Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 Ford Explorer

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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 Explorer doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

	Ascent	Explorer
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-21 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	-2 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	3.3 sec	1.3 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 Explorer.

The Subaru Ascent’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Ford Explorer does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Ascent and the Explorer 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, 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 Ford Explorer:

	Ascent	Explorer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	29.4%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	275 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	13 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	210	236
Neck Injury Risk	33%	41.4%
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	196/281 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 Ford Explorer:

	Ascent	Explorer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	65
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	86
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	604 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	288

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

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

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

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
Explorer
	RWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
		Tremor 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/23 hwy

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Explorer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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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 Explorer doesn’t offer a CVT.

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The Ascent’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Explorer ST are solid, not vented.

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Explorer:

	Ascent	Explorer
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

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The Ascent Premium’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 Explorer’s standard 65 series tires.

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The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the Explorer 4WD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Explorer 4WD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Explorer (8.7 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the Explorer ST 4WD:

	Ascent	Explorer
At idle	40 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	70 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	64 dB	67 dB

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The Ascent offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Explorer can only carry up to 7.

The Ascent has 2.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Explorer (153.2 vs. 150.3).

The Ascent has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 5 inches more third row hip room and 2.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Explorer.

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

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

	Ascent	Explorer
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	16.3 cubic feet

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J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 35% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

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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 Explorer’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

When the Ascent Limited/Touring is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Explorer’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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. Ford charges extra for Homelink® on the Explorer.

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According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Subaru Ascent retains 50.27% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 47.11% resale value of the 2025 Ford Explorer after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $1291.23907 in depreciation.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the Explorer because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the Explorer, including $27 less for a water pump, $523 less for a muffler, $11 less for a fuel pump, $569 less for a timing belt/chain and $750 less for a power steering pump.

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/12/19

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Subaru Ascent Touring six places higher than the Ford Explorer Active.