2026 subaru outback news?!

[SoDealer]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

When I rent cars on ski trips I use Turo and rent cars based on what tires are on them. I had a 4x4 Silverado one year that was the biggest POS in the snow. It had the stock all seasons and it was complete garbage. One of the best was a Mini Cooper Clubman AWD on snow tires. Subarus with the Wilderness trim are good, but the stock all seasons on the rest of the Subaru lineup SUCK. The worst are the new ones (looking at you Forester) with the 19” wheels.

I’d rather have a FWD Civic on snow tires versus any Subaru with the stock tires. The AWD is insanely overhyped on these cars. It’s simple and works, but in the snow it honestly doesn’t make that much of a difference if you can’t turn and stop.

disagree and will leave it at that.

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[20WRX20]

Originally Posted by SoDealer

disagree and will leave it at that.

Yeah have fun with the insurance claim after you slide your $42,000 Subaru crossover into a guardrail while real winter drivers blow past you in a Civic doing controlled e-brake slides on new Blizzaks.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

When I rent cars on ski trips I use Turo and rent cars based on what tires are on them. I had a 4x4 Silverado one year that was the biggest POS in the snow. It had the stock all seasons and it was complete garbage. One of the best was a Mini Cooper Clubman AWD on snow tires. Subarus with the Wilderness trim are good, but the stock all seasons on the rest of the Subaru lineup SUCK. The worst are the new ones (looking at you Forester) with the 19” wheels.

I’d rather have a FWD Civic on snow tires versus any Subaru with the stock tires. The AWD is insanely overhyped on these cars. It’s simple and works, but in the snow it honestly doesn’t make that much of a difference if you can’t turn and stop.

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

Yeah have fun with the insurance claim after you slide your $42,000 Subaru crossover into a guardrail while real winter drivers blow past you in a Civic doing controlled e-brake slides on new Blizzaks.

You keep making statements that just tell me you don't know how to properly drive a Subaru. My early years of driving them were in the rough winters of northern Japan. I'm not arguing proper tires are not a thing; and I'm not saying there isn't bad Subaru drivers that end up in a ditch; but, I'll challenge that "FWD Civic" on snows with any of the 4WD/AWD Subaru's I've ever owned.

[20WRX20]

How do you properly drive them? Is there a magic button that increases the grip with the stock all-season tires (which suck in the snow?)

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

How do you properly drive them? Is there a magic button that increases the grip with the stock all-season tires (which suck in the snow?)

Nah. But, your statements of how not good they are just screams you're doing something wrong.

[20WRX20]

It’s the tires. I don’t care how good of a driver you are, these cars/CUVs do not stop or handle well with the stock all seasons. People hype up the Subaru AWD but ignore basic winter driving fundamentals, part of which is having the proper equipment. Maybe I’m just used to having snow tires on all of my cars but every Subaru I’ve driven in the snow that didn’t have snow tires absolutely sucked.

It’s not driver error, it’s ****ing physics.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

It’s the tires. I don’t care how good of a driver you are, these cars/CUVs do not stop or handle well with the stock all seasons. People hype up the Subaru AWD but ignore basic winter driving fundamentals, part of which is having the proper equipment. Maybe I’m just used to having snow tires on all of my cars but every Subaru I’ve driven in the snow that didn’t have snow tires absolutely sucked.

It’s not driver error, it’s ****ing physics.

I can see if you're always on snows, to then get in something without it being that "bad". That puts a different perspective on it. You were making it sound as if Subarus just sucked and with your statement about "overhyped" AWD. Subaru has proven again and again their "simple" system is actually still pretty much the best. Kinda warranting the "hype".

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

I can see if you're always on snows, to then get in something without it being that "bad". That puts a different perspective on it. You were making it sound as if Subarus just sucked and with your statement about "overhyped" AWD. Subaru has proven again and again their "simple" system is actually still pretty much the best. Kinda warranting the "hype".

Yea, Subaru AWD is well proven, and I have 20 years of experience with them. I would put it above anyone else.

I used A/S on my first WRX until one drive up to the mountains spun me. Car was fine, my heart was not haha. After that, I only used winter tires and found baby J. It's night and day difference. Love them.

I drove my Crosstrek PHEV with the stock A/S, but after one early storm and the amount of slushy ABS skidding, I bought snow tires again. Even then you have to drive it in B-mode to get any control without using the brake pedal.

My Solterra will stay A/S this year since I can WFH and avoid the snow. The Model Y has winter tires on currently. Bring on the snow!

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Snow Drift

Yea, Subaru AWD is well proven, and I have 20 years of experience with them. I would put it above anyone else.

I used A/S on my first WRX until one drive up to the mountains spun me. Car was fine, my heart was not haha. After that, I only used winter tires and found baby J. It's night and day difference. Love them.

I drove my Crosstrek PHEV with the stock A/S, but after one early storm and the amount of slushy ABS skidding, I bought snow tires again. Even then you have to drive it in B-mode to get any control without using the brake pedal.

My Solterra will stay A/S this year since I can WFH and avoid the snow. The Model Y has winter tires on currently. Bring on the snow!

At the Subaru meeting that we got to see the Solterra about 3 months before they debuted it, they showed us a bunch of development/testing videos. Some of which made it out and were shared here. Some of the ones that didn't show how well it tackles crap I wouldn't have even thought to try. And they were doing it on the stock tires. I couldn't imagine how well it would do with proper tires for whatever situation.

