Impreza Name One of the Best Small Cars for Under $20,000

Posted on by
Reply

The 2012 Subaru Impreza was recently named one of the best small cars under $20,000 by thecarconnection.com.

Thecarconnection.com recognized the Impreza’s impressive fuel economy, spacious interior and high marks for safety when selecting the Impreza to grace to list.  You can read the 2012 Subaru Impreza’s full review online.

The 2012 Subaru Impreza’s low retail price isn’t the only place customers will save money.  Powered by 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine the 2012 Impreza is able to return 36 mpg highway, allowing drivers to travel further without spending money at the pump.

Safety also played a large role in the 2012 Impreza’s ability to grace such an impressive list of vehicles.  In fact, the 2012 Subaru Impreza was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Standard safety features including driver’s knee airbag, side curtain and front side air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and traction control all played a role in making the 2012 Subaru Impreza one of the safest vehicles on the road.

Subaru Impreza Named One of NADAGuide’s 10 Most Versatile Cars Under $20,000

Posted on by
Reply

Each year, NADAGuide names the 10 most versatile cars available for under $20,000 to help car shoppers find fuel-efficient vehicles that are versatile and feature-rich, but also budget-friendly. This year, the Suabru Impreza Wagon has made the list.

The Impreza Wagon 2.0i Premium was praised not only for its natural versatility as a 5-door vehicle, but also for its amenities like standard all-wheel drive, a spacious interior, hands-free phone capability, navigation, heated front seats, satellite radio, and abundance of safety features. The judges were also impressed by the fuel efficiency of the wagon, which returns up to 34 MPG highway.

For more information about the 2012 Impreza or to check out our Impreza inventory, visit us online.

Kelley Blue Book Names the Outback One of the Best Family Cars for 2012

Posted on by
Reply

The Subaru Impreza and Outback were recently named “Best Cars for Families” by U.S. News & World Reports. Now, another popular name in the automotive industry is recognizing the Outback for its qualities that make the car a great choice for families. The experts at Kelley Blue Book have named the Outback one of the “Best Family Cars for 2012.”

The Outback comes in at number four, thanks to its standard AWD, reliability, excellent safety stores, and roominess, with a maximum cargo volume of 71.3 cubic feet.  The publication also notes the Outback’s impressive capabilities in the snow as a factor that helped it rank among the top of the pack.

According to Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for kbb.com, “Kbb.com’s 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 helps busy parents navigate a hectic, confusing automotive market, offering suggestions for all types of families.  After driving and evaluating nearly all of the new cars available on the market today, we identified the vehicles that offer the greatest combination of features and value for everyday families.”

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Posted on by
Reply

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and across the country, the Department of Transportation has one message for drivers: “One Text or Call could Wreck it All.”

There are many distractions drivers can face behind the wheel. Visual distractions occur when you take your eyes off the road, manual distractions take a driver’s hands off the wheel and onto something else, such as food or drink, and cognitive distractions occur when the driver stops thinking about driving and starts thinking about something else. While there are many ways to get distracted, cell phone use is by far the most alarming, as it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention.

In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed, and nearly half a million injured, in accidents caused by distracted driving.  Cell phone use was reported in 18% of these fatalities. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, meaning they are driving roughly the length of a football field, blind, at 55 mph. Drivers using a hand-held device are also 4 times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to cause an injury due to the lack of reaction time.

Now that you know the facts, you’re probably wondering what you can do to get involved and help make our roadways safer. First, you can take the pledge to drive phone-free, encourage your family and friends to drive phone-free, and speak out if the driver of your car is distracted.  You can also share a “Faces of Distracted Driving” video on social media to help raise awareness, download a poster to hang up, and make a company or family pledge to commit to distracted-free driving.

For more distracted driving facts and ways to get involved, visit http://www.distraction.gov.

