Consumer Reports ranks 2014 Subaru Forester #1 SUV – Ruge’s Subaru

May 21, 2013 6:00 AM

A new small SUV champion has been named: the 2014 Subaru Forester. This redesigned model earned an impressive road-test score of 88 points (out of 100 possible), besting last-year’s model by eight points and trouncing the previous leader, the Honda CR-V, by 11 points. Yeah, it’s that good.

What makes the accomplishment even more impressive is that this popular category has seen most sales leaders introduce new models, such as the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4, or update existing ones, like theMazda CX-5. Despite competition that won’t rest, Subaru has stood out from the class. (Read our completeSubaru Forester road test.)

The Forester succeeds by focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows, and big square doors. The result is the easiest access and the best view out of almost any vehicle we’ve recently tested. It also has one of the roomiest rear seats in the class, with copious amounts of head and leg room.

By adapting various fuel-efficient technologies, including replacing the antiquated four-speed automatic transmission with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Forester now delivers quicker acceleration, as well as a class-leading 26 mpg overall and 35 mpg on the highway in our tests.

We bought a Forester 2.5i Premium for testing, with a $26,814 sticker price. This proved to be a good value that included heated front seats, large sunroof, backup camera, and a power driver’s seat. Because above-average reliability is anticipated based on our analysis, it is CR Recommended.

The final jewel in the Forester’s crown is that it was the only small SUV out of 13 tested to earn a top score of Good in the new small overlap crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

If you’re looking for a safe, practical, fuel-efficient small SUV, read our complete Subaru Forester road test and take one for a test drive.

Subaru to invest $400 Million to build the Impreza in the USA – Ruge’s Subaru

By Jeffrey N. RossRSS feedGoogle+

Posted May 9th 2013 10:15AM

As a part of a goal to increase its US sales tally up to 500,000 annual units by the end of the decade,Subaru is investing $400 million in its Lafayette, IN assembly plant in order to start building the Impreza in 2016. According to Automotive News, about half of that investment will be for a new paint plant while another big chunk will be used to extend the assembly line to allow for the increased capacity.

Currently, Subaru’s Lafayette plant is responsible for building about 200,000 Legacy, Outback and Tribecamodels each year (not including around 100,000 Toyota Camry sedans), but Subaru-specific output will be increased to 300,000 units, requiring an additional 900 new hires as well. Although a previous reportsuggested the Forester and Impreza would be moving Stateside, this AN article only mentions the hatchback and sedan versions of the Impreza being added to Lafayette – and no mention of the closely related XV Crosstrek.

2014 Subaru Outback / Legacy Prices – Ruge’s Subaru

 

No body changes were made for the new year.

By: Jake Lingeman on 5/20/2013

Subaru priced the 2014 Legacy and Outback models on Monday. Most models will see no price increase over 2013 stickers. The Legacy 2.5i starts at $21,090, while the Outback will sticker at $24,320 including destination. The Premium and Sport trims go up a few hundred bucks.

Both models come standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive, a 2.5-liter Boxer engine and a six-speed manual. A continuously variable transmission is offered for $1,000. Upgraded trims come with the CVT only.

Output from the 2.5-liter is rated a 173 hp, the Legacy and Outback models with the 3.6-liter engine deliver 256 hp.

The Premium trim (of both the Legacy and Outback) has been upgraded to include heated seats and mirrors, 4.3-inch screen, six speakers and four months of satellite radio. The Premium upgrade only costs $3,000 in the Legacy, $2,300 in the Outback.

Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assists system is still offered. It combines Subaru’s stereo-camera tech with adaptive cruise control, precollision braking and lane-departure warnings to help avoid accidents.

Navigation costs $1,300, the moonroof is $1,445; the Special Appearance package, which includes EyeSight, navigation, moonroof, smart key, memory seat and more costs $5,000 and is for the Outback only.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130520/carnews/130529988#ixzz2TrIKi1ha
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USA Today says 2014 Subaru Forester passes the Crash Test – Ruge’s Subaru

The new test is proving to be trouble for automakers

• Subaru Forester passed with flying colors
• Five SUVs were rated poor
• The IIHS test replicates hitting a pole

Five small crossovers flunk the new small overlap crash test, but not the 2014 Subaru Forester.

The Forester was the only one of 13 small crossover SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says. The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport got an acceptable rating.

Rated marginal were the Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Five small crossovers were rated poor included the Ford Escape, Jeep Patriot, Buick Encore, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

The small overlap test is meant to replicate what happens when a vehicle runs into a pole or other narrow thin object at the left or right edge.

IIHS testers say Subaru set out to pass the test.

“,,,And they succeeded,” says Joe Nolan, the Institute’s vice president for vehicle research. “This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection for people in these kinds of serious frontal crashes.”

2014 Subaru Forester Turbo XT – Autoweek – Ruge’s Subaru

 

The turbocharged 2.0-liter H4 makes 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

By: Wes Raynal on 5/08/2013

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I’ve always liked Subaru vehicles. Had a yellow GL wagon in college and loved that car. I put a couple hundred thousand mostly trouble-free miles on it. I remember driving it to Seattle pulling a smallish boat trailer. Took it camping, back and forth to school, etc. I basically drove it until the body rusted off the poor thing.

