I've been happy with Accords for years but thinking about a Subaru. Opinions please?

[Boomer]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer

[tophcfa]

Great cars, we have owned two of them. A highly desirable car in snow country with their outstanding all wheel drive system, but not really necessary in Florida. Both of our Burus got over 150,000 reliable miles driven in challenging conditions. The only downside of the vehicles was that with the all wheel drive it is recommended all 4 tires be replaced at the same time.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I had a Subaru Wagon (that was the model name, it predated the Forester). It was a 4cyl car and drove just fine.

I've only owned two 6cyl cars: a Jaguar and - obviously it was amazing because Jaguar. No point in comparing any 4cyl to it, that'd be just stupid. And a Ford Explorer Sport 4x4, which was equally amazing.

My Subaru was a 4cyl. My VWs were all 4cyl (one 1976 Bug, two Rabbits, one Microbus). All my other cars have been 4cyl, and other than one of the Rabbits which was a diesel, they've all handled great. If you're okay with a smaller, lighter-weight car, you should be zipping around easily in a 4cyl. Turbocharging has redefined performance on them over the years and you can get almost as much torque from one as you can a similarly-sized 6cyl car.

Or throw caution to the wind and get a Jaguar. Just make sure to get two - one to drive while the other is in the shop.

[CarlR33]

You might try pruzzing the internet for a Subaru forum. The Honda (Accord) and Miata forums I have been a part of usually have a wealth of information. For what it’s worth the newer vehicles I rent for work are packed with too much technology to the point of distraction. Not sure about Subaru through but be careful for what you wish for as it’s hard to beat an Accord.

[folkh]

I have a 2013 Subaru Outback, love it. Great in the snow of course but also wonderful for the heavy FL downpours.

[manaboutown]

Back in the mid 1980s I bought a compact Subaru car for my children as they were learning to drive. It was a 4 cylinder dinky little thing with a stick shift. It ran just fine and developed no mechanical difficulties.

In 2017 my son and his family moved way up into the Northern Idaho panhandle. Subarus are very popular up there, both car and SUV models as they come with all wheel drive.

Three points I would like to make. 1) I never buy a vehicle without a good local dealer for the brand. 2) Lighter weight vehicles can hydroplane at relatively low speeds on wet pavement, been there, done that back in the day in a 1966 VW bug, very scary. 3) Heavier vehicles protect their occupants better in collisions with lighter vehicles so now, as a somewhat fragile old geezer, I currently drive a large, heavy SUV, a 2023 BMW X5 M50i. I gotta have a V8!

[AMB444]

If you're happy with your Honda you might want to look at Mazda and Nissan cars. Good quality but better priced.

[Toymeister]

There are a few issues with boxer engines. Boxer engines have the cylinders in horizontal, oposing directions. All Subies use them but no other auto manufacturer opt for them. Some of them suffer from oil burning. I would research the model that you're interested in extensively for known engine problems.

[Snakster66]

There are a few issues with boxer engines. Boxer engines have the cylinders in horizontal, oposing directions. All Subies use them but no other auto manufacturer opt for them. Some of them suffer from oil burning. I would research the model that you're interested in extensively for known engine problems.

This right here. My previous car was a subaru Legacy (bought new 2015). I never made it to the next oil change wihout having to add oil.

Also Subaru has some proprietary maintenance aspects. Our mechanic could not do certain things are use his computer diagnostics for certain things due to proprietary aspect of Subarus. If you are inclined to take your vehicles to the dealership for maintenance, this is not a big deal. But if you use your own mechanic, keep this in mind.

Generally I liked the car, but these annoyances did wear on me over time.

[Haggar]

My wife owns a 2022 Subaru Outback - my wife loves the car - great features and a good ride. Yes - all four tires have to be replaced even if one is bad. Not great on gas mileage.

I own a 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid. Gets 49 mpg - good ride, nice features. But a warning - passenger seat is low and has no available adjustment. My wife is 5 feet tall and can't see over the dashboard. Got a big cushion - helps a little bit she still rightfully complains. And it doesn't have sirius - and you can't add it. But it does have Alexa.

