News
Posted Friday, January 30, 2026 at 9:02pm
I can imagine Miguel Cortina, the editor who manages our comparison tests, sitting at his desk and wringing his hands in evil glee. “What can I do to Gold to mess with him?” he asks himself. “I can’t order him to count the grains of sand in the Mojave Desert. I can’t send him to mow Iowa. Oh, I know—I’ll assign him a comparison between the Subaru Crosstrek and the Hyundai Kona. No, better still,… Read More →
Posted Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:12pm
The manual transmission is an endangered species, and the proliferation of EVs (at least, until recently) probably means the end is near. Or is it? Last week, both Toyota and Subaru published patents for systems that promise to simulate the experience of driving a manual transmission as accurately as possible, even in EVs that don’t have an actual transmission. We first noticed this development by Subaru spotted by CarBuzz. But we’ve seen something like this… Read More →
Posted Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:10pm
American rally luminary Lance Smith has talked of the potential positive impact the World Rally Championship’s return could have on the sport stateside. Smith has been involved at the sport’s highest level in America throughout his career as president and CEO of Vermont SportsCar – the team which builds and runs the all-conquering Subarus – and as founder of Rally Forward, the firm promoting the American Rally Association National Championship. Read More →
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 10:02pm
If you trawl around patent databases long enough, you’ll spot something interesting from time to time. This time around, it comes from Subaru, and it might change the dynamic of performance EVs should the company push through and actually build it. Forget simulated gear shifts (sorry, Ioniq 5 N, we still love you), Subaru is thinking of a way to add a true manual mode to battery-powered vehicles, clutch and all. Spotted first by CarBuzz,… Read More →
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 10:00pm
Extra-outdoorsy trim levels are all the rage these days. More rugged styling bits are a must, while all-terrain tires represent the bare minimum amount of effort to increase actual capability. The redesigned, 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness checks off both of those boxes (perhaps too aggressively when it comes to styling), but like its predecessor, this extra-outdoorsy trim level goes so much further than glorified appearances packages like the Honda CR-V TrailSport or Hyundai Tucson XRT.… Read More →
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 9:58pm
Toyota recently revealed pricing for the bZ Woodland, and it makes the Subaru-badged equivalent seem much more affordable by comparison. Following the launch of the Solterra and the bZ4x, Subaru and Toyota went back to the drawing board to continue fleshing out their EV portfolios. What resulted was the Trailseeker and the bZ Woodland, another set of twins sharing a platform but with added capability thanks to extra ground clearance, rugged body cladding and standard… Read More →
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 9:56pm
The Honda Civic Si has a long-standing reputation as a market favorite for a sports car that’s fun to drive, easy to live with, and cheap to run. The latest Civic Si’s turbocharged engine, three-pedal configuration, and upgraded looks and handling are intended to raise the heartrate of enthusiast drivers, while also serving double-duty as a sensible family hauler and daily commuter. Thing is, Subaru has a new base-spec WRX on the menu for 2026,… Read More →
Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 9:30pm
The United States is ready to return to the WRC calendar and host an event that doesn’t just meet expectations—it redefines them.” Matt Crews is not a man to mince his words. He doesn’t have the time. Nor does he have the inclination. He’s got an event to prepare and a world to take on. Talk of the World Rally Championship’s return to the United States has been around for a while. Nobody knows that… Read More →
Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 9:28pm
The FIA has confirmed plans for a World Rally Championship ‘candidate event’ for mid-2026 ahead of an anticipated return to the country for the series. The event, organized in collaboration with the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS), will take place from June 11-17, with FIA delegates inspecting every aspect of the event, including sporting operations and safety protocols. As part of the FIA’s visit, its delegates will explore stages in Kentucky and… Read More →
Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 9:24pm
So often when we report on model year pricing, we see the numbers tick up, only becoming more affordable with the introduction of a new entry-level trim. Well, here’s some good news: Not only is Subaru reintroducing the Base trim for the 2026 WRX, bringing the WRX starting price down to $33,690, but every returning trim offered is seeing a price reduction– and relatively substantial ones at that. The Premium grade, for example, sees its… Read More →
