Subaru road test reports and car reviews

Subaru Forester XS NAVPLUS D 2010

Great 5 star car, coupled with appalling dealer customer service. I’d had no problem with the vehicle until I returned from meeting my new granddaughter in Australia. I was away for the month of October 2011 and on return the battery was completely flat, without a glimmer from the lights or sound from the starter. My car was stored in my locked garage throughout, with the alarm set. I rang the supplying dealer and Jim, their service manager told me to phone Subaru assistance, which I did. Within 30 minutes an AA man using a booster battery had my car running and waited for another 30 minutes monitoring the charging rate with a diagnostic machine. He advised the battery was not accepting the charge as it should, and recommended a new battery be fitted as it was probable that this one would not return to full power. He then tried to restart, but although the lights now lit, the engine would not turn over. He restarted once more this time with success and said to keep the engine running and return the car to the dealer to have the battery changed under warranty. I rang Jim again, who couldn’t take the call and I spoke with the stores manager to explain what had transpired and ask if they had the appropriate battery in stock. They did not have one, but he said he would get one in for 4pm (now about 2.30 pm) and they could fit it then. Within 10 minutes Jim the service manager rang back and said they could not fit batteries just like that, dismissed the AA report as incompetent and said it was to be expected my battery would be flat after such an absence. Furthermore he advised that batteries should be disconnected if cars were not run for over two weeks! This rather rocked me, but it was agreed that I would present at the service bay at 4pm as arranged, for Jim to examine. On arrival I was seated in the showroom while Jim examined the car. Within minutes he came to collect me and took me through to the service bay to show my car with a diagnostic machine attached to a battery lead and showing the message "good battery". As the car had now been charging the battery for two hours plus, I thought this was probably so, but it did not explain to me why it had gone flat in the first place, and indeed how long would it hold the charge for? I reasoned with Jim that it could not be right that it was unreasonable to expect my Subaru to start after standing for a month, for my wifes 6 year old Mini had started first time, as had on a previous longer trip away, a Ford Focus (outside the garage for 6 weeks) and a MG ZT190! All argument was dismissed by Jim and he was supported by the salesman (batteries are not as good as they were as they don’t have any lead in them now) and also the dealer principal of Bay Horse Garage. I left without further checks or suggestions and now feel I have wasted £30,000 on this Subaru. 

Responses to this review

Paul, I am considering buying the same model as yours - has your battery problem persisted? - Richard Morbey from Oxfordshire

Subaru Impreza diesel 2010

My wife and I bought this car last year. We love cars, and we wanted something a bit different from the usual, with good handling. We got the diesel and I have to tell you it was a great choice. In spite of the weather you know this car sticks to the tarmac. The engine is efficient, refined and it’s got some sporty feeling though it’s a diesel; it revs fine. Sometimes you may think this is a V6 the smoothness is so great. Take into account that this engine is not isolated in a bubble like other diesels, and it is still is very quiet. The dashboard probably doesn’t feel as well finished as those found in European cars, but everything is well put together and you know it is going to be like that for a while, with reliability being a strong point in Subaru.

Subaru Legacy b4 rsk 1999

This is the quickest car I have ever owned. It has very good grip and is great in the snow. A very under estimated car with super performance.

Subaru WRX STI 2011

I moved from a Kia and have not been let down in any way.

Subaru Impreza WRX sedan 2010

I recently bought the 2010 WRX sedan version after having owned and loved the 1997 model, and find it quite a different machine. The striking differences are the extra power and reduced turbo lag - other than that, the handling was the same - still magnificent. The pickup is really funny actually, the time spend in first gear is so short its almost unusable - hilarious zipping around ensues. The dash visuals are also brilliant, love the red glow. The dash plastic is horrid though, its just a big lump of plastic and mine has since developed two vibration rattles. Fortunately Subaru offer a 1-year rattle fix guarantee, so I got the first one fixed perfectly for free - the second, new one is very rare and I can live with it. But, the build quality dash on the older version was much nicer. The steering wheel is also quite low and forces me to sit with it between my legs like a go-kart, tall people should test drive this properly first! As for the appearance, I like the more spacey look as opposed to the previous model’s aggressive style which didn’t really suit me. Hate the tail lights and rear spoiler though.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer BP5 2 litre auto 2005

