Subaru Vortex Reviews

The new compact SUV scored 34.31 out of 37 points for occupant protection, with dual front airbags, side airbags and side-curtain airbags fitted as standard.

Australian World Rally Championship driver Chris Atkinson will win a rally this year — and it could be this weekend in Mexico.That's the view of Subaru rally team boss David Richards, who revealed his faith in Atkinson during his visit to the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide last weekend.Atkinson has been quick but erratic during his WRC career, but Richards believes he will have his breakthrough win this year.“I'd be so bold as to say the next round in Mexico could suit him well,” Richards says.“The current car is not so far off the pace that if things favour us and everything goes as hoped, it could fall into his hands.”Subaru's WRC team has struggled to match the pace of Citroen and Ford with its Impreza.The disappointing performances have led to Richards taking a hands-on role with the team again after several years concentrating of Formula One.“We've had a difficult couple of years and I've now taken back the reins of the team this year to get it on track again,” he says.“We have a lot of work to do with the new car coming on in the middle of the year. We hope it will be the break we need."“The car we're running today is effectively five years old in its design."“It's had evolutions, but it is still a long way behind our competitors.”The sedan-based Impreza WRC will be replaced with the company's new hatch this year.Richards says a decision on when to debut the car will be taken in April after more testing.He has promised it will be an all-new design from the team.“It's a completely ground-up design,” he says. “To give you an idea, the gearbox in the current car was designed 18 years ago."“We did evolutions to it but the basic gearbox casing, the fundamental design, is 18 years old."“Obviously, in that time the suspension geometry has changed, driveshaft angles . . . there is a whole raft of issues that are not ideal. It's a credit to the engineers that they've managed to make it competitive.”Testing of the car has gone well so far. Test driver Markko Martin has handled most of the work. Atkinson and team mate Petter Solberg have concentrated on the championship events.“So far everything is on stream,” Richards says. “We've had no major setbacks.“We've had some teething problems but we have no fundamental issue that we're concerned about.” 

Of course with Mitsubishi’s cease-fire on local manufacturing, there ‘is’ a 380 on its Melbourne Motor Show stand, but it’s painted black and tucked away in the back corner.

The covers alone gave hint to what lies beneath – something much bigger and wider – but is it better?Click here to go to our Melbourne Motor Show page.The third generation Forester tows Subaru’s current line of more spec, more room, more safety, but we will have to wait until its media launch on March 12 to know if it suffers the same comfort zone trade-off as Impreza: a less dynamic drive.Like the rest of the Subaru range, Forester kicked off a cult following when it was first introduced in 1997 as a boxy, low-rise soft-roader with a tendency to wag its tail.Eleven years and 105.000 cars later, the formula is similar – but by aiming at a broader cross-section of buyers, the Forester may lose some of its loyal fans if the drive is ‘dulled’ by such weighty matters.One thing Subaru refused to comment on was the kerb weight of the car.The trim ands spec levels remain segmented as X, XS and turbocharged XT, and the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines are carried over. But the car is longer, wider, taller, and carries more features and creature comforts – so does it have the zip of its forbears?This is the question, and while it remains unanswered, Subaru engineers have hinted at a revised front suspension setup and firmer load-carrying rear suspension.It also dodges the aesthetic controversy of the recent Impreza hatch. Media and public alike have gone so far as to draw parallels between Subaru’s new corporate grille and less attractive parts of the human anatomy, but the Japanese carmaker has played it safe with the new Forester.Impreza styling is more obvious once inside, with virtually the same dash and cabin trimmings as the hatch, depending on spec. It also shares its five-speed manual, and (unfortunately) its four-speed auto.It fits with the entire Subaru line in safety, with a five-star occupant safety rating, three-star pedestrian rating (from a maximum four stars). Stability control program (VDC) makes its debut on the SUV and is standard across the range – the lesser Liberty models are now the only cars without standard VDC, and this will change next year.Liberty’s SI-Drive engine management system that allows the driver to toggle between Intelligent (green), Sports and Sports Sharp responses is also available.While full pricing will be revealed in a fortnight at the model’s launch, we can tell you the X spec’s price tag sits at $30,490. This is $1500 less than the current base model Forester. The run-out sales should be blistering…Subaru hopes to raise sales of this new Forester by at least 10 percent to over 1100 cars.Also on the stands is a sped-up Liberty with STI badges adorning its bumpers.It is a failsafe experiment – the last time STI got its hands on the Liberty, all 300 sedans and wagons were sold quicker than you can say “Subaru Liberty GT Spec B Tuned by STI”.Subaru Tecnica International, or STI, draws 194kW and 350Nm from Liberty’s already-potent turbocharged Boxer engine, matched to a six-speed manual or five-speed Sportshift auto and tailed by a more effective sports muffler.The STI sports suspension package includes re-rated Bilstein dampers and hardens up the cars’ corners, while unique 18-inch ENKEI multi-spoke alloys offer low profile grip.A low front spoiler and STI badging completes the exterior modifications, while STI branded seats and bespoke short throw manual shifter lighten up the cabin.The 250 Version 2 sedans and wagons will go on sale on April 8, and retails for $65,990 for either manual or auto, with a $2000 hike for the wagon.Just don’t expect an STI iteration of Forester anytime soon.“We like to focus on two separate channels in our range – Liberty and Impreza on one side, Forester and Tribeca on the other,” said Subaru managing director Nick Senior.“Subaru (Japan) is discussing the possibility of a Forester STI, and there are a lot of younger people getting into our turbocharged XT, but we would need to get the car through (a new set of) ADR and restrictions to sell it here. We would love to have it, but the question is - would it be worth it?”Senior then smiled, answering his own question… 

