this vehicle is perfectly lined up to the "you get what you paid for" side, even so, it is indeed reliable, gets me where i need to be without fail. no real cons aside a non functioning radio, everything else is as nice as it could be for its price.

I've owned my 09 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport for 6 months now. I like the car overall, which has good looks and great handling. I had never driven in the snow before, but I did try the car in upstate NY (Hudson valley) this winter: no problem at all. I had only the stock all season tires but I could drive to work in an unplowed road with more than a foot of virgin fresh powder. You have to drive carefully of course, but the car never slips or surprises you in any bad way --except if you feel playful, like I felt. I was freaking out driving in the snow but I got myself the perfect car for it. It's not a snow tank (low-ish ground clearance) but it will still take you out of your driveway and beyond on unplowed roads. That being said it's a hatch --gotta love that to like the car at all. I prefer hatches anyway, and the cargo room is the same than in the sedan, except more accessible (and the sedan's trunk is not even flat (check for yourself)). Interior space is good but I confess I rarely if ever have someone in the backseat. Power comes from the classic subie 170HP boxer engine, which is OK given the weight of the car. I'd say it's probably enough for most people, including myself, but I sometimes like to feel a rush of instant power (for fun or safety) and the Subaru doesn't deliver that. The fault lies in the primitive gearbox, which shifts and downshifts correctly, but is just not modern. Subaru stuck to a 4-speed (sic) while modern cars today regularly get 6- to 8- speeds in automatic versions. The result is sub-par acceleration and sub-par fuel economy. It's a shame because again the car looks good and sporty, the handling is fantastic, and the only letdown is the gearbox. I hear they will improve the gearbox on the new 2012 model, but I'm not sure. Besides, the car is comfortable; I have several back problems and I never feel tired or hurt in anyway in this car's seat. I hear Subarus are very reliable but at the present I can't testify on that. Their warranty is good and covers many things, but the maintenance is expensive ($220 for the 22,500 miles maintenance --but that's my dealer's fault). Overall I like the car very much. Outside of a modern gearbox, I wish it was a little more on the quiet side on the freeway, that it would get better fuel economy, and that I didn't have a mild but annoying sound coming from the dash (my pet peeve). the ratings I gave represent my appreciation of the car, a bit on the harsh-ish side, and when I didn't know I gave 3 stars (as in reliability, family car and back seats)

Performance - The acceleration is acceptable for a non-turbo AWD car. Braking is really nice and responsive. Handling couldnt be better. It will take corners faster than my dad's BMW. Build Quality - No bad things to speak of. Appearance - Much better than that of the 2.5i hatchback. Paprika Red Pearl colored paint looks a lot better than it sounds. Cost of Ownership - 25mpg city, 30-32mpg highway Fun Factor - a BLAST to drive. The manual tranny is a must. It will take anything you can throw at it, but the speed is that only department in which it is lacking. If you're looking to buy, spring for the WRX.

I got this little girl for $18.5k (before extended warranty) with plenty of options, 2 years old, with less than 12k miles on it--practically brand new. A Subaru is no stranger to 200k miles, so she's looking to be a fantastic investment. A 2.5i and symmetrical AWD (of course) do the trick for getting to the slopes in the southern Appalachians (site of my hometown), navigating Atlanta traffic (site of my graduate school), and every bit of the drive in between.

It has enough get up to where the gas mileage is decent, however I would prefer a it to be faster like the WRX. The turning is amazing and I love the handling all together! It feels safe and is comfortable as well.