Cars.com Reviews 2011 Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback was completely redesigned last year, and with that the automaker fixed one of the biggest issues Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays says the wagon faced: backseat room. The wagon is now 10% roomier and competes with crossovers like the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour. The Outback’s affordable starting pricing and its good gas mileage make it a strong competitor, but it’s so-so interior appointments, outdated navigation system and sluggish acceleration with the four-cylinder are detriments some car shoppers might want to look at carefully. To find out more, read Kelsey May’s full review and check out the video review here.

2011 Subaru Outback

2011|Subaru|Outback

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

This week, the three-month reign of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the top of our most-read reviews list is over. It’s been usurped by the 2011 Honda Odyssey, which goes on sale later this month. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta review joins our chart at No. 3, displacing the 2010 Subaru Forester (No. 4). This week’s new entries kicked off the 2011 Honda CR-Z and 2010 Honda CR-V from the Top 10.

1.   2011 Honda Odyssey 
2.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
3.   2011 Volkswagen Jetta 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2011 Chevrolet Cruze 
6.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
7.   2010 Subaru Outback 
8.   2011 Subaru WRX STi 
9.   2011 Ford Mustang 
10. 2011 Kia Sorento

Cars.com Video: 2011 Subaru Outback

The 2011 Subaru Outback competes with the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour, but it outsells both of them combined. The Outback accomplishes this by being affordable, reliable and fun to drive, according to Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. Still, there are a few quibbles related to the Outback’s “OK” interior and outdated navigation system. Is that enough to put off wagon fanatics? Watch the video to find out.

2011|Subaru|Outback

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the ninth week, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee lands as the most-read review on Cars.com. The 2011 Chevy Cruze fell four spots, from third to seventh. The perennial mainstays on the top 10, the 2010 Subaru Forester and Outback, notched up to second place and sixth place, respectively. New this week is the 2010 Nissan Murano, which was recently reviewed by our friends at MotherProof.com, bumping the 2010 Honda CR-V out of the top 10 for now. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
2.   2010 Subaru Forester 
3.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
4.   2011 Kia Sorento 
5.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
6.   2010 Subaru Outback 
7.   2011 Chevrolet Cruze 
8.   2010 Nissan Murano 
9.   2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 
10  2011 Ford Mustang

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Now officially in its second month at the top of our list is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 2011 Chevy Cruze fell behind this week, letting the 2011 Ford Fiesta reclaim the No. 2 spot, while the 2011 Kia Sorento bounced from 10th to fifth. The 2010 Honda CR-V and 2011 Ford Mustang rejoin the list, knocking off the 2011 Toyota Avalon and Honda CR-Z for now. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
2.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
3.   2011 Chevrolet Cruze 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2011 Kia Sorento 
6.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
7.   2010 Subaru Outback 
8.   2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 
9.   2011 Ford Mustang 
10. 2010 Honda CR-V

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the sixth week in a row, the most-read reviews continue to be the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Honda CR-Z. The 2010 Honda CR-V and 2011 Ford Mustang rejoin the list, bumping off the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe for now. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
2.   2011 Honda CR-Z 
3.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2010 Subaru Outback
6.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
7.   2010 Honda Civic 
8.   2010 Chevy Equinox 
9.   2010 Honda CR-V 
10. 2011 Ford Mustang

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the fifth week in a row, the week’s most-read reviews continue to be the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Honda CR-Z. The 2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe rejoin the top 10, bumping off the 2010 Hyundai Tucson and 2011 Kia Sorento. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
2.   2011 Honda CR-Z 
3.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2010 Subaru Outback 
6.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
7.   2010 Honda Civic 
8.   2010 Buick LaCrosse 
9.   2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 
10. 2010 Chevy Equinox

Recall Alert: 2010-11 Subaru Legacy, Outback

Subaru is recalling more than 800 2010- 2011 Outback and Legacy models equipped with six-speed manual transmissions due to a manufacturing error, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some of the manual transmissions on affected models are missing a lubrication hole in the transfer case. If the gears are not lubricated properly, they will eventually break, leading to power loss and possibly a crash. The recall affects models built between April 28 and June 23. 

Subaru will notify owners and dealers to get their vehicles repaired starting Aug. 6. The dealer will either drill the lubrication hole or replace certain gears at no charge. You can contact Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

2010|Subaru|Legacy

2010|Subaru|Outback

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the fourth week in a row, the week’s most-read reviews continue to be the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Honda CR-Z. The 2011 Kia Sorento rejoins our top 10 list, bumping off the 2010 Honda CR-V for now. Check out all the popular reviews below. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee  
2.   2011 Honda CR-Z 
3.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2010 Honda Civic 
6.   2010 Subaru Outback 
7.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
8.   2010 Chevrolet Equinox 
9.   2011 Kia Sorento 
10. 2010 Hyundai Tucson

2011|Jeep|Grand Cherokee

2011|Ford|Fiesta

2010|Subaru|Forester

2010|Honda|Civic

2010|Subaru|Outback

2011|Hyundai|Sonata

2010|Chevrolet|Equinox

2011|Kia|Sorento

2010|Hyundai|Tucson

Subaru Latest to Offer In-Car Wi-Fi

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: It doesn’t make sense to pay for most in-car Wi-Fi solutions from automakers.
 
Chrysler and GM offer similar systems to one announced today by Subaru. The Japanese automaker will offer a mobile internet system in its 2011 Outback for $499 plus a $35 activation fee. It will then cost another $29 per month. Subaru will pick up the first three months of the subscription fee for free.

We don’t recommend in-car solutions because major wireless carriers like Verizon and Sprint offer portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices. The Verizon MiFi 2200 costs $49.99 after discounts, but the monthly charges range from $40 to $60. Sprint offers a similar device, but unlike the Subaru and Verizon solutions, it uses the faster 4G wireless network. The Overdrive Mobile Hotspot costs $99 after rebates and features only one unlimited monthly plan at $60 a month.

The benefit to these mobile Wi-Fi devices is that you can take them with you outside the car.

Perhaps dealers should start renting out kiosks to mobile companies instead of offering in-car solutions.