Compare the2022 Subaru AscentVS 2021 Tesla Model X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Ascent are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Model X doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ascent (except Base) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Model X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Ascent’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ascent Premium/Onyx/Limited/Touring’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model X doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Ascent Premium/Limited/Touring has standard STARLINK Connected Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Ascent and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Tesla Model X:

	Ascent	Model X
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	26%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	210	228
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	156/119 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Tesla Model X:

	Ascent	Model X
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	101
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 G’s	157 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	346 lbs.	425 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	274

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Model X has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The Ascent’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Model X’s (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are almost 5 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 24th in initial quality. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 31st.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 17 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Model X doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Ascent’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel is 521.1 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Model X’s range is only 371 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 15 minutes for only a 49% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 82 hours and 53 minutes.

Tires and Wheels

The Ascent has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Model X’s (38 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru Ascent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 800 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

Passenger Space

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Model X can only carry up to 7.

The Ascent has 1 inch more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 7.4 inches more third row hip room and 17.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ascent’s middle and third row seats recline. The Model X’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Ascent’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Ascent to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The Model X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ascent’s power window and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model X’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Ascent has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Ascent’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Ascent has standard extendable sun visors. The Model X doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ascent to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model X doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Ascent Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Ascent has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The Ascent Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the dashboard, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Ascent with a number “5” insurance rate while the Model X is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the Model X because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the Model X, including $583 less for a water pump, $30 less for front brake pads and $971 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Tesla Model X by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.