[New Englander]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer

I have a 2024 Subaru Forester Touring. It has plenty of power and surprisingly good gas milage. I think you see a fair amount of Subaru's riding around the Villages is because how well Subaru's hold up in bad accidents. Subaru's have a very ridged frame.

The Subaru Boxer engine is designed the way it is because it allows for Symmetrical all wheel drive. Subaru's remain in all wheel drive all the time.

[Boomer]

Note: I do not know why that blue, winking emoji is at the top of my post. I did not put it there on purpose and can’t seem to get rid of it.

Anyway, here’s my post:

Thank you. All your posts are exactly the kind of information I am looking for. I like first-hand experience.

:I rode with a friend in her Subaru and liked the feel of the ride. I have a friend whose Mercedes rides beautifully, but I am not going to spend that kind of money. I know 3 people who love their Subarus.

I have owned 3 Accords. A 2009, which is still in the family, is tooling right along. I bought that one new.

In Florida, in 2014, I bought a used 2012 Accord that had 10,000 miles on it, from a dealer. It stayed in the house there, but we drove it home one summer for an extra family car and that was when a weird thing happened to it…….

The tie rod broke, just plain broke, on a suburban street at a stop sign. Thank goodness not on an interstate. I always wondered if that used Honda had actually lived near saltwater and not in TV which supposedly it had. I must say that collapsing tie rod undermined my faith in Hondas, but I had already bought my new 2016 at that point. It’s still doing fine.

Even though I somewhat agree with the poster who said that sometimes safety features can actually be a distraction, I do think a bigger screen on the dash would be safer. My 2016 screen looks tiny to me now. I guess if I had not been riding with those friends with their big screens, I would not have known what I was missing. But now I know.

Again, thank you to those who have responded. I hope to hear more.

Boomer

[dewilson58]

Make sure U R happy with the ride & wind noise.

[blueash]

Last time I was car buying in 2018 got to three choices, a Subaru, Hyundai, and Toyota. The warrantee was so much better on the Hyundai that I was leaning that way, also a bit lower cost for same features.

Subaru salesman told me that his cars had much better reliability than the Hyundai. So I told him that if that is true then the dealership should have no problem with giving me a warrantee just like the one on the Hyundai for no additional cost. Somehow that was not available.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

CoachK has only owned Subaru Outbacks, 7 total, 4 and 6 cylinder, and great car, excellent mechanically, great mileage.

I change the oil every 5k miles, low oil light comes on after 8k miles. Must rotate tires every 10k mi to keep the wear front versus back as even as possible.

Great turning radius, do you really need a 6 cylinder for driving around TV?

Love the autopilot for maintaining car spacing and emergency braking.

Highly recommend with a dealer nearby for checkup every 3-4 years.

[Kenswing]

My wife had a 2015 Outback Limited and we just traded it in for 2025. The 2015 cost about $34k and didn't have the eyesite system. The 2025 Has all the new technology. 11" display. A GPS that actually works. Apple Carplay. LED headlights that adjust when you turn corners. All the collision avoidance and lane departure stuff. The sideview mirrors tilt down when you put the car in reverse. Leather heated seats. Heated steering wheel, etc. It even reminds you to look in the back seat to make sure you didn't leave a kid or pet back there. Thankfully there is so much customization available that you can disable that function since we have neither pets or children. The car is loaded. The car remembers you. When you get in it will adjust the seats and mirrors to your presets. It also has two switches in the door that will do the same thing.

We paid around $37k at the Wesley Chapel Dealership. They were very easy to deal with. We didn't get any warm and fuzzies from the two local dealerships. All those features in a car under $40k is impressive in my book.

These cars are absolute beasts in the snow. The Outback handled the snow better than my 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 with snow tires and 500lbs of sandbags in the bed.

If I had any complaints it would be power. The car certainly isn't going to win any drag races. It's a great around town car and we were comfortable taking it across the country. There is a turbo version of most of their cars with ~$2k upcharge.

