Worth Turning Ascent into Soft Roader?

3373 Views 44 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Robert.Mauro, 4 d ago

OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · 6 mo ago (Edited)

Hello,

I have a '22 premium that has about 17k miles.

The Ascent has been great to drive and has had no issues.

I am considering upgrading it into an overland/soft roading rig, but am questioning it's capability.

This is mainly due to the approach, departure, and break over angles of the vehicle. Also it is a unibody construction.

However, the AWD system is absolutely amazing and is like having front and rear lockers.

So I am debating upgrading the Ascent with AT tires, a 1-2" lift, skid plates, and possibly new bumpers.

On the other hand I am just considering buying a second vehicle like a Ford Bronco, jeep, or Mid Size pickup truck.

I wanted to get people's experience and see what everyone thinks about the Ascent as an off-road and overland rig. I have read some previous threads but the info seems a bit mixed.

Some people say that it is not super capable and others say they can go on most trails without issue.

I've taken my Ascent onto beaches, gravel roads, and deep snow and it has been amazing. However, on one forest service road I decided to turn around instead of risking my bumper.

im interested to see people's experiences

Edit: after wasting thousands I can confirm nobody should do this. Buy a truck. The Ascent sucks. Primitive Skids plates still have issues and the lift was basically pointless. It's a good highway car but flat out stinks off-road.

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felix_te

· #2 · 6 mo ago

I'd say it's as worthy as most based on what others have done. Your best bet is to scour through the posts made by others especially Robert Mauro's such as this one. He has a lot of videos here and on YouTube of his offroading. There are a few others as well of course

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Jxsajxbd

· #3 · 6 mo ago

Not worth it. I've taken a stock Ascent on some more difficult forest roads and it was not a great experience. The approach angle specifically just sucks. Hit quite a few more things than I would've expected coming from a Forester that just ate these roads up in the past.

Also you won't be able to do anything about the wheelbase. Shorter wheelbases are just far superior for off roading.

I'd rather take a stock Forester soft roading over a kitted out Ascent. Sorry, just my experience.

Reactions: 2

Joneal

· #4 · 6 mo ago

As a SOFT-roader, I think the Ascent does just fine. I’d refer you to this article on outfitting a Subaru for such adventures. But you’re post addresses the main shortcomings of the Ascent so I don’t need to go into those.

As an OFF-roader, a stock 4Runner, Jeep or just about any vehicle with a low range transfer case and locking diffs will serve you infinitely better and be much more fun to kit out.

Reactions: 1

Robert.Mauro

· #5 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

This is mainly due to the approach, departure, and break over angles of the vehicle.

THAT will be your major concern, even with a lift. It's mine, even with a 2.2" lift.

felix_te said:
I'd say it's as worthy as most based on what others have done. Your best bet is to scour through the posts made by others especially Robert Mauro's such as this one. He has a lot of videos here and on YouTube of his offroading. There are a few others as well of course

Oooh, I know that guy!!! There's something wrong with him, lol!!! 😁 🤣🤪😉

Seriously though, I am not regretting a single thing I've done to my Ascent to be able to soft road and outright off-road with it. Done right, the Ascent isn't compromised by the mods, and is quite capable. Definitely talk to my friends at @Discount Tire about wheel and tire options, especially if you plan on downsizing wheels like me for more extreme stuff. And, for skids, I definitely recommend Primitive Racing (all three plus front lip). Non-strut-replacement lift kits for more extreme off-roading, I'd go to RalliTEK, Primitive, or Anderson. I'd skip the rest.

Here's my YouTube channel with some of my adventures. My Ascent has off roaded from Maine to Florida, from Long Island's Montauk Point to the desert in California's Joshua Tree National Forest, and many places in between.

youtube.com

Subaru Ambassador Robert Mauro

I'm a Subaru Ambassador who drives a 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring on many #AscentAdventures and makes #SubaruHowTo videos for my followers. Follow me to see my...

youtube.com

Here's 2 hours of my Ascent and friends soft roading, and outright off-roading on actual 4x4 trails in Utah

It never disappointed.

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Discount Tire

· #6 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

felix_te said:
Your best bet is to scour through the posts made by others especially Robert Mauro's such as this one. He has a lot of videos here and on YouTube of his offroading. There are a few others as well of course

This was exactly my thought when reading the OP

Robert.Mauro said:
Definitely talk to my friends at @Discount Tire about wheel and tire options, especially if you plan on downsizing wheels like me for more extreme stuff.

Appreciate the referral Robert!

Reactions: 1

Ruben Marin

· #7 · 6 mo ago

The question is really how far off road are you looking to go. I would make up some spreadsheets and work out all the costs, I think if it were me I would go as far as bolt-ons would allow within a budgeted amount. Then if you wanted to go farther start building a dedicated offroader. Or you may find that it's enough for your ambitions.

Reactions: 1

OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · #8 · 6 mo ago

Ruben Marin said:
The question is really how far off road are you looking to go. I would make up some spreadsheets and work out all the costs, I think if it were me I would go as far as bolt-ons would allow within a budgeted amount. Then if you wanted to go farther start building a dedicated offroader. Or you may find that it's enough for your ambitions.

