Subaru Vortex Reviews

It edged out basic black, with white a long way back in third.  Silver has been surging ahead in recent years, also topping the popularity contest in Australia in recent years despite the one-off attractions of everything from Kermit green to gold and even purple as hero colours on Australia's benchmark performance car, the SS Commodore.The colour chart emerged this week from DuPont, an American paint maker that has been compiling a similar popularity poll in the USA for the past 57 years.  "This is the first year we have run the world colour information. North America had silver at number one from 2000 to 2006, but while was number one from 2007 to 2009," says Nancy Lockhart, colour marketing manager for DuPont's original equipment paint division.Lockhart says the results vary by regions, with black on top in Europe and silver dominating in Asia and South America.  "There are still distinct regional differences in preference, but global trends are unmistakable. Colour preference can change from year to year because of a variety of factors including types of vehicles introduced, reduced vehicle size, consumer tastes and even the economy."These and other cultural, societal and demographic influences can shift regional trends over time.”  But she says silver, the top choice with prestige brands including Benz and BMW, is the dominant force at the moment with little likely change in coming years.  "Silver is likely to stay on top and will share the race with black," she says."Bright and chromatic metallic colours of high interest in North America. Purple is beginning to emerge in small volumes."  DuPont charts the colour changes partly to boost its business and partly as a way of helping carmakers identify emerging colour trends.“The auto industry is an increasingly global business, so regional and global colour data are vitally important to designers," Lockhart says.Despite regional differences, the top three colour choices rank well ahead of gray in fourth and — surprisingly — red in sixth. “The top colours become ‘aspirational’ with a universal appeal," says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.  “There are many reasons to buy a new car, yet we know colour is often the ‘driver’ for purchasing a vehicle.  “Consumers have gotten very savvy about how and where to look for colour trends and they do look for guidance on what’s new in colour.”Silver is top in Australia in a reflection of the global results but DuPont says there are significant differences between regions.  In Europe, black is pulling ahead from silver — 27 to 19.9 per cent — but in Japan the perennial favourite, white, lost four percentage points from 2008 and silver dropped back to be equal in second with black.In China, silver is clearly the favourite with a 36 per cent score and black dropped back by four points despite remaining in second.  The big upset in the latest results is Russia, where green — only eighth with 1 per cent of the global result — was second to silver and took 18.2 per cent in the DuPont rankings.GLOBAL CAR COLOURSTop 10 choices — 20091. Silver — 25 per cent2. Black — 23 per cent3. White — 16 per cent4. Gray — 13 per cent5. Blue — 9 per cent6. Red — 8 per cent7. Brown/beige — 4 per cent8. Green — 1 per cent9. Yellow/gold — 1 per cent10. Others

The labels, similar to energy rating stickers for appliances, will be fitted to thousands of new vehicles through 50 Melbourne and Geelong new car dealers.  The labels are part of a six-month pilot program called stars on cars being promoted by VicRoads, the TAC and the RACV.If successful, the program is expected to roll out across the country.Western Australia has already adopted the tags, where research shows that 5 per cent of WA car buyers changed their buying choice after reading the sticker.The labels display crash information from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.Only vehicles with a four or five-star crash rating will wear the label.  It is the first time such a program has run in Victoria, according to ANCAP council chair and VicRoads manager, vehicle safety, Ross McArthur.Volkswagen, Hyundai, Subaru and Skoda are involved and the TAC's manager for road safety, Samantha Cockfield, says other brands are watching to see how the scheme goes.  "Our hope too is that it will become state-wide," she said.  "We're sure it will have a powerful effect on consumers buying behaviour."Cockfield says the safety sticker will help buyers make an informed choice.  "The new car market is more complex and it's increasingly difficult for consumers to make decision," she says.  "We know that if we put everyone in the safest cars overnight, we could reduce death and injury by a third."Research by the Monash University Accident Research Centre shows that the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a crash varies by up to five times, depending on the car you drive.  "You are more likely to survive a serious crash when you're driving the safest cars on the road compared to the least safe," Cockfield says.Cockfield says safety is also becoming a more important factor in buying a new car.  "It's the second most important factor after price when buying car," she said.  "That's why its so important that people actively look for 4 or 5 star rated cars."Over the past five years the average ANCAP crash rating has moved from three stars to 4.5 stars.  The RACV's chief engineer Michael Case, says ANCAP is now widely accepted by the car industry and consumers.  "Initially carmakers resisted it but now they accept it," he says.  "It has been around for 16 years."

