[TSiWRX]

^ Wait, did you just compare a mid-size 3-row SUV to a sports car? :tango_face_surprise:grin:



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The Ascent's steering is definitely a little light for my taste, too. I'm still not sure if it's vague or not, or if it's just that I haven't gotten intimate with this vehicle, yet.

I actually don't mind how light the steering is with this car. It makes the car very easy to park in our smaller driveway/garage (it requires a 3-point turn, if I'm lucky and get the angles just right...sometimes a fourth pass is necessary ). It's like the old days with my dad's late-70s American cruisers. Single-finger fun. :smile_big:

 

[TheLex]

^ Wait, did you just compare a mid-size 3-row SUV to a sports car? :tango_face_surprise:grin:



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The Ascent's steering is definitely a little light for my taste, too. I'm still not sure if it's vague or not, or if it's just that I haven't gotten intimate with this vehicle, yet.

I actually don't mind how light the steering is with this car. It makes the car very easy to park in our smaller driveway/garage (it requires a 3-point turn, if I'm lucky and get the angles just right...sometimes a fourth pass is necessary ). It's like the old days with my dad's late-70s American cruisers. Single-finger fun. :smile_big:

I was comparing the steering and road feel of various vehicles.

I actually don't mind the lighter steering as much as how fast it is once you move off center. IMHO it would be more desirable if the steering were a bit slower when you first move off center, and then progressively get a little faster. It seems to me that would be a bit safer for most drivers as well.

 

[TSiWRX]

^ Don't worry, I understood. Hence the emojis.



I wonder if the tuning may be adjusted with the next MY?

 

[Sugoibaru]

Coming out of an XC90 T8 to the Ascent Touring, the steering is much more sensitive. My tire pressure was at almost 40 PSI but after taking it to 33 since I have the 20" wheels, it rides much better, and although steering is still sensitive, its a noticeable difference. I almost feel like Subaru may have engineered the steering to provide much more evasive maneuver control since safety is such a big prerogative of theirs. I just refuse to believe they accidentally made the steering 'twitchy'

 

[dgc1962]

No issues with the steering or handling here.

 

[Gueromeister]

I had the same experience as everyone in regards to the Ascent feeling like it was going all over the place on the freeway at high speeds. Fast forward now to 1700 miles and it suddenly seemed to stop. It's not the LKA because I didn't have it on during most of those miles. My theory is that it was the torque vectoring system and electronic power steering. Since the Ascent is a learning car, it did not know the pattern that you drive in and was most likely set to a conservative setting during the break in period. So people who tend to be more aggressive drivers or tend to speed more would get unstable torque vectoring as it was trying to compensate for the drivers actions. But around 1000 miles (Break in period) it all of a sudden stopped and is now very responsive. As far as the tightness in steering from LKA, I feel that as well and contribute it to the electronic power steering control of LKA to turn the wheel to swerve back. When I turn it off, I can feel it let go and loosen. Definitely check your tires if you haven't. My tire pressures were all over the place ranging from 32 psi to 45 psi. I normally set mine to about 35 psi. The tires themselves can make a difference. The ziex tires that come stock are softer than performance tires. So if you upgraded your tires, that could be the problem. My last car had the S rated ziex which were awesome at control, but produced a little harsher ride and more road noise. The stocks are H rated tires, so the side walls are softer and absorb more vibration. FYI do not go over 100 mph on the stocks, they will disintegrate at around 109 mph if you drive them longer than 10 minutes at that speed.

I thought the steering was different when I first received our Ascent......And it was because it is a new car .........
It is great now.....and I love driving it...I think Subaru owners tend to over analyze things..Sometimes the simplest answer is the best.....

My theory is I got used to it:nerd:

 

[bobbyg53]

Anyone else notice their Ascent beijg a bit difficult to keep straight on the highway?

