Once you owned a Subaru, immediately you will understand the beauty of Subaru. I never ride on a Subaru until one day I test drove Impreza back in 2010. I am a fan of BMW. I owned 1990 BMW 318i, 1995 318 ise, 2011 228i, 2012 328i, 2015 335i, 2017 340i. After first Impreza test drive, I bought a 5 door 2012 Impreza for my son, and recommend it to my friend and she was amazed how much confidence Subaru gave her in all kinds of weather conditions. Like most parents, would love to see their children in one of Subaru’s vehicle because safety is always the first priority. Later on, I owned 2015 Outback Limited and 2018 Outback Touring. Today, both Outback are still on my driveway. It was the best choice of my life. I am planning to get an Ascent next year.

After watching your Honda Pilot and Subaru Ascent videos several times (who's counting?), we ended up picking up a 2020 Subaru Ascent Limited this past weekend. Thanks for all the great reviews and challenges videos that really showcase the capabilities of each vehicle!

Great challenge that reinforces the effectiveness of a proper set of tires for conditions - Subaru AWD plus winter tires equals winter beast!

This channel has quickly become one of my favorite automotive review channels. I really like it. - Don't change a thing! :)

I feel this channel is somewhat Subaru biased..... And I love it!!!!

Some weeks ago my wife and I emailed you about an "HARD" offroad video of the Subaru Ascent and HERE IT IS! THANK YOU! Because of this video, our next family 3 row is the Ascent!

This was the best “review and explain” video I’ve ever seen. Thanks for your work.

8:15 I cant believe that grip. Very close to cars with all diff-locks.

i absolutely love that subaru decided to finally up the power in all their 2020 models by a significant amount

Thanks for the review. Knowledgeable reviewers like you are to find. No crap and that is great. Keep up the great work for people who drive in the real world.

Awesome test with tires suited for the conditions - proving what every Subaru owner out there already knew :) Beast in the snow!

Just to clarify, snow tires are generally designated to retain snow in the groves. It's the snow on snow contact the helps traction.

Congrats on 100K! After months of looking at cars, we finally opted to buy a used 2017 manual Forester in great shape and put Nokian winters on it (I think they actually invented the winter tire if my memory serves me correctly). Really been enjoying your videos about the different traction control modes - your Crosstrek video (and your enjoyment of the 6MT) is what ultimately swayed us to stay with a manual transmission! 👍

Tyres/Tires make a huge difference. A few years ago in the UK, my small VW FWD car needed new tyres in winter. We already had snow, so I bought 4 snow tyres. They performed fantastically in 4-8” snow. I often drove past full time 4x4 with all 4 wheels spinning on low profile sports tyres!

Great reviews. I really enjoy all your Subaru videos.

Great video! Thanks again for all your in depth reviews. I’m in Washington too and love seeing you testing on so many familiar places in our great state.

I just bought a 2021 and waiting for tomorrow to pick it up . It's freaking amazing !

Thank you my friend,this is my favorite youtube Channel(cars reviews) congratulation!

Ryan - Another pragmatic, well-informed review. I just stepped up to a gen6 2020 Outback Limited XT Turbo from my gen5 2016 Outback Limited 2.5; so, I'm a Subie gearhead :-) I'm growing into the XT Turbo in a flash -- tons of new safety tech, upgraded interior and effortless power from the 260HP Turbo. Thanks for this great example of the benefits from a genuine set of snow tires - - looking forward to many more videos on your growing channel.

Nice and though test! General Arcticmax are also a solid choice for more budget friendly winter tread. Been running a set for 4 years on my WRX and they have never let me down, even on winter roadtrips to Canada.

Awesome review! Thank you again!

Good Job!!!! That is what I am talking about. I went through bumper deep snow in my outback with snow tires, awesome!

All passenger car tires are radial tires. Have been for like 50 years. You do excellent work. I have no idea why you only have 256k subs.

Thank you for the off road review. That was excellent. If I was already sold on a Subaru, that would do it. Deciding on a 3rd row suv, currently own a forester turbo(which I love). We will be doing some snow driving in the northeast so this review was great. Well done! Video editing did an excellent job of showing a regular consumer what the xmode can do in the snow and ice. My Forester has that but I never knew the full capabilities. I have just completed a test drive on regular roads and love the handling of it. I feel like I have so much more control than either of the other SUV's I tested. I am a 5'3" female that can drive large vehicles but obviously would like to feel more comfortable in one.. I feel I have so much more control in this one. So thanks again for the review.