Basically the same car inside and out, except for the mesh grille, rear diffuser and roof spoiler, and the telltale bonnet scoop to allow air into the intercooler.However, the turbocharger provided performance that set the WRX worlds apart from the RS. While the RS was a little doughy and unresponsive, the WRX was a blast, with huge urge down low and then graduated performance leaps through the rev range.It just seemed to find new levels of power as the tacho needle spun freely.The slick five-speed gearbox really didn't need to be worked too hard to gain maximum return.However, while the RS gave reasonable fuel economy, the WRX was abysmal. Subaru claims an average combined cycle of 10.7litres/100km on 95 RON premium fuel.I filled it up with 98 octane and mostly drove it on the Bruce Highway in flowing traffic — after all, no one was going to the coast in the recent wet weather.Yet, the onboard average fuel readout never fell below 11.2l/100km.At the same time, the CO2 emissions are claimed to be 252g/km, which is way too high for this size of vehicle.Perhaps turbo buyers don't really care about fuel economy and emissions.My recent review of the RS painted a glowing picture of a car that felt just right and the WRX, of course, is no different.The styling is impeccable, if a little more feminine than the previous model, the interior is smart and classy, the build quality is high, handling is exemplary, the level of equipment is excellent and the safety features are top-notch.WRX's standard safety features are comprehensive; ABS with electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, child seat anchor points including ISO FIX, constant all-wheel-drive, six airbags including full-length curtains, front seatbelts pretensioners and load limiters with double pretensioners on the driver's seatbelt, hill start assist, and stability control.So are its standard interior features; six-stack CD player with MP3/WMA compatibility, 10 speakers, climate air, immobiliser, leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, leather gearshift.I would consider the excellent sat-nav option, which costs $2990 but includes a single DVD player replacing the in-dash six-CD changer, and is better and easier to use than most German luxury car units.Outside, the WRX gets 17-inch alloys, front fog lights and auto self-levelling Xenon headlights with pop-up washers.And all Subarus come with DataDot security technology.It's a value performance package if you don't mind the economy and emissions drawbacks.  SnapshotSubaru Impreza 2.5 WRXPrice: $39,990Engine: turbo 2.5 litre 4-cylinder, 16-valve, horizontally opposed boxerTransmission: 5-speed manual, all-wheel-drivePower: 169kW @ 5200rpmTorque: 320Nm @ 2800rpmBore X stroke: 99.5 x 79mmCompression: 8.4:1Weight: 1395kgDimensions: (MM): 4415 (L), 1740 (W), 1475 (H), 2620 (wheelbase)Tyres: 205/50 R17 89V YokohamaFuel: PULP 95 RONEconomy: 10.7L/100kmCO2 emissions: 252g/kmWarranty: 3-year unlimited km with roadside assistOptions: satellite navigation $2990 

Battling torrential rain for most of the journey, the all new Mazda 6 was still able to show us that the Japanese marque is determined to keep its ‘best selling import’ record

