It's always a good year to have a Subaru, but 2015 is spectacular. Not only is every Subaru model an IIHS Top Safety Pick, Consumer Reports has had some glowing things to say.
People's picks:
It's a sweep; Subaru took 49% of the total votes for best vehicle! From Consumer Reports:
Winner: Subaru Outback (25 percent [of votes])
The redesigned Subaru Outback hits a sweet spot, with refined manners, benchmark safety scores, available advanced safety equipment, easy-to-use infotainment system, and ample passenger and cargo space. Factor in standard all-wheel drive and respectable fuel economy, and you have an SUV alternative that the people feel is a true winner. Several commenters wrote that they love theirs, and Robin Siegel explained that “It's practical, goes through most anything, and can haul as much as I've ever wanted while keeping it out of the weather.” The Outback won last year with our inaugural People’s Pick contest, and this repeat performance shows that its standing was no fluke.
Second place: Subaru Forester (24 percent [of votes])
In the crowded, and popular, small SUV segment, the Subaru Forester stands tall. Literally. Its positives include large windows, big doors, an excellent driving position, and unusually spacious rear seating. In our tests, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable transmission averaged an impressive 26 mpg overall. Plus, the Forester has an excellent rating for predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, owner costs, and accident avoidance. And it gets top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) across its suite of crash tests. Commenter Celinda Woodworth Figgins captured the essence, writing, “I just bought a Forrester this past fall. I am extremely happy with it!”
It's a sweep; Subaru took 49% of the total votes for best vehicle! From Consumer Reports:
Winner: Subaru Outback (25 percent [of votes])
The redesigned Subaru Outback hits a sweet spot, with refined manners, benchmark safety scores, available advanced safety equipment, easy-to-use infotainment system, and ample passenger and cargo space. Factor in standard all-wheel drive and respectable fuel economy, and you have an SUV alternative that the people feel is a true winner. Several commenters wrote that they love theirs, and Robin Siegel explained that “It's practical, goes through most anything, and can haul as much as I've ever wanted while keeping it out of the weather.” The Outback won last year with our inaugural People’s Pick contest, and this repeat performance shows that its standing was no fluke.
Second place: Subaru Forester (24 percent [of votes])
In the crowded, and popular, small SUV segment, the Subaru Forester stands tall. Literally. Its positives include large windows, big doors, an excellent driving position, and unusually spacious rear seating. In our tests, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable transmission averaged an impressive 26 mpg overall. Plus, the Forester has an excellent rating for predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, owner costs, and accident avoidance. And it gets top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) across its suite of crash tests. Commenter Celinda Woodworth Figgins captured the essence, writing, “I just bought a Forrester this past fall. I am extremely happy with it!”
Best Small SUVs
Consumer Reports recently released its list of the top 10 best small SUVs, and Subaru takes 3 of those spots, including taking the title! From the report:
10. SUBARU XV CROSSTREK HYBRID
The XV Crosstrek is essentially a high-riding Impreza wagon, and that puts it into unique territory. It features a user-friendly cabin and a rugged aesthetic, but it is the hybrid powertrain that sets it apart. We averaged 28 mpg in testing, making it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the segment. The 2015 model boasts even better, with improved controls and the addition of Subaru's EyeSight suite of safety technology, including lane-departure warning and collision avoidance systems.
6. SUBARU XV CROSSTREK
The hybrid version kicked off this list, but the conventionally powered XV Crosstrek impressed us even more. It is roomier than alternatives such as the Nissan Juke or Mini Countryman, and it costs less than competitors—even when loaded up with options. What sets the Crosstrek apart from other small SUVs is its eight inches of ground clearance. That is almost on par with some traditional truck-based SUVs, plus it has standard all-wheel-drive. The Crosstrek exists in a space for buyers who want a vehicle with a little more visual muscle and actual utility than a small hatch. Factor in AWD, great fuel economy, and excellent predicted reliablity, and you have a compelling entry in this hot segment.
1. SUBARU FORESTER
The Forester may not have the sporty handling of the Mazda CX-5 or the clean styling of the VW Tiguan, but it delivers all the practical utility that defines the better vehicles in this class. The combined 26-mpg of the Forester is among the best in the class, and its upright layout provides impressive rear visibility and good cargo packaging. Features like power seats and massive, two-row sunroof come in in at a surprisingly low price, while features like a backup camera are standard across the line for 2015. Subaru’s optional EyeSight delivers a suite of high-tech safety features, such as collision avoidance and lane-departure warning systems. Throw in stellar reliability, crash-test ratings, and dynamic safety marks, and the Forester shines in this competitive segment as a smart, practical choice.
Best in Class
USA Today wrote about Consumer Reports listing of the best vehicles in their class, and Subaru came out looking pretty again with 3 more wins.
Best compact car: The Subaru Impreza takes the best compact car for the fourth consecutive year from Consumer Reports! Go, Impreza, go! With standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a 2015 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award, and standard Bluetooth, the Impreza was an easy choice.
Best mid-size sedan: The Subaru Legacy secures the top spot with its combined 30 mpg, adaptive cruise control, available rear cross-traffic detection, and an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award of its own.
Best small SUV: The Subaru Forester. It's classic, it's safe, it's reliable, it's great. 2015 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus, 8.7" ground clearance, 103.3 cubic feet of room to do stuff, and 1500-lb. towing capacity for even more doing.
Bonus: MSN's 20 most fuel-efficient SUVs
We have another few Subarus to tout with MSN's most fuel-efficient SUVs. We have four of the twenty most fuel-efficient SUVs, which sharp eyes will note is every single SUV and crossover that Subaru makes. So, every Subaru SUV is a fuel-efficient SUV.
SUBARU FORESTER
Fuel economy: 24/32/27 mpg
Forester was all new last year, making the Subaru SUV lineup one of the newest on the market as well as one of the most fuel-efficient. For 2015 Forester earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating with Subaru’s innovative EyeSight system, which integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning.
SUBARU OUTBACK
Fuel economy: 25/33/28 mpg
The Subaru Outback was one of the original crossovers, combining SUV utility with the comfort and convenience of a wagon. Completely new for 2015, Subaru has stayed true to that original formula. And while it is larger with added high-tech features and capability, Outback’s fuel economy remains impressive, especially for such a large vehicle.
SUBARU XV CROSSTREK
Fuel economy: 26/34/29 mpg
Subaru made a brilliant move a few years ago when it took the compact Impreza and with few alterations converted it into the very popular XV Crosstrek. The small crossover is fun to drive, has good space for four as well as a usable cargo area. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and full-time all-wheel drive, the Crosstrek is capable while delivering great fuel economy.
SUBARU XV CROSSTREK HYBRID
Fuel economy: 30/34/31 mpg
When Subaru introduced the XV Crosstrek Hybrid in 2014, it was the first hybrid the company had ever offered in the U.S. The hybrid system provides a bit more power than the gas-only version, but it also weighs almost 400 pounds more so performance is similar between the two models. Fuel economy is similar as well; however, the hybrid is rated at 30 mpg in the city, compared to 26 mpg in the gas version.
