Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 Buick Enclave

The Subaru Ascent has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Ascent is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Buick Enclave, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Ascent	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-16 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	3.3 sec	1.9 sec
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.6 sec	1.4 sec

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

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

Both the Ascent and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors 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 Buick Enclave:

	Ascent	Enclave
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	234
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	35.9%
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	160/266 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 Buick Enclave:

	Ascent	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	64
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	73 lbs.
Hip Force	274 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	113
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	518 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	346
Hip Force	637 lbs.	721 lbs.

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

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Enclave is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ascent second among upper midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 8th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	Ascent	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.9 sec

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

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better fuel mileage than the Enclave AWD (19 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/24 hwy).

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 Enclave doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

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

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	Ascent	Enclave
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the Enclave Sport Touring AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Enclave Sport Touring AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Enclave’s (38 feet vs. 39 feet). The Ascent’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Enclave w/22” wheels’ (38 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (8.7 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the Enclave Avenir (8.7 vs. 7.3 inches).

The Ascent is 10.8 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ascent offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

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

The front step up height for the Ascent is .9 inches lower than the Enclave (17.7” vs. 18.6”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the Enclave’s (18.1” vs. 19.7”).

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

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Enclave. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 18% lower rating, Buick is ranked 9th.

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 Enclave’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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 exterior PIN entry system. The Enclave doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Enclave Avenir’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Ascent’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The Subaru Ascent has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Buick charges extra for Homelink® on the Enclave.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Ascent retains 50.27% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 41.48% resale value of the 2026 Buick Enclave after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $6500 in depreciation.

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

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Buick Enclave by 12% during 2025.