Mazda ranks highest, according to the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Australian Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (AVOSS).Its overall index score of 780 points on a 1000-point scale is above the industry average of 762. Honda (775) and Toyota (772) follow.Mazda scores highest in the quality and reliability and vehicle appeal factors. Toyota performs well in the area of service (in a tie with Nissan), as well as in ownership costs.Ford (743) and Holden (736) placed at the wrong end of top-10 bestsellers.Other marques, from Alfa to Volvo, are not included in the publicly-released results as they are lower volume sellers. Elsewhere, J.D. Power has traditionally released just the top 10. It sells the full report to the industry for $28,000.J.D. Power and Associates Australia and New Zealand managing director Brian Fine says the company's methodology is the recognised benchmark in the US and Europe.He is confident it will become so here, although he says “we expect quite a backlash from some of our friends in the automotive industry."Indeed, aside from Toyota, local manufacturers are unlikely to be enamoured with the results, least of all Ford whose make or break FG Falcon is extensively covered in today's edition of carsguide.“We're seeing ownership costs carry weight due to the current petrol crisis,” Fine says.“Ford is toward the bottom due to the cost factor. It does better in some factors such as appeal, but servicing is bringing the locals down.”The AVOSS car findings are derived from responses gleaned from 3078 new-vehicle owners, the first module of some 17,000 local interviews J.D. Powers has conducted on an expanding range of vehicle ownership issues.The AVOSS score is comprised of 34 per cent for “vehicle appeal” (satisfaction with design, style, performance and comfort); 26 per cent to “ownership costs” (service, repair, fuel efficiency and insurance); 22 per cent to quality and reliability and 19 per cent to dealership service.Mazda spokesman Glenn Butler welcomed the AVOSS results and noted the brand has room for improvement in the area of ownership costs.“Mazda's strong performance in the inaugural study sets a benchmark for other manufacturers,” Fine says. “Honda and Toyota also perform well and rank among the top three, indicating Japanese automakers in particular are succeeding in satisfying new-vehicle owners in Australia.”Ford Australia spokeswoman Sinead McAlary questioned the survey's “extremely low sample.”“They interviewed about 300 Ford owners in the past 36 months,” she says. “We conduct customer satisfaction surveys of some 4000 a year.”GM Holden spokesman John Lindsay says the survey lacks detail found in industry research. How they rate (out of 1000)Mazda: 780Honda: 775Toyota: 772Industry average: 762Mitsubishi: 757Subaru: 755Nissan: 751Hyundai: 750Kia: 744Ford: 743Holden: 736 

We collectively bought more than 82,000 vehicles last month, close enough to a 7 per cent rise over January 2007.Looking at it another way, contracts on 213 vehicles were signed for each of the 25 selling days in the month. That's a record over last year, which in itself was a record over 2006.Toyota remains king of the sales heap and the big movers were the small, medium and SUV sectors. Sales of large cars continued to plummet, which must be a worry to Ford as it prepares to launch its new Falcon.Mitsubishi, which is pulling out of manufacturing here, finished a distant sixth in the sales race, with Honda and Mazda both outselling the former car giant. So, according the industry statistician facts, who were the winners?Toyota's Yaris dominated the cheap and cheerful light market, with the Mazda2 and Honda Jazz also popular with buyers.The hotly contested small car market continues to be a bloody battleground. Toyota's Corolla was streets ahead of its opposition but the real fight was for the crumbs, with the Mazda3, Ford Focus and Honda Civic all doing well.The mid-sized market, which has been quiet, is picking up pace as buyers downsize. Most went for the Toyota Camry ahead of the Mazda6, with Subaru's Liberty a distant third.The large car market was a disaster for the local players. The Commodore was the best seller but it, along with the Falcon, Mitsubishi 380, Honda Accord and Hyundai Grandeur, lost ground.The star performer was Toyota's Aurion, which outsold the Falcon.Of the rest of the new car fleet, Honda's Odyssey beat the cheaper Kia Carnival in the people mover market, while the big surprise was in the SUV sector where Honda's CR-V outsold the Subaru Forester, Toyota's RAV 4 and recently launched Nissan X-Trail.The sales stats throw up some interesting facts and figures.Private buyers are taking a big liking to diesel engines (sales are up 82 per cent but still a low volume), while vehicles running on LPG are out of favour (down 64 per cent). Hybrid models enjoyed 11 per cent growth.And just to show how global the industry has become, last month we bought vehicles made in 23 countries. While most cars still come from Japan, there were models from the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. 

