Over the years there’s been several vehicles that have made their name through rally racing and the world rally cross. Lancia built some brilliant rally cars that made them a fashionable vehicle.
The problem with Lancia was that they built some of the most unreliable and poorly made vehicles ever. Subaru built their rally cross pedigree through the Impreza. However unlike Lancia, they chose to build vehicles that hardly ever broke down.
Subaru was also ahead of the game in other ways. Their original Subaru Outback was one of the first crossover style vehicles. They called it a raised wagon, but in reality it was the beginning of an entirely new era in vehicle creation. The current Subaru product line really reflects that modern style of vehicle creation.
Subaru Impreza - $19,300+
34 MPG - 8.2/10.0
The Impreza is the car that became modified into a consistent world rally champion. The people who drove those on the trails also drove their own personal ones on the streets. The modern Impreza used to have two versions. The WRX version is now really its own model. The Impreza itself remains an economy car with some great features. All wheel drive is rarely something you will get with economy cars, but it’s naturally on the Impreza.
Subaru WRX/WRX STI - $27,600+
28 MPG - 8.4/10.0
When Subaru took rallycross by storm, they didn’t just keep that information for acing only. They took everything from those races and completely reinvested it back into their road vehicles. The WRX and the WRX STI are the culmination of all of that information and are absolutely brilliant cars. The WRX gives you 268 horsepower and puts it down through all four wheels. The STI version adds another 40 horsepower and styling including the traditional huge Subaru rear spoiler.
Subaru BRZ - $26,400+
29 MPG - 7.1/10.0
The BRZ has been built for drivers and no one else. It’s small and has 205 horsepower. That may not seem like a lot, but thanks to the weight, it’s plenty to give you some push. In addition, the BRZ is built to corner on a dime. The balance in the car is perfect and you can push it through a corner instead of taking it conservatively. The downside is that it’s not built for people or cargo. It’s small and cramped and lacks convenience.
Subaru Crosstek - $22,600+
34 MPG - 6.8/10.0
In modern days, there’s not a lot of truly slow vehicles. Engine power and engineering has ensured that there is enough horsepower for almost any vehicle. The Subaru Crosstek is one exception to that rule. The Crosstek manages only 148 horsepower. If we ignore the powertrain, then it’s a pretty nice vehicle. Comfort abounds inside. But it’s hard to overlook that engine.
Subaru Forester $23,500+
28 MPG - 7.2/10.0
The Forester takes on those other small crossovers. Whether you’re choosing the base 170 horsepower option of the 250 horsepower turbo in the XT package, the Forester will give you enough power to get moving. The Forester offers all of the best safety features like automated emergency braking and lane departure warning systems!
Subaru Legacy - $22,900+
36 MPG - 7.3/10.0
The Legacy is a great value offering from Subaru. It gives you excellent mileage. It’s cheaper than its competition. The Legacy is due for a huge upgrade coming in 2018 with an all new look and style. The redesign is going to take care of the car's’ weaknesses with the slightly dated interior look and lack of technological features.
Subaru Outback - $26,600+
27 MPG - 7.7/10.0
As we mentioned earlier, the Outback was one of the first crossover style vehicles. The Outback continues on today doing the job it’s always been asked to tod. The Outback allows you solid fuel economy for a vehicle of this size. Alternatively if power is more important to you, just upgrade to the 256 horsepower V6 for some added oomph.