Is Subaru better than Toyota?
As a long-time Subaru owner and automotive journalist based in Colorado's high country, where snow is measured in feet, not inches, I've come to appreciate the unique advantages of Subaru's all-wheel-drive vehicles. Their performance on snowy and icy roads has never left me stranded or stuck, a testament to their reliability and capability.
That's only one reason: there's much more that sets the Subaru brand apart. First, I explain my involvement with Subaru and why I cover the brand.
My history with Subaru vehicles goes back a long way, creating a deep personal connection with the brand.
My fiance introduced me to the Subaru brand in 1979 when she drove a 1978 GL 4WD Wagon. Yes, that dates me, and I've been around Subaru vehicles for about as long as they've been in the U.S. market.
My automotive journey has put me behind the wheel of numerous Subaru and Toyota models. I've owned a Subaru XT Turbo, Subaru Legacy, Subaru WRX, Subaru Outback, and a Subaru Crosstrek. I've also owned a few Toyota models, like a RAV4 and a Toyota pickup.
As an automotive journalist, I've driven every Subaru and Toyota model they've produced for the last twenty-four years. My least favorite Subaru model? I would say the Subaru Tribeca B9 SUV.
What's my favorite Subaru model?
Among the Subaru models I've owned, the WRX stands out as the most exhilarating to drive, while the Crosstrek strikes a perfect balance between size and utility. The Outback, with its rugged yet refined appeal, is a close third in my list of favorites.
What model would I like Subaru to bring back? The Subaru Baja pickup. This time, I would like to see a Baja Wilderness midsize pickup. Check out my Baja report and why there's new hope for Baja fans.
Ok, so why is Subaru better than Toyota?
Toyota is the largest automaker in the world and a popular brand. They make excellent vehicles, but are they the best? Bigger isn't always better. Subaru is one of the smallest Japanese automakers, which gives them an advantage.
It's hard to move a large ship like the Titanic. You had better plan in advance, or you could sink. It's easier for a smaller automaker to make adjustments regarding market conditions than a larger automaker.
Like some other car brands, Subaru didn't jump too quickly into the electric vehicle market. They are taking a smarter path.
Jeff Walters, President and COO of Subaru of America, says, "Solterra was the first EV, and it's been a good path for us. In my opinion, with the new EV transition, Subaru has been on a fairly smart path, and the strategy going in for a company our size, we strive to be a quick follower, a smart follower."
Check out my report here on Subaru's new EV plan.
Why do I think Subaru is a better automaker than Toyota? Here are my seven reasons.
1. Outward visibility and blind spots.
I've written a lot about Subaru's excellent driver outward visibility. The Forester is probably the best for outward visibility and blind spots. A significant difference is where the side mirror is mounted on the A-Pillar. Subaru mounts it on the door while the RAV4 is mounted closer to the front A-Pillar.
For this reason, the Forester is ranked the best for shorter drivers. Shorter drives can easily see out. Drivers of all sizes will be safer because they can see the road better.
2. The Boxer engine design offers many benefits.
Subaru uses the Boxer engine design exclusively. Toyota has inline and V6 engines. The flat-four Boxer sits low in the chassis, giving every Subaru model a lower center of gravity and better weight distribution. This improves driving dynamics and stability in turns and when you need to make a quick maneuver to avoid an object in the road or another car.
The Boxer enables Subaru vehicles to have a lower hood height for improved front views from the driver's seat. You can see more of the road in front, and the larger vehicles like the Ascent, Outback, and Forester give the driver the feeling of driving a smaller vehicle.
3. Subaru's excellent Symmetrical all-wheel-drive tech is standard on all models except for the rear-drive BRZ sports car.
Subaru's all-wheel-drive system provides traction effectively by distributing the engine power to all four wheels in a balanced manner. The transmission sits back from the front axle within the wheelbase. With a Symmetrical all-wheel-drive and Subaru's horizontally opposed Boxer engine, the entire power train is mounted with side-to-side symmetry.
Subaru doesn't adapt all-wheel-drive components to a front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle like other automakers; they develop multi-use cars around Symmetrical all-wheel drive. Many automakers adapt their AWD system to fit a front-drive configuration, and thus, they function passively, transferring torque away from the main drive wheels only when they slip.
Read my report on Subaru's AWD technology and why it's the best here.
4. Subaru SUVs all have 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
Subaru's SUV ground clearance has multiple benefits. It's easier to slide into and out because you aren't climbing up and not sitting down to get in.
The extra ground clearance is a significant benefit when you are in deep snow or on the trail navigating loose rocks and uneven terrain. The Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester Wilderness trim levels have 9.5, 9.3, and 9.2 inches of rock clearing ground clearance, respectively.
5. Safety
Subaru uses a ring-shaped reinforcement frame that surrounds the entire cabin. This keeps the driver and passengers safe in a crash or collision. Read my report on how a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek saved Kenzi's life after she slid sideways on a wet road, rolled the vehicle three times, and hit a tree. She walked away without any injuries.