Some people at Subaru need a kick up the backside. The Subaru team has been slacking and their latest work is a reflection of how badly they have neglected their duty.The rushed arrival of an updated Tribeca wagon, less than a year after the introduction of a badly flawed original, has me steaming.The update answers every single criticism I made of the original, but what about the people who bought a Tribeca in good faith? They now see a car with much improved front and rear styling, a bigger engine and upgraded transmission less than a year after they parked the flawed original in the driveway?It's not good enough to say the new Tribeca is a car I'd happily recommend. It should have been done right in the first place.“So we have the right car at the wrong time,” Subaru Australia head Nick Senior says. “Are we embarrassed? No, because we sold 1500 of the first-generation Tribeca and those people love their cars."“The changes have transformed the car,” Senior says.There has been a significant makeover to remove the offensive, brutal front end Subaru claimed was a tribute to its roots as an aircraft maker. There is also a tail nip-tuck.The flat-six engine has been boosted from 3.2 to 3.6 litres, liberating 17.8 per cent more torque and 5.5 per cent more power and better fuel economy.The transmission has been revised for sharper shifts and better response. The rear suspension has also been substantially improved.Small changes run from an improved third row of seats to larger rear quarter windows, improvements to the exhaust, cooling and power steering, xenon headlamps and even a boost to the towing capacity.It has all been done without lifting the price, which starts at $53,990 for the five-seat Tribeca.Subaru could say the improvements are a reaction to increased competition, particularly from the good-looking new Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, but it is not hiding from the reality of a much-needed upgrade.There are still two models, the 3.6R and the Premium. Even the base Tribeca gets everything from electronic stability control and anti-skid brakes to alloy wheels, remote central locking and alloy wheels.So why bother with an extra $5000 for the Premium model? Because it means an upgrade to leather trim, sunroof and rear DVD system, though the optional seven-seat cabin package puts another $2000 on the bill. On the roadOnly one of my Tribeca complaints has not been answered by the 2008 upgrade model; the front seats are still flat and unsupportive.Apart from that, I have to praise everything from the engine response to the performance, refinement and fuel economy. The new driveline is much stronger and does that work much easier, and the ride and handling is smoother and more composed.And I like the new nose. The Tribeca comes through the test fleet at an interesting time, straight after a Volvo XC90 V8 and ahead of a Mazda CX-9. All three are new-age four-wheel-drive wagons aimed more at suburban families than people who seriously need to go into the bush.Compared with the Volvo and Mazda, the Tribeca is not as roomy. But it's more car-like and refined. And with better visibility than the CX-9 and a better chassis than the XC90. I also have to come back to the original Tribeca, which was well underdone in the engine despite its good-looking cabin and loads of standard equipment.This time around, Tribeca II is better from the time you turn the ignition. It has more bottom-end pulling power, the engine feels smoother and more powerful, and the five-speed auto works with the driver instead of doing its own thing.The result is a car that is crisp and eager, and relatively light at the pumps. Economy figures come in at 12.4 litres for 100km and a cruising thirst of less than 9.0 litres.I like the suspension, which seems to have more grip, and Subaru's signature all-wheel drive gives good grip and balance in turns.The cabin is roomy for five, but gets pinched — for people and luggage — with the third-row bench folded up for action. And I still find visibility a bit restricted, though the rear-view camera is good.I like the DVD system in the test car, and the sunroof, but probably not the price, which is getting beyond the reach of most big families.I would pick the Subaru ahead of the Ford Territory because of its refinement, and ahead of the Toyota Kluger because it is a better design that is better executed. It also rates well ahead of the thirsty Mazda CX-7 and — for me — is just a little in front of the CX-9.So this year's Tribeca is a winner and one to recommend for family wagon buyers.And that's the biggest reason to kick Subaru. It could and should have been this good a year ago.The bottom lineA winner. But it should have been right the first time. 82/100Fast factThe engine in the Tribeca is the largest-capacity Subaru boxer motor, but is actually 700g lighter and has the same physical dimensions. 

While Mitsubishi's Evo X and Subaru's STi have a limited-edition snarl-off, the Ralliart will do battle in the high-volume arena.It is a class the brand has ignored since the '09s, when it had a Lancer GSR, but the newcomer, revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, is a serious contender.Like the Evo X, the Ralliart carries a 2-litre intercooled and turbocharged MIVEC engine, but detuned to produce 175kW — 31kW less than the Evo.Power is delivered to the full-time all-wheel drive through the Evo X's twin-clutch, auto-manual transmission with paddles on the steering wheel.It doesn't score the Super All Wheel Control drive system from the X, but has an active centre differential with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch that splits torque to the front and rear depending on different driving conditions and surfaces.The styling is tamer than the X, but there is aggression in the body lines, twin outlet muffler and ducted aluminium bonnet that feeds air to the turbocharger.The Ralliart should arrive here in the last quarter of 2008.Meanwhile, Mitsubishi will debut its Prototype-S concept of the Lancer line at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show in March.It is powered by a 2-litre 4-cylinder DOHC MIVEC1 intercooler/turbocharger engine developing 177kW of power and 343Nm of torque, mated to Mitsubishi's high-efficiency Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission.The full-time 4WD driveline features Mitsubishi's Active Centre Differential, which uses an electronically controlled multi-plate hydraulic clutch to tailor front/rear drive torque split to different driving conditions; delivering the best balance between steering response and traction.