This 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring is a terrific all-around car. It’s got plenty of power, a ton of room inside (Foresters are getting big!) and all-weather grip. For a winter beater so you can park the Porsche 911, it’s about perfect. The flexibility is off-the-charts high.

That said, I’d keep the heated seats but would absolutely ditch the active cruise control, and if possible the top-mounted center screen. Active cruise annoys me no end — I’m on record many times about that. And this center screen and its information and the various menus are so unneeded. I could probably whack that sticker price down a bit by eliminating a lot of that stuff. It looks like if one went for the Premium rather than the Touring you could hack it by about $5,000 and come away with a more pleasant car, or at least a less-complicated one. The interior materials are improved dramatically — the hard cheap plastics are gone.

Other than the active cruise and fiddly buttons, I enjoyed my time in the car a bunch. It rides rather softly and there’s some body roll, but recalling previous Forester drives, I expected that. No surprises in the ride/handling mix. There’s good power here — better than I thought there’d be — and the power is relatively even for a turbo. It feels best above 3,000 rpm. It even feels decently mated to the CVT. There are different modes you can dial up — normal, sport and what Subaru calls sport sharp. As one cycles through the throttle response quickens and sports sharp makes it even quicker. They were fun to mess with to see how the car’s character changes in each mode.

I’d go for the turbo for sure if I was shopping a Forester.

Overall, a nice, enjoyable wagon that’s practical in the extreme.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR SHERRICE GILSBACH: The Forester is a great flexible ride that offers interior space, powerful acceleration, AWD capability and rugged good looks. This Touring model was also loaded with technology that was effective, at least to the extent I used it, but a tad outdated-looking.

I like the exterior of this Forester, especially the front end. It seems more chiseled, which adds character to a car that is typically understated. Larger headlights also clean up the face of this car and contribute to an overall sturdy appearance.

Inside, the first thing I noticed was the leather seating. It looked well-made and comfy. I have long been a fan of Subaru save one feature: horribly uncomfortable seating. After driving around in this one all weekend, I have no complaints. And, if you want leather but not the premium price of the top trim level, you can get leather in the 2.5i Limited that starts out around $28,000.

Another interior perk is how bright the cabin is. Large windows provide the open and airy feel as well as good visibility all the way around the car.

Beyond seating and windows, nothing else appealed to me visually in the car. The technologies housed in the center stack included two small screens. One was used for the navigation and satellite radio and the other charted out your fuel economy and provided average fuel consumption. The screens provided were pretty small and looked outdated to me, but everything worked and the navi/radio portion worked with knobs or as a touchscreen that was effective.

Subaru’s eyesight technology can take you by surprise. I did not have the experience of the car stopping for me, but I did get the, “car ahead of you had moved,” message. I didn’t feel overly monitored by this particular nanny because it was helpful. When the car comes to a complete stop, either at a light or in rush-hour traffic, I take these pauses as opportunities to change the radio station, test out technology or read texts that have come through. The text alert accompanied by the audible chime was a good call to attention.

On grocery day, the cargo area of the Forester easily swallowed a week’s worth of grub. A plastic cargo-floor insert assured that any spills from groceries, backpacks or snow-covered kid gear would not ruin cloth or carpeting.

On the road the Forester offers strong acceleration even without moving into sport mode. The CVT never bothered me, although with it I would expect the Forester to get better fuel economy. Throughout the weekend of running errands about town, I averaged 18 mpg.

What competes with the Forester? Vehicles in this class with turbocharged engines and CVTs are rare, but AWD crossovers are not. There is a turbocharged Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that offers similar features with a softer interior and the latest Toyota RAV4 boasts more cargo and passenger volume than the Subaru, albeit with less horsepower, at lower price.

2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring

Base Price: $33,820

As-Tested Price: $36,220

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged H4; AWD, continuously variable transmission

Output: 250 hp @ 5,600 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 2,000-4,800 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,622 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 23/28/25 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 22.9 mpg

Options: Keyless access and start, EyeSight, HID headlights ($2,400)

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130508/carreviews/130509947#ixzz2THNyHeok
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2015 Subaru WRX – Autoblog Spy Shots – Ruge’s Subaru

By Zach Bowman

Posted Apr 16th 2013

Subaru has been busy testing the next-generation WRX STI. Well, it may be the STI. The big wing out back lends some credence to that theory, but it could be that the basic WRX is getting new action in the back section. Time will tell.

In either case, spy photographers nabbed a few shots of the heavily camouflaged sedan running around theNürburgring. Unfortunately, it looks as if Subaru has taken some of the sexy out of the WRX Concept we saw at the New York Auto Show, leaving this car looking more derivative of the current model than a revolution in design. The bold power bulge has disappeared from the vehicle’s hood and the lower fascia looks far more demure than the the wild concept. Likewise, the muscular rear fenders have been toned down substantially.

