1987 Subaru Vortex Reviews

The small car segment, especially on the premium and luxury end of the spectrum, has been very tumultuous over the last few years with hatchback and sedan sales plummeting, while SUV sales have climbed astronomically.In order to combat this, as part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, we’ve combined small premium passenger cars and SUVs into this segment.It’s worth noting that each shortlisted small premium car mentioned below is inclusive of the entire line-up, though its entry price must be under $80,000 before on-road costs for this particular category.The following is a rundown of our top 10 sub-$80K small cars in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced on February 6.Note Mercedes-Benz's current A-Class, CLA and GLA were ineligible as they were unavailable for review.While many brands are fleeing this segment of the car market, this German small hatch and sedan is still offered in Australia in a wide range of trim levels and variants. Beyond the normal A3 variants, there’s the sporty S3 and the fire-breathing RS3.It notably made this shortlist due to the latter which is still offered with an iconic five-cylinder engine. However, we do wish it made just a bit more noise like the older models did.Beyond this, CarsGuide reviewers praised the A3 line-up for its capable and engaging driving dynamics, as well as its luxuriously equipped and premium-presenting interior.While the A3 hatch and sedan may be newer, the Audi Q3 small SUV has been soldiering on for a couple of years now without any major updates.The current model is reaching the end of its lifecycle and is set to be replaced by a new-generation model during 2026.Despite this, CarsGuide reviewers liked how the Q3’s exterior design is ageing, even in the polarising Sportback body style, plus the on-road manners are both elegant and fun.The new-generation version of the BMW 1 Series hatchback launched locally late in 2024, offering everything from everyday commuter trims to the M135 xDrive hot hatch.CarsGuide reviewers were impressed with its driving dynamics and outright performance, though fuel efficiency took a hit as a result.Additionally we liked the new and modern front-row layout, however the exterior design, especially at the front, likely isn’t for everyone.The X1 small SUV is the most popular BMW in Australia currently and for good reason.It launched locally in new-generation guise in 2022 to popular fanfare, then the all-electric iX1 variants joined the line-up in 2023, cementing its status as a benchmark small SUV.CarsGuide reviewers praised X1/iX1’s on-road manners, as well as the modern and high-tech exterior and interior designs. However, common European quibbles like tyre roar and suspension bumps can intrude into the cabin.The X2 is a swoopy ‘coupe’ SUV counterpart to the X1 small SUV and still notably offers both petrol and electric (iX2) powertrain options.While its exterior design is polarising and not for everyone, CarsGuide reviewers appreciated how polished the drivetrains feel from behind the wheel. The X2/iX2 is also affordable when compared to premium rivals from the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.The few dislikes were centred around the X2 M35i xDrive’s firm ride due to its large (and thankfully optional) 21-inch alloy wheels, as well as the slight reduction in boot capacity over the X1/iX1.This spicy Spanish small crossover SUV is the clear front-runner for Cupra in Australia. Arriving in 2022, the Formentor is offered in a range of variants from warm to hot, plus even a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering.CarsGuide reviewers appreciated the lifted hatchback looks and the smile-inducing driving dynamics, however some found the multimedia system to be a little finicky and the ride a little too far on the firm side.An oft-forgotten entrant in the small SUV segment, this quirky French electric SUV impresses with its sleek design, maximised interior space and reactive driving feel.There is currently only one trim level of the Megane E-Tech offered in Australia, the Techno EV60, and it’s limited by its 7.4kW maximum AC charging rate, plus the lack of features like connected services that are available overseas.A huge step away from the iconic Fortwo of the early ‘00s and ‘10s, the Smart #3 is the brand’s largest car in Australia to date.With unique looks and a premium cabin feel, the #3 impresses though the driver-assist features can be a little overbearing and the panoramic glass sunroof has no sunshade.More sore points are the average warranty coverage of five years or 150,000km, as well as the hefty servicing costs for an electric vehicle.While a number of these shortlisted vehicles are high-tech or electrified offerings, the Subaru WRX stands out as a purist sports car.Still featuring a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine and a manual transmission in certain trim levels, the WRX is offered in sedan and wagon body styles.CarsGuide reviewers praised the WRX’s dynamism, practicality and even value when compared to rivals with similar amounts of power. However, the WRX Sportswagon only comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and doesn’t look as sporty as the standard WRX sedan.This vibrant and quirky Volvo electric SUV stands out on the road thanks to its stunning exterior design with boxy proportions.The interior also stands out, but sometimes not in the best of ways. CarsGuide reviewers found too many of the key features are tucked into menus on the central touchscreen, plus the lack of a proper instrument cluster was grating.

