5 Settings That Will Make a Huge Difference On How Your Newer Subaru AWD Vehicle Drives

Multiple settings in your newer Subaru Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, or another all-wheel-drive Subaru model vehicle impact how it drives and how you experience it. In this report, I cover five of the most important settings that change how your Subaru operates on the road. The controls in my report apply to 2020 and newer Subaru models. 

All 2020 Subaru models with the larger touchscreen display apply to the settings I will share. Some models without the touchscreen also have some of the same features.

1. Adaptive cruise control setting

To keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, choose the distance you want to preserve, and EyeSight will automatically adjust your speed to maintain your selected distance.

Subaru adaptive cruise control performs several functions by watching the road via cameras located above the interior rearview mirror. It's a feature designed to make you work less while behind the wheel since the system will automatically adjust your speed to maintain a safe preset distance from the vehicle in front of you.

And all of this can be done without you needing to apply the brakes or the gas. No pedals? No problem! All you'll need to worry about is keeping your eyes on the road, and you can always switch this technology off once you want to resume driving as usual.

Subaru's advanced adaptive cruise control is also made to help prevent accidents on the road since it will slow your vehicle down or even bring it to a complete stop if necessary, as the car in front of you reduces speed. This can occur when highway driving transitions into bumper-to-bumper traffic or if there's a slow poke on the road.

2. Acceleration setting for the adaptive cruise control

Set the acceleration setting (how fast or slow your vehicle will accelerate after it has been slowed by another car or object) on the adaptive cruise control by clicking on the car icon. Under vehicle control, choose cruise control acceleration. Eco will be the slowest acceleration setting; you have Comfort, Standard, and Dynamic settings from slowest to the fastest acceleration.

3. Lane Departure setting

To set the lane departure setting, click on the car icon, go to Driving Assistance, and click on Lane Departure. You can turn off the buzzer, buzzer only, or you can shut it off.

The lane departure setting for the alert can be annoying, and many customers want to know if you can turn it off. The answer is yes. The cameras pick up the lines on the road and are sensitive. 

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— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) February 19, 2024

I am not particularly fond of the lane departure warning because I hug the inside lane while driving on narrow two-lane mountain roads, and it goes off all the time but can be turned off.

Go into the vehicle settings, click the car icon, driving assistance, and then lane departure. There are a few settings that you can change. Lane departure and lane centering depend on which feature you want to turn off.

4. Auto Vehicle Hold setting

Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) is a driver-selectable feature designed to help reduce driving fatigue by allowing you to bring the vehicle to a stop and remove your foot from the brake. The feature holds the car in place while sitting at a light, in heavy traffic, or if you are waiting for a train.

To turn it off, tap the AVH button on the touchscreen. Remember, when you turn your vehicle off, it has to be tapped again because it will automatically reset to the default setting. 

5. Auto Start/Stop setting

The most annoying feature on a new Subaru is the Auto Start/Stop. I have written reports on why it's the most disliked feature on any Subaru model. 

The frequent starting and stopping of the engine are tiresome to some drivers who live in urban areas, especially if you commute in heavy stop-and-go traffic every day. And many Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, and Ascent owners say they don't like the car stopping and starting because it shakes the car every time the engine starts back up.

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— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) February 11, 2024

The new Outback and Legacy do have a feature on its new 11.6-inch touchscreen menu, and you can turn off the system. On the home screen, push the car icon button to change the settings and click "Others," allowing you to turn off the Auto Stop-Start system.

NOTE: 

It's important to know that with most of the Subaru settings, once you turn the vehicle off and restart it, the settings will default to the original setting.  

X-Mode setting 

I have covered the X-Mode feature before, but here is a refresher on what X-Mode is, how to turn it on, and why and when you'll want to use it.

The X-Mode button elevates driving confidence and provides advanced traction and control. On a newer model with a large touchscreen, click on the top arrow on the screen and scroll to X-Mode. Click the on button. 

What is X-Mode?

Pressing the X-Mode switch activates five different forms of control to limit slipping tires:

1. Engine Throttle

The engine throttle opens when the driver steps on the accelerator pedal in everyday driving. However, X-Mode is designed so the throttle doesn't open too quickly. If the driver presses the accelerator further, the engine delivers torque faster. X-Mode employs unique settings that deliver torque gradually at first but then make it come on stronger.

2. Transmission

X-Mode keeps the transmission in a lower gear so that engine power can be delivered powerfully. While X-Mode is ON, this shifting pattern lets the driver make the most of the available power.

3. All Wheel Drive

AWD control is improved by raising the front/rear coupling force when X-Mode is ON, which helps the driver drive power more evenly between the four wheels. This maximizes the traction of the tires.

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— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) February 6, 2024

4. Vehicle Dynamics Control System

The VDC system, when X-Mode is ON, includes a specially-tuned "Enhanced LSD Control." For example, if the left and right wheels behave differently, the system applies brakes only to slipping wheels. Compared to ordinary operation, the brakes are applied a lot earlier when X-Mode is ON, resulting in LSD control activating much faster.

5. Hill Descent Control

At low speeds (under 12 mph), Hill Descent Control helps maintain the vehicle's starting speed for safer maneuvering--the car manages the throttle and braking, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering entirely.

This is the latest information regarding newer Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Crosstrek, or other all-wheel-drive Subaru models; however, Subaru makes changes to their new models continually, so I'll keep you posted as I learn more about the new model features.

Until then, visit torquenews.com/subaru regularly for my latest updates.

Your Turn

What do you think? Which Subaru features do you like and use the most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the new Subaru settings story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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Watch These 5 settings have a HUGE impact on how your Subaru drives

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

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photo credit: Subaru Corporation