Subaru Outback Blows Away Competition For Best Small SUV In Snow This Winter

Crossovers and SUVs are popular picks for new car shoppers this winter because they offer utility and all-weather capability, and some, like the Outback, come standard with Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system that you don't pay extra for it.

The 2023 Outback is now the best small SUV for snow driving in iSeeCars rankings, with an overall 8.8 points in its quality score. It has a reliability score of 8.4, a value retention is 8.0, and a safety score of 10.0.

The newly-redesigned Outback beats the competition from Subaru of America's lineup, like the Forester and Crosstrek small SUVs. It also beats competitors like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4.

iSeeCars says, "The Subaru Outback sport wagon is the best small SUV for driving in snow and offers standard all-wheel drive while offering plenty of cargo space, especially for a compact SUV. It's a dependable hauler for those who want the perks of an SUV with the driving dynamics of a car. It has a suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, steering-responsive automatic LED high-beam headlights, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Along with the Outback's standard symmetric AWD system, it has 8.7 inches of ground clearance to make it a capable hauler in snowy conditions."

The Subaru Outback has added all-weather capability

iSeeCars fails to mention that the Outback also comes standard with Subaru's X-Mode for added off-road capability. And some trims come with the new dual-function X-Mode for all-terrain ability. The Outback XT and Wilderness trim levels now offer a Deep Snow and Deep Mud function for additional severe weather capability.

What is the price of the 2023 Outback?

The 2023 Outback now comes in nine trim levels for U.S. customers; the base trim is priced from $29,620, Premium ($31,920), new Onyx Edition with a 2.5-liter engine ($34,720), Limited ($36,520), Touring ($41,070), Outback Wilderness ($39,670), Onyx Edition XT ($39,820), Limited XT ($40,920), and Touring XT ($43,520). Pricing includes destination and delivery fees ($1,225).

The best small car for winter and snow driving

iSeeCars also scores the Subaru Impreza as the best small car for snow. The Impreza compact sedan and hatchback get an overall 8.9 points in its quality score. It has a reliability score of 7.9, a value retention is 8.7, and a safety score of 10.0.

iSeeCars says, "The Subaru Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it is the most affordable AWD car on the market. The Impreza features Subaru's Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive system, allowing it to handle snowy conditions easily. The Impreza achieves Subaru's characteristic high safety scores and includes available safety features such as forward collision warning, lane keep assist, automatic high beam headlights, and automatic emergency braking."

Subaru created the small all-wheel-drive SUV segment and offers the best all-weather vehicles for new car shoppers. iSeeCars says the 2023 Subaru Outback is the best new model in the small SUV category, and Impreza is the best small car for winter driving this year.

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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: main image Subaru of New England