Consumer Reports – December 2018

SUBARU’S NEW THREE-ROW

SUV, with its impressive

all-around performance,

has dethroned the Toyota

Highlander, the long-time

champion in the category. The

gap between the two road-test

scores is large enough to drive

a truck through. The Ascent’s

smooth ride, functional

interior, and slick power

delivery helped lift it to success.

Getting into the Ascent’s

cabin is easy thanks to its large

doors. The controls are simple

to use and the infotainment

touch screen responds quickly

to commands. All trim levels

come with Android Auto and

Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Most Ascents are i tted with

second-row captain’s chairs,

which provide plenty of

legroom and can slide forward

and back. Rear passengers get

their own climate settings and

USB ports. Even the foldaway

third row is livable for adults

on short trips.

The turbocharged four-

cylinder engine is less

powerful than most of the

Ascent’s rivals, which might

seem to be a competitive

disadvantage. But in real-

world driving, the SUV

feels zippier and more

satisfying than its numbers

suggest it should be.

The plush ride is even better

than in some luxury cars.

We noticed signii cant body

lean through turns, but the

SUV feels safe and remains

under control.

All Ascents come with

Subaru’s EyeSight safety

features, which include

forward-collision warning,

automatic emergency braking,

and lane-keeping assist. Blind-

spot warning, rear cross-trai c

warning, and rear automatic

braking are available.

THE REDESIGNED 201

Jetta wins our praise for its

impressive fuel economy,

ef ortless acceleration, and

straightforward controls.

We got 34 mpg overall and

54 mpg on the highway in

our tests. Even with that

superb fuel economy, the

Jetta’s responsive turbo

engine doesn’t force the

driver to press hard on

the gas pedal to make a

smart getaway.

The suspension absorbs

all but the sharpest bumps,

and the quiet cabin blocks out

most road and engine noise.

But the Jetta’s uninspired

handling makes for a dull

driving experience. We think

it’s less sporty than the Honda

Civic, and it’s not as fun to

drive as it used to be.

There’s a premium

ambience to the cabin that’s

helped by the faux leather

seats and automatic climate

control found on all but the

base trim level. Every switch

and button is easy to i nd

and well-lit at night. Android

Auto and Apple CarPlay

compatibility is standard.

We like the Jetta’s excellent

visibility and comfortable

seating position for most

drivers. But there are some

ergonomic issues. The

low-mounted center vents

direct too much air toward

the driver’s elbow rather than

to the body and face, and

the wide center console rubs

against the driver’s knee.

The rear seat is generous

for the class, and the trunk

is huge.

Forward-collision warning,

low-speed automatic

emergency braking, and blind-

spot warning are optional on

the base S trim but standard

on the SE trim and up.

ROAD-TEST SCORE 93

HIGHS Ride, quietness, interior

room, visibility, braking, controls

LOWS Agility

POWERTRAIN 2 60-hp, 2.4-liter

four-cylinder turbo engine;

continuously variable transmission;

all-wheel drive

FUEL 22 mpg on regular fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $ 43 ,867

ROAD-TEST SCORE 78

HIGHS Controls, fuel economy,

roomy cabin for the class

LOWS Agility, low dash vents,

console rubs against knee

POWERTRAIN 147-hp, 1.4-liter

four-cylinder turbo engine;

8-speed automatic transmission;

front-wheel drive

FUEL 3 4 mpg on regular fuel

PRICE AS TESTED $ 23 , 325

MIDSIZED SUVs

Subaru

Ascent

Quiet, Spacious, and

Comfortable

COMPACT CARS

Volkswagen

Jetta

Smart and

Sensible

ROAD TEST

WE CONDUCT MORE THAN 50 TESTS ON EACH VEHICLE AT OUR 327-ACRE AUTO TEST

CENTER. FOR COMPLETE ROAD TESTS, MEMBERS CAN GO TO CR.ORG/CARS.

OVERALL

SCORE

88

OVERALL

SCORE

69

PHOTOS: JOHN POWERS/CONSU

MER REPORTS

DECEMBER 2018 CR.ORG 59