CR Says Subaru Is Now Mediocre In The Most, Least Liked Car Brands Report

Apparently, Subaru dropped their advertising level in Consumer Reports. Who reads that rag anymore anyway?

I cant that that is shocking. The impreza is the cheapest car in the lineup. People these days expect to spend cheap car money but get luxury car quality. This is the same mentality that brings us the new age goofballs that think fast food workers should be paid enough to buy a new house, car, vacation home and support a family.
Then these people are unhappy when reality strikes and they find out their cheap car is just a cheap car.

Subaru owners are the most brand loyal for good reason. Will drive my third Subaru until I'm driving my fourth Subaru.

Regarding Impreza's lessor lower owner satisfaction. Maybe its because of its lessor reliability in comparison with other Subaru models. What kills me is that the Crosstrek and Impreza are very similar cars. Yet the Crosstrek has above average reliability and the Impreza has only average reliability. If anything, the Impreza is a simpler car and should be easier to make reliable.

Two possible explanations...
- The Scotty Kilmer windbag explanation - All Crosstrek is built in Japan, some Imprezas are built in the US. I am guessing a great majority sold in the US are made in the US, but I haven't been able a stat to confirm that.

- Crosstrek is a far better selling car, so Subaru puts more money into quality control ensuring better reliability

I'm guessing the latter explanation

I have owned an 02 Outback and a 09 Legacy wagon two of the best cars I have owned (except for the bad head gaskets.) Then in 2010 the Outback went from a small fun to drive wagon to a really ugly Suv with a boring CVT and they made the Legacy sedan only and we all know how well they sell. When it came time for a new ride I bought a VW Sportwagen. Fun to drive, efficient, 4-motion, 6-speed manual trans. everything my Subaru's used to be

I owned an 02 Outback and an 09 Legacy wagon and I loved them both, except for the bad headgaskets. In 2010 the new Outback became an ugly SUV with a CVT and the Legacy went sedan only and we all know how well they are selling. When it came time for a new car I purchased a VW Sportwagen, 6-speed, 4-motion and fun to drive, what Subarus used to be.

My 2021 Outback is a great handling car. However, it has some of the worst software. Lane centering loses lane recognition often. The map misses streets that have been around over 5 years. I had to buy a Garmin gps.

Subaru cars are reliable but their infotainment system gets worse every year. I'm at my fifth Outback. I would rather drive a reliable 4wd car with a poor infotainment than the other way around.

I have owned my Subaru Forester since 2016. I have 2 complaints about this vehicle. # 1 the spare tire compartment should be made to fit the size of a regular one from the car. #2 when the sun is low on the horizon and shining through the front windshield the Guage is impossible to read. The fix for this would be to have a white Guage cluster with a red dial. Otherwise I am completely satisfied with the the product.

I bought a 2021 Legacy Touring XT and have been disappointed with the rattles and buzzes all over the cabin after just a few thousand miles. Not what I was expecting from the top trim level. Plus the infotainment screen and safety suite are an irritating p.i.t.a.. First and last Subaru.

Never ever have I bought a car the same brand or model to follow a new purchase. My 2017 XT FORESTER is a hoot to drive 0-60 in 5.5 but slightly cramped for the big guy I am and now need a truck. Still, I recommend it to anyone

Apparently, subaru tends to have more than just electronic issue. Premature parts damage such as radiator leak, lower arm wore, a/c compressor issue etc. Nice n comfortable car but not that perfect at all as there alot of issue appear before 3years old drive in Singapore.

I'm not shocked they scored so low on electronics. The move to the giant screens, and every function going through those screens, it's one of the worst things I've seen in modern automotive design, and it's really disappointed to see Subaru follow that trend like sheep.

If you look at some of the negatives about Tesla, one of the largest is that everything goes through their giant screens. I test drove an Outback two years ago when the first big screens were coming out, and it was such a gawdy turn-off I wouldn't even consider the car, but it drive like a dream. Ended up going with a different brand. Hopefully Subaru can see this, learn their lessons, and fix this going forward.

We want normal infotainment screens, not large screen TVs mounted in the middle of our dashboards. And if I want to turn my heat up or down a speed, I just want a simple button please.

My family has owned subarus since the 1970s. The biggest loss was no longer selling vehicles with low range dedicated 4WD in the US market, which allowed the ability to crawl over steep 2 tracks. Still, love gen2 and gen3 Outbacks -- though head gaskets real problem. After 2009 they became increasingly soccer parent SUVish and not as great for the backcountry. Can't even change a headlight in the 2013.

I wanted to go with the latest Outback.

Why would you move the air controls to a giant touch screen? I am trying to adjust the air while driving. I am not flying a falcon 9. I don’t have enough time to safely stare at the screen and run through a checklist to make sure I got it right. I need to be able to feel the controls and have to, at most, make a quick glance down and back up. There’s 3 knobs in my cross trek and this hasn’t changed for 2022 it seems. It works fine.

And what’s with the outback sun visor? It doesn’t fit with the eyesight camera. I can’t see the road without ducking. I’m barely 6 foot and the seat’s all the way down. I’m not a giant. The cross trek visor fits and has an extender instead for when you need it on the window side. Works fine.

Who designed it? Sticking with cross trek. If new models follow the outback controls and visor design, I can’t do it. I literally had to turn down a more expensive car with the space I want because of the sun visor. You’d think if it’s right in front of your face you might take a little more care.

apparently Subaru should focus on building and vehicles ..not about planting trees or sharing the love . I can do that myself .if I want to buy a vehicle I want to get something for my money .not a piece of salvage .with bad head gaskets again and again .