The Mercedes-Benz E Class is good, the Ford Fiesta is better, but the Golf is best of all from more than 100 new cars that landed in Australia over the past year.

Styled to make an impact in the USA, where the previous Liberty was dismissed as too small and soft, the new model is bigger and more impressive in almost every area.

The Trax STi: car, tank or snowmobile?  US Subaru rally driver and general all-round mentalist Ken Block is back, this time with what is possibly the ultimate snow vehicle - a very much winter-ready WRX STi.It's called the Trax STi and it started life as one of Block's open-class WRX STi rally machines, but with the power of the 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer motor tweaked to 400bhp courtesy of a tweaked Motec ECU. The suspension also got treated to Group N-spec dampers. Oh, and the wheels and tyres were replaced cat tracks..."The Trax STi is a very fun project for me," says Block. "It combines two of my favourite things in life: driving a rally car in the snow and snowboarding in the powder in the backcountry. Having a house in Utah, I get to enjoy lots of sliding around on the snow, but this project takes that to a whole new level as I can now hit up the backcountry in the fastest snow cat ever."The result, as you'll be able to see by clicking on the video below, is pretty special. We particularly like the snowy drift around 30 seconds in where Block is playing with understeer and oversteer almost simultaneously...

Oils well that ends well ... that could well be the lesson from Subaru Australia's painfully drawn out entry into the diesel market.  The arrival this week of an oil-burning Outback powered by a 2-litre turbocharged boxer diesel is the culmination of more than a decade of global Subaru's slow and steady approach to developing the world's first flat four diesel for passenger use."The diesel was completely done in house," Subaru Australia's Nick Senior says. "There were a couple of reasons for the extended wait and just one of those was that a diesel engine is, by definition , quite an expensive engine to design and to build."When you are putting a business plan together you need to see a return on your investment and the major markets around the world that Subaru compete in — Japan and the US — are not big diesel markets."Senior says that while Europe and Australia had always shown interest in the engine Subaru sales in those markets did little to encourage head office to push ahead with the development.  "There was well over a decade of just studying the European market before they could establish a business case. Then they basically had to start from a clean sheet of paper because there is no passenger car boxer diesel anywhere in the world. Subaru set out to be innovative, do it all themselves and design it in-house."Senior says Australia started to push seriously for the diesel "a few years ago".  "We knew we wanted the car and I was fortunate enough to drive it about three years ago at the proving ground. That was back-to-back against some well-known European brands and it was obvious then that they had produced a car that was as refined as the Europeans and head-and-shoulders above some of the Japanese models that were there."In some ways it was fortunate that we waited until now as we have the new platform and the six-speed automatic rather than the five-speed that was on the first generation 18 months ago."PricingThe Outback 2.0D sits on the same new-generation platform as the current Liberty and Outback petrol models and shares the same equipment and trim levels but will come with a $2500 premium over the 2.5-litre petrol wagon. Not surprisingly, Subaru has worked out that driving 25,000 kilometres a year with the 6.4L/100km economy that premium will be returned in fuel savings in 20 months.The entry-level 2.0D manual is $40,490 (plus onroads), the Premium is $43,990 and the Premium with satellite navigation is $46,490.  While only available in a six-speed manual, Senior doesn't believe the lack of an automatic will be an issue despite the almost 70 per cent of all cars sold being automatic."I don't know whether that is a problem," Senior says. "There is no automatic so there is no point getting hung up about it. We will just concentrate on selling the six-speed manual.  "Obviously they will look at an automatic in the future, but it is not a short-term thing."Senior says early reaction from the market has been very positive with dealers already holding orders ahead of this week's launch, although supply is expected to be restricted at least until the first quarter of next year.  