Subaru Outback

"We have been thrilled with the performance of the all wheel drive and impressed at how little we have had to spend to maintain the mechanicals since acquiring this 2002 when new. The superb mechanical quality has outlasted the paint ( which we've redone) and the plastic components of the interior doors."

"The Outback hugs the road which really notice when driving in the mountains or when driving in all sorts of severe weather. Also felt secure the one time hydroplaned on Cape Cod -- tires back on the road after a brief few minutes."

"Reliable handling, great turning radius, very good braking"

"Is a 4-cyl w/Turbo. Am so pleased w/ability to accelerate that will definitely want a similar engine if/when I purchase a new vehicle. It handles nicely & grips the road well. I'm not an "old" driver!"

"Although there is a brief lag first, acceleration is really fast. Ride is smooth and very solid around turns."

"Very nice handling, after replacing some oem parts with quality aftermarket parts"

"Fun to drive - has that little Subaru growl even after 14 years."

"Big hesitation when wanting to accelerate - VERY annoying."

"Drives very well in most weather conditions except ice. The six cylinder engine provides good power for passing and hill climbing."

"the gear ratios match to the engine don't work well."

"Very nice pickup - exceptional acceleration when needed"

"The Subaru is great off road and on bad roads. The steering is super and the visibility makes you feel like you are in great control. The acceleration can be sluggish if you need to merge on a hill on a highway."

"Great on snow and ice. Very stable. Acceleration is rather sluggish."

"It's peppy, very responsive, and fun to drive!!!"

"The seats are OK for around town or short trips. They can hurt on long trips."

"The seats are not very comfortable. They are quite hard and contribute to back pain, especially on long trips."

"Seals around window (by the side view mirrors) constantly need to be pressed every few months to prevent outside wind noise. Overall the drive is relatively noisy, and the rear suspension is clunky and noisy."

"This is an old car and it is a base model. I am amazed at how well the cloth seats have held up. They are still like new. The ride is wonderful. This car can take bumps and hugs the road well. I feel very safe and in control in this car. It is noisy, but the sound system is good, so I just listen to music."

"Seats are comfortable and can be collapsed in back to give outstanding storage capacity"

"I am older and would like more room in the front seat and the back seat areas. I would add more up to date protective devices to my driving comfort."

"The seats are near perfect for good lower back support and the head rests do not push the head forward so there is no support for the lower back as the modern cars do. I've been in different brands of new cars and they are all extremely uncomfortable because of the head supports ."

"Driver seat support is terrible.Not enough options in the electric seat control."

"There was a wind noise and whistling in the cabin for about a month before I researched common causes online, where I learned that the sound came from the side view mirrors. I was able to get the noise to go away with no tools and for free just by squeezing the plastic part together to prevent any gaps for air to whistle through, and the problem has gone away for almost a year now with no reoccurrence."

"Leather seats, still in great condition after 14 years. Climate control is easy and fast, never a problem. The car is a bit noisy on highways, but not bothersome."

"The seats do have certain pressure points that can become uncomfortable after several hours. Also, the noise factor does seem to be higher than other vehicles."

"Seats are too rigid---not comfortable."

"Handling on the curves of the road and great in snow."

"Lots of wind noises when driving on the freeway."

"I had the driver's seat modified so it will go back farther. As a result, the seat is superbly comfortable for a tall person to sit with legs straight out on long trips."

"The seat warmers are handy for cold winter days (though in the SF bay area it's never really cold here), and the ride is comfortable. It's not like a luxury car, but nice enough."

"Smooth and powerful car, traction control is excellent, in car noise is much less than the standard Outback series, but the seats are HARD!! Subaru's leather seats leave a LOT to be desired."

"there is a noisy draft coming into somewhere near the passenger side windshield -- can't find the source"

"The seats are comfortable cloth seats and in good condition. The car is noisy, though. The ride is relatively comfortable."

"The seats are very uncomfortable and stiff for me. I would also like my leg room."

"Best level of reliability of any car I've ever owned."

"Probably needs engine seal work, because of oil smell when driving. This seems to be a recurring problem."

"My Subaru does not use oil. It had got me to my destinations every time. I had a flat tire once and my daughter had not left the jack in the car. I used up the battery by running the radio too long. Other than those two items and I made it to my destinations on time."

"We bought it for $4000 with 130,000 miles so we can't complain about the value since it's still running fine at 150,000. But filling the Subaru with premium ($35-50) after we're used to filling the Prius with regular ($20-30) is quite a shock!"

"I paid $9,000. in 2005 for this vehicle which had 87,000 miles on it."

"We bought this car new in October 2001. Aside from maintenance items, the biggest repairs were for engine work, primarily for oil leaks, but also a fluke (a valve broke). It has been a comfortable and reliable car. I have just ordered a brand new Outback to replace it, because I want the latest safety features."

"We've used a Subaru dealer for all of our servicing, which is pretty expensive, but the car has been very reliable. What problems we've had, have not caused us to break down, just to get it serviced. We are keeping this car as our second car, because we live at a high altitude, and need it for the 2 or 3 weeks a year that there is snow on the ground. The AWD is good."