From the March/April 2026 issue of Car and Driver.
Back in the day, Subaru was as weird as a spaghetti sandwich. Goofy weird, not creepy weird. Consider the 1985–91 Subaru XT, which wanted only a coin slot to qualify as a pinball machine. Or the '87–94 Subaru Justy, sort of a Japanese Citroën Deux Chevaux with an optional continuously variable automatic transmission—my first zero-gear adventure. T...
The strongest version of this narrative celebrates the Subaru SVX as a triumph of audacious design and engineering, a car that defied conventions and delivered unexpected refinement. It acknowledges the SVX's commercial failure but frames it as a noble experiment, a testament to Subaru's willingness to take risks. The piece effectively uses humor and personal anecdotes to humanize the car, making its quirks endearing rather than flaws. It also provides technical context, grounding the enthusiasm...