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Which Subaru models are picked the best by their owners? According to Consumer Reports’ owner surveys, when asked “would you buy the same car again?” and owner satisfaction scores, the 2021 Subaru Forester, 2021 Subaru Outback, and 2021 Subaru Crosstrek are the most popular in their individual categories.
Consumer Reports’ surveys score the owner’s satisfaction with the vehicle’s ride quality, fuel mileage, safety features, and driver visibility. The difference is some cars meet owner expectations, while others are disappointed with their car purchase. Below are the seventeen “most satisfying” vehicles in sixteen model categories.
photo credit Adventure Subaru
In the fastest-growing SUV category, Subaru scores three models. The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is best in class Subcompact SUV, the 2021 Subaru Forester is the best Compact SUV, and Subaru Outback wins the Midsize 2-Row SUV segment.
The Kia Telluride is the best Midsize 3-Row SUV, Ford Expedition Large SUV, Tesla Model Y Luxury compact SUV, BMW X5 Luxury 2-Row SUV, and Lincoln Aviator Luxury 3-Row SUV.
photo credit Adventure Subaru
The Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Prius, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, and Mazda MX-5 Miata are picked best by owners in the car category. The Chrysler Pacifica wins the Minivan category. The Jeep Gladiator takes the top Compact pickup, and Toyota Tundra is the best Full-size pickup.
Subaru, along with the Toyota and Tesla brands, all have three models that are best scored by their owners. Why do the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek win their categories?
photo credit Adventure Subaru
The 2021 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek are known for their all-weather “go-anywhere” capability. All three SUVs feature standard Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, and it doesn’t disappoint in deep snow, ice, mud, or slick road conditions.
All three models score highest in safety and crash score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Forester and Outback are Top Safety Pick + winners, and Crosstrek earns a Top Safety Pick. The Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek are also affordable.
What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Forester?
The 2021 Forester comes in five trim levels, and the base trim has an MSRP of $25,845, Premium ($28,845), Sport ($30,445), Limited ($32,445), and Touring ($35,945). Pricing includes $1,050 destination.
What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Outback?
The 2021 Outback comes in seven trim levels, base $27,845, Premium ($30,095), Limited ($34,645), Onyx Edition XT ($36,195), Limited XT ($38,545), Touring ($39,045), and Touring XT ($40,995). Pricing includes $1,050 destination.
What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek comes in five trim levels. The base trim is priced from $22,245, Premium ($23,295), all-new Sport ($26,495), and Limited with the 2.5-liter engine ($27,995). Destination and delivery add $1,050.
As gas prices rise 14 percent in March, consumers are looking for SUVs with the best fuel efficiency. The Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek also get excellent fuel mileage.
What is the fuel mileage of the 2021 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek?
The Forester has an EPA fuel mileage estimate of 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg.
The EPA fuel mileage rating of the 2021 Outback XT 2.4-liter turbo is 23/30 city/highway mpg and 26 combined mpg. The estimated fuel economy of the standard 2.5-liter engine is 26/33 mpg city/highway and 29 combined mpg.
The EPA estimated fuel mileage for the 2.5-liter engine is 27/34 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The Crosstrek with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine gets an EPA estimated 28/33 mpg and 30 combined mpg.
The 2021 Subaru Forester, 2021 Subaru Outback, and 2021 Subaru Crosstrek score highest with their owners in the Subcompact SUV, Compact SUV, and Midsize 2-Row SUV categories. The three vehicles meet owner expectations and say they would rebuy the same car.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Main image Competition Subaru, Adventure Subaru
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Comments
We traded in my wife's 2017
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We traded in my wife's 2017 Forester 2.0 turbo for a Mercedes GLA 250. Price of the Mercedes was exactly what the Subaru would have been to buy off lease. To say the Mercedes is a much better car is an understatement. I have owned 5 Subarus going back to 1998. I can tell you the value proposition has severely decreased. My wife described her Forester as a wobbly box on wheels. Oh and the insurance is the same too on a Subaru or a Mercedes. I guess what I'm saying is I don't understand why anyone buys a higher trim level Forester when there's a Mercedes GLA 250 waiting for you.
My wife also had a 2017
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In reply to We traded in my wife's 2017 by Former Forster owner (not verified)
My wife also had a 2017 Forester XT and I could not stand the acceleration profile, the constant soot on the tailgate, and particularly how unstable it was on the highway (I love your wife's description). I thought I would write this just in case there is anyone else with the same sentiments, and it probably applies to any Forester prior to 2019 -- do yourself a favor and get a 19mm rear sway bar!
I have added 19mm rear sway bars to all the Outbacks I've owned to make them ride and corner more acceptably, and after I ordered a new Outback at the time, I ordered a 19mm rear sway bar as well. After a couple months of tripping over the sway bar in the den, I figured I would slap it on the Forester just to see what it would do. HOLY COW! It was a 100% different driving vehicle after that and actually was straight and stable on the highway and flat around corners without having to slow down considerably.
I still traded it in on a 2019 Forester (which was a 100% upgrade, even without a turbo), but like I said there may be readers that could benefit from this simple $100 driveway upgrade (make sure to get a kit with new bushings).
Lincoln Aviator owner
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Lincoln Aviator owner
This SUV is the ultimate road vehicle, so quiet, comfort that is unreal, every possible option, for its size over 25 mpg on the highway at 70+, laid out interior that is thought out, 3 row seating for the kids. This is my 3rd Lincoln and the engineers got this right