If you have any questions you know how to find me.

[retiredguy123]

I don't own a Honda or a Subaru, but I'll give you my 2 cents anyway. 4 cylinder cars are cheaper, and most all cars have some type of turbo charger to increase acceleration, so I don't think you are gaining anything with a 6 cylinder engine. Most cars sold today are very reliable, and I don't trust those who review and rate cars. To me, the Honda is a better vehicle to buy because of name reputation alone. Also, if you look around, there are more SUVs on the road than sedans. I think that most people today prefer an SUV to a sedan for the storage space and the improved visibility. So, when you trade in the Accord, consider an SUV. Also, for me, I keep the rear seat folded down so I can usually talk my way out of being the driver by claiming that my vehicle can only handle 2 people. Good luck.

[tophcfa]

These cars are absolute beasts in the snow. The Outback handled the snow better than my 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 with snow tires and 500lbs of sandbags in the bed.


Dam straight, absolute beasts in the snow. Back in my late 20’s and 30’s I was a sking fanatic. The more it snowed, the more I drove chasing fresh powder. During nor’easters, when it was recommended to stay off the roads, I was heading north during the heart of the blizzard. My boss and I had an understanding that if we had a major blizzard I would be using vacation time. I can’t count the times I drove to Killington at night during a blizzard, folded down the back seat of the Buru wagon, and crashed in the back of the car in the parking lot. The snow plows would wake me up, I’d move the car to a spot already plowed, go into the lodge to freshen up, down a cup of coffee and a couple snickers bars, and be waiting for the first chairlift to carve turns in the fresh virgin powder. I drove that car through the worst conditions possible and never got stuck. Gotta love Subarus.

[MorTech]

My neighbor has a new Ascent...It moves right along with the turbo 4 cylinder.
You can get a turbo in the Outback. Subaru is discontinuing the Legacy sedan.
The WRX moves right along but I think it is over priced.

Toyota owns 20% of Subaru so their reliability has improved over the years.

I would take a 2025 Camry over an Accord.

[justjim]

We bought our first Subaru new in 2023. Prior to that we owned 4 new Honda odyssey’s over several years and a CRV. Honda’s are great vehicles. We just wanted to try something different for a change and after doing my research and driving a Subaru Outback we bought our first Subaru. Five star in every way. OP, if you want to try a different make and model, I highly recommend the Subaru Outback.

[Topspinmo]

Older 6 cylinders are subject to intake manifold leaks. I don’t don’t know about newer engines? I wouldn’t be cheap and leave oil in too long either.

[Topspinmo]

We bought our first Subaru new in 2023. Prior to that we owned 4 new Honda odyssey’s over several years and a CRV. Honda’s are great vehicles. We just wanted to try something different for a change and after doing my research and driving a Subaru Outback we bought our first Subaru. Five star in every way. OP, if you want to try a different make and model, I highly recommend the Subaru Outback.

I like Honda’s also but now there all turbo charged and direct injected, not fan any more.

[Deandd]

Honda has been slipping badly the last couple of years … Having owned all of them I would give the edge to Toyota over Subaru; but either would be a great choice. If you are going to do mostly TV driving and not much Interstate today’s 4 cylinders are fine… but for long durance, multi-day highway speeds I would go with the 6…. I am biased for Toyota having owned just about every model of their trucks and cars since the early 70s … no problems and great dealer service ……

[Cuervo]

I've had a number of Subarus, I had a 2,000-foot driveway on top of a snowy mountain, and I would fly up it with no problem.
Saying that since I've moved to Fl. I've switched to Hyundai, right now I own an EV.
If you really want a Subaru, it's an excellent car, but I purchase vehicles to meet my needs, think it over is this what you want or what you need.