[Brahmzy]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

Literally any car will rock with snow tires. Cars were slipping and sliding because people are idiots who run worn all seasons and think AWD will save them. I do think the boxer motor mounted lower in the chassis + the symmetrical setup helps, but the tires are to thank here, not the Subaru.

I've driven a new Forester on stock all-seasons and it was pretty terrible in the snow. Didn't get stuck but had a hard time stopping. My WRX on snow tires by comparison is a tank in the snow (which I've only driven in a handful of times due to the uninsured Altimas and other POS's that are on the roads with bald tires every snowstorm.)

Tl;dr - it's the tires, not the Ascent.

Hey - surprise. Defender2s aren't snow tires. Just good Michelin all-seasons. Not even close to snow tires.

And yes it is the Ascent. I think I've got a ****-ton more experience driving vehicles in the snow and tire experience than you do. You just proved that in your dumb post. I bet Ive owned more Subarus than you, driven in more snow than you and owned more tires than you.

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by JustyWRC

At the Subaru meeting that we got to see the Solterra about 3 months before they debuted it, they showed us a bunch of development/testing videos. Some of which made it out and were shared here. Some of the ones that didn't show how well it tackles crap I wouldn't have even thought to try. And they were doing it on the stock tires. I couldn't imagine how well it would do with proper tires for whatever situation.

I am looking forward to driving it this winter. You can tell both motors are always on. We didn't really get any snow last year to test it. (Another reason I drive EVs).

[20WRX20]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

Hey - surprise. Defender2s aren't snow tires. Just good Michelin all-seasons. Not even close to snow tires.

And yes it is the Ascent. I think I've got a ****-ton more experience driving vehicles in the snow and tire experience than you do. You just proved that in your dumb post. I bet Ive owned more Subarus than you, driven in more snow than you and owned more tires than you.

They’re not dedicated winters but they’re LT M/S and are better than the stock tires by a long shot. I had them on my truck as highway/“summer” tires and they were decent in the snow due to the tread design. Still didn’t stop as good as dedicated snows though.

[SVX WRX]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

They’re not dedicated winters but they’re LT M/S and are better than the stock tires by a long shot. I had them on my truck as highway/“summer” tires and they were decent in the snow due to the tread design. Still didn’t stop as good as dedicated snows though.

one thing people forget (or just don't know) is that the rubber compounds snow tires are made of keeps them soft and doesn't turn them into rocks in cold weather.

the tread design is kinda secondary.

[KC]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

They're not dedicated winters but they're LT M/S and are better than the stock tires by a long shot. I had them on my truck as highway/"summer" tires and they were decent in the snow due to the tread design. Still didn't stop as good as dedicated snows though.

No tri-peak, no care. There *are* all-weather (not to be confused with all-season) tires out there carrying the tri-peak rating meaning they are certified for winter travel (and do decent in the summer). I would look for those instead.

Michelin CrossClimate, Vredelstein, etc...

[Brahmzy]

Dedicated snows are not needed here in metro CO land. The sun melts away feet of snow in a day. Good A/S are all that's needed. Mountains? Different story.

[Goempie]

There were many rumors till now. But here on a japanese site. Looks like almost the same chasis.

https://motor-fan.jp/mf/article/278247/

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Goempie

There were many rumors till now. But here on a japanese site. Looks like almost the same chasis.

https://motor-fan.jp/mf/article/278247/

No to the Nth degree. Until we see a spy shot of a camo'd vehicle we can strongly connect to Subaru........ignore anything referencing Baja. At the retailer meeting, they solidly put that to rest. IF they revisit a bed, I doubt it will be in this decade.

[Kostamojen]

Fake news Photoshoped BS.

[Brahmzy]

Fake. Easy to see the shopped stuff.

[Russ_G93]

Whatever competes with the Maverick I suppose

[SCRAPPYDO]

I keep being impressed by the level of equipment and the total package of the maverick

[Russ_G93]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

I keep being impressed by the level of equipment and the total package of the maverick

Its a solid offering for what you get for price. I was taken back from Ford's recent headline of giving the Ranger "Super Duty Treatment" - something like 9k Towing rating. Makes me wonder which engine they'll use. Probably the 2.7 I imagine. Or.. maybe some little diesel. Either way "Make Smaller Trucks Good Again" has been going pretty well

[20WRX20]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

I keep being impressed by the level of equipment and the total package of the maverick

I’m not. In the end it’s a Ford Escape with a bed. I took a look underneath and the rear shocks look like toothpicks. Ford’s marketing team did one hell of a job convincing people to pay 30-40k for it though. You’d have to be pretty stupid to buy one over a Ranger.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

I’m not. In the end it’s a Ford Escape with a bed. I took a look underneath and the rear shocks look like toothpicks. Ford’s marketing team did one hell of a job convincing people to pay 30-40k for it though. You’d have to be pretty stupid to buy one over a Ranger.

So you expected a compact pickup to be able to handle huge loads of concrete or maybe pull a bulldozer.

Making the escape a truck was brilliant. Unibody handling for light duty activities is exactly what compact truck people wanted.

It is all about expectations.

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by 20WRX20

I'm not. In the end it's a Ford Escape with a bed. I took a look underneath and the rear shocks look like toothpicks. Ford's marketing team did one hell of a job convincing people to pay 30-40k for it though. You'd have to be pretty stupid to buy one over a Ranger.

The Maverick was created to replace the Focus. It's their cheapest vehicle. It is not designed for real truck people. It's a Baja (RIP)/Santa Cruz competitor. It's an inexpensive lifestyle car w/ a bed.