This is my 2nd legacy estate having previously owned a gen 3 variant. Seats are much improved, having better support and a higher feel. The 4 speed auto gearbox is smooth with long gear ratios, the sport facility is excellent, very controllable. I service my own cars and this is quite straight forward with non subaru parts being reasonably priced. Fuel consumption after 3,500 miles is 33 mpg (varies between about 28 and 40mpg). The 2.5 might be a better all round buy as it has 162 bhp as opposed to 135bhp, but almost identical fuel consumption. The engine revs very smoothly all the way to the limiter. Very sure footed positive drive, with a nice feel through the steering wheel. Reasonable boot space with a good selection of additional boot storage. Good selection of airbags and a Thatcham class one alarm are very good features. Front wishbone bushes are a weak point but are easily replaced by aftermarket poly bushes. Excellent seating position and controls, nice instrument lighting.

Subaru Forester 2006

Bought this vehicle, my second Subaru. Two real shortcomings are fuel mileage (around 22mpg) and suspension front requires a new part every few years, but with regular maintenance as suggested by Subaru this vehicle will take you just about anywhere you want to go in a safe reliable manner.

Subaru Outback RE 2.0 D 16v 2009

I Love, Love, Love my Outback 2.0D RE! I bought it new in August 2009,and honestly I can’t fault the car in anyway. Mine is a Steel Sliver Met example, and it looks fantastic in this colour. I’d say this colour is the pick of the range! The standard alloy wheels on it look really beautiful, and really smart. Even the spare in the boot is an alloy and the fit and finish inside the cabin of the Outback is of Audi standard. I used to own two Audi A4 Tdi’s one 110bhp and the other 150bhp and I really think Audi’s are rather overrated now compared to the Outback. The real test for the Outback came,when we had that awful cold snap and deep snow that lasted right through ’til well after Christmas! My Outback took it all in its stride, sticking to the road like glue and had no problem climbing the steep hill where I live, whilst Audi and BMW drivers COULDN’T MAKE IT UP!!! The only disavantage is we only have two dealerships in the whole of N.Ireland, but other than that I’m very well pleased so far with my car. would I buy another one? would I recommend one? YES and YES! The only thing I don’t like is the brand new 2010 model onwards, I don’t think it looks half as good as the 2009 model it replaced! I’d score my car 10/10*, it’s the best car I’ve ever owned!

Subaru Forester 2.5 XT 2004

I have been driving the Forester 2.5 XT racking up around 100,000 miles in around five years. I can only say one thing about it, and that is that the 2.5 XT is without any doubt the best around car in the world. I can only mention one little thing that some people maybe would see as a minus and that is the gas consumption, the 2.5 XT is a little thirsty.

Subaru Forester GX Manual 2 Ltr 1998

Yes, I have done gigs with it, and all the stuff fits easily. Yes, I have had it off-road in steep rocky hills with a side-dish of mud. And I bogged it, through not crossing the ruts with enough vim. The family has both camped with it, and been away for a week of non-camping comfort. What don’t I like about it? The radio is some kind of mess. At some point in the last 160,000 miles some previous owner has installed this non-standard not-quite-working radio, about which I have done nothing. There is a vague glunking noise from the front end. especially when pounding over rocks. The old road tests complain about the cheap carpet, and the carpet under the driver’s feet shows signs of wear. And there is mud on the upholstery, for some unknown reason. There could probably be a bit more room in the back and a little more rear seat legroom. The gear shift is a bit loose and rubbery. At 1.447:1, low ratio is more like a sort of mid ratio, but it is useful for slower, less-pounding travel in the rough stuff, and handy in the steep stuff. It is also good for difficult reversing. I haven’t yet had the car on sand. Good points? Everything else. My 160,000 mile 12-year-old near-mint-condition Foz is a delight. Robust, reliable, comfortable, economical, fun, amazingly versatile. I can chuck it about on the road like our little front-wheel-drive. I can whizz about like the high-speed old fart that I am. (I must remember to tie my rusty old winch down to the tie-down points). And off-road, I can crawl or otherwise progress, wheels spinning occasionally in the air. To conclude, it is an excellent car. And car it is, car with off-road capability, not one of those vague and clumsy and unstable off-road things. Buy one and enjoy - but you probably already have one.

