Subaru Evoltis aka Ascent - What to expect?

Subaru recently confirmed that the Ascent will be making its debut in the Philippines by the third quarter of 2020, which might be around August. However, instead of ‘Ascent,’ the vehicle will be dubbed ‘Evoltis’ for the local market. The Ascent or Evoltis was only being exclusively sold in the North American market, with its global debut dating back to 2017.

The automaker has been dropping hints regarding the Evoltis’ Philippine release since last year. Now, they’ve finally revealed what we can expect from the new model.

The 7-seater Evoltis is expected to fill in the lack of a competitive SUV in Subaru’s lineup. It’s already anticipated to be the automaker’s largest vehicle on the market to date. Here’s what else you can expect with the new Subaru Evoltis:

New model name

Subaru changed the original model name from Ascent to Evoltis due to trademark issues in the country. The Japanese automaker has dealt with similar incidents before where they needed to change a model’s name to adhere to local requirements. One example is the Subaru Legacy which was renamed the Liberty in Australia.

Glenn Tan, the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Tan Chong International, confirmed this change during a Q&A session at the 2020 Singapore Motor Show where he also announced the target release period.

Turbocharged engine

The Subaru Evoltis will be powered by a 2.4 liter boxer engine with direct injection and twin-scroll turbocharging. This is the exact same engine train found in the US model. The engine can generate 260 hp and 376 Nm of torque. This is mated to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). Luckily, Subaru won’t perform any detuning to the engine as some automakers do with their Asian-spec models.

Should it maintain its original US specs, it should also have signature features such as Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and EyeSight driver assist technology.

Similarities with the Subaru Forester

The Evoltis has similar style cues as the Forester. In fact, some have compared it by saying that the Evoltis is like a smaller version of the Forester. Subaru’s signature hexagonal grille can be found on the vehicle’s front fascia, plus some new sharp swept-up headlights that give it an aggressive look. Inverted L-shaped taillights can be found on the rear along with a large tailgate.

Additionally, Subaru also added some black bodying cladding to top off its rugged appearance.

Latest interior design language

The vehicle will most likely sport the same dashboard found in the latest Subaru models. It will carry a multi-info display front and center. The Ascent currently being sold in the US market offers a number of interior color choices. There are still no reports if Subaru will be extending this to the Philippine market.

Several safety and tech features

The Evoltis is based on the Subaru Global Platform — Subaru’s core technologies that can be found on all their latest models. Standard tech features on the US  variant that are expected to be included are traction control, a rearview camera, and Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety systems which includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. These are features that can be found on the standard variants.

Advanced features are also offered such as Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with automatic rear braking. However, these are only available on the higher-end variants.

Price point

No information regarding the prices for the Evoltis’ variants have been revealed yet. The US model is currently being sold starting at USD 31,995 — approximately P1.68 million (exclusive of taxes). This isn’t far from the price range of most SUVs on the local market today.

Verdict

The Subaru Evoltis certainly holds promise, especially with its much-anticipated release. Tan also confirmed during the 2020 Singapore Motor Show that the Evoltis will still be manufactured in Indiana like the US version and will definitely feature the same 2.4-liter Boxer engine.

With the local SUV market still being the dominant segment in the Philippines, this new addition from Subaru will surely offer a competitive spot for the automaker in the industry.

According to the Japanese automaker, the Evoltis will also be released alongside the Forester e-BOXER which is also a much-anticipated release.

What do you think of the Subaru Evoltis? Share with us your thoughts on our social media.

Also read: 2020 Subaru XV e-Boxer Hybrid launched in the UK