Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 GMC Acadia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
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 GMC Acadia 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 Acadia 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Acadia.

The Ascent Limited/Touring’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ascent and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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 GMC Acadia:

	Ascent	Acadia
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	285
Neck Injury Risk	21%	21%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	29 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	129/383 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	319
Neck Injury Risk	33%	43%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	203 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	210/60 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 GMC Acadia:

	Ascent	Acadia
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	125
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	156 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	276
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	799 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	381
Hip Force	637 lbs.	760 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 Acadia last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Ascent’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 14 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (260 vs. 228) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

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

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better fuel mileage than the Acadia 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Acadia with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, 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 Acadia doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ascent’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

	Ascent	Acadia
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Acadia:

	Ascent	Acadia
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ascent has larger tires than the Acadia (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Ascent’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia SLE/SLT’s standard 65 series tires. The Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ascent has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Acadia (113.8 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

The Ascent’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.2% to 45.8%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the Ascent more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Acadia’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8.7 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

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

The Ascent has 9.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Acadia (153.2 vs. 143.8).

The Ascent has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 4.2 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row legroom, 3 inches more third row hip room and 2.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	Acadia
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	12.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	41.7 cubic feet

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

	Ascent	Acadia
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.3”/48”/82.9”	18.5”/48”/83”
Max Width	50.5”	50”
Min Width	45.9”	42.5”
Height	34”	33”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Ascent. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is only 4000 pounds. The Ascent offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Acadia. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Ascent’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Acadia doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Ascent Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

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 Acadia 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 $165 to $2095 less than the Acadia 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 Acadia only retains 47.29% to 50.03%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the Acadia because it costs $145 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the Acadia, including $7 less for a water pump, $303 less for a muffler, $103 less for front brake pads, $81 less for fuel injection, $57 less for a fuel pump, $886 less for a timing belt/chain and $847 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $3545 to $4203 less than for the GMC Acadia.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the GMC Acadia by 20% during 2022.