Subaru Vortex Reviews

Subaru customers desperate for a diesel automatic Forester will have to wait at least two more years before it arrives in showrooms. Subaru will deliver its first diesel automatic Outback SUV to the first of 300 customers on a waiting list at the end of March. But even though the same diesel engine and automatic transmission fit into the Forester, the engineering work has not begun and would take at least two years to complete. “If it happens, it’s at least two years away,” Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior told News Limited. “We would like to have it, but it’s decision.” Subaru introduced a diesel engine to its Forester range in 2010 and expanded it to the Liberty and Outback soon after. Despite the massive uptake of diesel SUVs, demand for diesel remains modest in the Subaru line-up. “In smaller SUVs there is less of an advantage to switch to a diesel because the petrol engines are so efficient these days,” he said. “The diesel might use a little less fuel but you’ve generally got to pay 10 cents a litre more for it.” Meanwhile, despite the popularity of the Subaru XV, the company says there are no plans to fit the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine from the Forester XT. “I personally would love a car like that but has no plans for one at this stage,” Senior said. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

Subaru Australia has doubled its normal allocation of BRZ coupes – but the waiting list still stretches to September 2013 if a car is ordered today.

Subaru has announced a host of cosmetic, handling and efficient technology changes to its Liberty line-up for 2013. Entry-level pricing has been sharpened by $2000 with the Liberty 2.5i sedan which loses leather and is now priced from $32,990. Power and torque improves on normally aspirated 2.5 litre variants, while fuel efficiency is also refined by up to 4.8 per cent, thanks to the new generation FB horizontally-opposed boxer engine, linked to the latest Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Subaru's award-winning EyeSight driver assist system is also introduced on additional Liberty variants, including the 2.5i Premium, despite a pricing reduction of $1500.  Liberty's revised all-wheel drive system improves precision in torque distribution between front and back wheels, benefiting handling and stability. The technical refinements, including suspension and handling, were tested on Australian roads. In addition to the new engine, automatic transmission and alloy wheel patterns, Liberty 2.5i with leather trim now adds factory-fitted satellite navigation and a new colour information display. Liberty sales are up 12 per cent year-to-date.  

The company that pioneered the softroader concept has reinvented the formula with a high-riding, go-anywhere hatchback. VALUE The Subaru XV is, in essence, an Impreza hatch in hiking boots. The range starts at $28,490 plus on-road costs and stretches to $36,990 for the leather-bound version. We're testing the

