-row passengers, and a huge 5.3 inches for third-row passengers.
• Third-row passengers will feel more cramped in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L with 42.9 inches of hip room and 30.3 inches of legroom. The Ascent gets 1.4 extra inches of third-row legroom and 3.0 inches of extra hip room.
• Most SUVs need quite a bit of space to make U-turns or complete circles in a parking lot, and the Jeep is no different, with its turning circle of 39.6 feet. The Subaru Ascent needs 38.0 feet.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas offers three rows of seats and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. There are five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, Peak Edition, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line.

• The base SE model starts at $41,525 with 4Motion all-wheel drive, which is $1,195 more than the base Subaru Ascent Premium trim.
• The Volkswagen Atlas has 6.3 inches of ground clearance compared to 8.7 inches for the Subaru.
• SUVs are known for their wide turning radius, needing quite a bit of room to make U-turns. The VW Atlas needs a total of 41.0 feet to turn around, which is considerably more than the Subaru Ascent’s 38.0 feet.
• The Atlas SE only gets five exterior paint options. Buyers have to spend an extra $4,105 to get more colors than just blue, black, white, and two types of gray. Every Subaru Ascent offers seven fun, vibrant paint colors, including Crimson Red Pearl, Autumn Green Metallic, and more.
• Third-row occupants in the Atlas get 54.9 inches of shoulder room, which is very little when you see that Ascent passengers get 57.2 inches of shoulder room.
• Volkswagen limits the maximum payload to 1,091 pounds, while Subaru ensures the Ascent can be packed full of people and gear, up to 1,410 pounds.
• The Volkswagen Atlas gets EPA-estimated 18 mpg (city) and 25 mpg (highway). The Subaru Ascent gets 20 mpg (city) and 26 mpg (highway).
• The Atlas has an 18.3-gallon fuel tank, which is less than the 19.3-gallon tank in the Ascent. When you take into account the differences in city and highway fuel economy, the Ascent can travel an extra 57 miles driving through the city and 45 miles on the highway before needing to stop to fill up.