I got a 2021 Subaru Ascent last week. It's great to see what condition I can drive into before taking the risk by myself. Even this video is from one year ago, but I still want to say thank you!

I've got an old 2000 Legacy I drive around. It doesn't have most of this fancy stuff, but as you say, when I put snow tires on it, it is unstoppable. I remember driving from Park City to Provo, UT one time and passing other cars like they were parked. They were sliding all over the place, and mine was rock solid.

So cool to see you drive on I-90 towards Snoqualmie. My home away from home!

99.6K subs... almost there. Congrats. Nice to see winter driving on a decent winter tire. Much less wheel spin this time. Not to mention, better stopping distances and better lateral grip. Nice work.

Great all around family SUV Great video review Congratulations on your 100k subs mark

Ryan! Your reviews are very well-made and informative! Thank you! I have become a great fan!

Great review. I have been watching all the comparisons with the Pilot and Hylander. Made the decision for the 2021 Ascent Touring. We pick it up in two days.

Ryan your the best! Great video, I appreciate your candor. I’m glad videos like this exist to show people that some new technology is good. These days I see tons of complaints from “arm chair/ KZfaq experts” that watch videos about cars without actually testing them. It seems there is a divide between Subaru owners that have old vehicles with mechanical AWD and people with newer Subaru’s that feature e-diffs and CVTs. I’ve owned 7 Subaru’s now and I believe the new ones are vastly improved over older ones on and off road.

Nice test and using snow tires is the right way to test for winter driving. I live in Montreal and here snow tires are mandatory for the winter months. I've seen a big change in traffic flow during storms since the law was passed a few years ago. I've tried Michlin X-ice, Pirelli, Yokohama, Toyo and Goodyear winter tires in the past and none come close to the perfromance of Nokian Hakkapallita over the life of the tire. I've used Nokians now for 20 years and they last a long time with good grip even when worn to their limits. I've even used them with their eco studs and on icy roads it was amazing. I highly recommend Nokian.

Glad you listened to your viewers and decided to review Subaru AWD and X-mode in snow with SNOW tires! 👍

Once again great review,cheers.

I love your reviews, new subscriber ;)

Nice review! Thank you.

I can't wait to trade in my wife's Elantra for a Ascent so I can rest easy in the PA winters as she takes our daughter to daycare.

Great video! I want to get a new Ascent/Outback, but I've got 3 subarus that have been babied and want to keep them forever :-)

I’m picking up this car soon. I’m hoping this summer. Good demo!

Here in nearly 2022, I still love my 2019 Subie Ascent. Best thing I ever did was install CONTINENTAL TOURING TIRES. They cost a boat load, about $900 but oh what a ride and so very quiet. Plus a 60 or 70k average mileage.

Great video demonstration!

Great video demonstrating Subaru's AWD with snow tires! Any chance you can "borrow" a Honda Pilot or Passport with snows? :)

I could not believe how far snow tire technology has come in the past few decades. I own an older Honda Civic, and always used good quality all season radials, but the car is lightweight, and was totally squirrely on snow and ice. Last year I purchased a set of dedicated snow tires (Bridgestone Blizzak) and was amazed at the difference they made in winter conditions. It was like the car was on rails compared to the way it was before. I watched a video that compared the performance of a front wheel drive SUV with snow tires to the same SUV in AWD configuration shod with standard all season tires, and the FWD version blew the AWD version away in all metrics, (acceleration, cornering, braking, etc) by wide margins.

As a Subaru Sales Professional, you did a wonderful job.

Nice video again Mr. Douhit. I am a fan.

Boy how much I love my Suby Ascent. Try this with the other Korean SUV’s! I still miss my WRX but, hope will get the new one in 2021. Then the best of the two worlds

Proper winter tires and Subaru = EZ mode ON.

I climbed an icy hill with mine in X-mode driving with all seasons...its very effective...wife has a forester...😁 Subaru is the best option for us...its definitely a beast in winter...

Excellent video

Must have snow tires! Good video!

Bought these same tires and wheels off of Craigslist for our 2017 Forester in the Seattle area and looking forward to some ice this next week. Very highly rated tires. I only put them on before a storm and take them off in the garage with quick jacks when the storm is done. Just too warm here at times to want to leave them on all winter.