It’s almost like the steering is twitchy. Found myself correcting the steering quite a bit to stay in the lane. When I take my hands off the wheel for a second it tracks straight,

I’ve owned sports cars before, (S2000 And IS-F) and while direct and quick steering they always tracked straight on the freeway with minimal corrections

Unlike the Subaru Forester and Outback, the Ascent does NOT have what Subaru calls "Variable Assisted Steering," which I find to be a curious omission. Variable assisted steering provides less steering assist at higher road speeds (such as highway) to promote a more stable feel. It provides more steering assist at low speeds to make parking maneuvers easier.

 

[TheLex]

Unlike the Subaru Forester and Outback, the Ascent does NOT have what Subaru calls "Variable Assisted Steering," which I find to be a curious omission. Variable assisted steering provides less steering assist at higher road speeds (such as highway) to promote a more stable feel. It provides more steering assist at low speeds to make parking maneuvers easier.

This is mostly likely the cause. It's electric assist steering instead of hydraulic assist. Most vehicles with electric assist suffer from very poor road feel through the steering as there is no actual connection to the steering wheels.

I do wonder though since it's electric, and presumably controlled by software, if it is possible for Subaru's engineers to update the software to vary the assist. But that's probably wishful thinking.

 

[Tony Bessel]

Most vehicles with electric assist suffer from very poor road feel through the steering as there is no actual connection to the steering wheels.

Both hydraulic and electric assist systems involve a physical connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear. Electric simply uses a motor to provide assistance versus hydraulic pressure. It is not a 'fly by wire' system like an electronic throttle.

 

[TheLex]

Both hydraulic and electric assist systems involve a physical connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear. Electric simply uses a motor to provide assistance versus hydraulic pressure. It is not a 'fly by wire' system like an electronic throttle.

You are correct.

The difference is the hydraulic system has a fluid reservoir and a belt connected to the engine and steering wheel, so there is feedback. The electric systems have an electric motor so there is less feedback unless the system is very well designed.

The Porsche 997.2 was the last of the 911's to use hydraulic steering. When Porsche transitioned to the 991.1, the electric steering was widely derided by owners of the marque. Porsche greatly improved the electric steering system on the subsequent 991.2, and it should be better yet on the 992. But most will agree that the 997.2 steering still reigns supreme.

Bottom line is electric steering can be improved. I'm hoping Subaru's engineers are able to provide a software update somehow that varies the assist at least.

 

[TSiWRX]

Those were the good o' days.

 

[bobbyg53]

You are correct.

The difference is the hydraulic system has a fluid reservoir and a belt connected to the engine and steering wheel, so there is feedback. The electric systems have an electric motor so there is less feedback unless the system is very well designed.

The Porsche 997.2 was the last of the 911's to use hydraulic steering. When Porsche transitioned to the 991.1, the electric steering was widely derided by owners of the marque. Porsche greatly improved the electric steering system on the subsequent 991.2, and it should be better yet on the 992. But most will agree that the 997.2 steering still reigns supreme.

Bottom line is electric steering can be improved. I'm hoping Subaru's engineers are able to provide a software update somehow that varies the assist at least.

Like other car manufacturers, Subaru purchases EPAS (electric power assisted steering) systems from one of three global suppliers. The steering “feel” is Subaru’s choice, just like the cost-saving decision to omit variable-assist on the Ascent.

All of the major brand competitors to the Ascent include variable assist power steering. Subaru includes this on the Forester and Outback. Why not the Ascent?

 

[ratfink]

All subaru's wander on the highway.. I haven't drive one that tracked straight and it's my biggest beef about subaru. I drove 2 new Foresters(2016 and 2017) that did this (brand new from the dealer as a loaner) a new outback 2018 and a Legacy. My Impreza did the same and the Ascent I took for a test drive did it too. If you read the complaints on NHTSA you will see lots of complaints on this wandering problem or loose steering for various subaru models. I just returned my lease as it came to an end and my wife likes subaru.. She doesn't know anything about cars except that her friends like them... say no more. But I find this problem irritating ping ponging between the white lines.

