Hey Scotty
Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent come with a JATCO made transmission?
That CVT is Subaru’s own designed transmission. Looks like for 2019 model year there was a recall for issue with that transmission: jury is out on Subaru’s CVT longevity
No, it is not a Jatco. It is Subaru made.
The combination of a large, heavy vehicle with a smallish turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a CVT (even non-Jatco) is not a recipe for long, trouble-free operation.
The Ascent is basically an outback, which is a good car, upsized to match the Highlander, which is a good car. But when you put them together, you have neither the balance and handling of the outback, nor the reliability of the Highlander. I agree with Chuck, the drivetrain wasn’t robust enough for the size
If you really love Subaru but you want something bigger, it’s not terrible. But not Subaru’s best effort. Maybe if they stick with it another generation or two they can refine it.
It’s like they used to say about BMW: “the best BMW is a little BMW.” Same for Subaru.