[darkim]

Honda Accords have always been within the top 5 (if not top 10) vehicles to purchase for over 30 years. If you change the oil it’s almost guaranteed to get you 250K (if not more) miles

[terryf484]

We just traded our Buick Enclave for a Outback Touring. Wife wanted a little smaller car. First benefit, we had just renewed out car insurance for out Buick and when I called to get insurance on new car I asked how much more we would need to pay and was told I would be getting $143 back due to the safety rating of a Subaru. How nice.

We have been driving it for about 3 weeks now and have nothing but good things to say about handling and performance. Thought going from 6 to 4 cylinders might be noticeable, but overall I don't miss those extra cylinders. Plenty of get up and go.

Also like the fact you get a full size spare tire. The Buick had one of those little spares and we were on a long trip and had a flat tire on a Saturday. Had a heck of a time finding a replacement so we could continue on our trip that day.

Highly recommend Subaru.

[USOTR]

I'm considering a Subaru, but when I looked at them, all of them are hybrid. I'm not a fan of serving and repairing two different power systems in a vehicle. And at only 25 mpg I'm not seeing it worth the extra cost of maintenance and repair of two different power systems. I noticed the local dealer is now offering a 200k warranty on their Subaru's to over come the fears of the new

[Sparky99]

I owned a 4 cylinder Subaru Brat circa 1980 for about 16 years. It ran great with no issues and was easy to work on. Sold it at a great price back then and it was still running great. Only issue is Subaru is overpriced now in this car marketplace.

[ithos]

Conventional transmissions have been replaced by CVT transmissions and 6 cyl cars have been replaced by 4 cyl turbos.

Has newer technology in vehicles made them less reliable reduced longevity? Can they last 250k miles or longer like conventional transmissions and engines?

Are there new cars that don't have these features?

[kleck48@comcast.net]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer
First time Subaru owner, bought a 2023 Ascent and loving it! Former Toyota and Honda owner for years. Would buy again!

Great News for Subaru Drivers

Only one brand has earned the title of Consumer Reports 2024 Best Mainstream Automotive Brand: Subaru. After doing over 50 vehicle tests, Consumer Reports has named Subaru the Best Mainstream Automotive Brand for the second year in a row.

[Bassdeer]

Have owned Honda's since 2008 .
2008 Honda Accord, had for 10 years with no problems.
2018 Honda Pilot, to present, only problem is cosmetic stuff.

Next car will be one of these.
Kia Telluride (great warranty)
Toyota Highlander (can't go wrong with Toyota)
Hyundai Palisade (third on list)

[rsmurano]

The only issue I see is that Subaru owners have a hard time differentiating a cow from a buffalo. (See the commercial).
Most Subaru’s are all wheel drive and do you need that in a car?

[polirudb]

I have owned four Subarus, the first being a 1987. The last two I've owned were 2018 and 2022 Subaru Outbacks. Loved them both, but the loaded 2022 Touring model had its share of technology problems. All were four cylinders, no issues with performance on any of them for my style of driving. Traded in the 2022 for a Kia Telluride because I needed the extra seating capacity of the Kia. Kia's warranty is also much better. Loved the Subarus, will probably buy one again in the future.

[Nell57]

My granddaughter is now driving my 2015 Outback to college. Her mom bought a Subaru Crosstrek….fabulous graphics and safety features.
I have two Mazdas….excellent cars also. My next car?
Subarus are always on the list, along with Rav 4’s and Mazdas.
I always check current reviews with Consumer Reports.

[Manders]

Owned 3 Subarus. We purchased a 2002 Impreza WRX and a 2003 forester at the same time when living up north. Best car for snow and ice. I drive my Subaru in snow (as long as it wasn’t too deep) when others were getting stuck. Best all wheel drive system on ANY car or truck. Wife sold the 2003 back in 2011, however I kept my WRX until 2 weeks ago when I traded it for a new 2024 WRX. I had 154,000 miles and I went 150,000 on original clutch and turbo. Take car if your vehicle and it will take care of you. No major issues, just wear items like tires, brakes, fluids. Have no fear what other shade tree mechanics say, the boxer engine is a great engine. All wheel drive system is bullet proof, I say Subarus are on same level as Toyota, Honda. Oh, All Wheel Drive is needed in rain. I never have had any traction issues in rain.

