Subaru Scores The Highest In CR's Road Tests - All Models Ranked From Best To Worst

How well do the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek, Outback, Forester, and other Subaru models perform in road tests? Subaru vehicles are known for all-wheel-drive and are also rated highest among all mainstream automakers for their road test scores by Consumer Reports. Below is each model ranked from best to worst.

When you take a car on a test drive, you overlook the ride quality unless it's awful. The salesperson usually takes you on a short pre-determined route that doesn't include rough pavement, dirt roads, or sharp curves. You find out about a car's ride quality, comfort, fuel mileage, or if it's easy to live with once you have purchased the vehicle and driven it for a few weeks. Then it's too late.

photo credit: Subaru of Wakefield

Consumer Reports road test scores are a composite based on more than 50 tests and evaluations at their 327-acre test facility in Colchester, Connecticut, on cars that Consumer Reports have purchased. Among the many tests are assessments of emergency handling, braking capabilities, fuel economy, ride quality, seat comfort, headlights, and controls.

The Subaru brand includes the popular 2023 Crosstrek, Outback, and Forester SUVs, most known for their all-wheel-drive all-weather capabilities. It is rated the best mainstream automaker for road test scores over all other car brands in 2023.

CR's road test scores rank the Subaru models from best to worst.

The 2023 Subaru Forester compact SUV and the 2023 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler get the best test scores (90 points) of all the Subaru models. The 2023 Outback midsize SUV and 2023 Legacy midsize sedan are next, scoring 89. They are followed by the Crosstrek subcompact SUV (88), Impreza compact sedan and 5-Door compact hatch, and BRZ sports coupe (86).

The 2023 Subaru WRX is next with a score of 83, and the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (discontinued for 2024) is last with a score of 82. The all-new 2023 electric Subaru Solterra compact SUV has yet to be tested by Consumer Reports.

Forester 90/100
Ascent 90/100
Outback 89/100
Legacy 89/100
Crosstrek 88/100
BRZ 86/100
Impreza 86/100
Subaru WRX 83/100
Crosstrek Hybrid 82/100
Solterra Not Tested

The Subaru brand has a combined road test score of 87 points, the most of any mainstream (non-luxury) automaker. The luxury brand BMW has the highest score of any automaker, with a combined score of 88 for its lineup. Subaru outscores Volkswagen (82), Hyundai (81), Kia (80), Honda (79), Toyota (77), Mazda (76), Nissan (74), Jeep (60), and Mitsubishi (56).

What does it mean for Subaru customers?

Subaru's all-wheel-drive 2023 Forester, Ascent, Outback, Crosstrek, and other models score high in all the essential areas you won't necessarily find out on a short test drive. For example, they score high in Consumer Reports assessments of emergency handling, braking capabilities, fuel economy, ride quality, seat comfort, headlights, and controls.

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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: Subaru USA