Motor Trend SUV of the Year: The Subaru Repeat?

[Zabo]

2008

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...ear/index.html

2009 Motor Trend Sport/Utility Of The Year: Subaru Forester
Clearcut: Soaring Fuel Prices and a Fizzling Economy Have Made It a Jungle Out There, But This Year's Winner Is Easy to See for the Trees

It would be easy to say that this year's winner is a knee-jerk reaction, that the editors of Motor Trend responded to the skyrocketing cost of gasoline like the rest of the driving public by abruptly abandoning the traditional SUV formula for something smaller, more fuel-efficient, greener, more, well, forest-y. It would be easy to categorize our selection of the Subaru Forester as Motor Trend's 2009 Sport/Utility of the Year as a choice made solely at the pump, but it wouldn't be true.

2009

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...ner/index.html

2010 Motor Trend Sport/Utility Of The Year: Subaru Outback
Find the Hidden SUV: An Act So Good, Even if You Know How It's Done You Can't See It

It's right there in the photo: a spacious, tough, thoroughly modern, exceedingly capable sport/utility vehicle. You're forgiven if all you can see is a svelte station wagon. There's magic at work here.

For the first time since any of us can recall, an automaker has claimed the Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title two years in a row. Last fall, deftly balancing efficiency and size, the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester went home with the Golden Calipers trophy. For 2010, fighting off several tough adversaries -- and undoubtedly some unspoken but very real bias among our judges against repeat winners -- Subaru's new, fourth-generation Outback scored a decisive 10-1 victory in the final voting.

*GAG*

[FenwickHockey65]

Gross.

[MikesZ]

Yeah, I finally had time to read this today.

The fact that MT based some of their final selection on off-road performance is absurd for the CUV segment. They aren't built for that.

And of all the CUV's (including the Outback), the Subaru's have the worst seats. Good thing it has good off-road capabilities...I could take the shortcut right to my Chiropractor's office.

My wife and I have been looking/driving vehicles in this segment and found the Equinox/Terrain to be unequaled in this segment...with their features and price they are unbeatable.

And we are not die-hard, brand-loyal GM'ers.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Yeah, I finally had time to read this today.

The fact that MT based some of their final selection on off-road performance is absurd for the CUV segment. They aren't built for that.

And of all the CUV's (including the Outback), the Subaru's have the worst seats. Good thing it has good off-road capabilities...I could take the shortcut right to my Chiropractor's office.

My wife and I have been looking/driving vehicles in this segment and found the Equinox/Terrain to be unequaled in this segment...with their features and price they are unbeatable.

And we are not die-hard, brand-loyal GM'ers.

2nded. IMO, the Ford Edge's seats rank up there too. I can't stay in them for more than 30 minutes without some back pain popping up..

I'm 22.

WTF, Ford.

I'm hoping that we can get a good deal on a 1LT 'Nox lease come 2010 once the Ford goes back. 'Rents apparently can't see over the hood of the Camaro, and don't like it. Yet they love my Explorer..

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by Zabo

2nded. IMO, the Ford Edge's seats rank up there too. I can't stay in them for more than 30 minutes without some back pain popping up..

I'm 22.

WTF, Ford.

I'm hoping that we can get a good deal on a 1LT 'Nox lease come 2010 once the Ford goes back. 'Rents apparently can't see over the hood of the Camaro, and don't like it. Yet they love my Explorer..

They will like the '10 Equinox...good driver position (wife and I are shorties) and good visibility.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

They will like the '10 Equinox...good driver position (wife and I are shorties) and good visibility.

Good. My mom is almost chest height to me, and the auto set for the Edge is her seat 1st, my dad's second.

He and I are the same height. And at 9AM, having your knees eaten for lunch isn't fun.. but she does like the view on that vehicle. As do I.. for lack of anything better to drive.

If it's anything like a Envoy/Trailblazer or Explorer I think they'll eventually be satisfied.

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Good. My mom is almost chest height to me, and the auto set for the Edge is her seat 1st, my dad's second.

He and I are the same height. And at 9AM, having your knees eaten for lunch isn't fun.. but she does like the view on that vehicle. As do I.. for lack of anything better to drive.

If it's anything like a Envoy/Trailblazer or Explorer I think they'll eventually be satisfied.

We found the new Equinox and Terrains to be substantially better that the previous Envoys/Trailblazers, or even the current Explorers or Escapes (we went to the Ford dealer and drove both of those a couple of months back). The Equinox/Terrains seem to handle much better, were quieter inside, and were more comfortable than nearly all of the others, with the possible exception of the larger Exporer (for comfort). The Honda CRV and RAV-4 were nearly as bad as the Subaru for comfort. We both drive 2+ hours per day for work...so its gotta be comfy for a DD.

[MrIcky]

Ya, and then they go on to justify it in a subsequent article by taking it to a fishing hole with a muddy road. I just don't get it.

[TheCaptain]

I know the SRX is a little on the heavy side, but it drives so amazing in a straight line, and then you take a corner and there is barely any body roll! And i'm a little GM biased... so yea. SRX for the win!

[AZCamaroFan]

I got this issue a little over a week ago, and i didn't even read the article about the Subaru. Just the little articles labout some of the suv's, eading up to it.