Edmunds Senior Writer Mark Takahashi made the trek to Oregon to be one of the first to drive the all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent. After Subaru's five-year absence from the midsize SUV market, this family-friendly three-row crossover is a marked improvement over the automaker's last attempt. The Ascent simply hits the right notes for the class. Q: When will the 2019 Subaru Ascent go on sale? A: The Ascent will start showing up in dealerships this summer. Q: What kind of engine does it have? A: Under the hood is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 260 horsepower. It's mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission that drives all four wheels. Q: How much will it cost? A: The base 2019 Subaru Ascent will start around $33,000 and climb to over $45,000 for the fully loaded Touring trim. Q: What does it compete against? A: The 2019 Subaru Ascent's main rivals are the Ford Explorer, the Honda Pilot, the Mazda CX-9 and the Toyota Highlander. Read our review here: https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/first-impressions/2019-subaru-ascent-first-drive.html Edmunds – we help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com/.