I am not looking to do anything crazy like mudding or rock crawling. Mainly I just want to get to the trailhead where I can hike or bike the more rough terrain.

I figured with x-mode and 8.7" of clearance the Ascent would be decent, but the approach and brakeover angles are giving me pause.

I feel like the front bumper is a huge liability for this car. I'm also not sure about lifting it since it is a unibody and they don't normally like to be lifted.

I guess I'm trying to understand just how capable the Ascent is. I'm starting to think it's less capable than I did when I bought it

RobertD

· #9 · 6 mo ago

It is great on soft roading adventures. It would not be so good as a rock climber or in deep mud. My wife and I sought out the roads less traveled wherever we went.

www.ascentforums.com

Texas Hill Country Adventures

We just had to get away and had a three day weekend in the Texas Hill Country. We explored the back roads In our Ascent and had a great time. We found dirt roads, longhorns, cows in the road, windmills, water crossings, rivers, streams, wildlife, and more. We saw groups of Jeeps and one group...

www.ascentforums.com

www.ascentforums.com

www.ascentforums.com

Colorado - Phantom Canyon Gold Belt Tour

We recently went to Colorado on Vacation and enjoyed driving the Phantom Canyon Road. It started for us at Cripple Creek / Victor Colorado. It is a fairy easy dirt road with lots of nice views along the way.

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www.ascentforums.com

Reactions: 1

Robert.Mauro

· #10 · 6 mo ago

OverlandAscent said:
I guess I'm trying to understand just how capable the Ascent is. I'm starting to think it's less capable than I did when I bought it

My vids give a good idea of what it's capable of.

For what you're describing, I think all you need are good all terrains.

OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · #11 · 6 mo ago

Robert.Mauro said:
For what you're describing, I think all you need are good all terrains.

I will be upgrading to a better tire. Most likely the Falken Wildpeaks.

The roads to trailheads around me are heavily rutted and filled with potholes. I just don't want to shear my bumper off. So, I have been looking at the Eibach spring lift kit and primitive racing skids. I just don't want to go down the rabbit hole with upgrades haha.

I have also been thinking about getting a cheap truck for this and leaving the Ascent as a highway vehicle, but I'd prefer to use the Ascent for everything.

Ruben Marin

· #12 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

OverlandAscent said:
I will be upgrading to a better tire. Most likely the Falken Wildpeaks.

The roads to trailheads around me are heavily rutted and filled with potholes. I just don't want to shear my bumper off. So, I have been looking at the Eibach spring lift kit and primitive racing skids. I just don't want to go down the rabbit hole with upgrades haha.

I have also been thinking about getting a cheap truck for this and leaving the Ascent as a highway vehicle, but I'd prefer to use the Ascent for everything.

Why not get an aftermarket bumper for the front and save your painted one for when/if you decide to move on from the ascent. You could customize it to get some better approach angles and not be worried too much when it gets banged up.

OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · #13 · 6 mo ago

Ruben Marin said:
Why not get an aftermarket bumper for the front and save your painted one for when/if you decide to move on from the ascent. You could customize it to get some better approach angles and not be worried too much if it get banged up.

I have not seen or found any bolt-on bumpers for the Ascent. I have only seen bull bars aka damage multipliers.

Ruben Marin

· #14 · 6 mo ago

OverlandAscent said:
I have not seen or found any bolt-on bumpers for the Ascent. I have only seen bull bars aka damage multipliers.

I was meaning a replacement oem bumper cover or an oem used one. That way the scrapes and bumps will be of little concern and if you can cut some of it away so it isn't constantly snagging on stuff.

FourMoBro

· #15 · 6 mo ago

OverlandAscent said:
I will be upgrading to a better tire. Most likely the Falken Wildpeaks.

The roads to trailheads around me are heavily rutted and filled with potholes. I just don't want to shear my bumper off. So, I have been looking at the Eibach spring lift kit and primitive racing skids. I just don't want to go down the rabbit hole with upgrades haha.

I have also been thinking about getting a cheap truck for this and leaving the Ascent as a highway vehicle, but I'd prefer to use the Ascent for everything.

This is pretty much the same setup I run for my soft-roading, which is really just Forest Service roads getting access to better mountain bike or trail running areas, or for winter ski outings.
I have the Eibachs installed.
I have Primitive Racing skid plates x3
I downsized to 18's running Continental Terrain Contact's. Again, primarily road driving, with more than enough capability to handle those forest roads with negligible road noise increase when on pavement.

Reactions: 1

arlenenolte

· #16 · 3 mo ago

Robert.Mauro said:
THAT will be your major concern, even with a lift. It's mine, even with a 2.2" lift.

Oooh, I know that guy!!! There's something wrong with him, lol!!! 😁 🤣🤪😉

Seriously though, I am not regretting a single thing I've done to my Ascent to be able to soft road and outright off-road with it. Done right, the Ascent isn't compromised by the mods, and is quite capable. Definitely talk to my friends at @Discount Tire about wheel and tire options, especially if you plan on downsizing wheels like me for more extreme stuff. And, for skids, I definitely recommend Primitive Racing (all three plus front lip). Non-strut-replacement lift kits for more extreme off-roading, I'd go to RalliTEK, Primitive, or Anderson. I'd skip the rest.

