Category: Subaru

No comments

SUPER-VALUE SUBARU LIBERTY

  By ,

The imminent departure of Australia’s previous market-leading Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore family cars is opening up opportunities for a variety of mid-sized sedans that have previously sat in their sales shadow. One of the best-known of these contenders is the Subaru Liberty which has been on sale here continuously since 1989. The latest, sixth generation, model was released late in 2014 with some styling changes, engine tweaks and extra equipment. But the biggest news is some serious price-cutting that has seen Subaru Liberty drop below the $30,000-mark for the… Read more

No comments

SUBARU FORESTER DIESEL AUTOMATIC FIRES UP

  By , ,

With the loudest cooee coming from the bush, Subaru has answered the call by adding a diesel automatic to its model year ‘15 Forester range, as well as chopping prices by up to $3500, the latter on top of the $1000 trim announced at the beginning of this year. At the launch of the realigned range, Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior, said: “We know through our dealer network there is significant pent-up demand for Forester auto diesels, not least in regional and rural areas, where the benefits of fuel… Read more

No comments

SUBARU FORESTER 1997-2014

  By ,
2011 Subaru Forester

When the Forester was introduced to Australia in 1997 it was closely related to the Subaru Impreza hatch. It also reminded Subaru lovers of the Subaru 4WD station wagons. Over the years the Forester morphed into a medium SUV in styling. However, even as it entered the crossover era the Forester still had useful ground clearance so can tackle tougher than average conditions in the bush and on the beach. Forester’s suspension has longer travel than Impreza’s and more rugged specs with semi-off-road tyres. The latter may have been replaced… Read more

No comments

SUBARU LIBERTY CHASES FAMILY CAR BUYERS

  By ,

Subaru’s Liberty has now been around for 25 years but for a variety of reasons in recent times has fallen off the radar of many buyers. One of those reasons is the success of Toyota Camry and the local duo of Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore. Subaru’s intention is to take up some of the slack left by the looming loss of the popular Australian six-cylinder cars with the just launched the sixth-generation Liberty. The new Liberty is a refined, high-tech offering. It offers two engines and two automatic transmissions,… Read more

No comments

BIG PRICE CUTS FOR SUBARU OUTBACK

  By ,

Car interiors rarely feature in large print when new models are launched. Body shapes, engine sizes, new gearboxes, ride and handling tend to steal the limelight. That is of course unless the old model copped a bit of flak for its interior. Which brings us to the 2015 Subaru AWD Outback launched this week in Australia. For some time now Subaru Outback has been criticised for having below par interiors – hard plastics, ordinary ergonomics and user-unfriendly technology that lets down the rich mechanical engineering for which Subaru is highly… Read more

No comments

SUBARU WRX STI WITH PERFORMANCE PACK

  By ,

If you thought nothing could get better about the WRX STI you were wrong. Subaru’s superstar sedan just surpassed itself with the MY15 version. With a new look and upgrades to chassis and suspension taking drivability and dynamics to a new level, everything about the new STI model shouts ‘premium’ Everything, that is, except the price, which is $10,000 below that of the superseded car. The fourth generation STI, in manual sedan form only, now sells from $49,990, plus on-road costs, with the Premium model we’ve just tested topping out… Read more

No comments

REX EARNS ITS PLACE AS HEAD OF THE FAMILY

  By , ,

The wild child WRX of the Subaru school, born 20 years ago, has matured into a smart, no nonsense sports sedan. Not that the performance has been toned down: there’s still plenty to keep rusted-on Rex lovers from crossing the street to the opposition. With the fourth generation WRX, Subaru has come up with arguably the best handling version of the pocket-rocket at its most competitive entry price. That price is just $38,990 plus on-roads – amazingly, this is less than when the Rex was launched 20 years ago and… Read more

No comments

SUBARU WRX 1994-2013

  By ,
2003 Subaru WRX STi

Subaru’s WRX, aka ‘the Rex’, is a low-cost high-performance machine that has been a huge success in Australia, indeed worldwide. It has been sold here since February 1994 and there isn’t the slightest sign of its popularity diminishing. The WRX has tremendous performance from its turbocharged boxer engine and that grunt is backed up by the road grip created by its all-wheel drive system. The WRX had loads of personality as its flat-four ‘boxer’ engine has a distinctive beat, and an exhaust throb that appeals to all who love hot… Read more

No comments

SUPER-VALUE SUBARU WRX STI

  By ,

At the launch a few weeks ago of the new Subaru WRX we asked Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia what impact the WRX might have on sales of the new WRX STI. After all the WRX had moved closer to big brother STI with significant handling improvements. Senior said we should wait to drive the STI, as it might have some “surprises.” We looked at the current STI for clues: the 2.5-litre boxer engine is superb with 221 kW or power and 410 Nm of torque run through… Read more

No comments

ALL-NEW SUBARU WRX

  By ,

On Valentines Day 1994 Subaru announced the release of an all-new model called WRX. Based on the Impreza it was crammed full of go faster bits and had over the top styling that had car enthusiasts excited from the word go. Even the big-car boys, in their hot Holdens and fast Fords grudgingly admitted Subaru had introduced something very special. Twenty years and a few weeks later an all-new Subaru WRX has hit the roads down under. Hit the roads in Tasmania so we journalists could play on some Targa… Read more