2025 Subaru Ascent: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2025 Subaru Ascent gets 21 to 22 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Ascent at 22 mpg.
The EPA figures for 2025 are the same as for 2024; the safety records below are for 2025.
How the Ascent ranks in its class
In the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, the Ascent ranks 16th (tied with 8 others) of 58 for combined mileage (22 mpg), 7th (tied with 3 others) of 55 for yearly fuel cost ($2,850 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 21st of 58 for tailpipe CO2 (398 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 21 mpg, costs $3,500 a year and puts out 424.5 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 168 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Ascent's best version, 19 other models get the same and 62 get less. The 2025 Ascent's cheapest version costs $2,850 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 110 cost less, 16 the same and 115 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 16 to 25 of 58)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
$2,727 a year
2025 Ascent, 4-cyl 2.4 L: 20 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Ascent version is $2,850 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
22miles per gallon, combined
$0.18fuel cost per mile
682gallons a year
$13,636fuel cost over 5 years
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
2025 Subaru Ascent
22
mpg combined
$2,727
fuel a year
2025 Audi Q7 (Gas)
22
mpg combined
$3,416
fuel a year
The Ascent costs $689 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Ascent costs $3,445 less to fuel than the Q7 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
Version
Engine
Gearbox
Drive
City
Highway
Combined
Fuel a year
CO2 g/mi
Fuel vs cheapest
2025 Ascent
4-cyl 2.4 L
Automatic (AV-S8)
All-wheel
20
26
22
$2,850
398
cheapest
2025 Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx AWD
4-cyl 2.4 L
Automatic (AV-S8)
All-wheel
19
25
21
$2,950
419
+$100
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2025 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Ascent; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Ascent puts out 398 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 398 to 419.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Ascent: fuel economy score 5 (4 to 5 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (4 to 5 across versions).
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Ascent gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
Vehicle
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2025 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD
5 of 5
5 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 15 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2025
15 complaints for the 2025 Subaru Ascent are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
Part named in the reports
Reports
Electrical System
2
Engine
2
Steering
2
Structure
2
Unknown Or Other
2
2 of the 15 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
1 recall is on file for the 2025 Subaru Ascent at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported 8 Jul 2026, campaign 26V436000
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid, Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the certification label.
Fix: Subaru will mail a new certification label to owners, free of charge. Owners may also choose to have a dealer install the new label, free of charge.
More Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2025
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Ascent itself is at 22 mpg.
The 2025 Ascent with 22 mpg combined (20 city, 26 highway).
How much does a 2025 Subaru Ascent cost to fuel for a year?
The 2025 Subaru Ascent costs between $2,850 and $2,950 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Ascent at $2,850; the dearest is the 2025 Ascent Limited/Touring/Onyx AWD at $2,950. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2025 Subaru Ascent rank among 2025 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD models?
The 2025 Subaru Ascent is 16th of 58 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Toyota Highlander at 35 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 21 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Porsche Cayenne at 22 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Bentley Bentayga at 21 mpg.
Did the Ascent change from 2024 to 2025?
The 2024 model had 2 tested versions and the 2025 model has 2. The best figure went from 22 to 22 mpg (no change).
How did the 2025 Subaru Ascent do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Subaru Ascent SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4.
Do owners complain about the 2025 Subaru Ascent?
15 complaints for the 2025 Subaru Ascent are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (2 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2025 Subaru Ascent have recalls?
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2025 Subaru Ascent (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2025 Subaru Ascent: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Subaru Ascent: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Subaru Ascent: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Subaru Ascent: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Subaru Ascent: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.