SUBARU CANADA: READY FOR EVERY ROAD
The automotive landscape is changing and so are customer needs. What types of cars will Canadians buy in the future? How will those vehicles be powered? Who will drive them?
Even as things change, and emerging technology rushes to market, the way Canadians feel about owning a vehicle remains the same; next to a home, a car is the second most important investment a person may ever make. Subaru Canada intends to be ready for every road in this changing automotive landscape. Our strategy is to position Subaru as an appealing alternative to mainstream brands by creating vehicles that focus on the core values that Subaru represents and customers want:
Performance and driving enjoyment;
Versatility to support active life styles;
Quality, reliability, and dependability; Safety as a top priority. By recognizing our customers’ needs, we remain true to our core technology such as the inherently balanced Subaru Boxer engine, Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive, and our all-new Subaru Global Platform.
The all-new 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, the second vehicle built on the Subaru Global Platform, debuted this summer with unprecedented levels of safety and performance. The global platform was first introduced in the redesigned 2017 Impreza and, in fact, the Impreza was so well received that it nabbed a spot on the 2017 Wards 10 Best Interiors list as well as Japan Car of the Year.
Subaru’s legendary reputation for producing long-lasting vehicles was cemented in 2017 by several prestigious awards. ALG (formerly Automotive Lease Guide), the industry benchmark for projecting future resale value, named Subaru as the Best Mainstream Brand for the third consecutive year and awarded four ALG 2017 Canadian Residual Value segment awards, including Best Compact Car (Impreza), Best Midsize Utility-2 row (Outback), Best Sports Car (WRX / WRX STI) and Best Subcompact Utility (Crosstrek). Subaru also received the first-ever Best Retained Value Overall Brand award from Canadian Black Book, recognizing vehicles that hold the highest percentage of original MSRP after four years. The 2017 Crosstrek was named Best Retained Value in the Compact Car segment.
When it comes to crash protection and prevention, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2017 Legacy, Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek the highest possible score across all five IIHS evaluation criteria, as well as an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention. The 2017 Legacy and 2017 Outback also achieved Top Safety Pick+ recognition, showing they meet the industry’s increasingly stringent safety standards.
The Subaru Legacy is still the longest running mid-size sedan with top safety ratings after achieving the same high scores for an astounding 12th year in a row. The Forester extended its title as the longest running winner in the small SUV category with a record 11th win, while the Impreza is the only small car to achieve top ratings in all IIHS evaluations.
As well, Subaru’s top seller year to date, the 2017 Forester, was recognized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada as the Best New Small Utility Vehicle, and was further named the 2017 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.
With five consecutive years of all-time annual sales records, Subaru’s Canadian sales continue to rise. In fact, Subaru has more than doubled its sales in just seven years, closing 2016 with over 50,000 units retailed nationally. Existing customers show their loyalty by returning to our showrooms, while new customers are coming in, attracted by the growing appeal of our vehicles and our brand.
With doubling sales comes the need to keep the Canadian carbuying public excited about what’s to come. This year, Subaru unveiled the Ascent, a new seven-passenger vehicle concept. Produced in 2018 at the zero-landfill Subaru of Indiana Automotive facility with its backyard wildlife habitat, the Ascent will use the new global platform that underpins the Impreza and Crosstrek. You read that right: the same platform that underpins a compact car and crossover will accommodate Subaru’s largest vehicle ever produced. This modular platform will be used for all Subaru vehicles moving forward, with the possibility to accommodate EV (electric vehicles) and emerging technologies down the road.
By focusing on the needs of our customers and providing a strong network of 93 dealers from coast to coast, Subaru Canada remains committed to being ready for every road we approach.