Subaru SUVs have a reputation for being rugged and reliable, ranging from the adventure ready Crosstrek, the practical Forester, and the family-friendly Ascent, Subaru’s lineup offers something for everyone. Choosing a used Subaru SUV gives you confidence on the road while saving money without sacrificing reliability or performance.
Key takeaways
- If you’re doing the sports taxi thing but want to have some fun, then you can look for a Crosstrek Wilderness. This comes with the practicality that the model is known for, but adds a twist by throwing in some off-road features.
- If you’re someone who wants the most seating, then you’ll need to look for the Ascent. That’s because it comes with up to 8-seats, making it easy to fit everyone inside.
- Subarus are among the safest vehicles on the roadways, with multiple models being given the IIHS’ top award.
Starting with the largest SUV in the Subaru lineup, the Ascent comes in with both 7- and 8-passenger seating options. If you’ve got a larger family, then this one should be on your radar. Being introduced in the past decade, you’ll find it equipped with some of the most modern features on the market.
When looking at the models that came after the first few years, in 2021, and carried over until 2024, it was given the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+, making it one of the safest picks on the market. This model has also been powered by only one engine for all of its life, this one being the 2.4L I4, and it was capable of getting 23 MPG combined, as per the EPA.
Moving on to the Crosstek, this one is on the smaller side, seating only 5 passengers. While this is smaller, it comes with a bit more capability, especially in the off-road department. While most Crosstrek models are great city drivers as they are smaller, and get decent gas mileage at 30 MPG combined, with standard AWD.
If you find yourself looking at a Wilderness model, this is the one that comes with off-road features. These are a raised suspension that sits at 9.3-inches, which is .6-inches higher than the rest of the line. Also comes with a roof rack that can handle 700-pounds, and has the ability to tow up to 3,500-pounds.
If that doesn’t interest you, then you can find a plug-in hybrid model. This variant excels in the city as you can get to work and back, without needing to use gas. When tested by the EPA, they found that this model can get 17 miles on just electricity alone, but if you’re using a blend of the two, then you can get 35 MPG combined, making this a standout model.
Another 5 seat option, this one is a bit different than the others. This is because it didn’t offer a hybrid option up until 2025 models. Before the hybrid was introduced, the model came powered by a 2.5L I4 engine. While this was efficient, it’s certainly not as efficient as the hybrid. For the base engine, you can enjoy 29 MPG combined, but the hybrid gets 35 MPG combined.
Much like the Crosstrek, this one also comes with a Wilderness variant. While not on the market just yet, this one will hit the roads in 2026, making it one to look for as this article ages.
Another area that makes this one stand out is safety. Starting in 2019, and going until 2022, this model came with IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+. This makes it one of the safest vehicles in the family, and on the market in general.
Which is the right Subaru SUV for me?
When looking at the used Subaru crossovers, there's a few options to pick from. While it’s easy to read what makes these models unique, we think it’s easier to see them in person. We invite you to come to a Jarrett location today for more info, and to see which model feels right with you behind the wheel.
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