The diesel will roll out into the Forester around the middle of next year but that will be the last of Subaru's to get a diesel, at least in the short term"For now it will only be offered in the SUVs," Senior says. "It will be a great fillip for our rural dealers and those customers are the ones where there is a greater propensity to consider a diesel ... and where much of the pre-launch excitement has come from."DrivingOn the road the horizontally opposed diesel boasts all the benefits of the more traditional compression ignition engines — good economy and huge urge through the mid-range chief amongst them — and has a level of refinement that may not have been expected from a first effort.  It is not benchmark for quietness and smoothness — it is actually some way off the very best of the modern high-end diesels, but in the value market where it lives there are few better.With 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque, that maximum urge is available only from 1800-2400rpm but a large percentage of it starts earlier and hangs around later, the 2.0D is not rocket but it does make for a relaxed drive with the six gear ratios well suited to the engine.  For all intents and purposes the 2.0D drives very much like its petrol stablemate, the extra weight of the engine kept low by the boxer design and ably handled by the refined suspension set-up in the new generation Outback.Equipment levels are exactly the same as the equivalent petrol model, the diesel gets the same five-star safety rating and air-bag count as the petrol models ... the only real difference is the extra noise when the engine is cold, considerably reduced as it warms to the task, and the lack of an automatic.For fans of diesels these are not new characteristics and certainly will not equate to any form of discouragement. 

Subaru has put the finishing touches to its Liberty range with the arrival of the Exiga wagon.The family-friendly Exiga six-seater is much more than Subaru's traditional wagons — and while Subaru Australia is at pains to avoid the poison chalice description of people-mover it makes no apologies for the niche nature of the latest addition."Liberty Exiga is a versatile family wagon that adds a new dimension to our mid-size wagon line-up," Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says. "It means we have now got the Exiga for families needing the flexibility of a six-seat cabin, we have five-seat Liberty wagon and for those with a more recreational focus we've got the Outback range."Pricing and sales Sales targets for the new model, which starts at $37,490 and runs up to $41,990 for the Premium trim, are modest at between 50 and 75 a month, particularly given the value equation of the car which comes in at up to $7000 under the price of the equivalent Liberty wagon.Some of the price difference is in equipment level variance but much of it is down to the Exiga not sitting on the new generation Liberty platform but rather on a hybrid of the Liberty and Forester/Impreza underpinnings."With the same safety levels across all these vehicles (five stars) it comes down to a lifestyle choice," Senior says. "With the depth in our medium wagon range we can meet the needs of the vast majority of customers."Fit-out and equipment The six-seat layout is not exactly what Subaru Australia had hoped for when the initial planning of the Exiga was undertaken but with the lack of a centre rear lap-sash seat belt — and no engineering development planned to provide one — the seven-seat version available in the Japanese domestic market is not a starter for Australia.Without the extra seating capacity the Exiga does boast a roomy interior and executive feel to the cabin while Subaru Australia has not stinted on the trim levels. The base car comes with the company's Lineartronic CVT (constantly variable transmission), a DVD entertainment unit with two radio headsets (more are available as accessories) for the rear seat passengers, ABS, EBD, six airbags including curtain bags, stability control, dual zone air-conditioning, rake and reach adjustable steering, individual forward and aft adjustment on the centre-row seats, rear seat recline, 16-inch alloys, and DataDot security.The Premium model adds leather trim, 17-inch alloys, power front seat adjustment, Bluetooth enabled, satellite navigation and reversing camera.Driving The Exiga cabin, at least in the Premium model we have experienced, is a nice place to be. The seating is comfortable in the front, just as comfortable in the second row and adequate in the rear for a couple of adults short-term. Children or those of smaller stature would be very comfortable riding the third row for any length of time.While the luggage space when all the seats are deployed suffers similar shortcomings to most other six- and seven-seat models it is better than many in that it is quite useable for a jaunt to the beach, a shopping trip or some very lightly-packed travels.Fold the seats down using the 50:50 split of the third row and luggage concerns disappear. Utilise the 60:40 split of the second row and you could move house with the Exiga.Aesthetically the Exiga lacks the immediate charm of the Liberty. It is not unattractive but