2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition

[btkwong1]

The reveal is on June 14th.

https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/future-vehicles.html

[ajsti24]

Ascent -Onyx..More darker version...Nice!

[bugatti0628]

it makes you wonder if the wilderness trim will be next doesn't it.

[4S-TURBO]

craggy logo is crag

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO

craggy logo is crag

Wonder if that will now make it on the Outback Onyx Edition

[Loya1ty]

I suppose SoA is trying to boost their sliding Ascent sales numbers with a special edition. I'm not sure it will work... their other models were already selling great before offering additional trims. I hate to see it, but this may be Tribeca 2.0 if they can't find a way to get an EV sooner or bring the cost down.

[4S-TURBO]

Originally Posted by Loya1ty

I suppose SoA is trying to boost their sliding Ascent sales numbers with a special edition. I'm not sure it will work... their other models were already selling great before offering additional trims. I hate to see it, but this may be Tribeca 2.0 if they can't find a way to get an EV sooner or bring the cost down.

[keepclam]

I'm puzzled by the timing. Isn't the 2022 Ascent a mid-model refresh due to be previewed in the fall? Why release Onyx this late in the model year?

That said, I'm hoping the StarTex upholstery carries over to Ascent from the Outback Onyx. And yeah, I do want to see an Ascent Wilderness ASAP, but pretty sure I'll see that on Forester (and maybe Crosstrek) first.

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by Loya1ty

I suppose SoA is trying to boost their sliding Ascent sales numbers with a special edition. I'm not sure it will work... their other models were already selling great before offering additional trims. I hate to see it, but this may be Tribeca 2.0 if they can't find a way to get an EV sooner or bring the cost down.

I have said from the start that the Ascent is just too much money for a CVT equipped vehicle. You can't half-ass vehicles at this price segment as Kia and Hyundai did this type of vehicle much better in the Telluride and Palisade.

[subyski]

Originally Posted by heavyD

I have said from the start that the Ascent is just too much money for a CVT equipped vehicle. You can't half-ass vehicles at this price segment as Kia and Hyundai did this type of vehicle much better in the Telluride and Palisade.

Even Nissan ditched the CVT in their new Pathfinder. I'm sure the CVT is an issue for some potential buyers, whether it really is or not.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Loya1ty

I suppose SoA is trying to boost their sliding Ascent sales numbers with a special edition. I'm not sure it will work... their other models were already selling great before offering additional trims. I hate to see it, but this may be Tribeca 2.0 if they can't find a way to get an EV sooner or bring the cost down.

It's not a special edition. It's a trim level. And it is a mid-cycle; so, time for some fresh offerings. Ascent sold more in it's first year than ALL 9 years of the Tribeca combined and you are considering it a "failure"?



So a pandemic shutting down the plant and then opening at reduced capacity......then a semiconductor shortage meaning they can't make as many doesn't have ANY bearing on slumping sales?

Originally Posted by heavyD

I have said from the start that the Ascent is just too much money for a CVT equipped vehicle. You can't half-ass vehicles at this price segment as Kia and Hyundai did this type of vehicle much better in the Telluride and Palisade.

The CVT makes it half-ass'd?

Originally Posted by subyski

Even Nissan ditched the CVT in their new Pathfinder. I'm sure the CVT is an issue for some potential buyers, whether it really is or not.

I love the comparisons of different systems like this. NISSAN'S CVT has been a big headache. If CVT was such an issue, Subaru wouldn't have had 12 years of sales increases while moving to all CVT. Right? People HATE CVT soo much cause they are soo bad that they would go elsewhere. Right?

[heavyD]

double post

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

The CVT makes it half-ass'd?

Exactly. This isn't an economy car segment. Nissan got the message and you only need to read the positive buzz created from finally dropping the CVT to realize how much of a burden a CVT is in this segment.

https://carbuzz.com/news/nissan-fina...ggest-problems (fixed biggest problem)

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/ (now more appealing)

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/niss...-drive-review/ (back on the right track)

https://www.wardsauto.com/vehicles/n...oots-loses-cvt (back to roots)

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

If CVT was such an issue, Subaru wouldn't have had 12 years of sales increases while moving to all CVT. Right? People HATE CVT soo much cause they are soo bad that they would go elsewhere. Right?

The direction of change of sales doesn't tell you whether or not you're losing potential customers. Subaru has exploded into the mainstream in the past decade thanks to a relationship to Toyota and a public that's bought into some ridiculous idea that Subarus are therefore as reliable as Toyotas. The trend has been upward despite the CVTs.

The folks who came out in droves to buy WRXs 20 years ago are certainly lost to Subaru these days. Sure, there are some hardcore brand whores here, but this is an enthusiast board, but many of us will never buy another Subaru so long as CVTs are all they can offer. The Ascent market space is full of better finished, better driving vehicles that are built on more robust platforms.

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by subyski

Even Nissan ditched the CVT in their new Pathfinder. I'm sure the CVT is an issue for some potential buyers, whether it really is or not.

The CVT in our 2012 Outback sucked, the one in our Ascent is perfectly fine. I don’t even notice it’s not a slush box.

[YungBoba]

The badge looks cool. And even if the Ascent flops, at least it looks waaaaaay better than the monstrosity that was the Tribeca

[b4wantab]

Really?

I think Nissan did the numbers and realized the warranty cost with the CVT were killing them.

