Subaru

In a market where the average new car price is somewhere in the upper troposphere, it is gratifying to know shoppers can still purchase a well-equipped all-wheel drive vehicle for $24,665 including destination.

This is a Subaru WRX. If you’ve been anywhere near the base car (as a WRX buyer, at least) the stereotype says you’ll already be plotting Tien coilovers with spring rates similar to diamonds on the Mohs Hardness Scale, a nicer exhaust, and some Brembos pinching brake discs so big you could inscribe a lengthy epitaph to the STI on them. 

Despite the abundance of attention members of the automotive media pay to performance vehicles, the truth is that they don’t sell anywhere near the numbers that more mainstream cars do. Subaru, which had seen consistent sales growth with its BRZ and WRX over the last year, is finding that out the hard way, as it recently posted numbers that don’t look great for either car.

The research department at sister site, AutoGuide.com, recently uncovered a Subaru trademark application for the name "e-Outback" in Japan, sparking speculation about the brand's plans for its popular crossover.

Today there's a feisty Subaru in my driveway -- the 2024 Subaru WRX TR.

Today we bring you a pretty mainstream car -- it's a clean-looking 2012 Subaru Outback that is also a bit high mileage.

Yes, it is the quickest and fastest WRX race car to date from Subaru Motorsports USA. No, you can’t buy one.

Last week we brought you news that Fiat is bringing gas back -- and we also discussed Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru's decision to back off from full electrification.

Meanwhile, Nissan says it won't invest in any new gas engines.

What's going on?

Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru conducted a press event designed to explain why they’re walking away from full-blown electrification. While this is something numerous automakers have done in recent months, the “Multipathway Workshop” faced a predictable amount of criticism from EV acolytes.

When it comes to junkyard cars with impressively high final odometer numbers, Toyotas, Hondas, Volvos and Mercedes-Benzes seem to be the most likely to have driven better than 400,000 miles during their lives. How about Subaru? Well, today's Junkyard Find is the highest-mile discarded Fuji Heavy Industries product I've ever found.

The Subaru Forester is new for 2025. But the majority of changes aren’t the type you’d see with a totally new, ground-up model. Yes, the body is new, but Subaru has honed the Forester edge rather than totally re-forging the SUV. Frankly, I think that’s a good thing. The Forester doesn’t need major changes – it’s already a pretty darn good Point A-to-Point B machine. The changes by and large make it an even more appealing machine – and one that’s good for some off-road work, too.

If yer looking for a midsize sedan with all-wheel drive, the list of choices is about to get smaller. Subaru has announced production of the Legacy will end early in the 2025 calendar.

In a change from most stories about the topic of pricing, Subaru has chosen to hold the line on cost for most trims of its midsize Legacy sedan and Outback station wagon.

Due to travel, I got a little behind on giving you the Cliff's Notes on what I've been testing, so you'll get two this week.

First up: The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness.

Football and marketing - does it get any better? In this era of fragmented streaming services, there are precious few moments of what was once dubbed Must See Tee Vee where one be assured hundreds of million eyeballs will be glued to the same message simultaneously. We likely will never have another shared broadcast moment like the finale of M*A*S*H, so The Super Bowl is it.

Today we go back to the 1990s and bring you a 1998 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS.

I recently reviewed the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium and my biggest critique, at least from a driving dynamics standpoint, was a lack of guts.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport is meant to address that criticism. Want a Crosstrek that’s a bit more fun? This is your trim of choice.

Hey, wanna buy a racecar?

Reliability, when it comes to cars, has at least two meanings. One meaning involves a model’s likelihood to suffer mechanical maladies over time. The other involves how well it does its prescribed job.

Subaru has made its bones by being very good at the latter.

Adding the nesting doll approach more than one brand is taking with certain examples of their wares, Subaru will offer the 2024 WRX in no fewer than five different trims. This phenomenon of expanding the line of what used to constitute a single trim isn’t unique to the Exploding Galaxy – witness the VW GTI, for starters.

In any event, it’ll now cost ya $32,735 to get in the door of a WRX, up from $30,605 last year. Thanks, inflation.

Showing up at the sixth-generation of this long running nameplate, the 2025 Subaru Forester adds a yaffle of technology whilst smoothing out some of the old car’s odd styling choices.

In typical form for the PR machine of a modern automaker, Subaru has released the briefest of shots showing a rig they promise to introduce at the upcoming L.A. Auto Show – and we have a pretty good idea what it is.

Set to be shown in person at tomorrow’s Subiefest in Florida, the new Subaru WRX TR adds a yaffle of performance-grade components to this boxer-engined all-wheel drive package.

Subaru has given its popular Crosstrek crossover its most significant update in quite some time. The little SUV has been changed front, back, and sideways. But the change that grabbed all the headlines involved the expansion of the Wilderness lineup, which now includes the Crosstrek.

Fans of the Exploding Galaxy will be interested to learn the company is bringing back a TR variant of its WRX. When last seen about 15 years ago, the TR stood for ‘tuner ready’ – essentially a base WRX with a few deleted features and lower price tag.