Here's my YouTube channel with some of my adventures. My Ascent has off roaded from Maine to Florida, from Long Island's Montauk Point to the desert in California's Joshua Tree National Forest, and many places in between.

Subaru Ambassador Robert Mauro

I'm a Subaru Ambassador who drives a 2019 Subaru Ascent Touring on many #AscentAdventures and makes #SubaruHowTo videos for my followers. Follow me to see my...

youtube.com

Here's 2 hours of my Ascent and friends soft roading, and outright off-roading on actual 4x4 trails in Utah

It never disappointed.

Robert, I've been following you on YouTube! Nice to run into you here

Reactions: 1

Shaggs

· #17 · 1 mo ago

OverlandAscent said:
im interested to see people's experiences

As someone who has a Tacoma with bumpers, skids, midtravel setup, air suspension, and an Ascent… I would say do the basic mods to the Ascent first. Do a lil lift, add some more sidewall and downsize the wheel size. The fuel economy I get in the Subie is double what I get in the Taco. It does 95% of the same stuff as my Tacoma for daily use, and gets double the mileage, and more interior room. I did all the mods to the Taco over the years and dialed it how I like it and I drive it less than ever 🤣 And as much as I love the truck, having a double cab long bed is harder to find parking spots, fills up 2x as often, and I don’t get as much time to go actual off roading. Now I use it more for tailgating and just towing the boats. The one thing you have to remember is you gotta drive it back from whatever you are going to be doing. Choose your lines and use a spotter and be smart about it. It’s a Unibody AWD SUV, not a truck. If you know it’s limitations and respect them just throw a couple grand at the Ascent and save up for a beater wheeler you don’t mind thrashing or get a dedicated SXS that you can tow behind the ascent and do gnarly wheeling.

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bluzed91

· #18 · 1 mo ago

A 4 runner is better suited for that sort of thing. With that being said it’s ultimately your money and money can make the Ascent pretty capable. It’s just more of a challenge, and challenges are fun but pricey.

OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · #19 · 1 mo ago

Shaggs said:
As someone who has a Tacoma with bumpers, skids, midtravel setup, air suspension, and an Ascent… I would say do the basic mods to the Ascent first. Do a lil lift, add some more sidewall and downsize the wheel size. The fuel economy I get in the Subie is double what I get in the Taco. It does 95% of the same stuff as my Tacoma for daily use, and gets double the mileage, and more interior room. I did all the mods to the Taco over the years and dialed it how I like it and I drive it less than ever 🤣 And as much as I love the truck, having a double cab long bed is harder to find parking spots, fills up 2x as often, and I don’t get as much time to go actual off roading. Now I use it more for tailgating and just towing the boats. The one thing you have to remember is you gotta drive it back from whatever you are going to be doing. Choose your lines and use a spotter and be smart about it. It’s a Unibody AWD SUV, not a truck. If you know it’s limitations and respect them just throw a couple grand at the Ascent and save up for a beater wheeler you don’t mind thrashing or get a dedicated SXS that you can tow behind the ascent and do gnarly wheeling.

I had a Tacoma before I got the Ascent. I definitely prefer the better MPG and having more space.

It's been a little while since this post, but since then I decided to stick with the Ascent. It has been super comfortable and easy to maintain, so I'm going to keep it for at least another year.

I added primitive Racing Skid plates, Falken Wildpeak Trail ATs on stock 18" wheels, yellow diode dynamic foglifhts, and a spare mounted on the roof rack.

Just ordered the Eibach Spring lift kit too for $400 so that will give me another 1.5" of clearance.

I plan to make the Ascent my beach going vehicle. it is definitely not a rock crawler, but it seemed to do amazing on the beaches last summer. It's also big enough to put a sleeper setup in the back.

Overall, I'm happy with my decision, cost me about $3500, but a new vehicle is more than ten times that. Even a lease is $12-15k over 3 years. So I spent less than one year on a lease, much less 36 months.

I also just recently rented a SxS to explore Sedona. I don't think I've hated any vehicle more. Incredibly uncomfortable and essentially no safety or protection. Was getting dust and dirt everywhere and was getting sprayed by other vehicles. I returned it an hour early and swore I'd never use one again. The people in closed top jeeps looked much happier. I'll probably rent a jeep if I ever want to tackle anything super tough

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OverlandAscent

Discussion Starter · #20 · 1 mo ago

bluzed91 said:
A 4 runner is better suited for that sort of thing. With that being said it’s ultimately your money and money can make the Ascent pretty capable. It’s just more of a challenge, and challenges are fun but pricey.

I don't fit well in Toyotas, as I'm not a tiny Japanese man.

Subaru fits me well because of their lower driveline.

I barely fit in the non-sunroof Tacoma I used to own at 6'6". I'd probably need something like an F-150 or a Sequoia.

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