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Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity: Can It Tow A Trailer, Boat, Or Jet Ski?

Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity: Can It Tow A Trailer, Boat, Or Jet Ski?

Subaru Ascent is a relatively new entrant in the mid-sized SUV category. While this car has gathered positive reviews for a number of its features, the towing performance of this car is still unknown. In this article, we’ll discuss whether this car provides a decent towing capacity and how it performs as compared to other cars in the same category.

All the Subaru Ascent Models (with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler) provide a braked towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and an unbraked towing capacity of 1,000 pounds. The models (without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler) provide a braked towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and an unbraked towing capacity of 1,000 pounds.

Now that we have identified the maximum towing capacity of the Subaru Ascent, let’s discuss in detail, what you can tow with this car. Following are various tables and details that provide you an analysis of the towing capacity of this car in relevance with several trailer types. Let’s get started.

Maximum Towing Capacity By Year

The following table mentions the towing capacities of different variants of this car since its inception. The Subaru Ascent is a new car and has only been in the market for three years. As this is the first generation, there is no change in the toeing capacity. We can, however, expect an improvement in future generations of this car. Remember that this table contains official figures provided by Subaru. You never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.

YearEngineTowing Capacity Unbraked (lbs)Towing Capacity Braked (lbs)Note
2021Models with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0005,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.
 Models without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0002,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.
2020Models with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0005,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.
 Models without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0002,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.
2019Models with air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0005,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.
 Models without air-cooled continuously variable transmission fluid cooler.1,0002,000Never exceed the maximum load limits mentioned in this table.

Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

There is a wide variety of trailers that are used for different purposes and have different weights and sizes.  We have done an extensive research to identify the weighing limits of different types of trailers. We have then matched these weight limits against the towing capacity Subaru Ascent.

The Subaru Ascent can tow small and medium-sized LOADED trailers with a maximum weight limit of 5,000 pounds. A few of these include Canoe/Kayak, Jet Ski, Teardrop, and Small Open Utility, A-frame, and Motorcycle Trailers. It can also tow heavy-duty trailers when they are not loaded to their maximum payload capacities.

Trailer TypeAverage Empty Weight (lbs.)Average Total Loaded Weight (lbs.)Can A Subaru Ascent Tow It?[SK1]
Canoe / Kayak Trailer200400Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Jet Ski Trailer3001,800Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Motorcycle Trailer5002,400Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Teardrop Trailer1,7002,400Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Small Open Utility Trailer7002,500Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
A-Frame Camper1,7002,900Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Small Enclosed Utility Trailer1,0003,200Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Fishing Boat Trailer6003,300Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Pop Up Camper2,3003,400Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Small Travel Trailer2,8003,600Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Tow Dolly6004,000Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers.
Large Enclosed Utility Trailer2,7007,100It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Small Horse Trailer2,9007,200It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Large Travel Trailer6,7008,300No.
Car Trailer1,9009,000It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Large Flatbed Trailer3,00010,400It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Large Boat Trailer2,20013,600It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Dump Trailer4,50016,900It can only tow an empty trailer of this category.
Toy Hauler7,60017,900No.
Large Livestock Trailer7,30018,700No.
5th Wheel Camper12,70018,700No.
Gooseneck Flatbed Trailer7,20023,200No.
  • Kayak: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a kayak trailer. On average, an empty kayak trailer will weigh 200 pounds. A loaded kayak trailer will weigh an average of 400 pounds with a maximum of 800 pounds which is well within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Jet Ski Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a jet ski trailer. On average, an empty jet ski trailer will weigh 300 pounds. A loaded jet ski trailer will weigh an average of 1,800 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Motorcycle Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a motorcycle trailer. On average, an empty motorcycle trailer will weigh 500 pounds. A loaded motorcycle trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 3,500 which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Teardrop Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a teardrop trailer. On average, an empty teardrop trailer will weigh 1,700 pounds. A loaded teardrop trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra. Some teardrop trailers will weigh a maximum of 6,000 pounds, outside of the limits of the  Nissan Xterra.
  • Small Open Utility Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a small open utility trailer. On average, an empty small open utility trailer will weigh 700 pounds. A loaded small open utility trailer will weigh an average of 2,500 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • A-Frame Camper: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an a-frame camper. On average, an empty a-frame camper weighs 1,700 pounds. A loaded a-frame camper will weigh an average of 2,900 pounds with a maximum of 3,600 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Small Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty small enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty small enclosed utility trailer weighs 1,000 pounds. A loaded small enclosed utility trailer will weigh an average of 3,200 pounds with a maximum of 7,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Fishing Boat Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty fishing boat trailer. On average, an empty fishing boat trailer weighs 600 pounds. A loaded fishing boat trailer will weigh an average of 3,300 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Pop-Up Camper: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a pop-up camper. On average, an empty pop-up camper weighs 2,300 pounds. A loaded pop-up camper will weigh an average of 3,400 pounds with a maximum of 4,000 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Small Travel Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a small travel trailer. On average, an empty small travel trailer weighs 2,800 pounds. A loaded small travel trailer will weigh an average of 3,600 pounds with a maximum of 4,500 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Tow Dolly: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow a tow dolly. On average, an empty tow dolly weighs 600 pounds. A loaded tow dolly will weigh an average of 4,000 pounds with a maximum of 5,000 pounds which is within the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Large Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty large enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty large enclosed utility trailer weighs 2,700 pounds. A loaded large enclosed utility trailer weighs an average of 7,100 pounds with a maximum of 10,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Small Horse Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty small horse trailer. On average, an empty small horse trailer weighs 2,900 pounds. A loaded small horse trailer weighs an average of 7,200 pounds with a maximum of 8,000 pounds, outside of the range of the  Nissan Xterra.
  • Car Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty car trailer. On average, an empty car trailer weighs 1,900 pounds. A loaded car trailer weighs an average of 9,000 pounds with a maximum of 15,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Large Flatbed Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty large flatbed trailer. On average, an empty large flatbed trailer weighs 3,000 pounds. A loaded large flatbed trailer weighs an average of 10,400 pounds with a maximum of 26,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.
  • Large Boat Trailer: All Subaru Ascent models (with air-cooled CVT) will be able to tow an empty large boat trailer. On average, an empty large boat trailer weighs 2,200 pounds. A loaded large boat trailer weighs an average of 13,600 pounds with a maximum of 34,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Nissan Xterra.

How Well Can It Tow Compared to its Competitors?

The following table mentions the towing capacities of several cars that compete in the same category as the Subaru Ascent. Looking at the table we can realize that the towing competition isn’t widely spread and almost all cars provide an average of 5,000 pounds towing capacity. Therefore, Subaru Ascent is at par with its competitors in this regard. Take a look at the maximum and minimum towing capacities of the following cars.

Year / Make / ModelMin. Towing Capacity (lbs.)Max. Towing Capacity (lbs.)
2021 Chevrolet Traverse5,0005,000
2021 Honda Pilot5,0005,000
2021 Kia Telluride5,0005,000
2021 Toyota Highlander5,0005,000
2020 Ford Explorer5,3005,300

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