Subaru Impreza Diesel RC spec 2010

Recently bought a 2010 Impreza diesel - RC spec. I’ve had an old petrol Impreza and a WRX before and loved them both but fuel consumption and insurance on the WRX meant high running costs - awesome to drive though! I ended up buying a Toyota RAV as a "practical, economical" car with 4WD but in spite of the fact that they get decent reviews I hated it. About as exciting to drive a sliced, white bread and 3 mths after 3 year warranty expired it developed an engine fault which Toyota couldn’t identify but may have been the catalytic converter. I had clear criteria for the replacement - 4WD or AWD to cope with muddy fields and snow, reliable. not too large, cheap to insure, tax and fuel and fun to drive. Extensive research kept bringing me back to Subaru and the diesel Impreza ticked all the boxes. The expert reviews I’ve read mainly say great car, great engine and handling but some query the premium compared to other diesel hatchbacks such as Golf and Ford and wonder is it worth it for AWD? Well trust me if you like driving and appreciate how a car handles then it’s worth every penny extra. Love it.

Subaru Impreza wrx turbo 2009

Went into dealer originally to buy the new diesel version but as grunt did not match looks tried turbo petrol wrx, made me realize what I had been missing in my driving. Besides effortless power what struck me most was the wonderfully absorbent suspension, uncanny stability and engine smoothness. Running costs higher than my old Octavia Vrs diesel but insurance only slightly higher at around £300 and fuel consumption around 30 most of the time. Being wider and with a longer wheelbase than the Skoda interior has useful volume. Seats v.good but dash could have been designed more attractively though the big central rev-counter maintains the performance image. Car relatively cheap to buy but first drive leaves you in no doubt where the money has gone- the wonderful engine and drivetrain.

Subaru Legacy 2.5i SE 2005

What a brilliant car, especially second hand, it must be one of the best kept secrets on the used car market. It could do with a bit more power, but otherwise nothing to complain about. I also came from a BMW 3 series to the Legacy. Superb value for money.

Subaru Forester S turbo 1999

I bought a 1999 S turbo forester 6 years ago, it has been all over Europe and east Europe where the roads are very bad. The car has never failed me at all I am very impressed with this car, and would never part with it. It cost a little on insurance, but you can’t have speed and cheap insurance. Well done Subaru.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 2.0 diesel 2010

