Subaru won the Automotive Lease Guide Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for 2010, unseating Honda which previously received this award.
Subaru also received individual segment awards for the Forester in the Compact Utility Vehicle category, and the Outback in the Midsize Utility Vehicle category.
Autootive Lease Guide is a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry.  ALG publishes the "Automotive Lease Guide" - the standard for Residual Value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for over 40 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.
ALG made their selection of Subaru based on a number of factors, including distinct product attributes, such as standard all-wheel drive and the wide use of turbocharged boxer engines, with a rugged but practical brand positioning to generate fierce loyalty among its buyers.

2010 Subaru Legacy - Driving Impressions

Extra helpings of size and sophistication from Fuji's automotive arm.

By Douglas Kott "Road and Track" magazine

June 24, 2009

Behemoth of the compact division or runt of the midsize class? The current-generation Subaru Legacy (2003-2009) straddles that dimensional fence and has the splinters to prove it. Yet for 2010 this 4-door, 5-passenger automotive iconoclast is moving up in size, leaving the card table in the corner to eat with the grown-ups - but not at the expense of its youthful handling nature.

The new Legacy retains the very essence of Subaru-ness - longitudinally mounted flat-4 and flat-6 engines and standard all-wheel drive - finessed into a high-tensile-steel unit body whose wheelbase has been stretched a full 3.2 in. to 108.3. Modest overhangs, however, keep the increase in overall length to just 1.4 in., although width is up by a whopping 3.6 in.; height, by 3.2 in. The upshot? An amazingly roomy rear seating area and a trunk that'll hold four golf bags, helped further by a more compact double wishbone rear suspension that allows for a lower load floor.

Powertrains are a diverse lot, and show considerable tweaking. The base 170-bhp 2.5-liter sohc flat-4 is PZEV-certified and paired to a new optional Lineartronic CVT, the first such variable-ratio Subaru transmission offered in the U.S. since the Justy's in the late 1980s. The standard transmission is a new 6-speed manual with a positive, though slightly notchy action. The 2.5GT models get the turbocharged 4-cam version of the boxer 2.5 conjoined only with the 6-speed manual. The turbo itself is larger and mounts low and forward of the engine, shortening the exhaust-flow path for a quicker spool-up and helping to lower the center of gravity. The charge cooler's core is also 25 percent larger, and the changes allow for a 22-bhp bump (now 265 bhp) and a claimed 0-60 time of less than 6 seconds. The dohc flat-6, first introduced in the Tribeca, displaces a full 3.6 liters, makes 256 bhp and is paired exclusively with a 5-speed automatic. Both the flat-6 and non-turbo four make the quoted power on regular-grade fuel.

Driving the new Legacy is considerably more serene, as noise levels have dropped partly as a result of new framed side windows that are a break with tradition. The 3-spoke wheel now integrates controls for the sound system, etc., much more gracefully within its spokes. The center stack, looking a bit like a giant high-tech welding mask, has a nice simulated brushed aluminum finish and rows of control buttons that are simple, yet classy in their presentation. The manual handbrake goes away, yielding to a pushbutton electromechanical setup, but the handy Hill Holder system remains.

Dynamically, we could use a little more rebound damping over high-speed swells in the road, but Subaru has proven that supple suspension and relative nimbleness can harmoniously coexist. Turn-in feels a little sharper than before, likely the doing of a quicker 14.5:1 steering ratio adopted across the Legacy range. Stylistically, those big upturned "hawk eye" headlights take some getting used to, but the sporty bubble flares at all four corners do hint at the all-wheel-drive prowess.

Quieter, quicker, more sophisticated, far roomier and more fuel efficient, the Legacy is also something of a bargain...the base 6-speed 2.5i lists at just $19,995. That's definitely a case of "more is less."

What's Hot:

• Roomier, all-new design
• All-wheel drive standard
• 23/31 city/hwy for base CVT model

What's Not:

• No automatic offered with turbo
• Ride motions slightly underdamped
• Wagon body style discontinued

Cars to Compare:

• Mazda6
• Volkswagen Passat
• Honda Accord
• Toyota Camry

2010 Motor Trend Sport/Utility Of The Year: Subaru Outback

Which brings up some of that Subie magic. For instance, when not needed the roof-rack crossbars fold away into the side rails, vastly reducing wind noise -- pure genius. And while most wagons and SUVs offer a roll-up tonneau cover for sheltering gear in back, in the Outback the tonneau hides away completely under the load floor (instead of, in the typical fashion, simply blocking the floor and, when you're trying to load luggage, making you yell exclamations that'll make the five-year-olds within earshot cry and send the nine-year-olds running to tattle).

