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It wasn't long ago Subaru brought the biggest vehicle they have ever made to North America. The Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler was an instant hit with families. The 2021 Ascent arrives this summer, but it's missing a trim level. If the Japanese automaker would build a new mid-size pickup on the Ascent platform, it would also be a success and fill a hole in its all-wheel-drive lineup.
Above is an excellent rendering from Neil de Vos Design of what the Subaru Ascent-based pickup could look like. Pickup trucks are hot sellers and Subaru would be in a great position to cash in if they would build one. The Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and Nissan Frontier, all mid-size trucks, combined for 43,996 sales last month.
Mid-size trucks have been one of the hottest segments for automakers and it’s our guess a new Subaru truck would sell well, like the brand’s new Ascent family hauler. The brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system would be a perfect fit for a pickup and would likely be a big hit with truck buyers who want to go off-road.
The new Subaru Global Platform would allow the Japanese automaker to use the newest Ascent platform without major changes. Engineers could easily cut off the back, make a few exterior design changes and you’ve got a good-looking 4-door Subaru all-wheel-drive truck for the U.S, Canada, and Australia.
It could be manufactured right alongside the new Ascent 3-Row family hauler in Lafayette, Indiana with its new 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine for power. The Ascent-based truck would sit higher off the ground with at least 8.7-inches of ground clearance and could also be offered as a Sport trim with a raised suspension.
Like the Ascent family hauler, the new truck would come in base, Premium, Limited, and a new Sport trim with black alloy wheels, interior and exterior accents and badging, and Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode all-terrain all-wheel-drive system.
An all-new Ascent-based pickup would be right in Subaru’s wheelhouse of niche all-wheel-drive models and appeal to tens of thousands of mid-size truck buyers. The Ascent platform gives Subaru a truck to compete in the hot mid-size pickup segment with the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon. It would be the missing piece in the Subaru all-wheel-drive lineup. Would you buy a 2021 Subaru Ascent pickup if it were offered by the Japanese automaker this summer?
You Might Also Like: The New 2021 Subaru Complete Model Change Preview
Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press and the founder of Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Subaru, subaru_worldwide
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Comments
Insta-buy. For real. Looking
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Insta-buy. For real. Looking at the accent right now because this isn't an option and other mid-size trucks suck.
A truck running on a cvt
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A truck running on a cvt transmission? No, thanks!
Don't underestimate the
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In reply to A truck running on a cvt by Gulzeb (not verified)
Don't underestimate the Subaru CVT. Out of all the CVTs that are on the market, Subaru has the best.
I would love to see ascent
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I would love to see ascent pick up come out in 2021 I would definitely like to have one I've seen many car companys competing for whom comes out with the best pick up truck
Yes. I am on my 6th Subaru
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Yes. I am on my 6th Subaru and we own 3 now...Ascent, Crosstrek and Loyale. But I have to cross shop Honda and Toyota, as well as GMC if I want a pickup. The old Subaru Baja's for sale around here a have 300k miles and only seat 4, so that's not a viable option for us. We will probably sell the 2020 Crosstrek soon to get a pickup. Covid makes you want a more rugged, independent minded car ;)
Without a doubt. It would be
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Without a doubt. It would be perfect for my family
I'd buy one
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I'd buy one
Take my money!
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Take my money!
Needs a 6 ft bed like the
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Needs a 6 ft bed like the midsize Honda Ridgeline and the Honda engine that’s in the Ridgeline.....none turbo and runs forever!
That bed is nearly useless. At 90,000 be ready for a new engine or head gasket over haul. The Boxer engine still has a basic design flaw!
The head gasket issue was
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In reply to Needs a 6 ft bed like the by Frank (not verified)
The head gasket issue was worked out between 2009-2011 as all vehicles moved to the newer boxer engine design.
No six cylinder....why?
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No six cylinder....why?
I would buy it in a heartbeat
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I would buy it in a heartbeat
Cool idea, but I don't think
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Cool idea, but I don't think it would sway over "truck" buyers. An Ascent truck would compete more with the Avalanche or the Ridgeline rather than the standard look of the Ranger/Tacoma/etc. Of course most mid size truck owners would probably do just as well in an Ascent truck.
I would buy one in a
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I would buy one in a heartbeat. Do not underestimate the CVT. Out of all the CVTs on the market, Subaru has the best.
I've been saying this for
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I've been saying this for over a decade. The Baja was silly. Just build a real truck and folks will buy it in droves.
I wouldn't hold your breath
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I wouldn't hold your breath for this. We have absolutely nowhere near the facility capacity for another vehicle, much less one this large. Plus we can't even keep up with demand as it is..
Why on earth would you want
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Why on earth would you want to pay the same (or more) for a less usable Ascent? Better question...why is this even a new article?
What information do you have on an Ascent pickup other than entirely fictional market speculation and a rendering from some rando on another website?
You are in point of fact a
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You are in point of fact a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Moreover
nice written and include
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nice written and include almost all significant infos. I'd like to see extra posts like this .
I would trade my 2021 Ford
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I would trade my 2021 Ford Edge in a heartbeat. I have always held out hope for the return of a Baja type truck by Subaru. I recently bought the Ford Edge after being a diehard Subaru Outback owner. With kids now gone, I wanted something a little smaller but have never been a fan of the Forester body styles and the Crosstrek was just too small. Please come out with something closer to the Baja - easy to get into like an SUV with a pickup bed! I would order the first!!
I would trade my 2021 Ford
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I would trade my 2021 Ford Edge in a heartbeat. I have always held out hope for the return of a Baja type truck by Subaru. I recently bought the Ford Edge after being a diehard Subaru Outback owner. With kids now gone, I wanted something a little smaller but have never been a fan of the Forester body styles and the Crosstrek was just too small. Please come out with something closer to the Baja - easy to get into like an SUV with a pickup bed! I would order the first!!
man. I've be aware your stuff
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man. I've be aware your stuff prior to and you're just extremely wonderful. I really like what you have obtained right here
I have a Honda Ridgeline but
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I have a Honda Ridgeline but had a Baja that. I love my Honda but would buy the Subaru truck in a heartbeat. I’m not getting any younger so they need to hit dealership soon!
Ascent with new Wilderness
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Ascent with new Wilderness package of lift, tires (make'em 245/65/17's Geolander AT), skid plates, etc. Single cab could easily have 6ft bed with no modification to chassis and remain less tan 200" long. Standard composite bed. Rear slider window. Any slight add to overhang would be compensated by the 1"lift. Future bonus of 2.4 + hybrid..