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are joint winners, edging out the Hyundai i30 after an intensive three-day round of judging and more than 6000km of evaluation by nine COTY judges with more than 100 years of combined motoring experience.The result is no surprise, because the Japanese sports car twins have been COTY favourites since the day they were unveiled. They also embody the Carsguide mantra and COTY methodology: "Real cars, on real roads, for real people".The 86/BRZ is a landmark collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, classy engineering with a concentrated focus on driving enjoyment, and value packaging by both brands. That means a $29,990 starting price for the Toyota and driveaway pricing with free servicing on the Subaru."This is the era of the SUV and that makes the BRZ and 86 quite remarkable. It's a ground-breaking car, regardless of the badges it wears," says Carsguide editor, Paul Pottinger. "This car is a gift. Has anyone got out of either one without a smile on their face?" says James Stanford, summing up the majority feeling.The performance of the i30 is a surprise, as it edges the new Toyota Corolla to make the final four showdown alongside the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V, which fly the flag for the SUV stars of 2012. "I really like the i30, and would give it my number one vote," says Chris Riley.The COTY showdown for 2012 involves 11 cars including The Twins -- as we dub 86 and BRZ -- nine judges, video and backup crews, and the photographer who insists on a 5am start on Day Two. The judging starts with a 120km run west from Sydney into the Blue Mountains, then laps around a testing and varied 44km loop from Mount Victoria.Each car has been chosen to reflect the best value and strongest sales, not just for the way it would look if it was fully loaded with an unrealistic bottom line. From the start, the troubled Ford Falcon is in trouble again. Its sales have slumped this year and, despite the addition of the excellent EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, it is still too old in too many ways to make much of an impact.But by even making the Top 10 COTY contest, it's a winner. It's a pity Ford has not done nearly enough to promote the car, and not enough people have driven a package that makes it the best riding and handling Falcon of its generation. The Ford Ranger, too, struggles. It's a pickup that can do double duty as a family car, and it led the world with five-star ute safety, but it cannot compete in such a classy field.From the Holden camp, the plug-in electric Volt is a window on the future that's not good enough for the present. We could live with the cramped back seat and the crimped boot and the confusing dashboard if the car was priced at around $35,000. But it's $59,990. "It's trying to be the car of the future but it falls down today," says Karla Pincott.The COTY crew is doing lots of laps on day one, cycling through the cars and usually going back-to-back with direct rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. This is one mini-contest that produces a surprising bias towards the Honda, as the Mazda is beaten on boot space with a lower loading lip, value and the little things that make a difference to families.At the end of the day, as push comes to shove and the preliminary scores are tallied, the four finalists become clear -- although The Twins make it five if you're getting picky. Leading the near misses is the Corolla, which is narrowly trumped by the i30. The CX-5 also falls, and we lose the fun little Volkswagen Up."The Up is a great city car. But there is no auto and you really can't drive it with any comfort beyond the city,'' says Pottinger. Day two begins early but the focus has shifted, even if some of the judges cannot resist more driving time in cars like the Falcon and the CX-5, and even the Up and Ranger."This is a great chance to cover some miles," says James Stanford. By Day two the judges are separating into two camps, as the shortcomings of the Sorento and CR-V take them out of the final fight. The Honda is not strong enough in the engine room for most. Despite the classy Australian suspension settings, the Sorento is not good enough to claim a COTY crown.The i30 scores for its classy cabin, its affordable starting price, and an overall package which edges the Corolla despite the Toyota's impressive $19,990 starting point. The result comes down to the final voting, with each of the cars scored 4-3-2-1 by each of the nine judges. The Twins win. "This car is brilliant, and it's such a great drive," says Stanford. The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ are also real cars, on real roads, for real people.PAUL POTTINGER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VPAUL GOVER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VKARLA PINCOTT1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCRAIG DUFF1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VSTUART MARTIN1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJAMES STANFORD1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCHRIS RILEY1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VNEIL DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJOSHUA DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) Honda CR-V3) Kia Sorento4) BRZ/86 

In short, there may not be a factory turbo BRZ in the offing in the short term. But there's a performance enhanced version in the works falling under the STi banner. A prototype wearing STi badges was spotted a few weeks ago lapping Germany's Nurburgring, confirming the car's existence. The prototype featured popular performance mods such as a large rear wing, aerodynamic body kit, lowered suspension, large alloy wheels and a sports exhaust. Whether there was a turbo under the bonnet is open to conjecture though all other STi models in the past have had forced induction. The BRZ STI will be revealed in quarter two 2013 and informed sources say it will forgo a turbocharger due to a lack of space under the hood. Despite this, peak output should still rise from the BRZ's 150kW rating to somewhere around 165-172kW thanks to changes to the exhaust system and variable valve timing. Subaru has said in the past that there was no space for an intercooler and its required piping in the BRZ's engine bay. However a number of engine tuning specialists have encountered no such problem when fitting a turbo to customer's BRZs or Toyota 86s. Another hurdle, likely easily overcome, is that a turbocharger would go against the purist sports car philosophy Subaru engineer's had originally envisioned for the BRZ. Give us a break.... A supercharger is also said to have been ruled out due to a loss in the car's fuel economy, though it's more likely Subaru doesn't want the BRZ STI encroaching on the performance of its next-generation WRX. The good news is that the relatively mild mods being applied to the BRZ STI should equate to a relatively low price rise.  