gives the clear impression of being the progeny of a Subaru that enjoyed a dalliance with a Honda Odyssey.Dynamically the Exiga loses little to the Liberty it shares a nameplate with. The overall impression is, not surprisingly given its genesis, a little softer and less focussed than the new Liberty range and the nature of a CVT can rob a car — any car — of the feeling of get-up-and-go with its seamless acceleration. You can always use the shift paddles set behind the steering wheel to pretend the gearbox has ratios.That doesn't make the Exiga sluggish — it isn't, and the proven 2.5-litre engine with its 123kW and 229Nm is a nice match to the car.Steering is light but pleasantly precise and the ride well suited to Sydney's broken road surfaces with plenty of compliance in the damping without any tendency to wallowing.Subaru claims a fuel economy of 8.6L/100km in combined cycle driving.Subaru Liberty Exiga Price: From $37,490Engine: 2.5L/4-cylinder Boxer; 123kW/229NmTransmission: CVT automaticEconomy: 8.6L/100km (combined cycle) 

It went straight to the Nurburgring in Germany to torture-test the very first prototypes of the two-door go-fast coupe it is jointly developing with Toyota.  Carparazzi pictures show a flat-black Subaru with a long, low nose and a cut-off tail with a very Subaru signature shape around the back window and boot area.It's not unlike the Impreza hatch which has been cannibalised to create the first test hack, although very definitely different in its overall look.  But there is a lot more to the car than first pictures of the Toybaru can show.  The new sporty is a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota and each will sell unique versions of the final production car.Toyota came out first with its concept tease on the car, called the FT-86 and revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show, but Subaru is doing the hard work on the engineering front.It will be responsible for the chassis, engine and drivetrain, although Toyota will drop its own bodywork over the final mechanical package.Toyota is likely to re-introduce the Sprinter name when the FT-86 goes into production, but there is nothing concrete yet from Subaru on the new coupe — including its potential for Australian showrooms.  It misses a key piece of Subaru Australia DNA, as it will only be rear-wheel drive, although it could still make the cut if there are enough potential customers down under.Subaru Australia's chief, Nick Senior, has currently ruled it out because it is not all-wheel drive but there is likely to be more pressure to take the car once its on-sale date in the back end of 2011 gets closer.The Nurburgring test car is powered by a 2-litre version of Subaru's signature boxer four, although there is no firm detail on things like turbocharging of the engine.But the hack is definitely rear-wheel drive and is about the same size as the long-dead Toyota Celica.  The test car has all sorts of camouflage gear, some effective and some ... plain silly.The air diffuser on the rear could have been made from tape and the cardboard box on the boot is clearly not for production and covering something much more useful.

Whenever a new Subaru hits the roads, Carsguide gets bombarded with questions about them. Of all the Japanese brands, the range produced by Fuji Heavy Industries, has an incredibly loyal following.So when the new mid-sizers arrived several weeks ago, we started receiving plenty of comment and inquiry from both existing owners and prospective buyers, particularly for the Outback.Critics may dismiss the Outback as just a jacked-up Liberty wagon with a higher price-tag. But Subaru has managed to position it as a separate entity and the new one further pushes the boundaries.There's no denying they share much, from engines to suspensions and interiors. But over the years, Subaru has successfully pitched the Outback as a distinct brand and this is reflected in the buyer profile, which is full of more active buyers both rural and city, who tend to hit the bush more.AppearanceThe latest Outback looks a whole lot chunkier, bigger and even more robust than the previous model. Visually it looks more grown up, with less plastic cladding while retaining the darker protection panels around the bumpers and sills.The newcomer's quirky styling and bulging wheel-arches also seem to work better on the Outback than the Liberty. Like the Liberty, it has grown in size and is now 65mm longer, 50mm wider, 70mm higher and the wheelbase is up 75mm. What this translates into is significantly more interior room, particularly out back.Drivetrains Like before there is a choice of ‘boxer’ four cylinder and six-cylinder power, with the bulk of sales expected to be the 2.5i. The 2.5-litre four develops 123kW at 5600 revs and 229Nm at 4000 revs while the 3.6R - which replaces the superseded 3.0-litre unit - develops 191kW at 5600 revs and 350Nm at 4400 