3 Reasons Why Subaru Scores Best Performance Brand 3 Years Running

When it comes to an automaker’s popularity, image is everything and Subaru scores high. It’s all about the perception of the American car-buying public and Subaru is tops when it comes to performance with models like the WRX sport-tuned sedan, the performance-tuned WRX STI and BRZ sports coupe.

Most people think the Subaru brand is all about building multi-purpose all-wheel-drive vehicles like the Outback and Forester, but the Japanese automaker is also about building performance oriented machines. Subaru scores Kelly Blue Book’s Best Performance Brand in their 2017 Brand Image Awards and win it for the third year in-a-row. How do they keep doing it?

STI keeps the brand exciting

Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the brand’s motorsport partner, is the main reason why Subaru gets the Best Performance Brand award from KBB for the third straight year. STI was put on center stage at the 2015 New York International Auto Show and has been given a new mission in the U.S. and around the globe: Keep the brand’s image in front of performance enthusiasts.

Subaru knows they have a loyal performance fan base that creates excitement for the brand. It involves motorsport activities and the technology STI learns from racing filters down to help Subaru and STI develop performance cars like the WRX and WRX STI. STI is involved in motorsports events like Red Bull Global Rallycross, the Nurburgring 24-hour race coming up later this month, American Rally Series, and the SUPER GT Series in Japan. All help the Subaru Corporation keep the focus on performance.

Subaru connects

Subaru scores Kelly Blue Book’s Best Performance Brand again because the brand also knows how to connect to the average performance enthusiast. Through Subaru events around the country like Subie-Fest in Southern California, Wicked Big Meet, Boxerfest, Big Northwest, and Rocky Mountain Subaru Festival, they allows passionate owners to show off their cars and connect with other like-minded enthusiasts. They’ve also created a niche market with the modifiable Boxer engine and Symmetrical all-wheel-drive being the foundation for what sets the brand apart from all other automakers.

The 2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI performance sedans and the BRZ rear-drive sports coupe ramp up the fun-to-drive meter. The rally-bred sedans are arguably the best performance car values on the planet. KBB says, “Whether you need a car that performs well on a snowy commute or on a crowded racetrack, your Subaru dealer has something for you. Sport-tuned models like the 2018 WRX, WRX STI and BRZ are bona fide driver's cars.”

Go to Page 2 - Watch The Newly Redesigned 2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI video

Photo credit: Subaru