Loyalty Reward: The 2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT

The 2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT.

Love is what makes a Subaru a Subaru, it appears.  The love owners have for the pioneering crossover has earned it the IHS Markit (formerly Polk Automotive) Loyalty Award in its vehicle class  (mid-size CUV) for the fourth year in a row.   And return customers will find a vastly improved Outback for 2020.

Name That Car: The 2020 Subaru Legacy Limited

The 2020 Subaru Legacy Limited.

If I say "Subaru", you'll probably say "Forester" or "Outback". Fine cars, but there's another fine car that you probably didn't say the name of.

It's "Legacy". Subaru's family sedan, a direct competitor to the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, the Nissan Altima, the Mazda 6, the Ford Fusion, the Chevy Malibu, the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Optima, and the Volkswagen Passat. In fact, if I asked you to name family sedans, odds are very good you'd say one or more of those names before "Legacy" sprang from your lips. And that's a shame.

30 Minutes With: The 2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My ninth drive of the day was the 2020 Subaru Outback on the off-road course.

Charge! The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

A little over a year ago we drove---and loved---the all-new Subaru Crosstrek.

Now it turns out there's one we like even better.  The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

Hitting The Target---Again: The 2019 Subaru Forester Touring

The 2019 Subaru Forester Touring.

I had to go through the TireKicker archives to be sure (after 10-plus years, that's more of a job than you might imagine)---but the last time we were in a Subaru Forester was the last time there was an all-new one---five years ago.

In that review of the 2014 Subaru Forester, we said that the marvel was that Subaru made major improvements to a vehicle that, if you'd asked us, we'd say "just don't screw it up".  But they went beyond---improved things we didn't realize could be better.

And they've done it again.

More of What Makes a Subaru a Subaru: The 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited

The 2019 Subaru Ascent.

Imagine being Subaru.  You pretty much started the whole smaller SUV game 40 years ago with a series of useful full-time four-wheel drive vehicles.  The problem is you've never been able to play above the midsize.  Your attempt at a larger SUV, the 2006-2014 B9 Tribeca, didn't cut it.   Not quite large enough and cursed at birth with a goofy design that took Subaru's march to a different drummer too far.

No, what you need is a bigger version of what you currently deliver in three smaller sizes, the Crosstrek, the Forester and the Outback.  And that's the 2019 Subaru Ascent.

Big Change To A Small Package: The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Limited

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Limited.

They tell us love is what makes a Subaru a Subaru, and who are we to argue?  But ruggedness, reliability, safety, value and an attitude that change for change's sake isn't such a good thing also are a big part of the Subaru DNA.  So when a Subaru model is all-new, that's big news.

We loved the last-gen Crosstrek, which was new for 2013.  We love the 2018 even more.

The Fixer: The 2017 Subaru BRZ Limited

The 2017 Subaru BRZ.

I have long been a fan of the Subaru BRZ, nearly identical cousin to the Toyota 86.  Its driving dynamics and pure fun for the money make it one of the great cars of our time...the spiritual successor to the original 1970 Datsun 240Z. 

That affection may have been somewhat obscured in my review, a year and a half ago, of the 2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue (yes, that was really its name), in which I praised the car and cursed the Starlink infotainment system, which was a source of constant frustration. Well, they worked the bugs out of the '17, at least in the head unit (the Starlink app is still getting brutal reviews at the app store, and we didn't even go there this time around).

Practicality Is A Virtue: The 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium

The 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium.

With hundreds of different vehicles currently available in the USA, it's staggering to realize that one car could probably fit the needs of a majority of drivers.  And even more staggering to realize that the car comes from what most people would consider a niche manufacturer.

But the truth is that for the way most people use their cars most of the time, the 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium is pretty much what they need.

Limited Edition: The 2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue

The 2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue.

Okay, first---about the headline (and caption).  No, it's not a typo.  Subaru has named its limited edition of the BRZ sports coupe the Series.HyperBlue....that's "Series-dot-capital H-Hyper-capital B-Blue'.  And it is a limited edition, with only 500 being made this year.

"THAT's A Subaru?": The 2015 Subaru BRZ Series Blue

The 2015 Subaru BRZ Series Blue.

So I'm driving home Tuesday afternoon on Sacramento's busy Howe Avenue, heading south toward U.S. 50, when my peripheral vision picks up some motion to my right. I look and it's a thirty-something woman leaning out her driver's window waving frantically.

Expecting to hear that I have a flat tire or flames are shooting out from under the car, I hit my passenger-side window control and hear a question I haven't heard in a long time:

"Hey mister! What kind of car is that?"

"Subaru BRZ", I replied.

"THAT'S a Subaru?", she yelled, incredulously.  "I've never seen one of those!"

Why The 2015 Subaru Legacy Looks Different

2015 Subaru Legacy.

Snub nose, swoopy rear roofline.  Subaru, the automaker that has always marched to a different drummer, has joined the parade with the 2015 Legacy, coming up with a car that, if you swapped the badges, could be mistaken for a Nissan Altima.

Why The 2014 Subaru Outback Is A Car With Integrity

The 2014 Subaru Outback.

