Subaru has enlisted a popular family to endorse the 2019 Ascent. The Barkleys — a family of Labrador and Golden Retrievers — are the focus of the automaker's new ad campaign.
Carmichael Lynch has created four 30-second "Dog Tested. Dog Approved." advertisements to promote Subaru's lineup. Two commercials feature the all-new Ascent: "Car Wash," where a group of dogs attempt to clean the three-row SUV, and "Drop Off," featuring an emotional send-off for the youngest Barkley's first day of school.
The third ad, "Driving Lesson," shows teen Barkley learning to parallel park with the Impreza while the last one, "Drive Away," features dad Barkley driving the Crosstrek as he messes with teen Barkley.
The television ads first aired during the 24th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last week and will continue to air on network and cable television channels.
As to why Subaru enlisted the adorable canine family for their newest ad campaign, the automaker said that more than half of Subaru drivers are pet owners and they wanted to celebrate their shared love of pets.
"Pets are considered members of our Subaru family and utilizing the Barkleys in our campaigns allows us to connect with out customers in an authentic, fun, and entertaining way," said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing at Subaru of America.
The Barkleys, who have appeared in Subaru's ads since 2009, were also brought on to introduce the 2019 Ascent last November.
The 2019 Ascent is Subaru's largest vehicle yet. It has three full rows and a seating capacity of up to eight passengers. With 153.5 cubic feet of passenger volume and ample cargo space, the all-new SUV allows large families and their pets to have a comfortable ride experience without having to sacrifice on space.
The three-row SUV is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It has a fuel capacity of 19.3 gallons for long road trips and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds for hauling equipment needed for outdoor activities. Moreover, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and an all-wheel-drive system, the all-new Ascent is capable of handling rough terrains for off-road adventures.
The 2019 Subaru Ascent will be available to purchase starting this summer. Pricing has not yet been announced.
