Subaru News

The small-car segment is stagnant at the moment and consumers are starting to wonder where the replacements for the ageing Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 are, amongst others. Well, some are coming, others may not, and Kia may just have the answer you seek.

Subaru has announced minor model year changes for the 2025 BRZ sports coupe. The small changes are limited to the addition of a full-size spare tyre in the flagship BRZ tS trim level (matching others) and a ‘Sport’ mode for manual variants. The new Sport mode sharpens up the throttle response when engaged.It also benefits from higher downshift tolerance in automatic models. Otherwise, the range is unchanged — including price — with the manual BRZ Coupe priced from $43,790, the S from $45,090 and tS $48,690, all before on-road costs. It does not get the revised dampers and updated daytime running lights as seen in Japanese-market BRZs.  Unlike the Hyundai i30 N, Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GR86, Subaru has kept the price of its manual BRZ $1000 below automatic models. There are no other changes for MY25, despite Toyota rolling out minor chassis and technology updates for its GR86 for the next calendar years. Under the BRZ’s bonnet is the same 2.4-litre flat-four ‘boxer’ engine developing peak power and torque outputs of 174kW and 250Nm. A six-speed manual or automatic transmission transfers drive to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, dual-zone climate control, 7.0-inch digital driver’s display, 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather-trimmed shifter and steering wheel, cloth upholstery, push-button start and Subaru’s 'EyeSight' safety suite. The mid-level S upgrades upholstery to a blend of synthetic leather and ‘Ultrasuede’ and adds a heating function for front occupants.At the top of the tree, the track-focussed tS adds STI-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, darker alloys, blacked-out mirrors and roof antenna, a red/black interior trim combo and an STI-specific cluster design.The Toyota GR86 is reportedly coming in for another major update in the next few years with Toyota allegedly taking over the lead position on the joint-model program from Subaru, meaning a turbo-petrol engine is likely in the future.Correction: this article previously stated the 2025 BRZ would be equipped with updated dampers and light designs. This is not the case in Australia, only in Japan.  2025 Subaru BRZ pricingAll prices listed are before on-road costs  

Despite the Outback being axed in its native Japan, Australian owners can rest easy knowing it is safe here in Australia. And better yet, a new generation models is in the works.

Subaru is bringing Outback sales to an end in Japan after 30 years of production but don’t worry, the niche lifted wagon remains safe in Australia.

At long last Subaru has unveiled its new hybrid powertrain.

Is the small sports car the latest victim of the cost-of-living crisis?

There’s few worse feelings than buying a new car and then finding out it’s now cheaper. Not only do you feel like you’ve been swindled but it only hurts your depreciation even more than normal.

Subaru has announced a limited-edition STI Sport variant for its 2025 Forester range. Set to arrive in late September, the STI Sport AWD will be priced at $48,640, before on-road costs, and will be based on the mid-spec Forester 2.5i-S AWD, which is priced at $45,540, before on-road costs.

Subaru has dropped the ball on the WRX STI and its fans deserve better.

It looks like the already swelling ranks of mid-size hybrid SUVs is set to expand even further with the emergence of a Subaru trademark for the name ‘e-Outback’ pointing to an upcoming electrified version of the evergreen Aussie family favourite.As reported by AutoGuide Subaru has registered the term e-Outback with the Japan Patent Office, a clear signal a new variant of the five-seat crossover wagon could be heading our way sooner rather than later.While it’s possible an e-Outback would follow the path already established by ‘e-Boxer’ mild-hybrid Subaru Crosstrek and Forester models it’s more likely the newcomer will adopt a full series-parallel hybrid powertrain as used so successfully in its corporate cousin, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.Toyota owns 20 per cent of Subaru (as well as smaller stakes in other Japanese carmakers like Isuzu, Mazda and Suzuki) and technology, even model sharing, is common between the two brands.Already, shared models like the Subaru Solterra / Toyota bZ4X BEV twins and the long-established BRZ / GR86 sports cars are in market here and Subaru is on the record saying future Subaru hybrids would start to adopt Toyota's drivetrain technology.Reports out of Japan point to an upgraded version of the Crosstrek small crossover using hybrid tech from the Toyota Corolla Cross could arrive before the end of this year with a revised Forester featuring a Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain set for launch in Japan in Q2 2025.A complete move away from Subaru’s focus on horizontally-opposed ‘flat’ engines would be a marketing challenge and it’s likely the e-Outback will retain its boxer engine and adopt Toyota’s hybrid transaxle in place of the current CVT auto.Of course, another, less likely scenario is the e-Outback arrives as a pure battery-electric  vehicle, but conflict with the Solterra would seemingly rule that possibility out.Powered by a (138kW/245Nm) 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four cylinder engine in its three lower grades and a (183kW/350Nm) 2.4-litre turbo four in top-spec XT trim the current Outback returns between 7.3 and 9.0L/100km on the combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel consumption cycle.By comparison, the RAV4, which dominates the medium SUV segment and is now offered in hybrid form only, boasts an official combined cycle figure of just 4.7L/100km.CarsGuide has contacted Subaru Australia for comment on the e-Outback’s potential for the local market and this story will be updated in line with any response.