We have discussed art (in the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport review), and form and function (in the Audi Q5 review).  But what about identity?  There is something compelling about a brand that stands for something and that does not blur that identity in an attempt to be all things to all people.  Such honesty can even overcome other shortcomings.

Subaru is a classic example.  For the most part, Subaru builds reasonably priced, but not cheap all-wheel drive vehicles of good quality, high value and remarkable utility.  The one that essentially sealed the image for the masses is this one, the Subaru Outback.

New Car Review: 2014 Subaru Forester

If you'd asked me what you could do to improve the Subaru Forester, I'd have been struggling for any answer other than "just don't screw it up".

The Forester has, since its introduction sixteen years ago, been one of those rare vehicles that knew what it wanted to be, what its customers wanted it to be, and then hit that target year after year, generation after generation.

When I walked up to the 2014 Forester for the first time, I was worried.  It's bigger.  And bigger in these machines can be duller and dumber.

New Car Review: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek




The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

I have only one complaint about the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

The one they sent me was painted the same shade as Walter White's Pontiac Aztek.

New Car Review: 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium




The 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium.

It's the #1 question asked by someone meeting an automotive journalist:

"What's the best car?"

Now, of course, that can only be answered with a question (or more accurately, a series of questions).

"What for?"

"What kind of driving do you do?"

"How many people do you need to carry?"

"How much stuff do you need to carry?"

"What's your budget?"

Occasionally, I'll find myself talking to someone who's really trying to choose between the Audi R8 and a Porsche 911. But 9 times out of 10, it's someone who's looking for something reliable to get to and from work that gets good gas mileage, although sometimes, they'll take their spouse and 1.7 kids on a road trip for a few days.

For many years (a couple of decades, in fact) the Honda Civic was my default, no-risk recommendation. More recently, it's been the Mazda 3. But for the past seven days (and likely for some time to come), there's a new favorite compact car here at TireKicker World Headquarters.

2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5 i and 3.6R Limited Review

Subaru has made its place in the automotive world the past 35 years or so by being the Japanese SAAB. Quirky, yet loveable...attracting a small but devoted following.

Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so there's precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.

Except that Subaru's managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.

The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, it's a complete package without any options).

Even though the Legacy is bigger now, it's lighter than the competition...handles better...and don't forget...it's a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.
And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.

That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.

And the price?

Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.

Remember the deal about no options? That's right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. There's a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. That's compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.

Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:



UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good.  But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.  And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.

Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.

First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).

And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.

There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. There's no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.

And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And that's where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.

Subaru Recalls 2010 Tribeca: Doors Could Come Open When Raising Or Lowering Window

The NHTSA says Subaru is recalling a six-month run of 2010 Tribecas, built between September 4, 2009 and March 8, 2010, because of an improperly placed cable. It can catch in the door glass regulator and when you go to roll up or roll down the window, the driver or front passenger door could unlatch and come open "creating a risk that an occupant could be ejected as well as a risk that the driver may become distracted, leading to a crash."

Full recall notice here.

Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited Review

The Subaru Forester has long been a favorite of ours...a no-nonsense small SUV that really blazed the trail for what has been a hot segment.

Even as Subaru has refined the Forester over the years, they've managed not to lose the thread.

But, as we've noted before...good basics can be obscured by too much stuff...and ponying up for the Limited trim level might be going a bridge too far.

There's nothing wrong with what you get...especially the 225 horsepower turbocharged engine...but the moonroof, leather and upgraded audio system carry a price: $29,995.

That's right...a mere five bucks shy of 30 grand for a Forester.

And our tester had XM Satellite radio as an option (the only one), so with delivery charges, it bottom-lined at $31,143.

Ouch.

Especially since the base Subaru Forester is $11,000 less than that. Yep...your basic 2.5X is only $20,295...and gets 20 city/26 highway.

Now, admittedly the extra 55 horsepower of the turbo at a penalty of one mile per gallon city, two highway is pretty appealing...but you can get that starting in the 2.5 XT Premium at $26,495...a price point that still makes some sense for the Forester.

Don't get me wrong...there's not a single bad thing about the XT Limited apart from price point and mission creep. If you want a luxo Forester, go for it. But, frankly, I hope the demand is small...lest Subaru be tempted to think there's a market worth chasing at the expense of its absolutely on-target lower-margin machines.

Ford Sweeps North American Car & Truck Of The Year

(11JAN10) Detroit, Mich. Mark Fields, Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company, accepts the NACTOY Car and Truck awards. This is the third time in NACTOY's history both awards have gone to one OEM.

For only the third time in 17 years, a single manufacturer has swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards (announced today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit).

The winner? Ford, for its Transit Connect van and Ford Fusion Hybrid (we reviewed the mechanically identical Mercury Milan Hybrid).

The Transit Connect was competing with the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback for North American Truck of the Year (The Outback? A truck? Station wagon, sure...but truck?). The Fusion was up against the all new Volkswagen Golf and GTI and the Buick LaCrosse.

                                                                      
Keep your interior looking brand new with Ford F150 seat covers.