Subaru has long been a relatively small automaker building products for niche markets. It’s been well-documented how the company, decades ago, specifically targeted certain demographics, becoming wildly popular and inspiring serious owner loyalty. They have done an incredible job doing so, but some more mainstream buyers may still not have the brand front of mind when shopping.

Efforts have been made at more middle-America-friendly fare, most notably the Ascent as their second attempt at the large crossover class which is proving to be a solid, safe choice for buyers. But their bread is buttered with their bread-and-butter smaller cars, much like the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek seen here. And with this redesigned tall wagon, I’m ready to name a new subset of the population that really should be looking at the Pleiades - middle-aged dads.

I was initially going to ask if Subaru should bring back the WRX STI, but I suspect that the answer to that would be a resounding "yes".

Subaru Motorsports has revealed its entrant for the Open 4WD class of the American Rally Association (ARA) Championship. The vehicle is simply being called the “WRX Rally Car” and it’s a painful reminder that enthusiasts haven’t been afforded a hardcore variant of the platform. The ARA racer is effectively what the mind conjures up when trying to imagine a modern WRX STI — a model the fans expected but Subaru elected not to build.

Toyota and Subaru have partnered on a few vehicles in recent times, including the BRZ/GR 86 and bZ4X/Solterra twins. The brotherly love is expected to continue with a new three-row SUV in 2025. Toyota will build the vehicle in its Kentucky factory, where its own electric three-row will be produced.

Subaru is generous with its EyeSight safety systems, equipping the package on several vehicles. Until now, however, buyers could not get the tech for cars with manual transmissions. Subaru recently announced that it is working to develop EyeSight tech for manual transmission-equipped vehicles, which does two things: First, it ensures safer vehicles across Subaru’s lineup, and second, it means we’ll likely continue seeing manual transmissions available from the automaker for the foreseeable future.

Subaru currently offers one EV that it developed alongside Toyota. The Solterra is an electric SUV for outdoorsy types, and while it might satisfy the brand’s loyal customers, it’s not quite enough to make Subaru a competitive force in the EV market. That’s going to change over the next few years, as the automaker said it plans to offer four EVs by the end of 2026. 

I’ve said it before, but I’m getting old. Rather than comparing daycare centers, I’m visiting colleges. I’ve actually purchased cars in the past for less than I just spent on a prom dress for my eldest daughter. My wife and barber tell me that my hair is thinning.

And I ache. While any leg pain I attribute to an old football injury really dates to a drunken fall over a coffee table while watching the Super Bowl, my daily intake of ibuprofen is considerable. So I’m finding that when shopping for a new fun-to-drive car, a manual transmission isn’t necessarily a must-have. Might as well start fitting me for a tennis-ball-clad walker and pants hitched up to my nipples.

A CVT, however, has never been atop my list of favorite transmissions. They seem to suck all the enjoyment out of driving. But when this 2022 Subaru WRX appeared sans third pedal, I had to do a double take. I suppose the flat-brim-cap wearing, vaping, skater bros have to grow up, too. Did their car of choice grow up with them?

When the Subaru crew showed off the original Crosstrek, it was a lifted and ruggedized version of the Impreza. Now, they’re introducing a Wilderness trim of that vehicle, a – you guessed it – lifted and ruggedized version of the Crosstrek.

This means they’ve Crosstrek’d the Crosstrek.

Today's UCOTD comes to us from Montana. This 2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS might be a good way to get AWD for cheap -- if age and high mileage aren't a concern.

Toyota and Suzuki are rumored to be collaborating on another lightweight, mid-engine sports car with some help from Daihatsu. While nothing has been confirmed, the model is presumed to be a successor to Toyota’s MR2 (pictured) – as the automaker has offered numerous hints in the past that the little two-seater (or something inspired by it) would eventually enter into production.

The Subaru Solterra and the related Toyota bZ4X faced recalls last year related to their hub bolts. The automakers discovered that they could loosen while driving, causing the wheel to detach from the vehicle. Though the vehicles were fixed under the recall, Subaru recently issued another recall to ensure the original work was done properly. 

Today's QOTD is pretty self-explanatory. What vehicle that debuted here in Chicago caused you to sit up and take notice?

Amid a digital backdrop showing stark b-roll scenes from various National Parks, under a cloud of smoke haze and inexplicable soap bubbles, and flanked by a booth filled with rescue puppies, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek compact crossover was revealed today at the Chicago Auto Show. While this third-generation crossover does not look markedly different from the prior model, perhaps the most notable announcement was that production of some Crosstrek models will be shifted from Japan to the venerable Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana.

Recalls often involve important, safety-critical equipment and technology, but some seem almost silly by comparison. Chevrolet once sent a bunch of Sonics to customers without brake pads and had to recall them, and in 2013, Honda recalled the Odyssey because of badges installed on the wrong side of the rear gate. Recently, we learned that Subaru recalled the new WRX, but not for a reason having to do with any vehicle component or system.

I’ve long been a fan of Subaru’s plucky WRX compact sports sedan. But as you’ll see when our next podcast drops, I found the 2022 Subaru WRX one of my most disappointing cars of the year.

