Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2022 Toyota Highlander

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 Toyota Highlander doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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

Both the Ascent and the Highlander 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, 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 Toyota Highlander:

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 Toyota Highlander:

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

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

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

The Ascent has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (19.3 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Highlander:

For better traction, the Ascent has larger tires than the Highlander (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 Highlander L/LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Highlander (113.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

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

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ascent has 11.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (153.2 vs. 141.3).

The Ascent has .2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row headroom, 4 inches more third row legroom, .3 inches more third row hip room and 2.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

The front step up height for the Ascent is 1.3 inches lower than the Highlander (17.7” vs. 19”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 1.1 inches lower than the Highlander’s (18.1” vs. 19.2”).

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

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

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

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 Highlander doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Ascent’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Highlander 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 Highlander because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the Highlander, including $229 less for fuel injection, $117 less for a fuel pump, $1498 less for a timing belt/chain and $77 less for a power steering pump.

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Subaru Ascent Touring three places higher than the Toyota Highlander XLE AWD.