Is all wheel drive standard on every Subaru?
99% yes, since 1997. (The BRZ, a low-volume, rear wheel drive sports car, is the only Subaru model without all wheel drive).  Not all all wheel drive systems are created equal.  See a cute cat picture and visit our Planet-exclusive Subaru AWD page. 



 
 

Does all wheel drive hurt fuel economy?
Yes, but just a tiny bit.  Before 1997, when some Subaru's were available with front wheel drive, the all wheel drive models were rated one mile less per gallon.  The all wheel drive hardware only adds about 150 pounds, so having all wheel drive is like having another person in your car.  But what a guy!  If you could have an extra "passenger" that kept you a lot safer under virtually every driving condition, you would want him with you all the time!  Make your next car a Planet Subaru and you'll have a guardian angel riding shotgun.  


When will Subaru build a hybrid?

• Fall of 2013. 
  
• It will based on the popular XV Crosstrek crossover.
  
• It will be the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive crossover in America.
• Subaru-engineered hybrid system uses 2.0-liter BOXER engine and integrates an electric motor into a continuously variable transmission.
  
• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard.
• Visit our Planet-exclusive Subaru Hybrid page.
  

 

What if I can't wait that long?
Choose another car from America's most fuel efficient all-wheel drive manufacturer.  The new Impreza, for example, gets 36 highway mpg AND has all wheel drive.  It is the most fuel efficient all-wheel-drive vehicle built by any company.  This is better fuel economy than some hybrids produced by other companies. 


What is a Subaru boxer engine and how is it different than the engine in a mortal car? 
In most cars built now, the cylinders that generate power are arranged like wine bottles standing straight up.  This is an "in-line" configuration.  In a "V6" or a "V8," the cylinders are arranged at an angle, like tilted wine bottles in the shape of a V.  In a Subaru boxer engine, the cylinders lie flat. When the engine is on, the pistons moving inside the cylinders pass each other like arms of sparring boxers, hence the name.  Only Porsche and Subaru use a boxer engine, and they choose it for its ability to generate a lot of power from a small, light package that can be mounted low in the vehicle for great handling.  See our Planet-exclusive Boxer Engine page.

 

What is Subaru's EyeSight system?
Optional on 2013 and later models, a Subaru equipped with EyeSight uses stereo cameras and object recognition software to provide three different safety technologies: 

• 1.  Adaptive cruise control (the car will speed up and slow down according to traffic).  
• 2.  Low speed pre-collision braking control (the car will cut the throttle and apply the brakes to stop itself to prevent a collision with the vehicle in front of you). 
  
• 3. Vehicle lane departure warning (the car will alert you if you drift out of your lane).

See our Planet-exclusive Eyesight page.  

What is Subaru's X-Mode system?

Optional on the new Forester, Subaru X-Mode is a software program engineered to get you up and down vertiginous terrain using the traction control system.

• X-Mode uses lower gear ratios to generate extra power at the wheels that have grip;
• X-Mode deactivates the transmission's lock-up clutch to better direct power to slipping wheels;
• X-Mode makes the traction control system extra sensitive so that it intervenes earlier during wheel slippage;
• X-Mode employs "Hill Descent Control" so you don't need to apply brakes and risk locking them up when headed down steep slopes. 
  

See our Planet-exclusive Subaru X-Mode page.

What is a turbocharger?
A turbocharger is a fan used to blow more air into the cylinders.  By increasing oxygen available for combustion, the engine can inject more fuel to generate extra power.  Turbocharging allows a small, lightweight four cylinder engine to generate power more efficiently than a bigger, heavier six- or eight- cylinder engine.  Subaru currently offers turbocharged engines on the Forester and Impreza.


What is a Continuously Variable Transmission?
Starting with the 2010 model year, Subaru introduced a continuously variable transmission (CVT) called "Lineartronic."  It has no gears.  In very simple terms, it's a strong steel belt that moves along variable width pulleys...the fatter part of the pulley for speed, the narrower part for power.  Subaru's CVT delivers great fuel economy and smoothness.  Available on Legacy, Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Impreza.   See our Planet-exclusive CVT page.



What is Vehicle Dynamics Control?
VDC helps prevent skids.  First introduced by Subaru as breakthrough technology in 2001, it's now standard on every new Subaru since 2009.  Sensors throughout the car monitor where you're trying to go and where the car is actually going.  Most of the time, fortunately, the car is going where you want it to go.  But on a icy corner, for example, the rear end of the car might start sliding.  To restore control, VDC will apply braking pressure to slow individual wheels or apply engine power to speed up individual wheels.  In nanoseconds, VDC will bring your Subaru back into line.  See our Planet-exclusive VDC page.  






What are Anti-Lock Brakes?
Standard on every Subaru, ABS keeps your wheels spinning during braking.  During braking, you want your wheels to slow--not stop.  If the car is moving but the wheels aren't, you can no longer control the car...you just skid.  ABS works with a sensor at each wheel that monitors rotation.  If the wheel is about to lock up, the sensor sends a message to your car's hydraulic pump to release and then reapply the pressure. 




What is Subaru Brake Assist?
Research shows that drivers do not always apply all the pressure they should before an imminent collision.  They hit the brakes hard, but not hard enough to maximize the car's ability to stop.  Standard on every Subaru since 2009, Brake Assist monitors the rate at which your foot moves the pedal.  If your foot movement is sharp, the car will automatically apply the full force of the braking system instantaneously...substituting a heart-thumping close call for a nasty accident. 


What is the Subaru Brake Override System?
Standard on every 2013 and later Subaru, the BOS prevents unintended acceleration.  If you press the gas pedal and the brake pedal at the same time, your Subaru will cut engine power so the brake pedal will win the contest. 


Subaru's are getting bigger in terms of size and cargo room, does that hurt fuel economy? 
As Subaru's are getting bigger, their fuel efficiency is actually improving because of advances in engine and transmission technology.  Also, Subaru is now using even more high strength steel so the cars can get bigger without getting heavier.  

What is the difference between active safety and passive safety?
Active safety comprises the systems on a car that prevent an accident from ever happening.  Examples on a Subaru include all wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, vehicle dynamics control, and brake assist.  Passive safety comprises the systems on a car that protect you in an accident.  Examples on a Subaru include a ring-shaped reinforcement frame, extensive use of high-tensile steel, a boxer engine that collapses underneath the passenger compartments, and sophisticated airbag systems that weigh occupants to deploy with just the amount of force to prevent injury.  See our Planet-exclusive Subaru Safety page. 


Where are the cars manufactured?
Forester and Impreza are built in Japan.  Legacy, Outback, and Tribeca are built in Lafayette, Indiana.  Learn more about Subaru's zero landfill U.S. plant.

What's the difference between a Forester and an Outback?
See our Planet-exclusive comparison.


Where can I find a model overview that will help me find my perfect Subaru?
Visit our Planet-exclusive Subaru Model Overview page.   Or if you prefer a quick chart, click on the thumbnail below. 

 

 
 


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