The Subaru Ascent is the new SUV with third-row seating from Subaru. Like many other Subarus, the Ascent is both loved by critics and by Subaru fans. One question many buyers might have about this new SUV is whether or not it comes with Apple CarPlay included. Here’s a look inside the Ascent and all the features that Subaru offers on it. 

The Subaru Ascent’s standard features

As U.S. News reported, the Ascent comes standard with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system. At the center of this infotainment system is a 6.5-inch touch screen display. This touch screen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well. Additionally, this infotainment system has other features as well. 

Starlink is also Bluetooth compatible and Subaru also offers four USB ports in the Ascent as standard. On top of that, Subaru gives Ascent owners a six-speaker stereo system that’s connected to both the Starlink infotainment system as well as a standard HD radio. Furthermore, the Ascent has a tri-zone automatic climate control system as standard. 

Car reviewers such as Autoblog and Autotrader said that the Ascent’s standard infotainment features were “easy to use,” according to U.S. News. Reviewers also mentioned that the Ascent had a lot of standard features and that they all worked very well. 

In terms of seating, the Ascent can seat eight people as standard. U.S. News says that the seats have a cloth upholstery and that the driver’s seat is six-way manually adjustable while the passenger’s seat is four-way manually adjustable. The second and third row of seats are bench seats.

The Subaru Ascent’s optional features

Subaru offers a lot of options to Ascent owners who want more from their SUV. U.S. News says that these options include an 8-inch touch screen display, a navigational system, and a WiFi hotspot. Subaru also offers a lot of optional smart features too. Some of these options include proximity keyless entry, remote engine start, and a push-button start system. 

Additionally, a premium 14-speaker sound system is available too. Subaru also offers to add two more USB ports to the Ascent, bringing its total USB ports to six. Furthermore, U.S. News says that the Ascent can be equipped with a household-style power outlet, a panoramic moonroof, and an ambient lighting system. 

For seats, Subaru offers an upgrade that’ll turn the second-row seats into captain’s chairs. This upgrade will reduce the Ascent’s total seating capacity to seven, however. Additionally, U.S. News says that Subaru offers a lot of upgrades to the seating that includes making the driver and passenger seats power-adjustable as well as changing the seat’s upholstery to leather and offering heated seats to the first and second rows.

The safety features

Subarus are famous for their safety, and the Ascent is no different. U.S. News says that the Ascent comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite. EyeSight gives Ascent owners access to advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display as standard. 

Other standard smart safety features on the Ascent include a rear-seat reminder to help prevent hot car deaths, a lane departure and sway warning system, as well as a pre-collision throttle management system.

Subaru also offers a lot of optional safety features on the Ascent. Some of these include, according to U.S. News: reverse automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, smart rain-sensing windshield wipers, a front and a rear-view camera system, and automatic high beam headlights. 

As a result of all of these standard and optional smart safety features, as well as the Ascent’s great performance in its crash tests, U.S. News gave the Ascent a 9.8 out of 10 for safety.