Used 2020 Subaru Ascent for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2020 Subaru Ascent cost?

Prices have softened 11.24% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,895 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent a good car?

Yes — the 4.88/5 user rating suggests you’re looking at a model that owners consistently appreciate. It also earns a 7.5/10 expert rating.

The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

Drivers repeatedly praise the Ascent for its roominess, safety features, and family-friendly design. The interior comfort and balanced driving experience also come up often, and many owners describe it as feeling luxurious for daily use.

The trade-offs are familiar: the expert review calls out fairly pedestrian performance and poor fuel economy. That fits the Ascent’s role as a practical family SUV rather than an enthusiast choice, especially if you want space, standard all-wheel drive, and a calm commute over excitement.

With 36.9% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a decent chance of finding a competitively priced example.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent reliable?

Owners rate it 4.88/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The user-review summary also points to a vehicle that feels dependable in everyday family use, with owners highlighting its safety, comfort, and roominess. That combination usually matters most when you’re counting on a used SUV for regular commuting, school runs, and road trips.

The expert review reinforces that impression by describing the Ascent as a safe family vehicle that should be a faithful friend when weather turns difficult. It also notes that Subaru includes a rear-seat reminder system for 2020, which adds another layer of everyday practicality.

If you’re buying used, the main long-term ownership risk is that the same quirks that show up in the expert review can become more annoying as mileage climbs, so condition and maintenance history matter.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Subaru Ascent?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that checks the transmission behavior, brake feel, and overall interior condition, since those are the kinds of issues that can separate a good used example from a frustrating one.

Focus on how the vehicle was equipped and whether the features you want are actually present on the trim you’re considering. If you plan to keep the SUV for a while, pay close attention to signs of wear in the cabin, the infotainment system, and any safety-related equipment.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Ascent comes with smaller 18-inch wheels and lacks dark-tinted privacy glass, while Premium adds nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and more features. Limited brings leather seats, and Touring adds premium leather in an exclusive color, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other luxury-themed enhancements.
• Powertrain: Every Ascent uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive. It makes 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, delivers good acceleration for its size, and stays strong at elevation, but it is also thirsty and can feel uneven in real-world driving.
• Safety package: EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.
• Infotainment: All models get Starlink with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, integrated apps, and a CD player. Premium adds an 8-inch touchscreen, text messaging, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Starlink Safety and Security connected services, while Touring adds a high-resolution screen and navigation.
• Fuel efficiency: The expert review reports 18.9 mpg on a testing loop and notes an official EPA estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving for versions with 20-inch wheels.

Which 2020 Subaru Ascent trim should I buy?

The 2020 Subaru Ascent is offered in 4 trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited, Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base: This is the least expensive way into the Ascent, but it misses some of the nicer visual and equipment upgrades found higher up the range. It makes sense if you want standard all-wheel drive and the core family-hauling mission at the lowest price.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim because it adds nicer detailing, a superior infotainment system, and access to more features, while keeping the price below the luxury-oriented upper trims. CarGurus specifically recommends this trim with the Convenience and Sporty option packages.
• Limited: Choose this if you want leather seats and a more upscale feel without going all the way to Touring. It also adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.
• Touring: This is the most luxurious version, with premium leather in an exclusive color, a panoramic sunroof, special wood trim, and other upscale touches. It suits you best if you want the most feature-rich Ascent and are willing to pay for it.

EyeSight is standard, and Premium trim adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds the LED headlights and reverse automatic braking.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Subaru Ascent?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 36.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,895 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.24% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 79.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $19,894, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Subaru Ascent's resale value?

The current average of $19,894 sits slightly below last year's $22,412.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. For a future seller, the key takeaway is that pricing pressure has been real, so condition, mileage, and equipment will matter more when you go to list it.

A well-kept example with desirable features should still draw interest from family buyers who want standard all-wheel drive and a safety-focused three-row SUV. If you buy smart now, you can reduce the risk of overpaying and improve your odds of holding value better than a rougher example.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.88/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Subaru Ascent safe?

The 2020 Subaru Ascent gets a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

EyeSight is Subaru’s camera-based driver-assistance suite, and it includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium trim adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited adds LED steering-responsive headlights with automatic high-beam operation and reverse automatic braking.

The safety story is especially strong for family buyers because Subaru also adds a rear-seat reminder system for 2020. Starlink Safety Plus connected services are free for three years and include automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and roadside assistance access.

Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Ascent or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 36.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.24% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.88/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 adds a rear-seat reminder system and keeps the Ascent’s standard safety focus strong.

Consider the 2019 if:

• At $17,507, the 2019 costs less than the current year's $19,894 average.
• It offers a spacious, family-focused three-row layout with standard all-wheel drive.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,832, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $19,894 average.
• It adds newly standard safety features and more family-friendly practicality.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and inventory, the 2020 is the sensible target. If your budget is tighter, the 2019 can save you money, while the 2021 makes sense if you want to pay more for a newer model with added standard features.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.