My time with the Forester Hybrid AWD Touring has come to an end, and I have some thoughts for you on what is Subaru’s most important model, should you be considering putting one on your driveway.And I do mean important. Subaru sold a total 39,005 vehicles in Australia last year and a whopping 15,179 of those were the Forester. Only the Crosstrek (10,842 sales) got close, with none of the brand's other models cracking the 10K barrier.Important that this model stays popular, then. To try to ensure it, Subaru has finally taken aim at the Toyota RAV4, introducing a proper hybrid system (it calls it a 'strong hybrid', by the way) so it can go head-to-head with the country's best-selling SUV.The system pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine that produces 121kW and 212Nm all on its own with an electric motor that kicks in another 90kW and 276Nm. Total system power is 145kW, and the brand reckons you’ll sip 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle, and get around 1000km from every 63-litre tank of fuel.Intrestingly, Toyota owns around 20 per cent of Subaru, and the two companies have collaborated on models like the 86/BRZ and bZ4X/Solterra, but there's no crossover between the RAV4 and the Forester. This one is all Subaru.There are two cheaper hybrid models sitting below my flagship model — the Hybrid Sport and the Forester Hybrid — but my Touring is the most expensive, listing at just under $56K, before on road costs. That’s quite the investment. Mind you, the RAV4 Hybrid tops out above $58K, so it’s all relative, right?Having now spent a little over three months behind the wheel – tackling everything from freeway jaunts to city running, and ferrying my 13-month-old boy and the Ikea's worth of stuff he needs every time we leave the house – I found some things I really liked, and some things I really didn't.Let's start with the good stuff, shall we?It’s boringI know, I know, that doesn’t sound like a compliment. But in this case it really is. I drive a lot of cars, newcomer and legacy brands alike, and the thing I have appreciated most about the Forester is that is has offered up zero surprises.It drives nicely, if a bit firmly in places, it steers well, its safety systems don’t appear tuned to drive people insane, the tech is pretty flawless and it has done exactly what we’ve asked of it with very little fuss. And in the world of new cars, sometimes no surprises is the best surprise of all.The ride can feel a bit harsh at times (weirdly it's more noticeable from the passenger seat) and the driver monitor is easily fooled by sunglasses, but both are liveable quirks.You don’t want for much in terms of equipmentThe Touring tops the Forester tree, and while it’s not cheap, you also don’t want for much. Our car rides on silver 19-inch alloys, gets standard roof rails and there are leather and suede seats that are heated and cooled up front. Elsewhere, there’s a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, a sunroof, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and a 12.3-inch digital dash. There’s also on-board navigation, though most will surely be running Google or Apple Maps instead.It can fit a family (or my family, at least)Not all mid-size SUVs are built equally, especially when it comes to fitting child seats in the back. In some, the seats take up so much room that the front passenger finds themselves sitting too far forward. That’s not the case here. Plus the privacy glass, easy-access ISOFIX anchors and the fact the rear doors open super wide make family life easy. Even the boot, which swallows 484L with the rear seats upright, was big enough for all the gear we had to carry, including prams and the like.But every silver lining has a cloud. And with that, it's onto the negatives.The priceI know we said there are more expensive Toyotas. But in a world where you can drive away in a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV for less than $40K, putting this on the road for around $60K is a bit of an ask, right? I dedicated the last long-term dispatch to trying to figure out what price tag you can apply to legacy. But I guess the ongoing success of models like this and the RAV4 goes some way to answering that question.The fuel useSubaru reckons you should see about 6.2L per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle, but I have covered A LOT of kilometres, and done a lot of long-distance freeway driving, and I can’t get the number to drop below 7.0 litres. Toyota claims an impressive 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres for its AWD hybrid, and real-world testing suggests a number with a five in front of it is pretty achievable.Some hybrid sacrificesIt’s not all good news on the Hybrid front. You pay more for the car, obviously, but you also get a heavier vehicle with marginally less boot space, and while petrol-powered cars get a full-size spare, hybrid owners will be left fiddling with those horrible repair kits should they ever get a flat tyre.Acquired: September 2025Distance travelled this month: 1184kmOdometer: 4460kmAverage fuel consumption this month: 6.9L/100km

Subaru has never done things conventionally.Whether it be its rally-inspired heritage turning a small sedan into an iconic performance car or its preference for wagons over SUV, Subaru has carved out its place in the market by being different.Which is why 2026 is shaping up as a crucial year for the brand, as it tries to turn around some difficult, declining years amid increasing challenges from new brands - including one from within its own house.Subaru is distributed by a company called Inchcape, which has added the Chinese Deepal brand to its portfolio. Deepal is nowhere near Subaru in terms of sales, but it is one of nearly a dozen new brands to arrive in Australia in the last year or so, which are all fighting for new car sales against the established brands like Subaru.The Japanese brand suffered a down year in ‘25, with a decline in sales for most of its models, so a turnaround is as necessary as it is wanted.At the same time, Subaru is in a potentially very strong position moving into ‘26. The new-generation Forester launched in mid-’25 and has picked up where the old one left off, and this year the all-new Outback will arrive too.Once the brand’s second best-seller, the Outback has declined in recent years, being the lone wagon in the ‘large SUV’ segment. So Subaru is taking a calculated risk, moving away from its wagon-ness and becoming more SUV-like. Will that be the key to unlocking sales growth or a fatal mistake that will drive away loyal buyers? Only time will tell, but it's a chance Subaru needed to take to push back in an increasingly crowded market.The Outback has always been a steady performer amongst the more conventional large SUVs, so perhaps inching closer in size and style could be just what the brand needs to give its overall sales a boost.Sales of the Impreza continue to fall as small cars become increasingly unpopular in general, but the Impreza-based Crosstrek remains a popular choice.There is definitely potential for Subaru to push its way back into the top 10 in the sales charts, a position it held as recently as 2023. But there is also a danger than more new brands, such as the fast-growing Chery, could leave it on the outside looking in.That makes 2026 a pivotal year for Subaru, with both a fresh Forester and Outback in showrooms, there will be no excuses for anything below expectation for what have been two of Australia’s favourite cars for years.

The Australian new car market is going through one of its biggest changes to date.A wave of budget-focused Chinese brands has washed over the market in the past two years, eating away into the sales of many established carmakers.The emergence of new technologies such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles will change the cars we drive forever.Despite that, some things have stayed the same. Diesel-powered utes and 4WDs are the dominant force in Aussie motoring, but new models are snapping at their heels.Here are the best selling 100 vehicles in Australia during the past year.

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Subaru says its "strong hybrid" technology is finally on-par with the best family SUVs in the business. But is it? We put the Forester Touring Hybrid to the long-term test to find out.