SOA doesn’t report profitability anymore but Subaru is down 48% last I saw. Problem is they do not break-out the warranty cost. There is also pandemic and exchange rates now.

SOA has had a transmission on the market for over 20 years now, 2009-2021, that is unserviceable. Dealers still can’t touch it. Why would you own one out of warranty?

That’s just my thoughts.

Peace,

Greg

[T-37]

Originally Posted by b4wantab

Really?

I think Nissan did the numbers and realized the warranty cost with the CVT were killing them.

SOA doesn't report profitability anymore but Subaru is down 48% last I saw. Problem is they do not break-out the warranty cost. There is also pandemic and exchange rates now.

SOA has had a transmission on the market for over 20 years now, 2009-2021, that is unserviceable. Dealers still can't touch it. Why would you own one out of warranty?

That's just my thoughts.

Peace,

Greg

2021-2009 = over 20?

But yes, that is the exact reason people don't want CVTs. They can't be serviced and warranty coverage only lasts for what? 60k still? Unless you'd like to buy an extended warranty? But hey, the customer is always wrong, right?

[SeeeeeYa]

Originally Posted by b4wantab

Really?

I think Nissan did the numbers and realized the warranty cost with the CVT were killing them.

SOA doesn’t report profitability anymore but Subaru is down 48% last I saw. Problem is they do not break-out the warranty cost. There is also pandemic and exchange rates now.

SOA has had a transmission on the market for over 20 years now, 2009-2021, that is unserviceable. Dealers still can’t touch it. Why would you own one out of warranty?

That’s just my thoughts.

Peace,

Greg

Your question might be better addressed to those who buy used cars than posed as a rhetorical conundrum here. You know, the buyers keeping all those used CVT Subaru prices so high?

I'll pose one of my own: Is everyone stupid except for the tenured cognoscenti here on NASIOC....

[Straight6]

LOL, I reckon more than 99 percent of the people that buy these cars couldn't tell the difference between a DCT and CVT...CVT is perfectly fine for a "SUV".

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by heavyD

Exactly. This isn't an economy car segment. Nissan got the message and you only need to read the positive buzz created from finally dropping the CVT to realize how much of a burden a CVT is in this segment.

https://carbuzz.com/news/nissan-fina...ggest-problems (fixed biggest problem)

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/ (now more appealing)

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/niss...-drive-review/ (back on the right track)

https://www.wardsauto.com/vehicles/n...oots-loses-cvt (back to roots)

As Chano put it, Just because Nissan has a bad CVT(my retailer also has Nissan and have chatted with a warranty writer), that Subaru's must be bad?

Originally Posted by Calamity Jesus

The direction of change of sales doesn't tell you whether or not you're losing potential customers. Subaru has exploded into the mainstream in the past decade thanks to a relationship to Toyota and a public that's bought into some ridiculous idea that Subarus are therefore as reliable as Toyotas. The trend has been upward despite the CVTs.

The folks who came out in droves to buy WRXs 20 years ago are certainly lost to Subaru these days. Sure, there are some hardcore brand whores here, but this is an enthusiast board, but many of us will never buy another Subaru so long as CVTs are all they can offer. The Ascent market space is full of better finished, better driving vehicles that are built on more robust platforms.

You think Subaru's reliability rep and sales is based on their relationship with Toyota?
I know you won't; but, go spend a day at a dealership and survey all the customers that come in and see how many even know that they are partners.

And I'd wager ALL manufacturers have "potentially" lost customers. Just one example I'll use(IMO) the Mustang Mach E. The "enthusiasts" HERE are complaining about that. Subaru is still rated one of the best in loyal customer retention. And it doesn't matter what you think the reason is. They keep coming back. And if the cars were THAT unreliable, I seriously doubt that would happen.

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

And I'd wager ALL manufacturers have "potentially" lost customers. Just one example I'll use(IMO) the Mustang Mach E. The "enthusiasts" HERE are complaining about that. Subaru is still rated one of the best in loyal customer retention. And it doesn't matter what you think the reason is. They keep coming back. And if the cars were THAT unreliable, I seriously doubt that would happen.

Yeah, your idea for examples of anything is to hang around a dealership, NASIOC, and talk to people who are already interested in buying Subarus. That's your bubble and why you're missing the bigger picture.

Browse some non-Subaru-centric arenas for a change. Subaru's current success is an anomaly that will pass as people wake up to the Love & Doggie & Outdoorsy marketing that has nothing to back it up in technology or equipment.

[chanomatik]

By your metric any success is "an anomaly". I don't believe that, though. If something is successful it's because it works, and if it continues to be successful then it continues to work. And it seems to work for a lot of people, just not a lot of enthusiasts.

How long is "current"? Aren't we into 13 years of increasing sales?

[dcsti]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

By your metric any success is "an anomaly". I don't believe that, though. If something is successful it's because it works, and if it continues to be successful then it continues to work. And it seems to work for a lot of people, just not a lot of enthusiasts.

How long is "current"? Aren't we into 13 years of increasing sales?

Subaru's average selling price is just above Hyundai and a few grand higher than Kia, while having a much better brand perception than either of them. The big secret to their success is that Subarus are cheaper than just about everything else.

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

Aren't we into 13 years of increasing sales?

Only in North America. Subaru sales have plummeted nearly everywhere else, even in Japan.

Even with the rosy increasing sales threads, they ignore that the rate of market share increase has been decreasing steadily over the past 5 years. In other words, good growth for a tiny company, but not compared with growth of the market as a whole.