The Subaru Ascent was introduced into Subaru’s lineup as their largest family SUV in 2019 and is still made today. The Ascent has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2021 Subaru Ascent?
A 2021 Subaru Ascent has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 Subaru Ascent tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
There’s a bit more to know about the 2021 Subaru Ascent tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
How Much Can The 2021 Subaru Ascent Tow?
The 2021 Subaru Ascent has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 Subaru Ascent tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Subaru dealership for details to confirm how much your Ascent can tow.
You can check out our guide to Subaru Ascent towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
2021 Ascent Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2021 Ascent, and some engines are not available on certain trims, so they’ll each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2021 Subaru Ascent:
2021 Subaru Ascent Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
2021 Subaru Ascent Base | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg |
2021 Subaru Ascent Premium | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Subaru Ascent Limited | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Subaru Ascent Touring | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Subaru Ascent models without a transmission cooler can tow 2,000 lbs.
2021 Subaru Ascent models with a transmission cooler can tow 5,000 lbs.
If you’re not sure whether or not your Ascent has a transmission cooler installed, check the model number of your vehicle inside the passenger-side door jamb.
If it starts with “TR690S” or “TR690G”, then you’ve got a transmission cooler installed on your Subaru Ascent and it can pull 5,000 pounds.
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2021 Subaru Ascent Engine Towing Specs
There is only engine option for the 2021 Ascent, which is a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that makes 260 horsepower and 277 lb-feet of torque.
2021 Subaru Ascent 3.8L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Subaru Ascent Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2021 Subaru Ascent comes standard with front wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.
2021 Subaru Ascent FWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Subaru Ascent AWD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2021 Subaru Ascent engine. Your Subaru Ascent may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2021 Subaru Ascent Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2021 Subaru Ascent is 1,570 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2021 Ascent will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2021 Subaru Ascent Tow Package
The 2021 Subaru Ascent does not come with a towing package automatically installed, but it is available as an add-on option.
The 2021 Ascent tow package includes a receiver hitch and a 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness.
We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2021 Ascent.
2021 Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2021 Subaru Ascent has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
This number is a little less than the Ascent’s main competitors which are the 2021 Hyundai Palisade and the 2021 Kia Telluride.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2021 Subaru Ascent and their towing capacities below:
2021 Hyundai Palisade Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Kia Telluride Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 VW Atlas Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Subaru Models Towing Capacity Chart
2021 Subaru SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
2021 Subaru Ascent | 5,000 pounds |
2021 Subaru Outback | 3,500 pounds |
2021 Subaru Forester | 3,000 pounds |
2021 Subaru Crosstrek | 1,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2021 Subaru Ascent Owner’s Manual on Subaru’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2021 Subaru Ascent.