Subaru has been in the ‘compact SUV’ market since before that term even existed. The engineering-oriented Japanese marque pioneered all-wheel-drive passenger cars and station wagons over 40 years ago and remains a major player today.This early work by Subaru is paying big dividends today, because compact SUVs compete in one of the fastest growing of all market segments. Interestingly, this doesn’t just apply to Australia; buyers in many other countries are discovering how much sense it makes to own affordable, driver friendly compact SUVs.Which brings us to Subaru’s Forester, the midsize model in the extensive Subaru all-wheel-drive wagon range. So important is the Forester that Subaru Australia imported several pre-production generation-four Foresters to Australia to permit a select group of journalists to drive them on- and off-road this week. The new model won’t reach us downunder till February 2013.In an interesting move, all models in the Subaru Forester range have satellite navigation as standard. However, it’s a rather basic system with maps that look more like kid’s drawings than the real thing.New Forester can be specified with a 2.0 or 2.5-litre flat-four petrol engine, and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. However, only the 2.5 petrol can be specified with an automatic transmission, the others have a six-speed manual gearbox. The automatic is a CVT unit and Subaru’s engineers have done an excellent job of minimising the sometimes irritating ‘slipping-clutch’ sound and feel. Once that transmission is designed to sit behind all engines in the Forester range we are sure it will be a big winner.The fourth-generation Subaru Forester is marginally smaller on the outside but clever design means the interior is slightly larger in most dimensions. Rear seat passengers are the biggest beneficiaries and I found my six-foot frame could sit easily behind itself, if you know what I mean.As is the way with most latest generation cars the Subaru Forester is quieter and smoother than ever before, with cabin noise levels diminished to the sort of levels that used to require an expensive sedan to achieve. Luggage space is lost due to the installation of a full-size spare wheel in an area obviously designed for a space-saver. But given the number of Australian drivers who may take their Forester off road this is probably an acceptable sacrifice.We road tested the EyeSight system fitted to the topline Forester. Unlike other crash avoidance and mitigation systems, Subaru's uses cameras, rather than radar, in its operation. Anything that can be seen by the human eye will create an image behind the cameras’ lenses, whereas radar only works when its beams are reflected back from metallic or similar surfaces, so may not ‘see’ pedestrians, cyclists or animals.Though we never needed Eyesight for crash prevention we did witness the warnings it gave when we deliberately let our Forester wander out of its traffic lane. It was even able to see very vague lines at the edge of country roads, lines that had been all but worn away by age, harsh sunshine and vehicle tyres. Impressive, and a potential life saver in situations that may result in crashes typically classified as ‘unexplained single vehicle accidents’.We did some reasonably serious driving in hills near Canberra as part of the press launch of the Forester. Its ground clearance of 220 mm is greater than that of all its competitors, even of some dedicated 4WDs. So deep ruts and large rocks will seldom cause hassles. The electronic traction controls, tagged X-Mode by Subaru, are arguably the best we have yet experienced; sophisticated, non-intrusive and simple to use. However, X-Mode is only fitted to Foresters with automatic transmission, not on manuals.Downhill and uphill assist are controlled by the throttle and brake pedals, making them significantly more intuitive than the hand controls generally fitted. Even first time off-road users of a gen-four Forester will feel they are experts in the way the wagon responds. Having said that, it may be best that these people have some professional instruction before they become too brave and get themselves stuck.On sealed roads, the added ground clearance of the Forester isn’t a problem unless pushed far harder than is ever likely to be attempted by the typical owner. Even then the electronics will do their best to keep you safe.To say we are impressed by the latest Forester is an understatement. While competing vehicles in this class are becoming softer by the day, Subaru has stuck to its guns and produced a genuine off-road wagon. Even better, Forester’s on-road behaviour has been further refined despite the upgrading of its allroad abilities.Though the new gen-four Forester won’t reach us downunder till February 2013 it may be an idea to contact your Subaru dealer well before then as there is likely to be an initial rush by existing owners wishing to update. However, they won’t have prices at this time.