“Disappointing” doesn’t mean “bad”, to be clear. The WRX is still a joy to drive and would still be on my shopping list if I was buying in this class. But it’s lost a step compared to the competitive set, in part because the newest version makes its flaws a bit more visible.

If you purchased a new Subaru Ascent within the last few years, you may want to consider checking its recall status. The manufacturer is worried that 272,000 examples of the SUV could pose a fire risk and is recommending owners park them outside until inspections can be conducted. Though the turnaround should be relatively short, as Subaru already seems to be aware of what’s causing the problem.

Gymkhana craziness is always fun to watch, and this year's edition sees Travis Pastrana going nuts in Florida.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza debuted in L.A., and after wandering over to the brand's floor stand -- and nearly getting sick due to the psychedelic floors -- I gotta say, Subie's little inexpensive hatch looks good up close.

The on-paper specs look pretty good, too.

Hello from sunny Southern California. You may notice a later-than-usual posting schedule today and tomorrow as we work our way through the LA Auto Show -- we're sorta working on West Coast time.

Which brings me to the QOTD -- what debut from this show has you perking up?

Attention, Midwest-based Subaru fans.

The 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show media is about two weeks away. For the most part, there hasn't been a lot of news leaking about planned debuts, though we know Ram has plans for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, instead. That said, Subaru has dropped a teaser of the next Impreza.

Today's TTAC rewind is a capsule review of the 2015 Subaru WRX.

The Alcan 5000 Rally might not be what you think of when you think of rallying a car. It’s not an event chocked full of sideways-sliding Subarus or overpowered hatchbacks catching air over hills as hundreds of fans gaze as rabid drivers hurtle through the woods in search of the fastest stage of a gravel rally.

It’s been nearly three years since The Grand Tour switched its format away from the elaborate traveling tent and to its all-special format. On Friday, Amazon released the fifth such special, and the first “post pandemic” episode (their term, not mine). In “A Scandi Flick,” the familiar trio heads across Scandinavia in three rally-inspired all-wheel drive sedans. It’s certainly not the show’s worst work, but it’s far from the best. You’ll need to suspend disbelief and leave your thinking skills in another room.

Subaru will launch an updated Crosstrek in the United States next year and showcased the Japanese model on Thursday to whet our appetites.

Though nobody at the company seems overly eager to reinvent a model offering such enviable sales figures. Most of the changes seem to be aesthetic in nature, with the exterior seeing some new creases – resulting in a more complicated and pleasing overall shape. There’s also been an increase in the number of plastic panels used on the vehicle’s exterior. However, this doesn’t look as disagreeable as it sounds.

The General began selling the Suzuki Cultus hatchback with Chevrolet Sprint badges here starting in the 1985 model year, with the later versions becoming the Geo/ Chevrolet Metro. Even though gasoline prices had crashed during the middle 1980s, the three-cylinder Sprint sold well enough that Subaru decided to bring their tiny three-cylinder car to our shores. This was the Justy, and I’ve found this ’90 in a self-service yard in Subaru-crazed Denver.

In the wake of the news that Subaru is killing the WRX STI going forward, it appears that the STI is already dead on the company’s U.S. and Canadian consumer Web sites.

Hi there! Remember that podcast we did a few weeks back? Well, we’re back with more.

There’s also more to come.

When Subaru announced the latest WRX sedan, it was made perfectly clear that it would arrive without the high-performance STI variant metaphorically in tow. After attempting to push performance versions of the Impreza sedan into becoming their own thing for years, the 2022 model year saw the WRX jumping onto the Subaru Global Platform. This resulted in a more mainstream vehicle we assumed would need additional time in the relevant skunkworks garage before it could reemerge as the aggressive, rally-inspired, no-nonsense WRX STI.

But Subaru is now saying that there won’t be an STI for this generation. According to the manufacturer, “future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero emissions vehicles (ZEV), and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE).”

Subaru hasn’t sold the WRX as a wagon since 2015. While fans have been clamoring for its return ever since, the automaker’s willingness to play along hasn’t gotten much further than its Viziv concept vehicles.

But that doesn’t mean other markets have to do without. The manufacturer is currently prepping the 2022 WRX Sportwagon for the Australian market. Though it’s difficult to be broken up about it being trapped in the land down under, considering it’s going to be offered exclusively with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

One great thing about living in Colorado, where new residents are issued a dog and a Subaru when they arrive, is that I can find examples of just about every Subaru model sold here since the late 1970s in the local car graveyards. That means that I have plenty of opportunities to observe the gloriously weird SVX, once its street days are finished.

We’ve already covered the Subaru Solterra EV, so I don’t have much to add.

Instead, you can enjoy two poorly-lit pics from the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show.

On a recent Buy/Drive/Burn that featured some alternative Japanese compacts from 2008, frequent commenter theflyersfan suggested a second look at the same three cars, but in hotter variants. Today’s the day, and it’s 2009.

In our last edition of Buy/Drive/Burn, we considered the Mazda Protegé, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Subaru Impreza sedans from 1998. Most of you preferred the Protegé as your Buy of the three. Today we fast forward to the same offerings in 2008, and see if things shake out differently.