Gas-Saving Tips

Posted on by
Reply

With gas prices continuing to rise, people are looking for more ways to save. While the price of gasoline may not be completely unavoidable, there are some things you can do to help lighten the load. Here are 5 tips to help your car drive a little more efficiently:

  • Have routine service completed. Taking care of your car increases its performance, longevity, and helps save fuel.
  • Avoid “revving” your engine. With today’s computerized systems, revving the engine is unnecessary and ends up overriding your car’s programmed start procedures.  And this action is a double whammy – not only does it burn a lot of fuel, it can also damage the engine.
  • Use smartphone apps. Many apps and websites provide a great resource for fuel savings. Not only can they help you find the lowest gas prices around, they can also provide the most fuel efficient routes and offer specific tips on how to improve your fuel economy based on the way you drive.
  • Take advantage of cruise control. On longer trips, cruise control is a great way to save fuel since the car maintains a constant speed.  Even better, with Volvo Adaptive Cruise Control/BMW Active Cruise Control, your car will also maintain a set distance between you and the car in front of you so that you don’t have to constantly turn the system off and on.
  • Make sure you are buying the right gasoline. While it may be tempting to save money by buying gas with a lower octane level, it is important to follow the fuel recommendation provided by your automaker. Fueling up with the wrong type of gas can cause the car’s performance to suffer.

While you may not be able to completely avoid the added expense of fuel, we hope these tips will help you drive more fuel efficiently and save a little at the pump.

Subaru Shows Off 3 New and Improved Models for 2013

Posted on by
Reply

Subaru has revealed three new or updated models at the New York International Auto Show this week. The all-new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, which will be joining the U.S. Market this year, shared the Subaru show stand with the 2013 Outback and Legacy, which each received a refresh.

The XV Crosstrek is a five-door crossover that is based on the Impreza hatchback but offers a more unique, urban look. The model is currently available in other markets where it is known simply as the Subaru XV, but the new U.S. model will differ in that it is powered by Subaru’s 148-horsepower 2.0-liter boxer engine and the suspension was raised to offer 8.6 inches of ground clearance.

The 2013 Legacy and Outback also debuted, each replacing the engine of their 2.5i model predecessors with Subaru’s new FB series, DOHC 2.5-liter, boxer-four. Both models have received minor changes to their suspension, improved ride and handling, added more safety features, and updated their interiors for the 2013 model year.

For more information about each of the recently revealed models, visit Subaru’s New York Auto Show website at http://www.subaruny2012.com/.

The 2013 Subaru Outback and 2013 Legacy Will Debut at the NY Auto Show

Posted on by
Reply

Making their debut at New York’s auto show, the 2013 Subaru Outback and the 2013 Subaru Legacy will both include noticeable changes from last year.

Both the 2013 Outback and 2013 Legacy will feature a new, more powerful engine. The base engine of previous model years is updated to the FB-series 2.5-liter boxer-four. The FB-series engine produces 173-horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, providing more low-end torque than the old engine.

Another major addition for both the 2013 Outback and 2013 Legacy is the option of EyeSight, a stereoscopic camera safety system from Subaru. The system uses forward-facing cameras that signal lane departure warnings, collision warnings, and provide adaptive cruise control. Subaru boasts the EyeSight system has a wider range of vision and is less costly than comparable technologies in other vehicles.

2013 Subaru Models will Receive Advanced Safety Technologies

Posted on by
Reply

Advanced technology seems to often debut in luxury models before trickling down to more mainstream brands, but Subaru is leaping ahead in safety advancements by introducing its EyeSight safety package in 2013 Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback models.

The Subaru EyeSight driver-assisted technology package will include lane departure sensors, which warn the driver if the car begins to drift out of the lane , adaptive cruise control, which can automatically increase or decrease the car’s speed to adjust to the car in front, pedestrian detection and obstacle avoidance.

For pedestrian and obstacle detection, Subaru has improved their system compared to competitors by using different camera types placed in different locations than most other systems. Subaru will use a pair of cameras that produce stereo images that will cover a wider viewing area than current radar-based systems, and cost less. This technology will allow the car to alert the driver to anything in its path, then automatically slowing the car if needed, or stopping the car when traveling at speeds less than 19 mph.

EyeSight will debut in April at the New York Auto Show. No pricing has been announced yet, and while it will initially only be available in the Outback and Legacy, the system is predicted to expand to other models.