The Subaru name is one often associated with a quality vehicle that will provide excellent reliability over an extended amount of years. In fact, according to Polk, more than 96% of Subaru vehicles sold over the last decade are still on the road today. Subaru vehicles provide a great family vehicle for you now, and retain a high resale value for years from now. Here’s a brief look at each of the three main Subaru SUV models.
The Forester Subaru SUV
The most economical of the Subaru SUV line, the Forester provides the smallest body frame size of the SUV line family. In 2012 prices, the Forester started at just over $20,000 for a base line model. The top of the line 2.5XT Touring model started at just under $30,000. All in all, there are six trim levels to choose between.
Enthusiasts of this model rave about the cavernous interior cargo space. Cargo space starts at just under 31 cubic feet and can extend up to 68.3 cubic square feet of space once the second row seats have been lowered.
Standard features include a 2,400 pound towing capacity, a 2.5 liter engine with either 170 or 224 hp depending on trim level, traction control, all wheel drive, anti lock brakes, a full array of airbags, rear child locks and car seat anchors. A full warranty comes standard on all trim levels. The Forester is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2012.
Optional luxury features include a panoramic moon-roof, GPS Navigation, a turbo charged engine and leather trimmed upholstery.
The Outback Subaru SUV
The Outback is the mid-line Subaru SUV model and offers more space for towing people and gear. Paired with the larger engine (available in three of the six available trim levels), this vehicle offers more oomph as well. Prices range from just over $23,000 to just under $32,000 for a fully equipped model.
There is quite a difference in standard features between the three lower end trim levels and the three upper end trim levels. For example, the 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and the 2.5i Limited come standard with a 2.5 liter 170 hp engine whereas the 3.6R, 3.6R Premium, and 3.6R Limited come with a much larger 3.6 liter 256 horsepower engine. Gas mileage on the smaller engines far outshines the larger engine models however. The 2.5 liter models boast 22 city and 29 mpg highway whereas the 3.6 liter engines average just 18/25.
As with the Forester, the Outback is also a 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick. Safety features are uniform across the trim levels and include trusted features such as anti-lock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, full range airbags, a roll over sensor and option rear vision camera. Optional luxury features include dual zone climate control, a power moon-roof, power seats and GPS navigation.
Purchasing an Outback provides you value for years to come. The 2012 Outback has been named to have the best resale value in it’s class by Kelley Blue Book experts.
The Tribeca Subaru SUV
The Tribeca is the cream of the crop when it comes to Subaru SUVs. This model offers only three trim levels as opposed to the six trims of the other models and has a smaller pricing window to match. The difference between the base level 3.6R (starting at $30,595) and the fully loaded 3.6R Touring (starting at $35,895) is just $5,300.
The three models are built fairly similarly. Each boasts 3.6 liter 256hp engine with 6 cylinders. Fuel economy is 16/21 across the board. All models boast matching safety features including anti lock brakes, traction control systems, full airbag coverage, roll over sensors, rear safety locks and roll over sensors. Keeping pace with its smaller cousins, the Tribeca has also been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The differences between the trims begins to appear in optional features including raised roof rails, a rear vision camera, a power moon-roof, touchscreen navigation and rear seat entertainment options.
The Tribeca is the only Subaru sports utility to offer seating for up to seven passengers, making it a favorite choice for the larger family or mother who needs to carpool often. This additional space (complete with folding seats) also offers more interior room for the outdoor adventurer with a lot of gear to transport.
Understanding both the interior design differences and external/mechanical feature differences between models will help you choose the best model for your budget and needs.