Subaru Ascent 2018-2026 Owner's Manual: Driving on snowy and icy roads

When operating the Subaru Ascent on snow-covered or icy roads, it is essential to adopt smooth and controlled driving techniques. Sudden braking, rapid acceleration, high speeds, or sharp steering inputs can easily lead to skidding or loss of traction, especially in low-grip conditions.

Always keep a safe and increased following distance from the vehicle ahead when driving your Subaru Ascent in winter conditions. This additional space allows for gradual braking and reduces the need for abrupt maneuvers.

In addition to using the brake pedal, make effective use of engine braking to help regulate vehicle speed. Downshifting to a lower gear can improve control; however, avoid aggressive or sudden downshifts, as this may cause the wheels to lock and result in loss of control of the Subaru Ascent.

The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) in the Subaru Ascent enhances braking stability on slippery surfaces by preventing wheel lock-up and maintaining steering control during emergency braking.

WARNING

Never use cruise control when driving the Subaru Ascent on snowy or icy roads. Doing so may lead to unexpected loss of traction and vehicle control.

CAUTION

Avoid extended driving during heavy snowstorms. Snow accumulation may restrict airflow to the engine intake system of the Subaru Ascent, potentially causing reduced performance or engine shutdown.

Wiper operation when snowing

Before driving your Subaru Ascent in cold conditions, always ensure that the windshield and rear window wiper blades are not frozen to the glass surfaces.

If the wiper blades are frozen, follow these steps to safely restore their operation.

• To defrost the front wiper blades, activate the defroster and set the airflow mode to " " while adjusting the temperature to maximum heat until the blades are fully thawed.
• If your Subaru Ascent is equipped with a windshield wiper deicer, activate it to assist in melting ice buildup on the blades.
• To thaw the rear wiper blade, turn on the rear window defogger.

While driving in snowy conditions, ice or snow may accumulate on the windshield even during wiper operation. In such cases, use the defroster with airflow set to " " and maximum heat to melt the buildup.

Once the windshield surface is sufficiently warmed, use the washer system to remove remaining snow or ice from the glass.

Snow accumulation on the wiper arms can reduce their effectiveness. If this occurs, safely pull over, activate the hazard warning lights, and manually remove the snow before continuing your journey in the Subaru Ascent.

For optimal winter performance, it is recommended to install non-freezing (winter-type) wiper blades on your Subaru Ascent. These blades are specifically designed to maintain flexibility and efficiency in freezing temperatures.

CAUTION

At higher speeds, winter wiper blades may not perform as efficiently as standard blades. If visibility decreases, reduce vehicle speed accordingly.

NOTE

After the winter season, replace non-freezing wiper blades with standard blades to ensure optimal performance under normal driving conditions.

Corrosion protection

Refer to "Corrosion protection" for detailed guidelines on protecting your Subaru Ascent from rust and environmental damage caused by winter road conditions.

Additional note: Driving the Subaru Ascent in winter requires a combination of правильна техніка керування, регулярна перевірка систем автомобіля та використання відповідних аксесуарів. Maintaining visibility, traction, and braking control significantly improves safety and ensures confident driving even in the most challenging зимові умови.