My Subaru Ascent Isn't Living Up To Expectations! What Car Should I Buy?

Nigel is an Aussie living in California. He has a Subaru Ascent lease that is about to expire, and the car has needed three transmission replacements. He is looking for another family crossover that can also tow about 3500 lbs. What car should he buy?

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Here is the scenario:

Transplanted Australian active family of 4 love to escape the City to the coast or mountains as often as possible, with arger than usual primary school children. My Subaru Ascent lease is almost up and after three new transmissions I am ready to cut the cord from the Subi. I want something that can pull a fully loaded M415 trailer (aprox 3500 towing capacity) over mountain passes and steep gradients, comfortable to drive long distances, enough clearance to tear up forest roads, easy to daily drive/park in a city and > 20mpg. Target budget is around 40-45k but I coild stretch a little more for the right car.

Quick Facts:

Budget: $45,000-ish

Location: Southern California

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Three rows, solid towing capacity, respectable MPG

Doesn’t want: Something too expensive

Expert 1: Tom McParland – TrailSport!

Image: Honda

If you’re looking for a durable family crossover that can handle some light trails, there are a ton of options to choose from. Most vehicles in this class equipped with a V6 and AWD have a tow rating of about 5,000 lbs, so it really comes down to which one fits your budget and lifestyle the best. Since the Subaru didn’t work out as planned when it comes to build quality, you probably want to stick with a brand known for reliability.

I would recommend a Honda Pilot this time around, specifically the TrailSport trim. Honda added some nice off-road bits to make the already capable Pilot even more sure-footed when the pavement ends. The Pilot should get about 20 MPG combined, which isn’t bad for this segment. However, with an MSRP of around $50,000, you are pushing the budget a bit. The good news is that with a shifting market, you should be able to find a competitive discount even in Southern California. Here is an example from a regional Honda dealer in that excellent blue color with an advertised price closer to $48,000.

Expert 2: Bradley Brownell – Get The ‘Yota

Image: Toyota

When someone says they need a third row, my brain immediately jumps to the Toyota Sienna. It’s a great van with tremendous fuel economy, and if you are tired of the Subaru breaking all the time, you should be wowed by a Toyota’s ability to keep all its parts where they belong. This would definitely fit everything you need to do — it’ll even tow 3,500 pounds — except light trails. So let’s go a little bit taller and get the Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE. You can even buy a new one, as they start at $45,020.

This bad boy can fit so much fuckin’ spaghetti in it. It’s a bit big for my tastes, but it should be big enough and comfortable enough for your whole crew. The hybrid gets up to 37 miles per gallon in the city, which is damn impressive for this much metal. If you absolutely need to get the all-wheel drive, it’ll pump the price up a couple grand, and drop your fuel economy by one. You probably don’t need it, but you might feel like you do. Your call, man.

Expert 3: Steve DaSilva – Get The Other ‘Yota

Photo: Facebook Marketplace

Nigel, you’ve got a specific set of needs here. You want something that can go anywhere, fit in just as well on busy streets as it does at remote campsites, and pull a trailer the whole way. Most of all, it needs to fit the whole family, and haul them around without grenading a transmission in the process. This is the rare automotive question that has a right answer: The Land Cruiser.

Now, of course, a $45,000 budget isn’t going to get you much Cruiser off a showroom floor. That’s the great thing about these trucks, though: They never, ever die. Take this example, a 24-year-old 100-series with just over 300,000 miles on the clock — it’s barely broken in. You can keep this forever, then pass it down to your great-grandkids with regular maintenance.

I know, I know, you wanted fuel economy too. That’s not always easy to find when you’re looking for all-terrain towing power, but I think I found a workaround: This truck costs $8,100. That leaves the remainder of your budget — $36,900 — to spend on fuel. If that’s not enough, Nigel, I want to see the kind of road trips your family is taking.

Expert 4: José Rodríguez Jr. – Trade The Pleiades For A Rising Sun

Photo: Nissan

Nigel, let’s cover all the modern, three-row bases with another Japanese carmaker by taking a look at the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. The latest version of the Pathfinder is still, sadly, not nearly as handsome as the Nissan Frontier it was formerly based on, but the Pathfinder no longer looks like a Nissan Altima.

The Pathfinder also seems to tick all your boxes: it’s not so big that driving it will feel like a chore. It gets over 20 miles per gallon (21 city/27 highway). It has a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds and will do so comfortably over long drives, given its design edict of splitting the difference between a rough and tumble SUV and comfortable family car. It will fit seven or eight passengers depending on trim, and it starts at just over $36,000. There’s even an off-roady Rock Creek trim, if you want some visual flare and 4WD.

Truth be told, I’d rather convince you to do something fun. Go with something closer to home, like, say, buying two cars with your $40k: a Subaru Baja and a used Nissan Frontier to tow your trailer. The Baja is one of those rare cars that just makes me light up every time I see one on the road. We don’t have enough coupe-utes in the U.S. but if you drove one, you might feel like you’re back in OZ. Bringing two cars on your excursions seems like a big inconvenience, however, and the Baja can only tow up to 2,4o0 pounds. But, hey, life is short.

A sensible three-row SUV is likely the way to go for you and your family. So, take your pick from among the admittedly pedestrian but modern Japanese three-row SUVs from Honda, Toyota or Nissan. I say Pathfinder all the way.