The future is big… Check out the 3-row VIZIV-7 SUV Concept. https://t.co/TDizYAT30U pic.twitter.com/mRiN0TpAqu
— Subaru (@subaru_usa) November 17, 2016
November 2016's Los Angeles Auto Show came fully loaded with a host future-facing auto tech, but standing out among curios galore was the Subaru VIZIV-7, a three-row crossover SUV concept set to wow its eponymous segment as early as the opening days of 2018. So, the big question: how does the prospective Subaru model stack up against the competition? Quite well, we'd say.
204.7 inches of mid-size might atop a sprawling 117.7-inch wheelbase, VIZIV-7 easily surpasses Subaru Outback as well as the likes of Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Durango and Ford Flex in terms of overall length, even though the latter feature longer wheelbases, meaning VIZIV-7 promises improved acceleratory and adjustment capabilities. As dimensions go, VIZIV-7's 79.9-inch width and 72.0-inch height (73.2 inches including the roof rails) grasp at some of the segment's top values, putting it on course to exceed the seven-passenger Tribeca for spaciousness. And enthusiasts of the imposing big-and-boxy design will appreciate VIZIV-7's statement-making grille and sizable fog lights.
But what about by way of hard specs? The comparable 2016 Mazda CX-9 7-seater, in Touring, Grand Touring and Sport trims, features a 2.5L I-4 engine, and the 2016 Ford Explorer showcases a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder comparable to the 2015 Explorer V6. Will VIZIV-7, whose model name will likely be Ascent if a recent Subaru patent is any indication, boast that sweet turbocharged four-cylinder engine?
That "Ascent" still takes a few cues from the wildly popular Subaru Outback, such as its headlight design and window profile, might give us a clue. A 3.6L six-cylinder boxer engine optional in Outback – maybe we'll see this workhorse under the hood. Only time will tell.
We might have to wait for Ascent, but you don't have to wait to take a test-drive in a comparable Kia, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Land Rover, Nissan or Subaru SUV. Hyman Bros. is conveniently located just a short drive from the Midlothian, Bon Air, Glen Allen, Chester and Richmond areas, in Richmond, VA. Stop by today!