SUBARU XV 2012 – 2021

Subaru is very well known for its all-wheel-drive models and in this edition of our Used Car Checkout series we are examining the XV series built from 2012 onwards. The Subaru XV from 2012 onwards have 220 mm of ground clearance, up by a substantial 75 mm on the Impreza XV it superseded so was no longer a hatchback trying to look like an SUV. That 220mm is regarded by many as being the minimum ground clearance for a genuine off-road vehicle. You wouldn’t call it a genuine 4WD in… Read more

SUBARU BRZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Subaru Australia has opened the order books for the limited-run Subaru BRZ 10th Anniversary Edition. Just 150 examples will be produced for the Australian market, with first deliveries anticipated to commence from February 2023. The limited BRZ 10th Anniversary Edition will be available exclusively in Subaru’s signature WR Blue and will feature unique exterior and interior styling elements. Each vehicle will also feature a numbered badge signifying the number of vehicles produced for the Australian market. Subaru Australia’s Managing Director, Blair Read, commented: “We are thrilled to open the order… Read more

NEW MATURITY COMES WITH REX GROWTH SPURT

When it comes ‘pocket rockets’ the Subaru WRX has form. Launched in 1992, the WRX, which stands for World Rally Experimental, became an instant icon, winning three consecutive makers’ world championships. Landing Down Under two years later, the WRX since has enjoyed strong sales in the sports sedan segment thanks, principally, to its trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system linked to a compact four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘boxer’ engine. Fast forward to 2022, with the fifth-generation model giving rise to a new maturity to a driving experience which previously had been unsophisticatedly… Read more

2022 SUBARU WRX GT SPORTWAGON

Subaru WRX, often tagged as the “Rex” is high-performance machine that’s been a longtime favourite with Australian drivers since it first arrived Downunder in 1994. The latest model is offered as a sedan and station wagon. It comes in four variants: base, RS, GT and tS, and two engine/transmission combinations. Our test car was the GT Sportwagon and we thoroughly enjoyed our week’s road test as it operates in all conditions in the country or the city with not only stunning performance but quite good comfort that makes it suited… Read more

SOLTERRA IS SUBARU’S FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Subaru will introduce its first electric vehicle to the Australian market with the Solterra SUV due to arrive here in 2023. The all-new Subaru Solterra will have symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, active safety technology, adventure capabilities and durable, reliable engineering – to an all-electric vehicle. Built on the e-Subaru Global Platform, a new all-electric vehicle architecture, the Solterra is designed to provide an electric offering without compromising on the brand’s distinctive features and abilities, delivering a vehicle that existing customers can feel is truly a Subaru. Blair Read, Managing Director Subaru… Read more

SUBARU FORESTER 2008 – 2021

Subaru Forester was first sold in Australia in 1997 as a smallish station wagon, before growing in size to became an SUV. It has reasonable ground clearance that’s okay for moderate off-road driving in the bush. You will also see some on the beach, though it’s best not to take it onto soft sand. In this Used Car Checkout we cover the Subaru Forester from February 2008 with the introduction of the third generation. The fourth Forester generation arrived in February 2013. This time the shape was more serious SUV… Read more

2022 SUBARU BRZ

  In a time when gas-guzzling pickup trucks and SUVs are dominating sales in Australia it’s great to see that Subaru has introduced the next generation of its neat little BRZ coupe. And it’s a proper sports machines in that it’s driven by the rear wheels, not the front. More about that in a moment.   STYLING The original design was very successful so Subaru has been smart in sticking to a similar shape. But it’s not just about looks, the new model not only looks great but is also… Read more

SUBARU FORESTER KEEPS ON KEEPING ON

Subaru Forester was one of the trailblazers in the SUV market when it was launched here in 1997. Starting as a relatively conservative station wagon, it evolved over the years into a stylish mid-sized vehicle. Through the generations Forester has been a consistently high seller despite the growing number of competitors in what is now Australia’s most competitive market segment. The latest MY2022 Forester arrived here in August 2021 with a moderate facelift, some chassis tweaks and a tech upgrade. Seven variants are available including two with mild hybrid power…. Read more

SUBARU OUTBACK AWD TOURING

With Liberty’s departure, Outback is now flagship of the Subaru range — but not the most expensive. That dubious honour goes to the hard-edged, high-performance version of the WRX sporty — the STI spec.R. But I know which one I’d rather have. My wife reckons the latest Outback is a corker too. About the only thing missing is a third row of seats. In fact, there’s no seven-seater in the entire Subaru range which is a bit strange — not since the Tribeca people mover in 2013. We drove the… Read more

FULL-ELECTRIC SUBARU SOLTERRA

Subaru Corporation has given us details of the new full-electric Subaru Solterra. Named by combining the Latin words for “Sun” and “Earth” it will be built on the e-Subaru Global Platform, a new all-electric vehicle architecture. It has been jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota on a BEV-dedicated platform. Subaru has made a commitment to apply electrification technologies to all Subaru vehicles sold worldwide by the first half of the 2030s and has announced it plans to continually develop and deliver products that meet societal needs and contribute to the… Read more