Community Chat

[Kalli]

Getting ready to trade in my 2016 Honda crv. Just under 70,000 miles. Planning on trying out a Subaru and checking out the new Hondas. 

I have no complaints about this car at all. But thought it might be fun to consider something different. Two things I must have: leather seats for easy clean up of animal hair. And hatch back for my horse stuff. Can be a smaller car as long as I have room for some tack in the back. 

Anyone want to share opinions? Experiences? Thanks!

[kaydee50]

We had Hondas for many years and were satisfied with them.  DH's cousin has driven Subarus for decades and loves them.  Don't think you can go wrong with either brand.  I would go with the one with the best price and "deals."

Good luck!  

[jlkz]

@Kalli 

While in FL our Sienna van was totaled.  We have had Toyotas for quite a while. After Hurricane Ian struck Ft. Myers and Sanibel north of us, getting a rental car or van was almost impossible.  We looked for used cars.... very few.  New cars even rarer. We even called back North to our dealer and they were in the same bind.  Repairs in FL were being scheduled for August....it was now mid- February.

when we got home we looked and finally got a 2024 Subaru Outback Touring XT....one of the early ones to be manufactured.  Got it customized to remove things we didn't want to have, e.g. wireless charger $4XX for which you needed wireless- charging ready devices and we had none.  Leather seats both front and back, air cooled front ones. 

BUT the thing we ( 78.9 and 82 ) love most are all the safety features, including 360-degree cameras.  No fumbling to find stations or adjust, even a reminder to keep eyes on road.  Take the time to test drive with someone who can clearly and slowly go through what is available.

While it is slightly smaller than the van, it can accommodate a lot of things that need " toting. "

Good luck with your search !

[Meridian2009]

I'd been a Honda lady for decades. But I did some homework and test drove a Subura last December when I was in the market for a new car. I feel in love with the Subaru's many safety features, especially the blind spot detector--really helps when driving an SUV. The selling point for me was the safety features were included in the base price of the car. When I went to the Honda dealer for comparison, I would have had to buy a more expensive model to get those features. So I bought the Subaru and am very happy with it.

Hope this helps with your decision.

[Kachina624]

I like the look of the Nissan Rogues (suv).  Several of my family have them and everybody seems to love them.

"Tack in the back" has a real ring to it.  It might make a C&W song.

[FatCatinCT]

I have a Honda CRV-EXL, husband has a Subaru Forester Touring.

The Subaru has by far a better electronic package and is also more comfortable.

You also have the option to turn off the motor shut down when stopped with the Subaru, the Honda does not and I have to say when I forget to shut it off, it drives me nuts!  It's like it stalls then restarts when giving gas.

The Honda does get better gas mileage than the Subaru but not by much, I get 30.3, hubby gets 28.6.  I bought during the pandemic when they couldn't give cars away, $6k off MSRP for the Honda, it was a no-brainer.  To this day I can still sell it for more than I paid.

If I were to do it over again I'd have gotten a Subaru as well if not for the discounted price.

Good luck!  

[Burnsite]

Kalli, I have never had a Honda, but bought a Subaru at the end of 2012.  I came late to driving, when I moved somewhere w/o public transit.  So I am no authority on cars!   I will say that the Subaru, a basic Impreza but with 4-wheel drive, connects to the road much better than the lighter Toyotas I drove when I started driving in midlife.

I'm about to move but am likely to need a car, and I imagine the Impreza, at 10-11 years of age, will serve me for many more years.  Except for tires and a battery, it has cost nothing except routine maintenance since 2012.  It feels so firm.  My Toyotas used to jitter on the highways, they were so light.  (I am a jittery driver, so I prefer the Subi.)  Everyone's tastes are different, of course, but. . .oh, my, what a relief to highway drive in a Subie compared to a Corolla.....

[on the bay]

I've had both @Kalli.

I would go with a Honda everytime. 

Subarus have had lots of recalls lately including 2024.

You can also check out which models and what year of any car have had the most problems.  

My older Subaru Forester I liked that it drove like a car but the newer model like my sister's was so much bigger and harder to drive and maneuver plus I did have to take mine in for recall issues.

She had Subaru for years and switched to something else.

And no matter what I think you really have to sit in one to see

unless you have been in one before if that makes sense.

[beach-mom]

@Kalli -  We had a Subaru Legacy, a lightly used one. We got it for DD when she was in high school so we wouldn't have to juggle schedules to get her to her after-school jobs. We got that one because it was high in the safety ratings. DS learned to drive on it later. When he graduated we had it fixed up for him as a graduation present. That car was in our family for a long time!

Both of my children have Subarus and love them. DD's first car was a Hyundai Elantra. She was the middle car in a pileup on a major highway. Thank goodness she was OK, but the car was totaled.

So after her car was totaled DD got a new Subaru Forester. She absolutely loves it! I've been in it a lot, and it IS really nice.

DS bought a lightly used Subaru Crosstrek. He's really happy too. 

I hope you find the perfect car for you!  

So our opinion of Subaru is a very high one! 

[on the bay]

@Kalli,

@beach-mom,

Just an added note-

please look at Crosstrek and Imprezza recalls for 2024-the Crosstrek having 84% of the recalls.

We did originally get a Subaru Forester way back when my youngest was in highschool because back then it did have the highest safety ratings.

Hyundai was good too until it wasn't so great. I had one of those too.

Just do all your research.