[kendi]

We have had 3. Did lots of research before buying our first. Highly reliable and tops in safety.

[ithos]

Car Care Nut is the best Toyota technician on YouTube. He has a must watch video for Turbo engines. There many more ways to damage them than a conventional engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn5hrhTEERQ&t=15s

[mfodale]

Hondas are American made, Subarus are not.

[Margefrog]

I've had both and both great cars. I would say, at this point, it's a matter of selecting a style & driving each to decide. I had an Outback and have a Forrester now which is 4 cylinder and plenty powerful.

[roguesearcher]

Outstanding

[ithos]

Hondas are American made, Subarus are not.

If they are made in Japan, then that may be a positive.

[CODYCAT]

I lease all cars. Just turned in a Subaru and now have a Honda. I loved both of them. That tell you much but I was very please with both. I have had cars I didn’t like.

[justjim]

Honda Accords have always been within the top 5 (if not top 10) vehicles to purchase for over 30 years. If you change the oil it’s almost guaranteed to get you 250K (if not more) miles

I agree. Our son purchased a used one owner Honda Accord for our granddaughter while in college and she still is driving it with 200,000 plus miles on it. After driving our Subaru Outback, she wants one!

[nn0wheremann]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer
I have a 2017 Subaru. 127K miles, just barely broken in. Usually gets 30 mpg in town, 35 on highway speeds.
Subarus ride like much heavier cars because with the horizontally opposed “Boxer” engine all of the weight is substantially down at the level of the frame. Lower center of gravity.
The full time computer controlled all wheel drive gives an exceptionally stable and controllable ride in wet or slippery conditions. The ground clearance is high, and getting in and out of the car is much easier than with a typical sedan. That is good. However, the tires must all be substantially identical in diameter, so they recommend rotation every 6K miles, and if you need to replace one tire, you need to replace all four. Bad news if you have a blowout.
The recommended oil change interval is also 6K miles, which with synthetic oil seems excessive.
“Eyesight” collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control is the best thing since canned beer. No doubt about it. The lane keeping control is helpful on crosswind days on the highway.
Subaru also has some incredibly stupid features, such as no illumination of passenger window and door lock buttons.

[Kenswing]

Hondas are American made, Subarus are not.

That’s strange. Subaru has a manufacturing plant in Indiana. What do you suppose they make there?

[PorkChopExpress]

the EJ series engines they been using for 15 plus years kinda stink. the latest engine in 2022 plus cars fixed a lot of the EJ problems. say NO! to CVT transmissions.

[Runway48]

Subarus have a reputation for being mechanically bullet proof and being excellent in bad weather, particularly snow. I've heard it said that they are the state car of Vermont. However, with the exception of their performance models (WRX, WRX STi) they are not known for rapid acceleration, perhaps in part due to the cvt. If highway merging is your concern, think more about horsepower than cylinder number. If you get something with at least 200 hp you should be fine.

[ithos]

the EJ series engines they been using for 15 plus years kinda stink. the latest engine in 2022 plus cars fixed a lot of the EJ problems. say NO! to CVT transmissions.

Then these are your choices if you buy new:
Vehicles with Traditional Automatic Transmissions:
Ford F-150 –
Chevrolet Silverado –
Toyota 4Runner –
Mazda CX-5 –
Vehicles with Dual-Clutch Transmissions (DCTs):
Volkswagen Golf GTI/Golf R –
Hyundai Veloster N –
Porsche 911 –
Here are some more: Top Cars Without CVT Transmissions 2024: Non-CVT Models (https://motorvibez.com/top-cars-without-cvt-transmission/)
Let me know if I left some out.

[BrianL]

We have a 2023 Outback Limited and a 2024 Outback Limited. These are terrific vehicles, they are by far the nicest vehicles we've ever owned. We've had Volvos, Lexus, Fords, Buicks, and Chryslers. The Subarus are significantly better than any of them. A comfortable ride and very low maintenance.