Every Subaru now comes standard with the automaker's EyeSight safety tech. I would not buy a Subaru vehicle without it.
6. Subaru treats its employees and customers with respect.
I talked with a car salesman who worked at a Subaru dealership and then went to sell Toyota vehicles. After only one year, he went back to selling Subarus because, in his words, "Subaru treats their employees better, and they treat the customers with respect." Powerful words from someone who has sold both car brands.
7. Subaru's corporate leadership
Is Subaru more than a car company? Yes, and here's why.
Subaru's mission is not just about making great cars; it's about being a positive force that shows love and respect to all people. Subaru of America strives to embody this mission in every interaction, whether with new car buyers, longstanding owners, retailers, partners, or the communities where Subaru employees live and work. This inclusive mission is what they call the Subaru Love Promise.
If you buy a Subaru, you'll help the automaker make an impact. They make a difference in the communities where they do business. Check out Subaru's corporate leadership in my report here.
Is Subaru the perfect car company?
No, they make plenty of mistakes, but they do a lot that's right that's worth letting customers know about. I will strive to let you know what they do right and where they can improve. Stay tuned.
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Subaru
Comments
I enjoyed and agreed with…
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I enjoyed and agreed with your article as I worked for Toyota for 49 years and after driving a new demo every 3 months for 25 of those years, I was convinced that Toyota was the only manufacturer building a quality car. I did some jobs for Subaru and had the opportunity to drive a few of their models and was thoroughly impressed. So much so that I bought a new Outback Touring XT and I have to say this car feels like it was built just for me! Comfortable, powerful, agile and loaded with usable features, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed owning a vehicle as much. Thanks.
I understand your bias…
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I understand your bias towards the Subaru brand living in Colorado. Unfortunately that bias doesn't equal a better car. Standard AWD is the one trick wonder Subaru has left I too grew up with Subaru in a time when they were not "Standard AWD" and back then they were not that great My Parents owned 2 Subaru GL wagons and they were well horrible. My Dad's 81 GL wagon was so underpowered that while on a trip to Big Bear California we all had to get out of the car so my Dad could get the car up the mountain. My Mom's 84 GL wagon was such a piece of crap it literally was in the shop every other weekend for something wrong with it. Then later as i grew up and when the WRX came to the USA for the 1st time and finally be able to get one only to have the head gasket fail the 1st month of ownership. I traded that WRX in on a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and never looked back. All the "Pro's" on this articles list many cars have. I currently drive a VW GTI and though not AWD gets me whenever i need to go even in winter with a good set of snow tires. Subaru's like VW are kinda quirky cars that you either like or you don't. One thing that is kinda cool about Subaru though is most dealers give a free Vape pen with every purchase along with a huge rainbow sticker 👍
To each their own 🙄
If there is 7 reasons Subaru…
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If there is 7 reasons Subaru is better than a Toyota there is a 127 why Toyota is better than Subaru . Subaru will always be a niche car. More maintenance , boxer engine is prone to oil burning and countless other issues. This is coming from a Subaru owner 10x over. Don't get me wrong , there is time and place for Subaru but the average non awd need Joe is far better with a Toyota
I took bought my first…
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I took bought my first Subaru in 1978. I had just graduated from college and I was moving to CA in an enterprise sales role. It was a front wheel drive 4 door sedan. I put 85k miles on it in 2 years. Other than the air conditioning which was sub standard the car performed really well. Fast forward 36 years after having a rx-7, multiple Audi A4s I came back. I bought a 2016 Crosstrek which my daughter now has. I replaced it with a 2018. It is a near perfect vehicle and BTW, the air conditioning is fabulous.
Great thoughts, but Toyota …
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Great thoughts, but Toyota (and Ford, Harley-Davidson, and a quickly growing list of manufacturers) are backing out of DIE initiatives as divisive and too political.
I'd like to buy a Subaru soon, but will wait and see... Kind of hard to trust service if the brand is tanking over supporting dumb stuff like biological males in the Olympics injuring women volleyball players and boxers.
Toyota is clear that this is not a hill to die on. Does Subaru need to man-splain to women what a woman is and push politics that can turn away customers?
1 MAJOR REASON THEY ARE NOT…
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1 MAJOR REASON THEY ARE NOT BETTER THAN TOYOTA!!! "HEADGASKET FAILURES!" HOW MANY HAVE FAILED AND SUBARU DOES NOTHING??!! I'LL WAIT
This is fixed long ago. …
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In reply to 1 MAJOR REASON THEY ARE NOT… by Mark Southard (not verified)
This is fixed long ago. Check youtube Mr Subaru.
That's a thing of past. I…
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In reply to 1 MAJOR REASON THEY ARE NOT… by Mark Southard (not verified)
That's a thing of past. I had been sorted out long time ago.
This is a Subaru puff piece…
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This is a Subaru puff piece. Don’t get me wrong, we like our 2019 Forester and it handles well in the snow.
