I Think I Finally Get Subarus

Over the last month, I’ve spent more time driving Subarus than any other vehicle. This was not intentional.

It all got started in August, when I went to Pebble Beach and I asked Subaru for a press car. I don’t normally take press cars, but I decided that I wanted to continue my tradition of going to Pebble Beach in a station wagon, which now spans four years and four different wagons: a 1997 BMW 528i Touring, a 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, a 2000 Volvo V70 Cross Country, and now the Subaru.

But before I hit Pebble, I did a little tour of Northern California with my girlfriend’s family and we went to a national park, and a big reservoir, and a couple of cities — and so basically I just drove around for two long weeks in a Subaru Outback. I think I added about 500 miles to the odometer.

Then, two weeks ago, I went to Portland for the launch of the new Lexus RX, which is a luxurious new crossover that looks angry. For this event, I flew out a few days early and I rented my own car. But when you are in Portland, apparently you don’t get a Chrysler 200 or a Dodge Grand Caravan when you rent a car. You get a Subaru Forester. Then I visited Salem, and Corvallis, and Eugene, and basically all of Portland over a span of approximately four days. I think I put about 300 miles on that thing.

Now, at no time during either event was I really impressed with the on-road performance of my Subaru. The Outback has something like 173 horsepower, which really isn’t enough for a car of its ever-increasing size. The Forester has about the same engine, but it’s an SUV, and that much power isn’t exactly doing it any favors, either. So there was no point during either trip when I really felt exhilarated by these vehicles.

It’s the same story around corners. Yeah, sure, the Outback and the Forester handle a little better than their dullest rivals, but these things aren’t roller coasters. You aren’t going around turns and screaming for joy at just how well these cars hold the road and how much fun you’re having.

So these cars aren’t that exciting. Yet, here’s the thing: When you’re driving around Northern California and Northwest Oregon, all you see is Subaru. Everyone has a Subaru. Old Imprezas. New Outbacks. Modified WRXs. Foresters with kayaks on top. Every single person in this area is driving around in a Subaru. But why?

I started to understand it after only a couple of days in the Outback. It wasn’t about driving pleasure. It also wasn’t about style, or luxury, or power. It’s about the fact that Subaru makes good, solid cars that are tremendously easy to own.

I’ll give you a few examples. You get in most Subarus today and you turn a key. A honest-to-goodness, legitimate, automotive key. Just like in the old days. No trickery. No keyless stuff. No buttons. You just do what you’ve always done and you don’t have to figure out anything new.

Inside, the center control stack is so simple it’s amazing. All the buttons are big. They’re well marked. They’re well arranged. You don’t have to go searching for anything. You don’t have some weird gear lever with a strange shift pattern. There’s no style for the sake of style. Everything is simple, logical, and well placed. It might not be the highest quality, and it might not be beautiful, but it works — and this is how Subaru drivers want it.

Then there’s the whole “standard all-wheel drive” thing. Now, we car enthusiasts know that all-wheel drive isn’t necessarily the savior that much of the public makes it out to be. But to most people, the feeling of driving a car with the reassuring feeling of all-wheel drive is exactly what they want from their vehicle. For proof, all you have to do is consider the popularity of Subaru vehicles in Northern California and Northwest Oregon, where it never really even snows.

And so, I’ve started to understand the appeal of Subarus. No, most of their models aren’t driver’s cars. They don’t have the most stylish interior or the most beautiful exterior. They aren’t class leaders in technology, or equipment, or gadgets, but these cars are sold to people who want a car they can trust, a car that won’t give them any crap, and a car that makes them feel safe.

All those commercials with the dogs help, too.