revs.Fuel economy has improved with the 2.5i now getting a combined economy figure of 8.9 litres/100km for the six-speed manual and 10.3 for the 3.6R auto.Equipment and fit-out The Outback shares its five-star crash rating with the Liberty and full complement of safety features. There is a suite of airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, as well as traction and electronic stability control. Subaru's trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive is another safety bonus.Inside there is the usual attention to detail. A new dual centre console has side-by-side cupholders and more storage space. There's the expected AUX input and 12-volt power outlet as well as information display on the top of the dashboard.Steering wheel paddle shifters are standard on all automatic models with either the 2.5-litre or 3.6-litre engines - CVT on the 2.5 and a conventional five-speed auto on the 3.6R.The Outback 3.6R joins the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Grand Vitara as being the only ‘compact’ SUVs with the choice of a six-cylinder engine. But it also commands a higher entry price than the other sixes.PricingWith a starter for the boxer six cylinder of $48,490, buyers will not only be cross shopping against the compact segment but also some formidable six-cylinder rivals like the Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Kluger and Nissan Murano in the medium off-roader segment.What helps the Subaru is its pedigree. Subaru buyers tend to be a loyal lot and the company has one of the most envious retention rates among buyers. The Outback should be no different.And those longing for a turbo-diesel will not have to wait long. A six-speed manual only 2.0-litre turbo-diesel joins the Outback range next month.Driving Where the Outback - and its Liberty wagon sibling - have made big gains is in ride comfort and interior space. The previous model was popular with skiers and rural folk. The new one will certainly impress these hard-core fans mainly because of the extra legroom in the back, better cargo space and wider opening doors.Comfort levels too are a notch up over the old model. The electric front seats are better shaped and more supportive and rear seat passengers will reveal in the room.On the road the 3.6R is particularly quiet at highway speeds. We suspect the new "cradle" housing the engine, which improves rigidity and isolates engine noise, is playing a big part here. There is also little wind or road noise from the tyres and the car's all-wheel drive means gravel roads are dispatched with ease.Grip levels are high when encountering slippery conditions. The Xenon low-beam headlights deliver a strong spread of light.The 213mm ground clearance also means there is plenty of space between you and potential hazards but sometimes there is a wallowy sensation through sharp corners brought on by the car's raised ride height. Its soft-road credentials are aided by higher-profile tyres that provide a comfortable ride over most surfaces.The Outback's double wishbone rear suspension is clearly an improvement over the old car in isolating both noise and improving ride comfort.The 3.6-litre "boxer" engine is a sweet unit. It is very smooth, reasonably powerful and the five-speed automatic works in well. The paddle shifters are are welcome addition. The 3.6R gets the gimmicky SI-Drive system, which we left in the default Sport setting most of the time.The three-mode SI-Drive system allows for Intelligent economy driving, Sport and Sport-plus. As the name suggests, Intelligent ensures gentle and smooth power delivery.Around town in stop-start traffic it worked a treat and helped bring economy down to 11.6 litres/100km. However, if you need more mumbo, Sports is the best setting and is also the default mode.There are some areas where Fuji Heavy Industries engineering thoroughness comes at the expense of some of the car's tactile senses .Take a closer look at some parts of the car and there is evidence of a thrifty approach to minor details. The temporary spare is a step backwards, particularly when there appears to be room enough for a full-size one.Subaru once crowed about having full-size spares - when so many other rivals get by with a spacesaver - so it's a backward step to see them fall into line with such shortcuts.Apart from the spare, the blank switch covers next to the gearshift in the 3.6R - where we assume the heated front seat switches are in American versions - are a constant reminder you're missing out on something.Subaru has also moved to save costs by replacing the light-weight aluminium bonnet with a steel unit. We also would have preferred a temperature gauge in place of the ‘eco’ meter, as well as reversing sensors and/or a camera on the base 3.6R. To get a reversing camera you have to spend extra for the satnav system.Subaru plugs its vehicles as ideal towing machines but as experienced caravaners or