Subaru

Subaru Overview:

Subaru, known for its lineup of all-wheel drive vehicles, adds a pair of new models for 2013: the rugged XV Crosstrek and the rear-wheel drive BRZ sports car.

The BRZ is the only non-all-wheel drive car that Subaru makes and it was one of 2013's most anticipated arrivals. An affordable, rear-wheel drive performance car that is a blast to drive and looks good to boot. The BRZ features a 200-hp, four-cylinder boxer engine and plenty of standard features like navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.

Redesigned last year, the new Impreza got smaller and lost 110 pounds compared to the previous version. The engine is also less powerful, but that isn’t bad news because it helps to bump fuel economy all the way up to 36 mpg on the highway which is a pretty remarkable number for an all-wheel drive car. The Impreza is currently available as a sedan or a wagon.

The WRX and the WRX STi continue on in their current form, but drop the Impreza part of their name. This makes some sense, as they focus on performance while the Impreza offers more efficiency and convenience. Both are available in sedan or wagon form. The rally-inspired WRX features a 265-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine, while the WRX STi is one of the best performance cars on the road with a powerful 305-hp engine and an advanced suspension that has limited-slip front and rear differentials.

Subaru offers one other passenger car, the midsize Legacy which adds a few more interior options this model year.

New for 2013 is the XV Crosstrek. It rests on the same platform as the Impreza, but is raised to offer more ground clearance and has a more rugged appearance.

The Outback wagon is built on same chassis as the Legacy, but its shape means that it offers more utility in the form of 34.3 cubic feet of cargo room (more than double what you get in the Legacy). If you need more power, the Outback also features an optional 256-hp horizontal-six-cylinder.

A pair of crossovers top off Subaru’s lineup, the Forester and the Tribeca. Starting with the smaller Forester, it looks similar to the Outback wagon but stands a little bit taller making it more SUV than wagon. It also seats five passengers and comes with a naturally aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The Tribeca is the largest vehicle Subaru makes and seats seven passengers across three rows. A powerful six-cylinder is the only engine option and the Tribeca offers plenty of standard features including dual-zone climate control and power seats.

It’s also interesting to note that Subaru is the only car manufacturer to have an IIHS Top Safety Pick in each category that they enter.