Nice ride, good video 😀

Three Row SUV segment is so hot right now. Subaru Ascent, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Kia Telluride are my favorites for AWD. Nissan Pathfinder and Hyundai Palisade are distant second choices.

Ryan, always a great review. Can you do the same test with a 2020 kia sportage? Ty. Great job.

Nice review

Love the 4wd reviews keep it up! Does X mode still work if TC is off??

In fact if you're familiar with Snoqualmie national forest up passed Verlot in Granite Falls, up at Mount Pilchuck, i had a gentleman following me up with deep snow in a Ford Expedition and when we got to the top he said "you'all be careful up here, wouldn't want you getting stuck."... i chuckled a little bit at him. The entire time he was the one struggling up the hill behind me.

I really love and dream about Subaru Ascent!

General altimax arctic. My favorite snow tires for my forester xt

Currently running Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV on my 06 OBXT. They definitely enhance Subaru's Winter Beast Mode. :)

Nice video. How to know when to use traction control and Xmode together?

Hey Ryan...love ur videos. Watch them all the time. From my research. I haven't been able to find u doin a review of the Toyota sequoia. Have u? And would that be possible?

We are up to the ninth Subaru amongst my family since 1988. And my firt one was in 2000. I owned both Legacy and Outback models. I tried many brands of winter tires. Now on my 2019 Outback I fitted Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and let me tell you they are the best I have ever owned. I tried Nokian, Hakkapelita, Seilun, Pirelli, Yokohama. I hear a lot of good about Michelin X-Ice but never tried them. If you ever get a chance to run a comparison test you must give Blizzak WS90 a try. They may very well be among the best in my opinion.

Can you do a similar review with Acura RDX

Great video. In this class of vehicle (3 row crossover) the Ascent and Grand Cherokee are pretty much the ones with any real off-road chops. obviously nothing like a traditional BOF pickup, Wrangler, 4Runner etc but still wayyy beyond what the competition can do.

Driving sport, Thanks for hitting the “rocky trail” -it’s what I look forward to most with these cross-over reviews! It’s MUCH better than those canned “Subaru test course” challenges -where the person sits next to the driver and tells them what to do -Those do nothing for me.

Thanks for the Subaru ascent it just looks super nice I love the seatings 7 it’s a super niceMy Nana wants to get one

it did pretty damn good

Great videos, thank you so much, I am in the market for either a Grand Cherokee Limited, Honda Passport Elite, or the Subaru ascent, my intentions is to do some off-road, perhaps 70/30 being 30 off-road, which car would you recommend, thanks in advance for the advice, Cheers !

It made everything pretty easily rotating all 4 wheels. Pretty impressive for open diff system. Did you try any part in the standard asphalt or sport mode?

Hi Ryan, another great review. Did you use the Subaru's AVH during off-roading or cvt creep was enough for starting?

Great video! But I was hoping for the challenge further up the hill on the steep hilly part that the Passport and Gladiator tackled.

I have 5 cars all running with Blizzak WS70;s, 80's and now 90's. Couldn't even make it up the driveway with the Odyssey's OEM All Seasonals. No problems with the Blizzak's. The CVT on my 2010 Outback makes it sound like an airplane taking off however this is much improved on my 2019 Forester. Not problems with either. I really miss the differential lock that was on my 1987 subaru RX. XMODE doesn't work at highway speeds. With the old diff lock engaged, it felt like I was riding on rails through the slush and snow.

Niiiiiice! Ascent- 👍 X-Mode- 👍 Snow Tires- 👍 Ryan Test Video- 👍👍 Next Car?- Subaru Outback or Ascent 👍!

Winter beast it is 👍🥶

Hi, I've watched both the Subaru Outback video you did last week with all season tires, and now this video. I admit that I've only test driven a Subaru 2018 Impreza and a 2016 Outback as possible cars I considered buying, but those deals fell through for several reasons. With that little bit of experience, I admit that I still don't quite understand all the bells and whistles these cars have. I feel like I need a special "Subaru driving course" to become an expert in those bells and whistles. But the one question I have about these 2 cars is "How much does the weight of each of these vehicles you drove affect the stability and traction in the snow and rain?" In my limited experience on dry roads, I found the Impreza and Outback to be glued to the road, especially around tight cloverleaf turns. But I didn't experience them in the rain and snow. I drove a 1998 Corolla for 21 years and though it was an extremely light vehicle, I could drive the car in the snow with some ease as I grew up driving on Long Island, New York, and learned to drive in the snow. On the ice or in the rain, I have to buy the best tires I could otherwise I felt like I was floating at times. Now I drive a 2013 Corolla that I recently purchased and admit that even though it's heavier than my 1998 Corolla, I still feel a bit skittish about driving it on a slushy or even a rainy road. Thanks for answering my question about how the weight of your vehicle affects the traction. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford a good Subaru.

