And, finally, it has to be engaging to drive. It must also inspire in how well it fulfills its mission and that of the segment in which it competes. The first is by offering a strong value proposition-not to be confused with a low price, as we’re strong believers that vehicular excellence is worth paying for. To successfully ascend to the winner’s circle, vehicles need to impress in three ways. We invite any all-new or substantially redesigned models with a base price less than $80,000-plus any that were eligible last year but weren’t available for evaluation-to prove themselves against last year’s winners in a weeklong face-off that involves close scrutiny, lots of data collection, and plenty of behind-the-wheel time by our entire editorial team. The SUV segments are broken down into subcompact, compact, and mid-size, each with a luxury and non-luxury sector, plus a combined large category, as the prices of rigs such as the Chevy Suburban and the Ford Expedition are fully luxury. Figure on a base price of about $35,000 and wait for Subaru’s snowball to continue its improbable roll uphill.Unlike the free-for-all format of 10Best Cars, where all 10 spots are open to any excellent entry, here we organize the vast market of trucks and SUVs into 10 categories: seven for SUVs, two for pickups, and one for vans. The Ascent arrives in Subaru showrooms by midyear as a 2018 model. A hybrid model seems inevitable in a few years’ time. And since it’s a Subaru, expect it to back that four with a CVT routing power to all four wheels. We’ve spotted prototypes convoying with a Mazda CX-9 and a Ford Explorer, the only Ascent competitors to offer turbo fours. Subaru still has a flat-six in its portfolio, but given that engine’s 15 percent take rate in the Outback and Legacy and the fact that Subaru’s turbo 2.0-liter boxer produces nearly equivalent power plus more torque at lower rpm, watch for the carmaker to commit fully to a four-cylinder future. Subaru’s Global Platform, introduced under the new 2017 Impreza, is designed to accommodate vehicles of all sizes.Īlso as in the Impreza, the Ascent will pack a flat-four. Surprisingly, the seven-passenger Ascent will share its platform with the Impreza. We’re guessing the production Ascent might shrink a little bit, but either way, it’s clear that Subaru intends to get the interior space right this time.Ģ018 Subaru Ascent (spy photo) BRIAN WILLIAMS, THE MANUFACTURER The Viziv-7 concept that first previewed the Ascent was longer than a Chevrolet Traverse and as wide as a Ford F-150. That won’t be a problem this time around. There are smaller three-row SUVs out there still, but not in the indispensable this-or-a-minivan class. Aside from its odd looks, the biggest problem with the Tribeca was that it wasn’t big enough. Subaru learned a hard lesson with its last attempt at a seven-seater, the B9 Tribeca (later called simply the Tribeca) that it introduced in 2005 and gave up on about a decade later. In its portfolio of family-friendly hatchbacks and wagons, it has nothing that seats more than five. ![]() But there’s a limit to this momentum: Subaru customers regularly outgrow the brand’s lineup as they look for larger vehicles. Its industry-leading customer-retention rate means that more people come back to buy another Subaru than do the buyers of any other brand in the U.S. ![]() Seven consecutive record years later, the brand came close to tripling that total, with 615,132 sales in 2016. sales record in 2009, when 216,652 Americans bought Subarus. ![]() ![]() In terms of sales momentum, Subaru continues to ascend, a huge cartoon snowball somehow barreling uphill, picking up skiers, snowmobiles, and the odd yeti. Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV concept BRIAN WILLIAMS, THE MANUFACTURER
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |