I long ago converted to AWD, and currently own a 10-year-old Impreza WRX. I also own a late-model Volkswagen Tiguan equipped with AWD. Clearly, I was not the target audience for the exercise that Subaru put together at the always excellent Mecaglisse Motorsport Park about an hour north of Montreal. On the other hand, I make for a good spokesperson for the cause.
This small event was meant to demonstrate that a 2013 Subaru Legacy, for an equal dollar value, can be more than a viable alternative to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Allow me to right away state that it is.
A few years ago, at the launch of the current generation Legacy and Outback, Subaru was adamant about the fact that they too are a Japanese company. The birth of the Outback for the 1996 model year was a brilliant move that put the company on the North American map. Unfortunately, it also caused massive confusion as to the origin of the Fuji Heavy Industries holding. Thank Paul Hogan for that... But I digress.
The fact is that Subaru continues to struggle with myths about who they are, and something else they are internationally known for: all-wheel drive. This explains why the Accord and Camry were selected for this event.
In this video, I briefly touch on these myths and without effort, I dispel them. The facts that support my words are easily found on Auto123.com's car comparison tool. The other option is to compare based MSRPs (all slightly under $24k) directly on the manufacturer's websites. By the same token, this explains why the $30k + 2013 Ford Fusion AWD was not included. Pricing is within a few hundred dollars, and fuel consumption numbers are within a litre per 100 km of each other.
At this point, it seems clear that there are no real valid arguments against AWD. Styling aside, as it is a matter of personal choice, the 2013 Subaru Legacy has everything going for it.
The included video clearly demonstrates all the pros for AWD. Understandably, it can be difficult to fully appreciate what it is AWD can do when the driving conditions are good. Here, at Mecaglisse, the superior smart traction of AWD becomes immensely clear.
Plus, it can be tons o' fun.
This small event was meant to demonstrate that a 2013 Subaru Legacy, for an equal dollar value, can be more than a viable alternative to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Allow me to right away state that it is.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
A few years ago, at the launch of the current generation Legacy and Outback, Subaru was adamant about the fact that they too are a Japanese company. The birth of the Outback for the 1996 model year was a brilliant move that put the company on the North American map. Unfortunately, it also caused massive confusion as to the origin of the Fuji Heavy Industries holding. Thank Paul Hogan for that... But I digress.
The fact is that Subaru continues to struggle with myths about who they are, and something else they are internationally known for: all-wheel drive. This explains why the Accord and Camry were selected for this event.
In this video, I briefly touch on these myths and without effort, I dispel them. The facts that support my words are easily found on Auto123.com's car comparison tool. The other option is to compare based MSRPs (all slightly under $24k) directly on the manufacturer's websites. By the same token, this explains why the $30k + 2013 Ford Fusion AWD was not included. Pricing is within a few hundred dollars, and fuel consumption numbers are within a litre per 100 km of each other.
At this point, it seems clear that there are no real valid arguments against AWD. Styling aside, as it is a matter of personal choice, the 2013 Subaru Legacy has everything going for it.
The included video clearly demonstrates all the pros for AWD. Understandably, it can be difficult to fully appreciate what it is AWD can do when the driving conditions are good. Here, at Mecaglisse, the superior smart traction of AWD becomes immensely clear.
Plus, it can be tons o' fun.
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