Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Genesis GV80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Ascent have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 GV80 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Compared to metal, the Ascent’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Ascent and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Genesis GV80:

	Ascent	GV80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	328
Neck Injury Risk	21%	24.1%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	25 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	254/334 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	263
Neck Injury Risk	33%	34%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	228 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	388/497 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 Genesis GV80:

	Ascent	GV80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	101 lbs.
Hip Force	274 lbs.	293 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	346 lbs.	458 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	290
Hip Force	637 lbs.	640 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GV80 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Genesis dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The GV80’s standard 150-amp alternator and largest (3.5T) 180-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

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 GV80 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the GV80:

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
GV80
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	18 city/23 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GV80 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GV80 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ascent stops shorter than the GV80:

	Ascent	GV80
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the GV80 Standard pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GV80’s (38 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the GV80 ADVANCED (70 vs. 72 dB).

Passenger Space

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GV80 can only carry up to 7.

The Ascent has 13.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GV80 (153.2 vs. 140).

The Ascent has 1 inch more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.9 inches more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom and 4 inches more third row shoulder room than the GV80.

Cargo Capacity

The Ascent’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

	Ascent	GV80
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	11.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	34.9 cubic feet

The Ascent’s cargo area is larger than the GV80’s in almost every dimension:

	Ascent	GV80
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.3”/48”/82.9”	15.9”/44.7”/79”
Max Width	50.5”	53”
Min Width	45.9”	41.7”
Height	34”	31.1”

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Ascent uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 GV80 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Connected Care can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the Ascent’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the GV80’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Ascent’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the GV80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The GV80 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $2775 to $7915 less than the GV80 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 52.78% to 54.99% of its original price after five years, while the GV80 only retains 47.61% to 48.08%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $18935 to $33467 less than for the Genesis GV80.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Genesis GV80 isn't recommended.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Genesis GV80 by almost four to one during 2022.

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