The result is a car that looks more like a mildly warmed over version of the current model than a production version of the WRX Concept. Still, engineers and designers may have a long way to go before the finished product hits the market, so we’ll reserve final judgement for now. After all, the early BRZ mules were nothing short of a travesty to look at, and we know how that turned out. Hope springs eternal.

Autoweek on the 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6 – Ruge’s Subaru

 

The interior of the 2013 Subaru Limited 3.6R is comfortable and spacious.

By: Andrew Stoy on 4/12/2013

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I spent some time in the 2012 Subaru Legacy 3.6R awhile back and came away from the car feeling pretty ambivalent. Unless Subaru made some fairly major platform changes (not likely), my experience in the 2013 is an ideal example of how different drives on different days with what’s fundamentally the same car can yield different results.

I picked up the Legacy at the Detroit airport after eight days on the road; sitting in the lot it was a nondescript design in an equally nondescript burgundy paint, but the big trunk swallowed all my luggage and the seats were immediately notable for their comfort, particularly after sitting on Delta’s plywood thrones for nine hours.

Anyway, in the ensuing three days the Legacy proved itself a quiet, capable commuter with plenty of power from its unique flat-six engine. Quiet is the word here — I don’t use that term about Subaru cars often, but the company has done a fantastic job of smoothing out the oddball vibrations of its flat engine, along with wind and road noise, in the Legacy sedan.

Rear-seat space is very generous in this midsizer, and the overall cabin is open and airy even. And, while I never had an opportunity to put the company’s symmetric all-wheel drive to the test, I’ve had enough Subaru time under my belt to expect this sedan to be a mountain goat in the worst Detroit winters. Unfortunately, AWD is also undoubtedly a contributor to the Legacy’s unremarkable 21 mpg combined EPA rating.

All in all, bravo, Subaru. The 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited is a slick sedan flying under most buyers’ radars. It’s one of the few vehicles I’ve tested that, upon seeing the MSRP, I’ve thought to myself, “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Mr. Stoy uses the word ambivalent above, exactly how one can catch oneself feeling driving the Legacy. I’m also pretty sure he’s correct when he says this car flies below the radar of midsize sedan shoppers — most think of Honda Accords,Ford Fusions, Toyota Camrys. Maybe the Chevrolet Malibu and probably the Hyundai Sonata, I’d wager.

So here’s the Subaru Legacy. Better than decent power, a transmission that’s so smooth I thought I might be in a CVT-equipped car, all-wheel drive security in the four seasons … it’s got some stuff going for it. Yeah, I had initial ambivalence, but the more seat time, the more I liked it.

Of the cars mentioned above, I’d argue this is among the most comfortable. The seats are relaxing (increasingly important to me at my advanced age — imagine that). The ride around Detroit is terrific. Nice and smooth (see previous parenthetical about my advancing age and how this too is becoming more and more important — sad but true). Yes, there’s lots of body roll if you corner hard or even hard-ish. Don’t care.

Most people probably think station wagons when they think of Subaru. Granola-crunchin’ farmers and Dartmouth professors buy Subaru wagons. To many, that’s why the company exists. Or that’s the reputation at least. (Yes, real car people know letters such as WRX and BRZ are important, but I’ll wager the general consumer doesn’t). Reputations are hard to shake. But this car is an argument for considering Subaru’s sedans.

Exciting? No. Mainstream good? Definitely.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Midsize-car shoppers who miss out on the Subaru Legacy are doing themselves a disservice. Yes, the car is fairly unremarkable in styling, but it’s a rare midsize sedan that does turn heads (Hyundai Sonata comes to mind). Taken in total, though, the car is a really nice piece of work, especially inside, where the seats are supportive, heated and readily adjustable to a good driving position, and controls are handy and functional (though gaining the upper hand on the navigation system’s voice prompts was fairly maddening — easy to find once you spot the nondescript volume bar across the bottom of the navi touchscreen, but not obvious).

Steering is direct, brakes are good, suspension is solid without being kidney-busting, but the engine — as noted — is the real strong point here. This H6 and the AWD work together to positively fling the Legacy up to speed — it’s really quite remarkable for such a mundane-looking model. If only the car were outfitted with a more modern transmission, or a dual-clutch auto-manual, it’d be a great driver. As is, the tranny doesn’t always want to swap down to the ratio you want for a corner, which limits the confidence level that everything else about the car tends to inspire.

2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

Base Price: $29,665

As-Tested Price: $32,382

Drivetrain: 3.6-liter H6; AWD, five-speed automatic

Output: 256 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 247 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,545 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 18/25/21 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 21.5 mpg

Options: Option package 08 including power moonroof, navigation system with voice-activated control, 440-watt nine-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, XM satellite radio and SiriusXM NavTraffic, Bluetooth hands-free phone and streaming audio connectivity, AM/FM stereo with one-CD player, rear vision camera, auxiliary audio USB/iPod port ($2,645); four all-weather floor mats ($72)

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130412/carreviews/130419984#ixzz2QLdzLkQg
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