Subaru’s all-new three-row crossover promises to be very handsome and pretty exciting. We know that because we just spied the production-ready prototype while it was checking out its on-road abilities. Judging by the spy shots, the 2018 Subaru Ascent won’t be just another SUV on the market, but the reliable mid-sizer with pretty respectable performance and plenty of space inside.

We can’t say why, yet we have a feeling that Subaru is currently working on its future best-selling vehicle. The carmaker made a few exterior changes, so the production model doesn’t look exactly like the Viziv 7 concept, but the changes won’t make it less attractive at all. As you may notice, the upcoming Ascent sports pretty much the same nose with an impressive grille and aggressive hood. The camouflaged prototype doesn’t reveal headlights completely, yet we are sure it’s hiding concept amazing swept-back lights. The biggest differences between the Viziv 7 and the production model are the fenders. Yes, the 2018 Ascent won’t have that bulky wheel arches and big wheels, but the rest of the cues appear to be pretty much identical.

With its 204.7 inches of length and 117.7 inches of wheelbase, Subaru’s new topper will be one of the largest mid-size SUVs. This should make it very comfortable inside. As for the rest of the cabin, we expect to see the carmaker’s signature cues but fitted with more premium materials and definitely better technologies.

Yes, there is one another thing that makes the 2018 Subaru Ascent very good. It’s going to share the platform with all-new Impreza. The architecture will make the SUV very rigid due to plenty of high-strength steel and will put the nose of the SUV very low to the ground, which will have an amazing influence on handling.

We still have nothing official regarding the engines. However, the 2.0-liter flat-four with 250 horsepower still stays the most probable option under the hood. Yes, the carmaker might also try with a 3.6-liter flat-six, or even with some kind of hybrid. In any case, all options will be paired with a CVT and all-wheel drive.

Like we said earlier, the 2018 Subaru Ascent will likely arrive at this year’s New York auto show, so we will know more about the amazing SUV very soon.