* MPG - But 22 mpg sucks. I was getting better than that in my old Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had a 6 cylinder. Our RAV4 hybrid gets 38 mpg by comparison.
* Interior Space - the Subaru is slightly larger and it wins that category. However, the interior materials are low grade and the stereo isn’t very good. One thing that is really bad is the auto stop/start. It drains the battery terribly and sometimes kills the car as you start off at a green light. Just today, I installed a switch that will keep it off unless I turn it on.
* Dealer: the Subaru dealer in Walnut Creek, CA is a complete arrogant ripoff. Unreal prices and terrible service. I drive 40 miles to a different dealer when things are needed. So that is a huge negative.
* Windshield wiper replacements - odd size that is not available from upgraded aftermarket companies, so every year I need to replace them with soft and worthless OEM blades - FOR $70 each time.
* onboard computer - LEDs for helping you know when you are optimizing driving for better mpg have never worked properly. Dealer said they couldn’t find a problem when in warranty and I have just left it alone. A shop estimated $600 for diagnostic and replacement of some electrical switch, if that was even the problem.
So, Subarus are decent cars, but the author’s love fest for them isn’t valid for all. Just check around with friends driving them and test drive a few before diving into another $40k auto. Or buy used and save a few bucks.
This is my second Subaru and…
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In reply to This is a Subaru puff piece… by Mark (not verified)
This is my second Subaru and last I have a Crosstrek and the infotainment system has not worked in a couple of years 3000 dollars to replace
I don't agree that Subaru is…
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I don't agree that Subaru is better than Toyota in any way
How is everyone's head…
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In reply to I don't agree that Subaru is… by Nuhu Abdulhafeez (not verified)
How is everyone's head gasket?
My Toyota is at 300,000+ km and running strong. Not to mention, it's got a better interior than my Subie did
Just spent 4000 on a new cam…
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In reply to I don't agree that Subaru is… by Nuhu Abdulhafeez (not verified)
Just spent 4000 on a new cam carrier seal on my 2018 Outback. Car only had 61000 miles on it. Nice car to drive, way expensive to maintain. Seal failure was certainly a factory defect. Dealer waited till out of warranty to explain it to me. Even so 4 cylinder gets me 36 mpg. Probably won't be buying another though.
I very strongly suspect that…
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I very strongly suspect that this is a paid advertisement for SUBARU!! It is a good Japanese brand but surely not better than TOYOTA. In half of the "reasons" mentioned LAND CRUISERS - and other TOYOTA and LEXUS 4x4-s - are at least on par (better in my opinion)!!!
O find your love for Subaru…
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O find your love for Subaru interesting, but being in Colorado there is no other car that exist. I've driven Subarus and fond their engine lagging, high rev for shifting, extremely expensive for their size both to purchase and maintain, and uses old technology compared to others. It may be a small car company but being part of Fugh industries it's huge. Remember the boxer engine is a copy. Also your reasons for it being better the Toyota are flimsy with blindfolfs.
This piece is so dumb that I…
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This piece is so dumb that I went out of my way to get out of bed and transfer it from my news feed to my Chrome browser so I can leave this comment. 13 year old me wrote better puff pieces than this. Subaru is better because one dude from one dealership said they felt more comfortable at that one place he worked at? Three seconds on Google will set you on the right track to read about Toyota's corporate values. Actually, I'd even argue that Toyota's organisational values have a far wider reach than its uber reliable cars.
Brother. All these are facts…
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Brother. All these are facts but there are types and different models of the two brands. Compare a particular model forexample a TX prado with its subaru equivalence. Not a subaru outback with a rav4. No matching.
Sadly you don't talk about…
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Sadly you don't talk about reliability and it's Subaru biggest flaws 😕
There are a lot of things I…
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There are a lot of things I like about a Subaru but it is NOT a better vehicle than a Toyota. I have but 50,000 miles on my forester. Oil leak in cam cover … over 1000 to repair. Transmission sealed and unserviceable other than dealer. … 600 for a transmission service. Sorry … they don’t last. Window motors replaced …. $$$$
Lug screws replaced on all 4 wheels $$$$
200 bucks for simple cooling service. Special blue coolant. Overall repair cost about 3500 after warranty if 3 years expired. I like the visability of the forester.
That’s all I like about this car.
Thanks for the great work…
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Thanks for the great work sir, however you need to check out or toyota cars the likes of lexus, toyota camry after 2007, mark x they are some of the best engines toyota has made among others and i would also like to think you refered to europe or US, try africa where the weather differs. Yes subaru makes good cars but toyota makes great cars......forgot to mention gasket issues too given its a boxer engine.....
I to have bought Subaru my…
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I to have bought Subaru my entire life but any more simple because most physical controls have been replaces by a giant IPad in the center of the dash. To me it’s a safety thing, you now need to take your eyes off the road to make simple adjustments to fan speed, seat warmers, and temperatures. I thought Subaru was all about safety. Also if you wear polarized sunglasses the bottom of the screen gets washed out. Why do carmakers feel the need to copy Tesla with their gigantic screen?