[Boomer]

Thank you all. I have read every post and will have Mr. Boomer read them.

Our cars spend quite a bit of time on I-75 in addition to just stop and go driving, like in TV. That is why I wanted to know about acceleration.

Also, having hydroplaned, in rain, on the interstate a couple of times back when I drove mini-vans, I never want to do that again. The hydroplaning did not become an accident but I sure hated that feeling.

Boomer

[omimom]

Our 2012 6 cyl outback is still running fine. 120,000 miles.

[Atamasco]

I have a 2013 Accord 4 cylinder with 94K miles; runs well; will keep driving it. Have had 2 Subaru Outback when in New Hampshire. Loved them. Reliable, go thru high, unplowed snow, 4 cylinder, stable car.

[jimmy o]

I have owned 4 Subarus over the years, loved every one of them. I own a Mazda now and love that too. But would definitely consider another Subaru next. Their handling is crisp and lively, and gas mileage is great.

[bowlingal]

WOOP DEE DO.....I love my Subaru!!

[GoRedSox!]

I have a 2017 Accord Hybrid. It's not as much fun to drive as the cars I have driven in the past, but it certainly the most reliable and least costly to maintain. I have 86,000 miles on it, and I have a lifetime average fuel economy of 48 mpg. It's a full size Accord. When I bought it, I thought you had to buy a Prius tin can to get that kind of fuel economy, but that is not the case. This Accord has not had one problem yet (knock on wood). I take it in every 10,000 miles for an oil change and I follow the maintenance schedule. The brakes have a half life still left. The only thing I really found negative about this car is that it had no spare tire. I was uncomfortable with the flat repair kit, so when I bought new tires at 55,000 miles, I had one of the old tires put on a rim and now it's the spare.

That being said, I drove a Subaru in my lifetime and that was a great car and I have heard nothing but positives from people I know who own one.

[Ecuadog]

Car Care Nut is the best Toyota technician on YouTube. He has a must watch video for Turbo engines. There many more ways to damage them than a conventional engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn5hrhTEERQ&t=15s

The Car Care Nut is a favorite of mine too.

[judylovesflamingos]

I have owned a 2023 Subaru Forester Touring model since October 2023. I am all about good visibility and ease of driving. It fit both, the visibility is excellent and while it came with some 'electronics', quite a few of the controls were not that way and were easy to figure out and navigate without 'screens'. I loved GM/Chevy cars and their dashboards were so nicely designed in my opinion. We had a GMC truck and then 2 Suburbans and I loved them all, just too big for me, so sold my latest Suburban last October and went with the Subaru Forester and I've liked driving it. I haven't had it long enough to have any 'issues', but I also haven't had to bring it in for any 'warranty' stuff other than an oil change.

[jojo]

We are on our 3rd Subaru Forester which is almost 5 years old. I cannot recall any repairs except for our first Subaru's sunroof which was covered under original warranty. We appreciate the safety features. Our 2020 model was one of the earlier models with Eyesight and adaptive controls. It came with close to 1,000 pages of instruction. I am hopeful that our next Subaru will have friendlier driver interface. I do see lots of Subarus in The Villages.

[jimdecastro]

I didn't read the 4 pages of responses, but here is my two cents (and a comment).
If you have been happy with Honda, why switch from a company that has excelled?
My comment - As I understand, Suburu has 4-wheel drive to handle snow. Not an issue...

[ithos]

I didn't read the 4 pages of responses, but here is my two cents (and a comment).
If you have been happy with Honda, why switch from a company that has excelled?
My comment - As I understand, Suburu has 4-wheel drive to handle snow. Not an issue...

Because the government is mandating major changes some of which are making cars less reliable.

The final reason why new cars aren’t as reliable as old cars that we’ll talk about in this blog post is the fact that car manufacturers are under immense pressure to meet fuel economy standards and emission standards.
New Cars Vs. Old Cars: Why Aren’t They As Reliable? | Shadetree Automotive (https://www.shadetreeautomotive.net/new-cars-vs-old-cars-why-arent-they-as-reliable/#:~:text=With%20newer%20cars%2C%20manufacturers%20 are,that%20they%20used%20to%20be).

