Will New Subaru Ascent 2.4L 4-Cyl Have Enough Power For Active Families?

The 2019 Subaru Ascent is headed into the extremely crowded and competitive 3-Row segment, where it'll go up against Japanese rivals Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, and American entries like the Ford Explorer, Chevy Traverse, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, and upstart contenders like the Volkswagen Atlas.

Most come standard with a V6 engine, while Ford and Mazda also have 4-cylinder turbo engines. What’s interesting, the new Ascent will tow up to 5,000 lb with its new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. How will the new Ascent compete with the competition?

It’s what’s under the hood that will give Ascent an advantage. Subaru engineers developed a new powerplant for the Ascent that has not be used in any other Subaru model. It gets the new FA24 Boxer engine with the latest direct injection and other internal upgrades for the best power and towing vs fuel efficiency.

Most 3-Row SUV/Crossover buyers don’t care about the specs of the new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Boxer, all they want to know is will it have enough power to haul your family, cargo and a trailer. We'll cover it for our gear-head readers who want to know.

What sets the new FA24 Boxer apart?

The 2019 Subaru Ascent gets an all-new FA24 2.4-liter boxer engine developed just for the new 3-Row family hauler. It features all-aluminum heads and block, to reduce weight and allows for more rapid warm-up. The internals include heads with dual overhead cams, driven by a timing chain rather than a belt, actuating 16 valves with variable timing.

It has a total engine displacement of 2,387cc with a 94-millimeter bore and an 86-millimeter stroke. The compression ratio is 10.6:1 which keeps cylinder pressures high for efficiency. It also features the newest direct injection technology and a twin-scroll turbocharger.

The most important spec is not the 260-horsepower at 5,600 rpm the new FA24 engine develops, it’s the broad peak torque band of 277 lb-ft between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm that will get gearheads excited and it’s what consumers will feel when they drive the new 3-Row SUV. This is what will get the new 2019 Ascent moving from a start, power it at altitude up steep mountain passes, and it will allow the largest vehicle Subaru has ever built to tow up to 5,000 lb.

READ: How New Subaru Ascent 2.4L Engine Compares To Competition’s V6 Power

Subaru announced estimated fuel economy for the base and Premium models with standard equipment is up to 21/27 city/highway mpg and 23 combined mpg offering a 500+ mile cruising range. Models equipped with 20” wheels achieve manufacturer’s estimated fuel economy of 20/26 city/highway mpg and 22 combined mpg.

The largest vehicle Subaru has ever built doesn’t get a 6-cylinder engine, it gets the new FA24 4-cylinder Boxer engine with enough torque to meet an active families needs. The all-new 3-Row 2019 Subaru Ascent arrives at Subaru showrooms this summer.

Photo credit: Subaru USA