After realizing that all subaru's do this I went and test drove a honda pilot as I need a mid size SUV that can tow 5000 Lbs. The pilot tracked straight as an arrow and had no wandering on the highway at all. Not sure why all subaru's do this but I also find their steering loose compared to other vehicles. Subaru's are also notorious for going thru front wheel bearings faster then other cars do. My subie had to have both front wheel bearings replaced when it had only 19,000 kilometers on it (approx. 11,800 miles) and with dead wheel bearings the wandering was really bad. Anyways no more subies for me... with this problem and their poor paint I have to question the value of these cars.

 

[mtmra70]

Not sure I agree all wander on the highway. After getting a Yukon after having two Subarus I hated how the Yukon tracked. The AWD of the Subarus made them track far better than the Yukon. Between all four Subarus we have owned, not seeing a difference or downside of the Ascent with the other 3.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

All subaru's wander on the highway

My Ascent absolutely doesn't wander. But, the slightest steering input affects direction.

 

[Cactus99]

All subaru's wander on the highway.. I haven't drive one that tracked straight and it's my biggest beef about subaru. I drove 2 new Foresters(2016 and 2017) that did this (brand new from the dealer as a loaner) a new outback 2018 and a Legacy. My Impreza did the same and the Ascent I took for a test drive did it too. If you read the complaints on NHTSA you will see lots of complaints on this wandering problem or loose steering for various subaru models. I just returned my lease as it came to an end and my wife likes subaru.. She doesn't know anything about cars except that her friends like them... say no more. But I find this problem irritating ping ponging between the white lines.

After realizing that all subaru's do this I went and test drove a honda pilot as I need a mid size SUV that can tow 5000 Lbs. The pilot tracked straight as an arrow and had no wandering on the highway at all. Not sure why all subaru's do this but I also find their steering loose compared to other vehicles. Subaru's are also notorious for going thru front wheel bearings faster then other cars do. My subie had to have both front wheel bearings replaced when it had only 19,000 kilometers on it (approx. 11,800 miles) and with dead wheel bearings the wandering was really bad. Anyways no more subies for me... with this problem and their poor paint I have to question the value of these cars.

One of the Consumer Reports editors on an Ascent "Talking Cars" episode also noted several times how "loose" the steering felt for him, and the fact that he really found it a fault and different from other Subarus which he thought had very good steering.

 

[Merope]

On one of the very first drives I was about a mile and a half from returning home driving ~50 mph and the steering felt markedly loose. I had just tried the lane keeping assist feature for the first time and it was switched off. I wondered if it might be related to that. It's never reoccurred and has been totally fine since on the highway and elsewhere. Makes me wonder if there is some underlying variability.

 

[Percy Garris]

Mine definitely still wanders on the highway, and it's more noticeable at speeds above 55. Does it with both my winter wheels and tires and the oems. I have an alignment done each time I switch wheels, so I know it's not that.
It's definitely not the steering being tight. My f Pace has tight, fast ratio steering, and that car is sensitive to any steering input.
My Ascent actually seems pretty dead on center, and just off center. But, the steering seems pretty good once you get little bit off-center, and at speeds below 45 miles an hour.
I really wish it tracked better on the highway, because it's a great road trip car.

 

[SkiPro3]

I just drove a 260 mile round trip through hills and flats. I don't know what folks are talking about, I thought the steering felt fine. I've owned 3 Foresters prior; 2001, 2011, 2015 and this one feels no different to me anyways. I think folks just need to relax and quit actively thinking about driving and let muscles take over. Muscle memory is a real thing and they learn how to control the car without having the concously think about steering.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

All subaru's wander on the highway.. I haven't drive one that tracked straight and it's my biggest beef about subaru.

We're on number six and have three of them in the driveway. None of them "wander"....