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Orangewheels June 11, 2009 12:46 PM

I think everyone respects Subaru for its engineering prowess, but if it actually wants to sell cars someone within the company needs to stick their neck out and tell management that they would sell more if they didn't look so ugly.

Old Jewish saying " If 10 men tell you to sit down, sit down." or something like that...

amble June 11, 2009 1:05 PM

I'm a Subaru fan but has their design ever been right?  Hasn't it been a case that you grow to appreciate how they look? (Except the Tribeca - who thought taking inspiration from the nose of a Ford Edsel would help sell that monster?).

Penny9966 June 11, 2009 1:07 PM

For me having owned a few Subies now, I find this increasingly frustrating. My old 3.0r remains a fantastic car, and I have no doubt will age well (I sold it to my brother so will stay in the family). I am one of the few that liked the bug eye Impreza from new, and look how well it has aged comparing to the new Impreza hatch!

I fear that the Forester my partned drives could be the last Subie we own. The Impreza is about to have a fair whack of money invested in it, as I am now to the stage were I could never replace it. I can't see myself ever getting like that with the new car!

Subaru should of stayed at what they were good at, and not try to chase the Germans. Bring back the pilar-less windows, burbling boxer engines, and a car that looked a little different but still was reasonably good looking.

jonfortwo June 11, 2009 1:45 PM

There has never been a classically good looking Subaru, ever.

They have ranged from brutally ugly (mk11 Impreza) to plain bland (forester).

Nobody buys Subaru`s for the looks but the toughness and depth of engineering these cars exude.

Personally, I like the look of Subaru`s , makes a change from the blandly pretty masses.

230SL June 11, 2009 1:54 PM

Penny is right about the windows without their frames, that was pretty much a USP for Subaru.

Peter Cavellini June 11, 2009 2:21 PM

I  saw a concept Subaru in a rival mag, a coupe style and it looked great,maybe Subaru are afraid to make the jump to a new design, i think nows a good a time as any even with a recession!

Le Chef June 11, 2009 2:49 PM

I think the first question should be "Does Subaru actually have a design language?" I don't think it does, or at least not consciously. It's a shame because the brand qualities are very clear but they have never been brought to life in the metal, nor translated through to dealership design. If you think about other brands that exude "toughness" like Land Rover and Jeep they have managed to convey that toughness through the metal. Interestingly Kia and Hyundai have both recently realized that design sells and they need it to move up market. It's a shame Subaru have not recognized it yet. I wonder what could Subaru's version of toughness look like? I can imagine a muscularity - like a bulging bicep - as the signature for Subaru. Anyone else care to offer a different interpretation?

tony2x June 11, 2009 3:47 PM

I'm on my third Scooby now having had two Impreza WRXs (the bug eyed 2002 and the fish face 2006 model) and now a 2005 Legacy 2.5 GT estate and I learned to love their challenging design.

I think the outgoing Legacy is the only good looking car they have made in years and I really wanted to change to the new one until I saw it.  I could forgive the looks if Subaru of America would give us a Legacy estate instead of the jacked up Outback but wagons as they call them here aren't loved and most Americans would rather drive some god awful SUV than a practical, fast and nimble estate car.  *sigh*

So I'll be keeping my Legacy for now and splashing out on some upgrades instead.  I love Subarus for their engineering and not for their looks but I think my car represents the pinnacle of Subaru exterior design.

Having said that I respect Subaru for following the path less travelled, I was always a SAAB man because I appreciated their approach to engineering but having watched GM ruin the brand over the years I switched and have never looked back.

A dodgy exterior would not prevent me from buying another one but until SOA brings us something practical that doesn't look like it is on stilts I'll be sticking with my current steed.

TegTypeR June 11, 2009 4:26 PM

"amble June 11, 2009 1:05 PM

I'm a Subaru fan but has their design ever been right?"

I know design is subjective, but the SVX was a good looking car.

Uncle Mellow June 11, 2009 6:06 PM

The first Impreza was a dreadfull looking car , but they gradually changed a bit here and a bit there , and by the time they were ready to replace it with the bug-eyed Mk2 it was really pretty.

 Has anyone seen the latest Impreza in saloon form ? Its even scarier than the hatch version.

404notfound June 11, 2009 6:47 PM

Subarus have been ugly, well forever!  In the 'toughbess' class they are only beaten by Jeep!  They make petrol go off.

SpecB June 11, 2009 7:29 PM

I have said this before but I will be keeping mine for the some considerable time as I can't bring myself to like the looks of this new one despite the engineering.

Looks are always a subjective thing but I really like the looks of mine and so a a lot of others.

I haven't seen a new one in the flesh yet of course but I am not holding my breath.

manicm June 11, 2009 8:18 PM

There's a more pressing issue than Sub's design - it's their lack of diesel models.

They're shooting themselves in the foot.

roadtester June 11, 2009 10:26 PM

Can't see what all the fuss is about. Brilliantly engineered cars with slightly iffy looks - that's always been the Subaru proposition.

Personally, I think the current Impreza looks great, although I expect I'm in a minority of one on that one.

Agree they should be making more diesel models, though.

Fred Dagg June 12, 2009 1:17 AM

"Subaru’s top management in Japan is not too worried, or even unaware of, the design angst its cars often cause around the globe, according to word."

And there lies the problem. Culturally the Japanese are far less willing to challenge the top managements opinions. So someone who sticks their neck out and tells the boss, "Nah. That looks crap." will most likely get the boot.

Or at least he thinks he will.

The Japanese are an incredibly conservavtive bunch and are willing to accept they're lot in life.

F1 designer chappy Mike Gascoyne didn't last at Toyota because he couldn't play along with the corporate line.

It's a shame really. So much unfulfilled potential

outback02 June 12, 2009 3:54 AM

Subarus have always been ugly. Good. But more importantly, most of their sales come from markets (US, Japan) where European notions of taste don't apply. And they really sell loads in the US. Just spent a week in Maine where literally every other car was an Outback. That's why the diesel issue is a bit of a red herring. What they might do for Europe might be a small forced-induction flat four petrol turbo, like a 1.5. As regards the new Legacy, I'm getting one.

julianphillips June 16, 2009 9:27 AM

SVX was nice

Mr_H July 24, 2009 8:55 PM

I'll be the minority, and say that although it's a bit odd, I like the looks of the current Impreza - at least it's individual, unlike the Insipidia, erm, sorry Insignia.