The Liberty has always stood tall in the Subaru family and now the popular sedan stands even taller – 50 mm to be precise. That’s the extra ground clearance given to the Model Year 2013 Liberty 2.5X and 3.6X.So what does the extra 50 mm do besides easing ‘driveway anxiety’ in the suburbs or giving ‘country comfort’ on bad road surfaces in the bush? It gives the Liberty X a stately bearing – a ‘chest out, shoulders back, head held high’ sort of stance.VALUEComfort extends to the interior with electrically adjustable and heated front seats – the driver’s seat with memory – McIntosh audio system, one-touch lane change indicator, electroluminescent gauges with full-colour multi-function display, auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth and USB connection.Subaru’s innovative EyeSight driver assist system puts the pair up against vehicles deep in luxury car territory far beyond the $44,490 price tag of the Liberty 2.5X, or $55,990 sticker for the Liberty 3.6X.TECHNOLOGYThe 2.5-litre engine with 123 kW on tap at 5600 rpm, connected to the continuously variable transmission, relished an easy going driving style but ran out of steam when pushed hard.DESIGNDespite the added millimeters in height, getting in and out of the Liberty 2.5X test vehicle is surprisingly easy. In fact it’s probably easier to get into the X than a standard height car if your knees are getting old and stiff.Together with a new design radiator grille and front bumper, plus sporty sills with chrome-style highlights, the Liberty X pair make a handsome statement.The 18-inch alloy wheels – silver with 2.5X, gunmetal on 3.6X – also do their bit to giving the vehicles an elevated position – 200 mm ground clearance. The resultant command driving position gives it outstanding all-round visibility.Cabin décor is up there with the latest looks from the designer’s pen with leather trim and brushed gun-metal grey featured on the centre panel, centre console and steering wheel panel.However, it was the new Liberty’s exterior lines that elicited a surprising amount of positive comment from people who came in contact with the test car. Even the most cynical found little to criticise about the looks.SAFETYSubaru’s five-star crash rating, put both Xs on a pedestal for safety.EyeSight, as the name suggests, keeps an eye out for drivers, warning of potential danger ahead and helping avoid trouble with a series of passive and active safety systems plumbed into the car.Ding! ‘Vehicle ahead has moved’. Drivers are entitled to scoff at this, arguing the ‘Blind Freddy’ point, but there are those who ‘take their eye off the ball’ when their vehicle is stationary in a line of traffic to the annoyance of others behind.Other EyeSight features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure and lane sway warning, pre-collision braking and brake assist, plus pre-collision throttle management, and electronic throttle control.A reversing camera adds a further dimension to the driver’s ability to keep out of trouble with other road users, while satellite navigation provides a measure of certainty when travelling in unknown territory.DRIVINGWith an acceleration time of 10.1 seconds to 100 kilometres per hour from rest the four-cylinder is firmly rooted in the middle ground of its segment.The 3.6X six-cylinder, at 7.3 seconds to the 100 km/h, exhibits more sporting appeal but is it worth the $11,000 premium? It’s likely that fascinating EyeSight system no doubt accounts for a big slice of that extra money for the 3.6X.Positives were the characteristic deep ‘boxer note’ coming from under the bonnet and handling stability, thanks to all-wheel drive, on urban road surfaces that left a lot to be desired.VERDICTUpright citizen; with extra ground clearance, the Liberty 2.5X stands tall in the mid-size sedan segment.

