Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Subaru Outback

“Jon” from Portland, Maine, recently purchased a 2010 Subaru Outback and couldn’t be happier. Full disclosure here: Jon and his wife are quite the fans, as this Outback is their eighth Subaru. This kind of experience, though, means he pays more attention to where the Outback could improve. Read Jon’s full review after the jump, and be sure to post your own review here.

Toyota FT-86 Sports Car Concept

• Looks like: A stubby sports car with big-boy aspirations
• Defining characteristics: Low-hung hood
• Ridiculous features: Audio controls embedded in dash fabric
• Chance of being mass-produced: Very likely

What you see here is the marriage of Toyota design and Subaru engine technology. This is the joint Toyota/Subaru compact sports car we’ve heard so much about for the past year. Still in concept form here, the production version might be further along than you think. Toyota hopes this is the dose of fun its car lineup needs, and from the looks of it, it might be.

The poorly named FT-86 — feel free to submit your own name ideas below — is only 163 inches long, nearly a foot shorter than the Scion tC and a few inches longer than a Hyundai Accent. The engine is a Subaru 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder, which allows for a low placement in the engine bay; that’s why the profile looks a little funky. It’s also rear-wheel drive. This could be one nimble little car that also promises to be lightweight.

The overall design is aggressive, but we wonder what the price will be for such a performance-oriented small car. If it encroaches on the new Genesis coupe’s $20,000-plus price tag, it might be a hard sell for American shoppers. Otherwise, we give a thumbs up to anything that would liven up the Toyota brand. More photos below.

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Subaru Outback, Suzuki SX4

Subaru and Suzuki, not exactly the biggest automakers out there, but when it comes to the new Outback there is a huge buzz (it’s been the most popular new-car review on Cars.com for the past week) and sales are brisk. Editors Kelsey Mays, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the wagon/crossover at length, and then they touch on the quirky Suzuki SX4 and where it stands in a sea of tough competition.

You can listen to the podcast via iTunes, or for the first time, you can listen to it here in this post by clicking the play button below.

Cars.com Podcast #26

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2010 Subaru Outback Video

The updated 2010 Subaru Outback has the perfect reviewer in Cars.com’s David Thomas because, well, he actually owns the previous generation. Bigger, meatier and now more SUV than station wagon, the 2010 Outback has quite a few changes, including styling, interior design and ride quality. Find out in this video if the 2010 has played too much with a good thing or if it’s only improved on what works.

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Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Subaru Outback

Subaru survived the recent auto industry turmoil by simply releasing a new product that people wanted to buy. The redesigned Forester helped Subaru keep sales rolling earlier this year, and now the company has rolled out a redesigned version of its Outback wagon. Senior editor David Thomas reviews the new Outback and finds a lot to like, even though the 2010 is more like a crossover than his own wagon-like 2008.

2010 Subaru Outback Review

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Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Subaru Legacy

“Subaru Newbee” from Denver has been pleased with her Subaru purchase. The 2010 Legacy delivers in all the requisite areas, and while it may not be a “hot rod,” it’s certainly getting the job done for her. Read Subaru Newbee’s full Legacy review to find out the car’s strengths. Then take a moment to post a review of your own ride here.

2010 Subaru Legacy Video

The Subaru Legacy competes in a crowded segment where names like Camry, Accord, Fusion and Malibu already vie for attention. Even with all-wheel drive standard, can the Legacy hold its own amongst those already popular names? Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays takes you through the 2010 Legacy in this video review.

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IIHS Names Subaru Legacy, Outback Top Safety Picks

The 2010 Subaru Outback and Legacy both received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest rating of Top Safety Pick.

Vehicles are only named a Top Safety Pick if they receive front, side and rear crash test ratings of “Good,” which is the highest rating in IIHS testing. They must now also come equipped with electronic stability control.

The Legacy has boasted a “Good” rating for a few years now, but the all-new Outback managed to earn the top prize its first time out.

2010 Subaru Legacy: Daddy Driven

Kelsey Mays has already turned in a full review of the 2010 Subaru Legacy, but a black Premier model with a moonroof and Harman Kardon stereo recently wound up in my hands for a follow-up. Because Kelsey had already taken on the particulars in his review, I figured I could expand on how the redesigned car handled life in a dad’s hands.

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Subaru Legacy

A midsize family sedan that does a lot of things well can still find room for improvement, especially when its competition is the “suburb-infesting” Honda Accord. Or so says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays, who found that Subaru made some key improvements in the new Legacy while retaining everything he liked about the previous version. Still, Mays explains why he thinks the Legacy is not quite ready to go head-to-head with either the Accord or Toyota Camry.

2010 Subaru Legacy Review

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