Subaru produce some of the best-engineered cars available today. Almost over-engineered, it’s small wonder that they are renowned for their reliability and top quality. When it comes to customer satisfaction they are in a different league from products sold by the ’stack ’em high, sell ’em cheap’ dealership chains. Most are sold by the traditional small motor business - often family owned - where they live or die by the way they treat their customers. This marque is usually bought by motorists who know quality when they see it and who are not impressed by young shavers of salesmen who don’t know what a ’boxer’ engine is - but are happy to stitch you up with a finance agreement that doesn’t end until Doomsday. The new Legacy Tourer certainly boxes clever under the bonnet, with the new 4 cylinder 2.0 litre diesel horizontally-opposed ’boxer’ engine. It is certainly a connoisseur’s choice of motorcar - and at prices between £26,995 and £28,205 it’s no bargain: just good solid value. Subarus have never been marketed as real off-road motorcars even though all-wheel drive is standard; but the beauty of a truly practical vehicle like this is that it provides all-year-round mobility in the snow and ice of winter, combined with the kind of handling characteristics so desirable when the sun is out and those twisty roads are beckoning. So - forget any notions about ’Well it’s a 4x4 so it should go off-roading’. The Legacy Tourer simply doesn’t have the ground clearance: and neither should it have. It’s a splendid car that benefits from four-wheel drive through all the advantages of road-holding and ultimate safety. And talking of safety, there’s a huge benefit from the Cradle Mounted System for the engine and front suspension. In a heavy front impact the engine and gearbox are guided UNDER the cabin; improving occupants chances of survival. Inside the luxurious and stylish cabin there’s ’spot on’ logical and easy to understand and use, controls and instruments so you feel straightaway at ease. The multi adjustable front and rear reclining seats make the Legacy Tourer a most practical estate - not as voluminous as some: but then ’plenty’ is enough. If you need more, then buy a van. But what’s it like to drive? I hear you ask. Well, quite simply it feels like a solidly planted secure car with compliant suspension that ensures a comfortable ride: and it’s also surprisingly quiet and smooth - making for relaxed cruising at any speed. Ask any motor engineer and they’ll tell you that the horizontally opposed ’boxer’ engine configuration has many inherent benefits; not the least of which is good balance. The very short crank limits vibration - and, therefore, noise - so it makes this possibly the quietest 4cylinder diesel car around. It’s a fairly high revving diesel which some might find unusual, but that’s all to it’s advantage in letting you drive enthusiastically - enjoying not so much the torque (of which there is ample) but the 148bhp. The six-speed gearbox just feels solid and ubreakable with changes that are ’positive’ but without the super slickness you might find in some other Japanese marques. If you’re so inclined, you can make the most of the nicely balanced chassis, brilliant grip and overall dynamics by driving like Dr. Deranged up to warp factor three (120mph) - but you wouldn’t want to because the Lagacy’s strengths lie in the ’all round’ competence that makes such lunacy the last thing on your mind: this is a motorcar for Captain Sensible. So, if you appreciate quality that comes with a better class of concept and a real pedigree, a long drive in this carriage might deliver you to that happy palace of your dreams. You certainly won’t get bogged down with the common herd along the way thanks to 4x4 cleverness that will extricate you from any possible impediment. If Toad was your neighbour I’m sure he’d be hopping mad with envy and wanting one for himself because, in truth, it’s the only way to go. The ’4x4’ has been done many times before but never as well as this. Subaru has made the mould and bowled its rivals over.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 3.0 r spec b 2004

I owned a Hawk-Eye WRX before this but found the ride hard and uncomfortable when not pushing on. The Legacy on the other hand can do it all, firm yet a lot more comfortable on the daily grind. The 3.0 flat 6 is a peach, smooth and refined all the way to the red. I have converted mine to run on lpg so £ for £ it effectively does 40 mpg. If you drive an Impreza and fancy a change try one of these. 5*.

Subaru Impreza 2.0 t sl saloon prodrive 2005

I’m really angry with Subaru GB, went over to brand new wrx in world rally blue 2.0 via Oaken Garage Subaru nr Wolverhampton. Poor preperation felt like carpet that mats are stuck to, paint finish/alloys poor, carefully driven 8k miles then like tin can, excessive engine harshness, noisey top end, infact full engine knocking; Oaken not helpfull at all. Chopped it for brand new wrx sl 4 dr prodrive Hylton Subaru, Shrewsbury; this silver car was suposed to a top spec UK car. Well, box out, clutch replaced, more suspicion Hylton had employed some clown to hand brush, rather slap on, black underseal even clutch slave cylinder Knackered, what new car 1000 miles running in? No. Beware, Hylton failed to pay finance on dy04 udg part ex altering plate to pass hpi, in effect stole it no less, then inflated new wrx sl up to 28000 UK. No way says me so cancelled agreement with capital bank, formally International Motors Finance, Chester. The car was recalled by dvla as suspicious, imported or repaired stolen/recovered wreck refinished, God knows who had s111jdw but I can only pray Subaru looked after them as failed us totally, hence litagation being served on Subaru GB and its 2 main dodgy dealers. BEWARE, BE WARNED, AVOID THEM.

Subaru Impreza wrx 5 doors 2008

This car is amazing to drive, good quality and the handling is perfect. A lot of  performance parts make the car monster, the ride comfort has improved from the last model, the interior is better and for the price you have much more in this car than any of its rivals :)

Subaru Forester S Turbo 1999

My 1999 S Turbo Forester is very reliable, mine has 220k on clock. Faster than a Range Rover and has more space. Really delighted with this car, now 11 years old and very strong. If I drive going easy on the pedal I can get a return of 34mpg even around town, its all in how you drive. The 1999 Forester S Turbo is renowned as being one of the most reliable vehicles ever built.

