Topic: Motor Trend SUV of The Year

[rrocket]

Not sure if this was posted...but flipping through my new mags I see that Subaru Outback is SUV of the Year.  That's 2 years in a row for Subaru.

[ovr50]

I saw that in the copy of MT I was "bench reading" at the grocery store today.

MT's endorsement is usually a kiss of death tho. I didn't read thru the entire story. Must do that before further comment. Hope it's on-line.

[vdk]

Wait the outback is an SUV?

[Trainman]

I saw that in the copy of MT I was "bench reading" at the grocery store today.

MT's endorsement is usually a kiss of death tho. I didn't read thru the entire story. Must do that before further comment. Hope it's on-line.

Last years MT SUV of the Year (Forester) is doing rather well for Subaru, with sales way up over the previous generation.

I am not too sure about this one though, hopefully it to will do well for Subaru.

[rrocket]

I saw that in the copy of MT I was "bench reading" at the grocery store today.

MT's endorsement is usually a kiss of death tho. I didn't read thru the entire story. Must do that before further comment. Hope it's on-line.

Last years MT SUV of the Year (Forester) is doing rather well for Subaru, with sales way up over the previous generation.

I am not too sure about this one though, hopefully it to will do well for Subaru.

It was a landslide vote too (10-1) and they all seemed to REALLY like the Outback.  They said prior to the competition, no one even considered the Outback at all.  It must be pretty good if it changed everyone's mind.

Although I'm sure someone will be in shortly to remind us that Subaru paid off Motor Trend for the award...

[Shnak]

It was a landslide vote too (10-1) and they all seemed to REALLY like the Outback.  They said prior to the competition, no one even considered the Outback at all.  It must be pretty good if it changed everyone's mind.

It must be pretty good if it won regardless of the terrible bluetooth implementation. Or maybe their test Outback didn't have Bluetooth? 

[inco]

I have no numbers to go along with my assumption, but I'm thinking that Subaru can get most of the credit for making AWD as popular as it has become.

Oh yes, Jeep too, but Subaru has stuck to it's tried and true belief that all cars AWD are the route to go and now people, and magazines such as MT are cluing in.

If we could compare AWD sales -  not counting four wheel drives or trucks, it would be interesting to see the growth over say the last 10 to 20 years. All brands here and I'm thinking it's been a steady increase.

So MT may be rewarding Subaru for creating this category and for continually improving the breed. Possible? Works for me anyway.

[blur911]

Wait the outback is an SUV?

I hate SUVs, does that mean I have to get rid of my Outback?
I always thought it was a car.
Is the new one that much taller/bigger?

[TopGun]

Wait the outback is an SUV?

Ha!  It's probably as much SUV as there should have been eh?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Maybe just an indication MT prefers cars over trucks?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Wait the outback is an SUV?

I hate SUVs, does that mean I have to get rid of my Outback?
I always thought it was a car.
Is the new one that much taller/bigger?

Much taller. Also wider, but shorter. Comes much closer to the Mid-size CUVs like the Rav4 and CRV.

[Greg B.]

It was a landslide vote too (10-1) and they all seemed to REALLY like the Outback.  They said prior to the competition, no one even considered the Outback at all.  It must be pretty good if it changed everyone's mind.

It must be pretty good if it won regardless of the terrible bluetooth implementation. Or maybe their test Outback didn't have Bluetooth? 

Probably didn't have piston slap in the engine either.... yet.

[dorin]

Wait the outback is an SUV?

I hate SUVs, does that mean I have to get rid of my Outback?
I always thought it was a car.
Is the new one that much taller/bigger?

Much taller. Also wider, but shorter. Comes much closer to the Mid-size CUVs like the Rav4 and CRV.

   I saw one on the road last week and I just thought "Highlander" at first.  I was shocked to see it was the new Outback once I got closer.  It's actually kinda hideous...

[sailor723]

I actually don't think they're all that bad looking. On the other hand,something more of an "evolution" from the earlier generation would have been more to my taste. All it really needed was a couple of inches more of rear legroom.

[Westcottyon]

The trend series attempts to measure the underlying behaviour in new motor vehicle sales. In the short term, this measurement may be significantly affected by unusual influences in the original and seasonally adjusted data, like those observed in May and June 2009. If the trend estimates in the publication were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would be likely to provide a misleading view of the underlying trend in new motor vehicle sales activity.

[sailor723]

The trend series attempts to measure the underlying behaviour in new motor vehicle sales. In the short term, this measurement may be significantly affected by unusual influences in the original and seasonally adjusted data, like those observed in May and June 2009. If the trend estimates in the publication were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would be likely to provide a misleading view of the underlying trend in new motor vehicle sales activity.