Subaru Sinks To The Bottom In New J.D. Power APEAL Study

As a fan of Subaru and on my third Outback since 1997, I can understand the low score. The only thing keeping me in a Subaru is the superior safety and AWD system. I have the top model with the turbocharged engine so it has all the luxury and performance I need or could want so that's not an issue. I buy the Outback because I want a wagon but not an oversized, bloated SUV. Although my 97 Outback was the smallest on the outside, it had the most usable cargo space. I was even able to put in the largest residential clothes dryer Maytag makes in the back with the back hatch door closed. Plus it had more than adequate rear legroom. My 2008 lost a little usable cargo space but was still a good size buy rear legroom shrank to being usable for children only. My 2021 which is still the current generation available follows the trend starting with the 2010 model as being a bit more bloated and SUV-like rather than car-like as the original generations. Rear legroom is amazing but that means it took 3" out of the depth of the cargo area with the rear seats up. So it's bigger on the outside but now has the least usable cargo space of my previous two. The whole point of a wagon is cargo space. And again, I want a car, not an SUV. But clearly the worst thing about the newest Outback is the Starlink infotainment screen. I do love that it's integrated into the dash and not sticking up like an after thought. And the large size is great. But it sucks to use and even though Android actually outsells Apple 2-1 worldwide, it seems Subaru favors Apple users by giving them nearly the entire screen while the Android portion of the screen is identical in size to my phone itself. Customization is lame too. Then while connected to my phone, the built in audio features are difficult to use and are far from logical. But the worst part of it is the HVAC controls. They take up a permanent spot on the lower portion of the screen so I'd rather have the screen size be that much smaller and have regular physical controls in the same spot. It already has physical buttons for temp control. I don't like going to a separate menu to change the heat settings for the seat or some of the other climate controls. And for some reason, the climate control doesn't work as well as my last two. My 2008 blows icy cold air set at 70 degrees but I need to set my 2021 to 65 to achieve the same results. The calibration of the thermostat seems off but the dealer couldn't find anything wrong. The auto climate controls on my first two mimicked my home HVAC so setting it at 72 was comfortable. 72 in this car does not keep it cool at all. In my other cars, I just set it and forget it. With this new one, I'm constantly changing the temp to stay comfortable. That kills the whole point of having automatic climate control. So I have a love/hate relationship with this car when my last two was all love. In fact, I love my 2008 so much, I can't get rid of it. Even though rear legroom was terrible, it was still car-like and easily the best looking Outback Subaru ever made. If my current car lasts the 475,000 miles my 2008 has, hopefully Subaru will have its act together by then or else I'll be looking elsewhere.

I agree! I've owned several Subarus but my latest purchase, a 2024 Outback wilderness, is an example of Product Development getting ahead of Engineering. It is jammed full of tons of complex features, requiring 4 inches of owners manuals. It has taken months to get through it all and some of it only works some of the time, or it's in the owners manual but not in your trim level

I took the 2025 Forester for a test drive last week. After all the improvements that I read about, I was set to trade in my 2019. Sat in the car, turned it on and the disappointment set in. The new infotainment dash is a fail. There is so much glare, it makes using it while driving (or even sitting) virtually impossible. We went to settings and played with the contrast and brightness and that did nothing to improve the screen. Note the sunroof was closed and it wasn’t a bright sunny day. I won’t be replacing my 2019 with another Subaru, which makes me sad. The glare from the infotainment center takes away from all the safety features and makes this version unsafe to drive.

"The new menu of items can be difficult to navigate unless the Subaru salesperson explains the latest technology."

Nope that isnt fully it. Its bad design and Subaru ignoring customers. No one wants digital screen hvac controls. When the car starts you have to sit there waiting forever for them to be usable because it is soo underpowered. It's also too dim (with sunglasses), android auto isnt reliable at starting up, and subarus wireless charging on our 2024 ascent is a total joke of dated tech that overheats the phone and the battery still drains while in wireless AA. Basically they make it sound good on paper but when you try and use it, you discover how crap it is.

But really subaru keeps making mistakes and it is sad to watch.
Their startex "fabric" for example is on wayy too many trims and even in a New England state is pure swamp bum and back inducing.

I ended up leasing a 2024 solterra as my wife bought a 2024 ascent.. Toyota does a lot of things better and it shows from ventilated startex that is 10x more comfortable than stiff plastic ascent seats... a much brighter screen in a better landscape orentiation.. easier to initiate cruise control, better lane centering without the ping pong the ascent does.. real hvac controls.. it isnt perfect but it feels a lot nicer and better to drive... now my wife takes it everywhere too so its getting too many miles.

We own a 2023 Subaru Ascent and the infotainment center is the worst. Its glitchy, sometimes just blacks out, forces SirusXM Radio down your throat, has way too many settings menus and nothing is where you think it should be. Honestly, after owning it a full year now, I absolutely hate it. Plus, add on Android Autos own glitch factor and its just terrible.

