What Led Consumer Reports to Label Subaru its Top Automotive Brand?
A new set of Consumer Reports’ rankings released this February places Subaru at #1 on their Auto Brand Report Card. This year’s report looked at 32 different auto brands, with scores based on safety, satisfaction, reliability, and road tests across model lineups for each brand. By combining these factors into an overall score, the Consumer Reports Auto Brand Report Card ranks brands by most consistent performance across model lineups.
For the past two years, Subaru sat at #3 on the Consumer Reports list, but moved up two spots to #1 in 2022, surpassing Mazda and BMW. Subaru was also the only automaker to score above 80 out of 100 (81) this year, while the rest of the top five were Mazda (78), BMW (78), Honda (77), and Lexus (77). Consumer Reports ranked Subaru as #1 with combined scores for: road test, reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction.
Are Subarus Reliable Cars?
Consumer Reports scores a brand’s reliability based on reported problems in 17 trouble areas identified in Consumer Reports Annual Auto Surveys. The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek scored 85 out of 100 in this year’s reliability tests, ranking it as the ninth-best new model. Consumer Reports said that the Subaru Crosstrek is much more reliable than the average new car, giving it 4/5 scores on in-car electronics, power equipment, and body. As a brand, Subaru has been rated as above average in reliability. Auto review site RepairPal scored Subaru at 3.5/5 in terms of reliability, noting that the average annual repair cost is $617, compared to the $652 annual average across all brands.
Are Subarus Long-Lasting Cars?
Subarus are not only known for their everyday reliability but also their consistent longevity. With routine care and maintenance, Subaru vehicles reach average lifespans of over 200,000 miles or 13 years. Dedicated owners who pay special attention to routine maintenance have reported lifespans of 300,000 and over. According to a survey conducted by Experian, 95% of Subaru vehicles sold in the last 10 years are still on the road today, which is more than Honda or Toyota.
Why are Subarus Considered So Safe?
Consumer Reports’ safety scores are based on available crash-test reports, and give extra points for vehicles that are equipped with crash-prevention systems. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety awarded the 2022 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Ascent, and Crosstrek Hybrid with the Top Safety Pick+ title, which is the IIHS’s highest safety ranking. The 2022 Subaru Impreza, WRX, and Crosstrek were given the second-tier Top Safety Pick award. All Subaru models with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology received superior ratings in front crash prevention from the IIHS.
Do Subaru Hold Their Value?
Drivers who are concerned with getting a fair trade-in or resale value for their cars can depend on Subaru’s long track record of above-average resale value. Kelley Blue Book ranked Subaru as the Best Resale Value Brand in 2020, highlighting that all wheel drive is a standard feature on all models except the BRZ, as well as their reputation for reliability, quality, and durability. Subaru made Kelley Blue Book’s list of “2022 Best Resale Value: SUVs” with the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback. The Crosstrek scored a 52.3% resale value, Forester with 47.2%, and the Outback with 45.2%.
Is Subaru a good car brand?
Subaru’s #1 position on the 2022 Consumer Reports Auto Brand Report Card distinguishes the company as an exceptional and reliable brand. Consumer Reports awarded Subaru with the following 2022 titles: Best Overall, Best Overall Mainstream, Best Road Test Score Overall, and Best Road Test Score Mainstream. Subaru also scored high marks in Owner Satisfaction with the Forester and Outback. Owner satisfaction is measured by car owners' responses when asked whether they would buy the same vehicle again, given their experience of price, comfort, enjoyment, performance, reliability, and other factors. 84% of surveyed Forester owners replied “definitely yes” when asked this question, while 71% of Outback owners said that they would buy the exact same vehicle again.
Stop by Rafferty Subaru to test drive a Subaru today!
This year’s Consumer Reports put Subaru above all other commercial automakers for 2022. Stop by Rafferty Subaru today to check out our inventory and take a test drive to see why Subaru is so highly praised!