More magic: With a newfound 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the 2010 Outback actually betters the SUV Grand Cherokee -- yet the Subaru also offers a lower and more carlike step-in height. "A nice answer to the crossover solution of lowering an SUV to human size," notes Detroit editor Todd Lassa. "You feel it's 'car-ness' behind the wheel, with its long, level hood out front -- yet it's nearly 66 inches tall."

While thirsty V-8s have long been the darlings of the traditional-SUV market, the Outback, weighing just 3655 pounds, manages adroitly with four- and six-cylinder offerings. The boxer four is an updated version of last year's 2.5-liter naturally aspirated mill, and now pairs with either a CVT or a new six-speed manual -- a welcome addition for enthusiasts. With the CVT, the Outback wrings out 22/29 city/highway EPA mpg -- a new Outback benchmark. Optional is a new, DOHC 3.6-liter boxer six that -- using regular fuel instead of the premium required on the outgoing 3.0-liter -- delivers 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. "Loves to rev and feels smooth and refined all the way to redline," writes Kiino. The six mates to a standard five-speed automatic that now includes paddle shifters with "blipping logic" to match revs when downshifting.

Despite its wagon profile,... 

 Click to view Gallery

Despite its wagon profile, Outback delivers SUV-like ground clearance (8.7 inches) and the moxie to perform demanding (though not hard-core) off-roading maneuvers. Rides better than most true SUVs too.

Subaru ships the Outback in three distinct all-wheel-drive flavors. Base, manual-transmission models get a viscous-coupling locking center diff with 50/50 normal torque split and the ability to shift torque away from the slipping axle. Four-cylinder Outbacks with the CVT replace the viscous coupling with an electronically controlled continuously variable clutch. Finally, all six-cylinder editions utilize Subaru's Variable Torque Distribution system, combining a planetary center diff with an electronically managed hydraulic clutch to distribute power as needed (the split in "normal" driving is 45/55 front/rear).

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/112_0912_2010_suv_of_the_year_winner/engine.html#ixzz0YpHsKZBV

Cherry Hill NJ, August 27, 2009 -- The All-New 2010 Subaru Legacy and Subru Outback have been named 2009 "Top Safety Picks" by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
To Qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of "Good" in the institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.  Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Legacy and Outback.
"Building Safe vehicles is one of the things our customers have come to know and expect from us," said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "To have this edorsement by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety for every Subaru vehicle in our line-up is a tribute to our engineers and reinforces to consumers that we focus not only on manufacturing fun-to-drive vehicles, but also vehicles that are durable and dependable."
"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distingguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

Crash Test Results Video

  

 

Subaru: The only manufacturer with 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models

Subaru: More 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks than any other brand.

Subaru:  More 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks than Honda, Nissan, Ford and Mazda combined

Subaru:  94% of Subaru vehicles built in the last 10 years are still on the road.

 

Release Date: 02/23/2010

CR Names Six New Top Pick Cars For 2010

Mazda5, Cheverolet Traverse and Volkswagen GTI among the new additions

YONKERS, NY - Consumer Reports names six new models to its annual Top Picks car list for 2010. Comprised of nine different car brands, this year's list is the most diverse group of
Top Picks in over a decade. Findings from Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue, including the new Top Picks, were announced today at a Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) press conference in Washington, D.C..

The Mazda5, Nissan Altima, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen GTI, and Chevrolet Traverse and Silverado join the Hyundai Elantra SE, Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Lexus LS460L as Consumer Reports' selections for best models of the year based on performance, reliability, and safety.

"The diversity of this year's Top Picks reflect how competitive the industry has become," said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports' automotive editor. "Today's car buyers have more choices than ever when looking for good all-around cars."

Consumer Reports' Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories and must meet stringent road test, reliability, and safety requirements. Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among the more than 280 vehicles

Consumer Reports recently evaluated at its Auto Test Center; has average or better predicted reliability (based on the problems subscribers reported on more than 1.4 million vehicles in Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Survey), and performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or insurance industry. In addition, each model must offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature as standard equipment or as a readily available option. All of this year's Top Picks provide standard ESC and curtain air bags.

In recent years, Toyota and Honda models have had their share of spots among Consumer Reports Top Picks list. But the automotive landscape continues to grow more competitive. This year, the Nissan Altima managed to dethrone the Honda Accord as the Top Pick for Family Sedan-making it the first time since 1998 that a Honda model was not selected.