Subaru Legacy Spec B 2006

All it needs is better fuel economy! Apart from that fully loaded - full leather in dash sat nav electric everything (though could do with automatically folding mirrors!). Power throughout the rev range and a strong 6 speed box

Subaru Legacy Spec B R 2006

Top spec, all the bells and whistles, all it needs is better fuel consumption, damn heavy right foot!

Subaru Impreza wrx sti 1998

Great car overall, good build quality although can be expensive for parts and needs regular services at least twice a year, but from tarmac to gravel handeling is superb with performance to match(280bhp) makes this an amazing car and looks great. Insurance can be expensive at group 18 for sti version but well worth it.

Subaru Forester 2.0 S Turbo 1999

I bought this car as a 2 year old with 25K miles on the clock. It now has 155K miles and all of them enjoyable. Yes, it’s thirsty, rarely better than 24mpg regardless of driving style, but it’s comfortable, safe, handles well, accelerates hard and will cope with most places you take it. Reliability is reputed to be one of Subaru’s qualities and it’s true. Apart from regular services, other maintenance has been few and far between - suspension linkages every 2 years, cv joint at 152K miles. Mechanics don’t like changing the spark plugs so spend the bit extra and buy the long life ones. Overall, the most enjoyable, reliable, fun car I’ve ever owned.

Subaru Legacy Spec B 2009

My new Legacy SpecB is a wonderful driving experience, fabulous traction and corners as though on rails. It is far superior to my BMW328, a replacement of which would have cost another £13,000 for similar spec. Why is this car so rare? For all the thousands of BMW’s on the road, I have yet to see a single SpecB in 3 months. Nice to be different!

Subaru Outback 2.0d REN 2009

My recent cars have been high spec diesel BMW 5 Series and Audi A6/A4 Estates. Times have been tough more recently, so its been necessary to be a bit sensible. I had often admired the Outback from afar for the practicality it offers, good spec and slightly left field appeal. But why would you have one when you could have a £40k BMW? Well now I can’t, so I did get one. The car has been absolutely great and I have to say that on balance I am not missing my previous car at all. It’s comfortable, practical, has all the toys (which would have cost £7k+ in options on an A4 Allroad), rides exceptionally well, handles great and I got a fantastic deal on it. The quality of the interior is not quite up there with BMW/Audi, but its not like Japanese cars of old and it certainly has a premium feel. I was a little dubious about the claimed mpg, but I have managed to average 52-54mpg on a few longish motorway/dual carriageway runs no problem and I am regularly getting 44-48 in every day driving. It has also proved to be a very good amateur lumberjack’s companion, being great at crossing fields to recover sawn trees for the log burner at home....something the 5 Series was not good at to be honest! Get one, you would not be disappointed. I am not convinced by the new shape one mind you. A backwards step in many ways I feel.

Subaru Outback DRE 2008

I bought this car following 8 happy years with a BMW 320 dse. The Subaru engine is a lot quieter than the BMW and is a lot more powerful (my BMW was the 136 bhp version).The build quality of the BMW was seemingly of a higher quality, everything felt more solid, especially the interior plastics, but it had to have 2 electric window motors and a front shock absorber replaced in the first 3 years so perhaps it flattered to deceive. I have had the car for 11 months now & have covered just over 10000 miles. My average fuel consumption is 43 mpg overall which includes about 4500 towing a 1460 kg caravan around France and England. Solo it regularly returns 50+ mpg which I think is amazing for a 4wheel drive car. The car has a very high spec when compared to other cars of the same basic price, BMW 3,Audi A4,Merc C class. Trying to match the Subaru spec on these cars will easily bump the prices north of £30000. The real plus for me was the ’free’ 4 wheel drive.