Infotainment needs a lot of work.
I am constantly fighting the infotainment center in my 2024 Subaru Crosstek Sport. I've had instances where when I start the car, the screen stays blank. I've commuted to work with a blank screen and no music. I also hate the lag between changes. Changing a Sirius XM channel or a local FM station seems to get stuck many times. I have a thumbdrive with music on it and when the next song starts, it can be 20 seconds before the screen updates. I sometimes listen to audiobooks when on a trip. You never know what chapter you're going to get after you have stopped and turned the car off. In most cases, it won't be the chapter you were on when you turned off the car. I also don't like when I receive a text message, I select it to play it but it doesn't go back to the screen I was on. I spend more time looking at the infotainment screen, trying to get it back to where it should and less time with my eyes on the road. I can see an accident happening because the Subaru infotainment system is just that bad.

We bought a 24 Outback which is our 3rd Subaru. We do have the latest software update in the 24 outback. The logic of the menu navigation is confusing. It feels like multiple menus stacked on top of each other, versus one menu. CJDR does this well with their Uconnect radios.

We have experienced some buggy issues. When the navigation is loading, it locks up the radio for a few seconds. The radio also isn't smooth switching from CarPlay audio source to radio. There's a delay when pressing buttons and navigating. Almost like they cheaped out on the processor running the radio's OS. Again, issues I don't have in my Jeep Uconnect.

Otherwise the Outback is great, and I would buy another Subaru. I just hope they release an update that actually improves the infotainment system.

I love my 11.6 inch infotainment on my Crosstrek Wilderness.
Response is good and I love all the available screens I can go thru for information.
Only complaint is no front camera to view off the screen.
Do love using Google maps in satellite mode to look at potential water spots to launch kayaks from or go kiteboarding. The view on my 11.6 screen is clear and concise.

Detest those safety nannies. Subaru's safety nannies remind me to shop elsewhere. Touchscreens are unsafe, by the way, Subaru.

I have a ‘23 Outback Touring mdl; I was told that the ‘24 mdl is no different. At 78 one might think that the infotainment system would take me some time to master; given that the outback i traded in was 13 years old. I found that reviewing the manual(s) and experimenting with the system got me up to speed and in time has made its use not an issue.
I wouldn’t suggest that all is perfect, what is, but nothing that is deal breaker. My outback ownership (14 years now) has been positive such that a few issues w/the infotainment system would cause me to not own a “Subaru.
It would be interesting to know how many who have issues have reviewed/used their manuals and experimented/practiced with their system. I expect it might help.

Three months ago I bought a Forester Sport. Overall I like the vehicle. However, there are a few things driving me up the wall. 1) opening the gas door only when the car is unlocked. I always lock my door at a gas station. 2) This nonsense of not being able to unlock all doors when the motor is running. 3) The idea that the stirring wheel knows better than I do when I need to change lanes without fighting me for control. I'm going to hit someone some day and it will be Subaru 's fault. This is very dangerous. 4) Not being able to open the back hatch without it hitting my garage door and closing on me. In bad weather I unload in the garage.
5) The consent dinging of the unlocked seat belt. As a Handicapped woman, there are times when that belt isn't used. And, 6) there needs to be a way into the car without the key fob. What happens if you accidentally get locked out of the car? How do you get in with out calling AAA?

I'm surprised there aren't lots of comments on the stop-start system.
I'm still driving my 2018 Outback with 91k, and really hesitate to update it, with all the flames about that clunky system. Maybe after another 100k I'll see if Subaru has figured it and the infotainment system all out, and returns to physical controls.for the.basics.

Any statistic that puts Mini at the top must be deeply flawed. I loved my Mini, but those cars are by far one of the least reliable cars I've ever owned.

I am less than 3k miles into my 2024 Forester. So much I like and a few irritations that will be a MUST in my next vehicle (a decade down the road).
#1 Why is there not automatic windshield wipers???
#2 Why do I lose signal on the infotainment system everything I drive under a bridge or inside a parking garage? This never happened in my Mazda.
#3 Why is there NOT a wifi connection to my phone instead I have to attach through USB charger in order to access android apps? Because I prefer my Spotify over SiriusXM.
#4 Seat warmers are a MUST have for me in any vehicle (helps with RA), the Forester warming is very lack luster. My Mazda was glorious.
So sorry this reply didn't address just infotainment. I am disappointed by the expectations v the reality. Otherwise, great pick up and go, lot's of leg room for us tall folk, and fabulous space for transporting so much (I can fit 2 26" bicycles in the back!).

I purchased a new 2023 outback Touring. It’s a very nice, quiet car. However I really dislike the infotainment system. It is unintuitive to use. You shouldn’t have to go through two screens to turn the A/C on. I was very close to returning the car because of that system. I have had the car 1.5 years and still really dislike the screen. I liked the controls on my 2016 Outback much more than this one.

I have a 2o22 Legacy. I love the car. It handles well and is comfortable and performs as expected. I actually like the Starlink Infotainment system but it, and using it on engine controls has not been a quick learning experience. Nonethelss I would buy a new one nect year except that they are going to end the legacy line. Thats a pity. If they were to issue it as a hybrid, you would have me forever.

for my 67th birthday in March of this year, 2024, bought myself a little
sportscar.
my Daddy-O started teaching me how to drive when I could only steer while sitting between his legs and advancing as I grew to learning to drive hs 3 speed on the column work truck .
I LOVE TO DRIVE!.
took me 6 months to choose my car.
I've never had that luxury.
forget about the fancy non essentials.
whats not to love about feeling that turbo kick in & hearing the whine.
man o man. I love to drive.
I LOVE MY SUBIE WRX!!!