off-roaders know, a temperature gauge is not just cosmetic. The electric handbrake and its positioning low and to the right of the steering wheel also looks like an afterthought. We accidently hit the traction control switch one time searching in the dark for the handbrake switch. It may be a lack of familiarity but it is not intuitive.There is no doubt the Outback is a clear technical and engineering improvement over the old car. It is refined, reasonably classy and thoroughly well sorted. But for the price, the 3.6 R is facing increased competition from other commendable soft-roaders.However, there is no ignoring the bullet-proof build quality and the badge. And for many buyers that's enough to guarantee a sales hit.Overall, the design will polarise buyers, but the Outback is a strong effort from a company that builds bullet-proof cars.Score 79/100

Resale value is often overlooked by customers, but it should be considered as part of the whole value of a vehicle. Subaru's Outback has been particularly good on resale for a number of reasons: It is a good value, sensible and practical vehicle with looks that don't age and excellent reliability.AppearanceHowever, the new model is fatter and plumper and it also simply doesn't look like the slender and svelte Outback it used to be. Instead it looks more like all the other compact SUVs in the market. When a new model comes along that is so different from the previous models, it immediately makes those older models look ancient, thus depreciating their resale value.Owners of Outbacks won't be too happy about the new model. However, if Subaru stays with this look as long as they have in the past, this new model should hold its value. The larger proportions also make it look a bit dumpy which isn't helped by the abundance of dowdy exterior colours made for retirees. Of more interest to buyers might be the fact that prices remain unchanged.DrivetrainThe fourth-generation Outback is powered by a revised 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, and a new 3.6-litre six from the larger Tribeca replaces the 3.0R.  A new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is scheduled to arrive in November.Our test car was the 2.5 with six-speed manual. It's very quiet and refined, although a bit doughy. You need to work gears for the best results. Unfortunately, the gearshift feels graunchy, it is difficult to find reverse and hard to tell whether it is in third or fifth, or fourth or sixth. At least the clutch was nice and light.Build, fit-out and equipmentBuild quality is still Subaru-superb. Doors close with a solid thump and no dust enters the doors or tailgate. The cabin is comfortable with plenty of legroom even in the back and a quality sound system that takes MP3 connection.I like the recess in the lid of the centre armrest which prevents your MP3 power and audio cables being snapped in half. However, it would be better to have included a USB connection and power socket in the console with complete iPod interface so you don't need to expose any cables at all. If Hyundai can do it, why can't Subaru?Its Outback credentials are aided by the high-profile tyres which provide a comfortable rural ride with less puncturing potential. However, its country credentials are hampered by the temporary spare tyre. I'm also not a fan of the electric handbrake. Why? Did anyone actually ask for it? The key is also a bit old-fashioned. It needs to be a fold-away fob like most other cars in its segment. But take it camping in the great outdoors and you won't be disappointed.DrivingImproved clearance and tyres make the Outback perfect for a back-roads camping trip. I also found the gearshift so close to the airconditioning controls I kept hitting the ‘AC off’ button or the hazard switch with my thumb when moving into third or fifth. Gears and engine aside, it has pleasant driving dynamics that would suit the bigger engine and perhaps the new Lineartronic continuously variable transmission from the Liberty.Steering is very light, precise, crisp and with good sensitivity, feeling and feedback. It is on of the best tillers on the market with an excellent turning circle that makes city driving and parking an absolute delight.City driving? In an Outback! Don't be too concerned, because the higher stance of the vehicle means clearance has been improved for the real Outback driving. We took the Outback camping and on to some rough roads to test it out. Here it feels very comfortable, bopping along the bumps with ease and not translating any of the discomforts into the better-appointed cabin. It straddles those humps between the wheel tracks better, too, with 13mm extra clearance. There is also an enormous flat space in the flat-floored fold-down cargo area to take all your bulky camping gear. And it has a huge rear tailgate which is wide and low for easy loading.Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.