[Terry McDonald]

I don't really care for or have any use for the 3rd row; I'm more interested in the increased cargo space... I go on a lot of solo trips or couple trips for camping, surfing, skiing, mountain biking... with usually just myself or one other passenger... In my Subaru Forester I would just put the back seats down with a thermarest and bedding in the back... Problem is the forester is I needed more length... The Outback has the length but sacrifices too much height... The Ascent looks perfect for height, width and length... but will the 2nd and 3rd row seats lay flat and line up together in harmony? Allowing for comfortable sleeping?

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I doubt that the 2nd row will go "full flat", but as long as that's your "head" end, it should be palatable. Third row should be full flat...it would seriously compromise the cargo area otherwise.

 

[familyrally]

You can easily sleep in the back with your head close to the gate and your feet sticking between the front seats if you're that tall. See for yourself:

 

[ascentico]

This is probably why Subaru hopes the all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent 3-Row will start a new cult following with families.

 

[unsub1]

This is exactly my question too. Between how truly flat (and hump-free) the seats fold and the mysterious cargo space numbers, I'm having a hard time not just pulling the trigger on a new Outback.

 

[Terry McDonald]

Looks like the 8 seater would then be preferable for sleeping to create a larger flat service without the chasm in the middle. Though this would sacrifice storage space. Guess I'll just have to climb in the back and give it a test.

 

[unsub1]

Looks like the 8 seater would then be preferable for sleeping to create a larger flat service without the chasm in the middle. Though this would sacrifice storage space. Guess I'll just have to climb in the back and give it a test.

When I was looking at Outbacks in 2012 and wondering about being able to sleep in the back or loading my bike in the back, Austin Subaru said "take it home and find out". The blew my mind after all of the "turn left up here" test drives. That's what probably sold me on that car. Do all Subaru dealerships do that?

I definitely am more interested in the second row bench for cargo flatness. The real question though is HOW flat does everything fold? Is there a hump in the middle? Maybe someone going to a show can find out for sure.

 

[unsub1]

Anyone seen anything on this at any of the shows?

 

[LadyP]

I saw Touring at show. Second row captain’s chairs folded to maybe 20-30 degrees with big gap between seat back and seat bottom. Huge gap, to the point the Subaru rep thought they might be broken...lol. Don’t think so. Also about a four inch
gap between back of folded captain’s chairs and
cargo area/folded third row seating. Guess will look at Limited...hoping bench will fold completely and any gap between bench/cargo area will be minimal and at least have a gap filler like the Outback’s.

Subaru rep thought this could have been a pre production model for shows, so it’s possible these gaps will not occur on production models. I kinda doubt it since the car had a Vin.

 

[unsub1]

Thanks, and agreed.

 

[AKMtnr]

This is exactly why I haven't put my money down yet. My main interest in the Ascent comes from the fact that it's a high clearance vehicle with decent gas mileage that I *might* be able to sleep flat in. I'm 6'1", and the Outback is close, but not quite there. I need to give it the ol' "lay test" at my local dealer before I can commit!

 

[Felix]

I think it'll definitely be long enough, but I don't know if it will be flat enough to comfortably sleep in. You might wake up with a light head and some heavy feet aha. Like you said, there's only one test for that, so you'll have to let us know what you find.

 

[Robert.Mauro]

I measure 66" roughly to the top of the 3rd row from the inside of the tailgate and 85" to the end of the protected area of the 2nd row. I'll get an accurate measurement when I see one close up.

 

[Tony Yarusso]

I saw Touring at show. Second row captain’s chairs folded to maybe 20-30 degrees with big gap between seat back and seat bottom. Huge gap, to the point the Subaru rep thought they might be broken...lol. Don’t think so. Also about a four inch
gap between back of folded captain’s chairs and
cargo area/folded third row seating. Guess will look at Limited...hoping bench will fold completely and any gap between bench/cargo area will be minimal and at least have a gap filler like the Outback’s.

