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The all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler is powered by an all-new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Boxer direct fuel injection turbocharged engine, and Subaru says it will offer drivability, power and fuel economy equal to or better than that of 6-cylinder engines. We don’t have the EPA/DOT estimated fuel economy numbers yet, but we can compare the Ascent’s engine horsepower and torque numbers with the competition.

Subaru’s new Ascent will compete with Japanese rivals like the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, and American entries like the Ford Explorer, Chevy Traverse, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Most come standard with a V6 engine, but Ford and Mazda also have 4-cylinder turbo engines.

Subaru says, despite its smaller displacement, the newly developed 2.4-liter turbocharged direct-injection boxer engine will achieve smooth acceleration equal to or better than that of competing vehicles with 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engines. That is accomplished with torque more than horsepower, because torque is what gets a vehicle moving from a stop and helps in pulling the vehicle up a hill, or when towing.

Subaru will build the Ascent on its new Global Platform and the new 2.4-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine sits under the hood producing 260hp and 277 lb. ft of torque. The Ascent 2.4-liter twin turbo four cylinder is their new-generation boxer engine developed specifically for this vehicle that’s built at Subaru’s U.S. factory in Lafayette, Indiana.

How Ascent 2.4L compares with the competition

Compared to its Japanese rivals, Toyota Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 295hp and 263 lb ft of torque. Nissan Pathfinder is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) engine producing 284hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. Honda Pilot also gets a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280hp and 262 lb ft of torque. The Mazda CX-9 is powered by a 2.5-liter turbo engine producing 250hp and 310 lb ft of torque.

Compared to its American competition, Ford Explorer is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 290hp and 255 lb ft of torque. Explorer also gets a 2.3-liter turbo producing 280hp and 310 lb ft of torque. Chevy Traverse is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 producing 281hp and 266 lb ft of torque. Dodge Durango gets a 3.6-liter V6 producing 295hp and 260 lb ft of torque. Jeep Grand Cherokee also gets a 3.6-liter V6 with 295hp and 260 lb ft of torque.

The Mazda CX-9’s 2.5-liter turbo gets a massive 310 lb ft of torque, and Explorer’s 2.3-liter turbo also produces 310 lb ft of torque, outgunning the Ascent’s 277 lb ft, but both are turbocharged four-cylinder power plants. Subaru is correct when they say the all-new Ascent 3-Row will achieve smooth acceleration because of torque, equal to or better than that of competing vehicles with 3.5-liter V6 engines. The new 2.4-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine has more torque than any of the competition’s larger 3.5-liter or 3.6-liter V6 engines.

The all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent will start in the low $30,000 price range and will be on sale in early summer 2018.

Photo credit: Subaru USA