Subaru Forester X 2009

There can be no doubt about what the Subaru name stands for. In the world of international rallying it is a byword for dependability and success in the most gruelling conditions imaginable - and the marques heritage is supported by numerous victories over the years. It’s no wonder then that the new Forester is a car which makes real driving adventure accessible as well as offering the sound practicality that your better judgement tells you to go for. Presenting the styling blend of a purposeful off-roader and the smooth lines of a modern estate, it’s as ’at home’ in the most elegant settings as well as the ’great outdoors’. As we’ve come to expect from niche market manufacturer Subaru, quality is as good as it gets. Subaru's are built to last and you only have to look to the ’still living’ Subaru's of yesteryear, suffering and surviving thrashings by farmers - who give them no quarter and treat them with the same heavy handedness as they afford their tractor! Tough though the new Forester certainly is, it's' marshmallow’ on the inside and packed with thoughtful touches... Warm, spacious and inviting, there’s all the ambience and quality of a luxury car, but there’s no unnecessary adornment or excess. With lots of room for five strapping adults and their luggage, intelligent use is made of every bit of space - and the flexibility offered by permutations of ’seats up/down/half up or down’, means that you can change from luxury cruise liner to cargo ship in an instant. You’ll always be safe, of course, because six airbags are there just in case - and the rigid structure of this Subaru is not so far off Challenger Tank strength. There are three specification levels, with the basic X, which I tested, costing £20,295. Top of the range XS costs £25,495. Even the ’basic model has heated seats, electric windows, automatic air conditioning and even cruise control. No one is going to be able to steal it either because it comes with Fort Knox security levels. - Unless they steal your keys, of course. But how does the new Forester feel behind the wheel? You sit tall and enjoy good visibility - and the range of seat adjustment even let my pal ’Tubby Dougie’ gets comfy. Cars like this are often bloaty when the roads turn twisty - but not the Forrester. It handles in a surprisingly nimble way - with the added security offered by that four wheel drive letting you cut along at a jolly brisk pace when ’needs must’. And if you load it to the gunwales - as is the wont of busy country folk - the self levelling rear suspension is a boon... Power for this Forester comes from the worlds first commercially produced 4 cylinder horizontally opposed diesel engine. (2.0 litres, 147 bhp and 350 Nm of torque are the figures). It really ’does the business’, with lots of features that, quite frankly, you don’t need to know about. Here is a simple list of what is so great about this engine: it delivers solid response from right down in the doldrums of the rev range; it is uncannily smooth; it has a seamless power delivery; it is able to take this heavy four wheel drive car up to 115mph while at the same time sipping fuel to give remarkable economy of 40 mpg in urban use (Try as I might I couldn’t get the consumption to increase over this!) - And it backs up all these virtues by being so quiet... With this extraordinary combination of vitality, vigour and tractability, it’s a true diesel engineering revolution. You don’t need to know about the gearshift quality of the six speed manual box (light, accurate, easy) because that’s a given thing with Subaru. You do need to know about the four wheel drive; however, because it is efficient and effective and lets you take the Forester where others fear to venture. Towing your horsebox across rutted fields or your caravan down to Cannes should be no problem. Not only does the new Forester pack a heavyweight punch that’s light on the pocket - it has style to go with stamina and class to go with capability too. And finally, for those who not only drive estate cars but LIVE on estates too, I’m pleased to tell you that with the Foresters top notch four-wheel-drive ’go anywhere’ ability to patrol your forest tracks and trails - you’ll be first past the poacher every time. Who wouldn’t like to see one of these splendid cars gift wrapped under the greenwood tree. As hardy as Old Thomas himself, this superb Subaru leaves all the rivals on the shelf.

Subaru Forester Forester 2litre petrol auto 2007

We have used this Forester for a month now. It’s a courtesy car with 12,000 miles on the clock. It is an exceptionally good vehicle. It’s comfortable and quiet with really good road manners. It is much the best soft-roader I have ever driven. My next car will be a Subaru.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 2.0 2006

I have owned every model of Legacy estate but this one is a proper sports car. The more it goes up the rev range (7,500) the smoother it gets and the 4wd handling for a large car on the standard Bridgestone Potenzas is superb. And when the going gets tough the low ratio box takes care of everything. The car is a steal at �19,000 for this sort of spec and I’m baffled that there are not many more of them about, particularly in the light of excellent reviews. They are quite obviously the best kept secret in motoring.

Responses to this review

Oh yes, I had 6 estates, great for the dogs and guns you just drive over the estate too where you want to go no fuss good job. p.s. keep it quiet - Alex Dugan from Northern Ireland

Subaru Outback H6 2003

All round excellent car. Great specification, very smooth auto box and good performance after my Land Rover. Petrol consumption higher than expected from test reports however.

Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 2003

Absolutely tremendous Driver’s car. True what I heard about these before I bought one - that people who drive these don’t touch anything else.

Subaru Tribeca 3.0 SE5 Auto 2007

A nice addition to the market giving an alternative to the usual offerings. Performance and ride is very nice indeed and grip is excellent. The interior is spacious, well designed and extremely comfortable and the kit is very good, including leather interior on the SE5. It’s not the cheapest to run but if you’re looking to drive something a little bit different its a great choice.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 3.0 Tourer 2007

Love it. Space and go - take the same money to the BMW dealer and pale at the rubbish they will offer you. So that means the Legacy is cheap but powerful - yes, please believe that and then the owners can quietly enjoy their Q-car - truth is is has the kit, the handling and the go, with space dialed in. And that meshing, growly flat 6. Wonderful thing, I own an 07 3.0 Spec B and it’s the best car I’ve owned. Problems, well an alarm rang on the dash one night and perplexed me, turned out to be a warning that my passenger seatbelt was not engaged. Clearly the car thought the shopping on the front seat was a person. My fault, not the cars, so there you go, problems? of course not, it’s Japanese and uber-cool. Audi 1.9 TDI A4 Avant anyone? Thought not.

Subaru Tribeca 3.0 SE7 5dr 2007

I think Subaru get some bad press, which is unwarranted in the case of the Tribeca. This is a brilliant 4x4 and comes with an impressive array of equipment fitted as standard including a DVD player to keep the kids entertained. It’s not the prettiest car but it’s how it performs that sets it apart. My only wish is that it was available with a diesel engine, which I think will put some people off.

Subaru Outback 2007

Wow, superb in every department except for fuel economy - only 23mpg! I had one on a short-term lease for 3 months while waiting for my company car to be delivered. It’s a stunning car. Great stereo, huge specification: leather, electric everything, it’s very comfortable yet sporty too. Superb build quality, I think this is one of the best value cars you can get. The 3.0-litre boxer six is so smooth, the auto box is a perfect match. If only they could make a diesel so I could get one as a company car.

Subaru Outback 3.0 5dr 2007

I was pleasantly surprised when I first test drove this car, I wasn’t actually expecting that much from it but it’s a really fantastic estate and much overlooked. I will be taking delivery of my new car in 2 days time and I’m really looking forward to driving it again. You really need to test drive one of these to fully appreciate how good it is.

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 3.0 R Spec B 5dr 2007

You don’t see many of these around, which was what initially drew me to it. Fantastic power and handling, a real dark horse. Huge amount of space and nice kit. I would definately recommend this over the usual run of the mill estates out there.

Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 2.0 Turbo 4WD 5dr 2001

I’ve had my car from almost new and it’s been one of th best cars I’ve ever owned. No it’s not pretty to look at and the interior is functional but for a well built family car that offers space with a uncompromising power and handling you’d be hard pressed to find anything in its price range. I’ve flogged mine to death and it’s still going strong. Brilliant car, I’ll be very sad when I have to replace it.

Subaru Forester 2.0 X Plus 5dr 2006

Fantastic 4x4. Nothing frilly or pretentious about this car. Looks like a 4x4 should and gives an incredible drive. Very hardworking and has never needed anything doing to it, unlike previous 4x4’s I’ve owned (sorry Landrover). Not the cheapest 4x4 to run but you’ll save a packet on garage bills and resale value is healthy. Top marks.

Subaru Impreza

I bought this car nearly new as an alternative saloon. Excellent handling & driving. Performance of the WRX is great.

Subaru Legacy 3.0 R 5dr

This is a very classy car and exceptional value for money considering what you get. It’s extremely responsive and delivers a very comfortable and enjoyable drive with plenty of oomph. The grip and handling are superb and the engine has a very reassuring gutsy sound to it. The interior gives ample space and a high level of comfort. The resale value of this car is also good.

Subaru Impreza 1.5 RX 5dr Hatchback

Nice spec on this car and at a good price. The handling is nice and the drive comfortable but beware this car is VERY thirsty so if you’re looking for car that’s cheap to run then this is not the car for you.