Subaru rep thought this could have been a pre production model for shows, so it’s possible these gaps will not occur on production models. I kinda doubt it since the car had a Vin.

20-30 degrees sounds a little much...it didn't look quite that bad to me, but I didn't have a compass along. Certainly I'd be fine in it if I had my head in the front and feet in the back. As for the gap, photo attached. It is significant, but it's useful to note that it's not that wide all the way down to the floor - the seat bottom sticks out slightly beyond the folded seat back, which means you could probably do a decent job of filling it by stuffing a jacket or sweatshirt in there. Combine that with a Thermarest or other camping pad over the top, and it might actually be okay.

 

[Janner]

Thanks for the pic. I also plan on sleeping in mine and figure there will be a little planning to get everything comfortable. I've slept in the outback and had to customize that a bit or my head had no support. The outback isn't flat either, but it isn't so raised that I thought it was problematic.

 

[Subiesailor]

A couple of yrs ago while camping a kid rolled into camp late, Yosemite climber doing the dirt bag thing with a 2008 ish Outback. He had a “Back Packing cot” never seen one before which he had laid out in the back of the Outback. I BSed with him a bit. The Back Packing cot sits about 2-3 inches off the ground and gives you a flat uniform spot to sleep. By putting it over the folding seats he had a nice flat crash pad minus the humps and slight incline of the folded seat backs. Seemed to be a great option for the sleeping in the car trick. Given it was quite low to the floor it didn’t impact your head room much at all.

I would totally go that route my self if I ever did the car sleeping thing.

 

[AKMtnr]

A couple of yrs ago while camping a kid rolled into camp late, Yosemite climber doing the dirt bag thing with a 2008 ish Outback. He had a “Back Packing cot” never seen one before which he had laid out in the back of the Outback. I BSed with him a bit. The Back Packing cot sits about 2-3 inches off the ground and gives you a flat uniform spot to sleep. By putting it over the folding seats he had a nice flat crash pad minus the humps and slight incline of the folded seat backs. Seemed to be a great option for the sleeping in the car trick. Given it was quite low to the floor it didn’t impact your head room much at all.

I would totally go that route my self if I ever did the car sleeping thing.

Interesting! So, something like this?: https://www.thermarest.com/cots/ultralite-cot

 

[scooby]

A couple of yrs ago while camping a kid rolled into camp late, Yosemite climber doing the dirt bag thing with a 2008 ish Outback. He had a “Back Packing cot” never seen one before which he had laid out in the back of the Outback. I BSed with him a bit. The Back Packing cot sits about 2-3 inches off the ground and gives you a flat uniform spot to sleep. By putting it over the folding seats he had a nice flat crash pad minus the humps and slight incline of the folded seat backs. Seemed to be a great option for the sleeping in the car trick. Given it was quite low to the floor it didn’t impact your head room much at all.

I would totally go that route my self if I ever did the car sleeping thing.

That's a huge reason why I want the Ascent. Would love to be able to fold down the seats use a blow up mattress or a cot, call it a night, and still having room for all my camp gear and my dog's gear. Cant wait to go camping or road tripping in this car.

 

[unsub1]

That's what I've been doing for years in my Outback when the family doesn't come along to mountain bike races. The Ascent will just have more room.

For what it's worth, I've always been fine sleeping on a thermarest and a sleeping bag. Not sure if the Ascent will be as flat as the OB though.

 

[Janner]

For those who want to see someone laying in the back. My concierge took some pictures of his colleague and sent them to me knowing I plan to do some sleeping in the car. The person laying is 5'9" tall. His comment was that the gap between the 2nd/3rd row was uncomfortable. The back side doors open very wide.

Front seat legroom good and headroom also nice. I snagged a 6'5" passerby to see how he fit inside. He said no issues. Didn't snap pictures of him.

Again, guy laying in back is 5'9". I'm 5'10" so agree this looks better than the Outback for room. A little foam padding should fill the gaps and make sleeping work.