Subaru Reliability - 2 Models Are Best In The Lineup It's Not New Forester Or Outback
A vehicle’s reliability is high on all car shopper’s list and Subaru has two models in its lineup that score a 5/5 in Consumer Reports rankings. One model is the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek which was all-new in 2018 and has a good track record of reliability. The other model with a 5/5 rating may be a surprise. It’s the 2020 Subaru BRZ sports coupe, a twin to the Toyota 86, and a joint venture between the two Japanese automakers.
Subaru’s two most popular all-wheel-drive SUVs don’t fare as well in CR’s rankings. The red hot model in Subaru’s lineup is the 2020 Subaru Forester compact SUV and scores a 3/5 in reliability. The next most popular Subaru is the 2020 Outback wagon which is redesigned for 2020 and scores a 4/5. The Legacy sedan shares many of the same components as Outback and also scores a 4/5 in reliability. The Impreza sedan and 5-Door hatch compact are also rated 4/5.
The 2020 Subaru Ascent is all-new and with many new models, it takes time for automakers to work out the bugs and gets a 3/5 in reliability. The worst model in the Subaru stable is the 2020 Subaru WRX and WRX STI performance sedans with a score of 2/5. The WRX has had clutch issues and the STI has had some issues with its 2.5-liter turbocharged Boxer engine.
If you’ve wondered why one car in an automaker’s lineup is more reliable than another, you aren’t alone. There are no easy answers as automakers constantly update their cars with mid-cycle refreshes, new engines, new technology, and some are getting complete remodels. And some are all-new models like the Ascent 3-Row family hauler. The automakers’ suppliers also play a role in reliability.
Overall, the Subaru brand makes reliable cars but has had growing pains in the past few years. Subaru has experienced an industry best 11 years of uninterrupted sales growth. This has put a strain on the small automaker’s two manufacturing plants and also its suppliers. In the latest CR car brand reliability rankings, With the fast growth, Subaru is still one of the top 10 automakers scoring number 7 on the list.
The Japanese automakers dominate the list with Lexus, Mazda, and Toyota, taking the first 7 spots. Porsche, Genesis, and Hyundai are just ahead of Subaru at number 7. The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek and BRZ top the reliability list with the least amount of problems for the Japanese automaker. Look for the number one selling 2020 Subaru Forester to improve as Subaru Corporation gets its plant issues in Japan fixed.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!
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