The original SUV polishes its credentials in the face of mounting opposition. Cheaper running costs and a superior automatic open the door to Subaru's fightback in Australia's toughest new-vehicle segment.Prices are kept low - thanks to a new entry-level model with a smaller engine - while the feature list expands. Even Subaru's safety-sharp and affordable EyeSight driver assistance package is standard on the top model. But Subaru is aware that rivals have been busy. Honda punched out a new CR-V last month, Toyota will show its new RAV4 in February, there's a new Mitsubishi Outlander and a bigger-engine for Mazda's CX-5.But Subaru has an ace up its sleeve. Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior says it’s no pretender and is "the perfect city car for dirty weekends." While rivals trend away from getting dirty, Subaru ups the Forester's off-road ability.True, it has dropped the low-range feature from the manual gearbox models but there's a new electronic program - called X-Mode - that prepares the wagon for more adventurous dirt duty.VALUE Forester hits showrooms in February starting at about $31,000 - around the same as the outgoing model. But the spec is different. The new base model has the two-litre petrol engine from the smaller XV (and Impreza) models and comes only as a six-speed manual. Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior says a 2-litre CVT auto is on the cards, just not yet.The 2.5-litre version will come in at about $35,000 (prices aren’t known until January) and that’s the same engine as the current car. But though there’s been a bit of a price rise, the feature list is far bigger and the wagon is a much better ride.DESIGNThe platform is basically the same as the outgoing wagon, crimped here and there to flatten the central tunnel bump and stretched to add 25mm to the wheelbase and 35mm to the length. It's also 35mm higher, sits on a track that's up to 20mm wider and while body width remains the same, the doors are less bowed and the door trim is less obtrusive.Add in the windscreen pillars that are punched 200mm forward - the "cab forward'' design sprouted in the 1990s - and Subaru claims a much bigger, more airy interior and more room for rear seat passengers. The cabin gets soft-touch plastics and improved material quality and the look of the interior is now much more upmarket and better reflects the Subaru quality standard. There is an electric tail gate option on some models.TECHNOLOGYTwo problems, one solution. Forester previously has a reputation for a high fuel thirst without delivering much in the way of performance. The old four-speed auto is now out and replaced with the continuously-variable transmission used also on the Impreza sedan on which the Forester is based. Fuel savings are quite dramatic.The 2.5-litre manual version has a 8.1 L/100km thirst, a big improvement on the current wagon's 9.3 L/100km average. There's no power change to the 126kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or 108kW/350Nm two-litre turbo-diesel, but there is a new entry-level two-litre petrol four - borrowed from the XV and Impreza - promising 110kW/198Nm.But, like the turbo-diesel model, it comes only with a manual gearbox. At least, for now. The X-Mode is an off-road package available on the CVT models. It cleverly juggles power individually to any of the four wheels with traction, incorporates downhill assist and adjusts ESC and traction control. Stop-start is standard on all petrol Foresters and is one of the reasons for the improved fuel economy.SAFETYSubaru is trumpeting a five-star rating and brings in the big gun with its brilliant EyeSight camera-based forward vision aid. First seen last year on upmarket Liberty models and similar to the Volvo City Safety, the Subaru program is standard on the ultimate Forester 2.5i-S model and optional on the penultimate 2.5i-L.It uses stereo cameras with 3D imaging to scan, identify and communicate with the vehicle's brake system to avoid frontal collisions, lane drifting and low-speed crashes. Used with the adaptive cruise control, it will lock onto the vehicle ahead and autonomously slow, stop and accelerate to maintain a safe distance.It also incorporates pre-collision braking, brake assist (enhances brake pressure), throttle management (stops accidental acceleration when an obstacle is ahead), lane departure warning, fatigue warning and start alert (warns when the car ahead has moved away). All new Foresters get seven airbags, more high-tensile steel in the passenger cell construction, aluminium bonnet, paddle shifters for the automatic versions and six-speaker audio with iPod/USB connectivity and Bluetooth.DRIVINGFirst up, the diesel. Train spotters will note that when it comes to the 2013 engine line-up, not much has changed. So the diesel remains punchy - but only in a relatively narrow opening between 2000rpm and 4000rpm. It can stumble below 2000rpm and is weak under 1500rpm.That brings to the surface the second problem - there’s still only a manual gearbox. Senior says a CVT auto diesel “is coming" but there’s no arrival date. The diesel is also still noisy, but mainly for people on the outside of the car. Inside it’s audible at idle but diminishes to silence at cruising. Compared to the outgoing model, the gearbox feels crisper. Compared with others in its class, it needs an auto but still drives with commendable ride comfort and on-road surety.The 2.5-litre petrol has been tweaked but only slightly. It’s the best choice. Previously, it was a thirsty beast that - in  automatic - was also a tired drive. Now it’s perky thanks to the smooth CVT box. It’s also quietened down the ride and brought it well within parameters set by decent mid-size passenger cars - an admirable boost to ride appeal and one that will further swing sedan buyers into the SUV sector.The 2.5 isn’t particularly revvy but has linear acceleration. It cruises particularly well and is quite adept at dismissing the effects of rough bitumen roads. On the gravel it is even more surprising, with excellent stability that defies the wagon’s height.VERDICTVery smooth and very surefooted manners mean this SUV is now almost in the upper-market mid-size sedan bracket for ride and handling.Subaru Forester Price: from about $31,000Onsale: February 2013Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: 58%Service interval: 6 months/10,000kmSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngines: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol, 110kW/198Nm, 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol, 126kW/235Nm, 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 108kW/350NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or CVT auto; AWDThirst: 7.2L/100km; 168g/km CO2 (2.0 petrol); 8.1L/100km; 187g/km CO2 (2.5); 5.9L/100km; 156g/km CO2 (diesel)Dimensions: 4.6m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.7m (H)Weight: 1498-1600kgSpare: Full size