The more complex the vehicle, the greater the odds of very expensive repairs. Some car makers will be better than others in adapting to the new regulations. Best to let others be the guinea pigs.

New cars bought in the last few years have twice as many quality problems as they had in 2010. Some well-known brands are averaging more than five issues per car – and the stats show things will probably get a lot worse before they get better.
New cars are failing at unprecedented rates, and it'''s getting worse (https://newatlas.com/automotive/j-d-power-u-s-vds-iqs-auto-industry-quality-dropping/)

[DanBrew]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer

Moved to Hyundai because Honda refused to insulate their cars and tried to cover up road noise with white noise coming out of their crappy sound systems. I recently bought a Tuscon hybrid for a much lesser price than any Honda and got lots more vehicle. Loving it.

[DBChris]

There are a few issues with boxer engines. Boxer engines have the cylinders in horizontal, oposing directions. All Subies use them but no other auto manufacturer opt for them. Some of them suffer from oil burning. I would research the model that you're interested in extensively for known engine problems.

Porsche 911

[MX rider]

Don't be afraid of the newer 4 cylinder turbos. Many actually make as much or more power than a V6. My wife has a 2018 Lexus NX 300. It has a Turbo four and it makes more power than the V6 in my Toyota Tacoma TRD. Plus it's super smooth and quiet.
She has 78,000 trouble free miles on it and it runs like new.

Actually I test drove a new Chevy Z71 Colorado Tuesday, it has a turbo four. I was impressed, it was quiet, smooth and had excellent power. I'll probably trade my Tacoma for one soon.

All that said, Subaru seems to make good cars. My son in Indiana has a newer Outback and loves it. Not my cup of tea, but Subaru has a very loayl customer base.

[dewilson58]

There will be lots of discounted cars for sale now.

:22yikes:

[ithos]

If you own a Subaru or may purchase one, I recommend "MR. Subaru". Lots of great info especially about the CVTs. He says that Subaru intentionally under states that amount of routine maintenance in order to reduce the perceived cost of ownership which leads to avoidable failures.

But otherwise they are great cars.
Is Subaru Self Sabotaging Their Vehicle's Reliability, To Show A Lower Cost Of Ownership?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtulvduQcnc

[LookingAtTV]

I've owned all Honda, Toyota and Subaru over many years. All three are great brands. Honda's were very reliable but a bit expensive to maintain. With Toyota, I've owned both a Prius and a Camry. Both were good reliable vehicles and the least expensive for maintenance.

However in the last 9 years I've owned a 2015 Subaru Outback and a 2021 Outback. Before buying those, I compared them to all other vehicles similar in their classification. At the time I bought each of those Outbacks, I also seriously considered the Toyota Rav4.

But, for just a little higher price, the Outback Premium model was a more solid vehicle, quieter interior, better quality interior, handled much better, was loaded with more options, and had a larger cargo area. One of the only negatives I can think of is the higher cost of normal recommended maintenance every 6K miles. I do want to mention that since 2021, I think they have greatly improved the overall quality of the Toyota Rav4, and like I said, Toyota dealer maintenance is less expensive than the Subaru.

But like others have said or hinted at, Subaru Outbacks are solid, quality, reliable, comfortable vehicles. And coming from up north, the all wheel drive was fantastic in snow or on wet roads. So, I was a little surprised to see as many Outbacks in TV, but I think that just speaks to how many love their Subaru Outbacks!

[stevesliders]

We bought our first Subaru forester premium in July 2025 4 cyl none turbo. After being an 8 cyl and 6 cyl owner for the past 45 years very satisfied with the power and great handling. I would highly recommend them after the first thirty days a Subaru tech called us to set up an appointment to go over any questions we had about any of the features in the vehicle we had. They will do this need be at the dealer or your home your choice at no cost. Very satisfied with Subaru.