As a Subaru owner my favorite tire is the Falken Wildpeak.

My mother-in-law traded her Ascent after only eight months of ownership for a Passport. But I love the snow tire video anyway! Would like to see one using a Nokian tread.

You should try to reverse on difficult conditions with X-mode on. I have some doubts. I live in snowy region in Finland and we have 2015 Outback with X mode. It's very efficient, but sometimes I have had difficulties reversing uphill on snow while turning at the same time.

Really appreciate your videos and the time you take to showcase vehicles beyond the typical "press" (and KZfaq auto reviewer) ones that typically regurgitate the specs to you. Assuming you can read, their content really doesn't provide any value. Keep up the great work!

Man if it wasn't for the CVT transmission I would absolutely buy one. Too bad. Great video though!

I would love to see you test x mode in soft sand.

for hearing us up, here is thumb up

Thanks for the video. We bought the Ascent last year. After a lot of research I came to the conclusion that this is the best SUV to have for our family and where we live (WA state). Best AWD system and top notch safety. Plenty of luxury and tech to top it off. Just hoping that the cvt holds up. This video solidifies what I believed. Subarules!

Good ol eastside ❤️❤️

I put proper snow's on my 17 Legacy and it mad a big difference.

I also ride Continental Viking contact 7 on my brand new Subaru Outback Limited XT with the 2.4L turbochrge and it's amazing as I'm living in Montrèal Québec and ther is a lot of snow and ice here. I juste love my setup with the traction of Subaru and thoses snow tire. 😁 👍

Subaru is the best multipurpose vehicle

Do you have a video where you compare the performance of all the three rows on this road. I have watched the videos separately, but it's still hard to get an idea of how they differ. Comparing the Ascent, Highlander, Pilot, Telluride etc. Wondering if the subie is way ahead of the others in capabilities or not. Looks like they all made the climb.

What size wheels are on your Ascent? Wondering about getting a set of 18s to use with snow tires or if snow tires on the 20s are good enough

What is your opinion on A/T tires in comparison to snow tires in these kind of conditions? I would love to see a video with this same car, but on BFGoodrich KO2's, Yokohama Geolander G015 or a similar all-terrain tire. Where I'm from, we are getting a minuscule amount of snow, so snow tires are kind of pointless, but I travel a couple of times each winter to ski resorts and naturally hope for snow there. I have equipped my Outback with A/T tires so I can feel confident everywhere, but I still wonder if they are sufficient for climbing up a mountain in snow/ice.

Sorry, I don't know your name, but I agree about HDC. It does seem a tad too fast at times, however, it is a really interesting component of Xmode. Do you think this could be mitigated and tested by Subaru/Fuji HI via software? I'm excited to have tried out XMODE finally this winter; just need to get some good winter tires and a low and behold you are using the ones I was thinking of getting for my 19+ Fozzy. I greatly appreciate the content of your videos. Thank you.

Can you do a video with a subaru accent with all terrain tires on snow and compare it with the snow tires. Please if possible .

Nice car! Only for the USA ?

Trying to decide between Subaru Ascent and Honda Pilot Trailsport, with the main use case being driving on unplowed highways with 4-6 inches of slushy snow, and occasional drive up to the ski resort on compacted, partly icy snow on hilly terrain. With snow tires, which model will drive better and offer more security on snow?

Hmm could you do the new Subaru CrossTrek XV ?

Subaru just makes it look easy.

Traction control works good in some situations, but there are times it stops your momentum. If there is snow on my driveway, I have to turn it off to get up the hill, otherwise, the car will come to a complete stop half way up. Been the case with any car I've had that has had TC.

I think the main benefit is that it is uncompromising. Subarus perform well out in the sticks, or in a suburb. It's a great daily in that regard. It'll get you up the trailhead but it's comfortable enough to where you can take it on your daily commute or long drives. Offroad cars like Jeeps always feel loud and pretty chintzy, but Subarus feel solid. I like that about them. Plus, they aren't a dumb SUV