The Toyota Prius retains its position as the Top Pick for Green for the seventh consecutive year, while the Lexus LS460L returns as Consumer Reports pick for Best Overall vehicle. At the time of publication, sales of the Toyota Highlander and RAV4 had been halted and currently Consumer Reports has suspended its recommendation for both vehicles removing them from contention in the Small and Family SUV category.

"The competition is quite fierce, and often the difference between a Top Pick and a runner-up can be slim. We believe all of our Top Picks this year to be exceptional vehicles that excel in a number of areas," Paul added. Consumer Reports' testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Roughly 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anonymously from dealers. Other reviewers base their evaluations on press cars that are hand-picked by the automakers.

Here, by category, are the 2010 Top Picks.

? SMALL SEDAN: Hyundai Elantra SE. The Elantra SE ($18,695) made the Top Picks list for the third time this year. It is a solid, all-around car that's relatively comfortable, quiet, and roomy, and provides good fuel economy and plenty of features for the money. The SE comes with standard ESC, a critical safety feature that's absent on other small cars (including the lower-end Elantras).

? FAMILY SEDAN: Nissan Altima. The Altima ($23,970 to $30,335) has been a Consumer Reports top-rated family sedan for a couple of years, but lacked easily available ESC. A 2010 freshening made it better and improved gas mileage and for the first time provides standard ESC in all trim lines. It offers an appealing balance of comfort and performance, while getting some of the best fuel economy in its class: 26 mpg overall in four-cylinder models and 24 mpg with a V6. The cabin is roomy, wellfinished, and quiet. And the secure handling, comfortable ride, and spirited acceleration make the car enjoyable to drive.

? SPORTY CAR: Volkswagen GTI. Freshened for 2010, the GTI ($27,504) is the sport version of the Volkswagen Golf (formerly called the Rabbit). The GTI is exhilarating to drive and easy to live with. It delivers the agile handling, spirited acceleration, and responsive steering of a true sports car, along with a decent ride, a well-finished interior, and the cargocarrying practicality of a hatchback. Good fuel economy of 27 mpg overall is another plus, although premium fuel is required.

? SMALL SUV: Subaru Forester. The Forester ($20,972 to $28,860) provides one of the most carlike driving experiences of any SUV. It combines agile handling with the most comfortable ride in its class. Passengers are treated to a spacious cabin, with a roomy rear seat and excellent visibility. The 2.5X provides an impressive 22 mpg overall with an automatic, 24 mpg with a manual. And the turbocharged 2.5XT delivers effortless acceleration and 20 mpg, but it takes premium fuel. The 2.5X has had excellent reliability, while the 2.5XT's is average.

? BEST CAR OVERALL: Lexus LS 460L. The LS ($76,572) scored an outstanding 99 out of 100 in Consumer Reports road tests, making it the highest-rated vehicle. It provides a comfortable ride and luxurious driving environment, including a roomy, well-crafted and exceptionally quiet interior. It offers a plethora of electronic amenities, including an optional self-parking system. Yet, its controls are easy to use. Its efficient 380-hp V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission deliver smooth, brisk acceleration and a relatively good 21 mpg overall. All-wheel drive and a hybrid version are available.

? FAMILY SUV: Chevrolet Traverse. The Traverse ($39,920) stands out as an impressive overall package with a quiet, spacious cabin that can comfortably seat up to eight adults and leave room for cargo. It provides a pleasant ride, communicative steering, and responsive handling. The tested model returned 16 mpg overall, which is respectable for its size. Rear visibility isn't great, but small convex side mirrors and an optional rear-view camera help.

? SPORT SEDAN: Infiniti G37. The G sedan ($37,225) tops this category for the fourth straight year. It is one of the highest-rated sedans tested, with a score of 95 out of 100. It provides agile handling, blistering acceleration, a refined powertrain, a fairly comfortable ride, and a highquality, luxurious interior. The G37 is as inviting to drive on a twisty road as it is on the highway. But compromises include a snug cabin and small trunk. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional. Coupe and convertible versions are also available.

? FAMILY HAULER: Mazda5. The Mazda5 microvan ($23,805) offers lots of practicality in a compact, affordable package. With three rows of seats and sliding rear side doors, it combines the convenience of a minivan with the maneuverability and stingy fuel economy-24 mpg overall-of a wagon. The interior is airy, with good fit and finish. It's fun to drive, with a nimble feel and a comfortable ride. The addition of standard ESC for 2010 improved its emergency handling. If you need more room, consider the Honda Odyssey minivan.