
Subaru is a brand that many people know for its reliability. Many Subaru owners continue to use their Subarus long after other brands, attesting to the fact that Subaru builds sturdy cars that are meant to last a lifetime. If you're looking to buy a used car, Subaru is an excellent choice for its safety and reliability, even with some of its oldest models. Keep reading to learn more about used Subarus and why you should consider them as an option for your next used vehicle.
Why Buy a Used Subaru?
Across multiple years, Subaru models have been chosen by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Transit Safety Administration (NHTSA) as their first choice for reliable and safe vehicles. After both organizations tested cars released during their respective years extensively, they chose Subaru as one of the safest and most reliable brands of cars on the roads in the United States. This means you can feel safe purchasing a new or used Subaru, mainly if you research the best vehicles from each year.
Subaru Impreza
Subaru released its first Impreza in 1992, and this same model remained in production until 2000 when Subaru introduced the second generation of Impreza. This vehicle is a wide-body coupe with four doors and optional sports models closer to sedans. If you're looking for a lot of variety on the market for a used Subaru, then the Impreza is an excellent option. Some of the best years for this used car are between 2005 and 2009, as those have the most variability, such as sport and wagon variations, and reliability for the vehicle.
Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX is a variation of the Impreza but has much more horsepower than its predecessor. The WRX is a favorite among rally racing fans, as the vehicle has a lightweight frame and enough power to push through the dirt and rally tracks worldwide. Many Subaru enthusiasts also like to collect this vehicle, so finding one may be more complex than other options since it's still popular. If the car is well-maintained, some from the 1990s are still reliable, but the best years to look for are 2000 to 2009 for a compact car.
Subaru Outback
Perhaps one of the most recognizable cars on the road, the Subaru Outback often outclasses its competitors in safety and reliability year after year. Subaru released the first Outback in late 1994 as a 1995 model-year vehicle. As a wagon-style vehicle, the car is famous for its ample storage space and safety. Two of the best features of the Outback are its ability to go off-road and its dedication to modern comfort, even with much storage space.
As a popular vehicle, the Outback is often more expensive than its competitors and other Subaru models, but used Outbacks from the 2000s are an excellent choice for a used car. If you're comparing an Outback to another Subaru model of the same year, consider the engine specifications of both vehicles to decide which is best for you.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is an SUV; many consider it a larger version of the Outback. It has more towing capabilities and storage than the smaller Subaru Outback, meaning if you need those options, this could be the used car for you. Before 2010, the Forester was similar in size to the wagon-style Outback, but in 2010 and later years, the Forester was a large SUV with a lot of space. If you're looking for a large SUV, the year after 2014 is an excellent choice.
Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is an SUV that Subaru first introduced in 2012. As a newer vehicle model, it's less common to find them for sale since many owners still have them. Another factor in finding fewer of these vehicles is that they're still a little less reliable than some of the other Subaru models. As a newer vehicle, some of its best years include 2015 and 2020 through 2022. As a unique model, the Crosstrek is also popular among consumers, meaning there are more on the road and fewer for sale.
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is the fourth and final SUV model that Subaru has. It released this model in 2019, making it one of the newest models of Subaru you can purchase. While it's still popular with consumers, as a new model, some may consider it too costly for a used vehicle. In addition, the Subaru Ascent has some reliability challenges, which Subaru is still fixing in its upcoming model years. Finally, the Subaru Ascent is popular among consumers because of Subaru's commitment to reliability and safety.
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car with four doors. It has a similar wagon style to other vehicles in the Subaru lineup. Subaru introduced this vehicle to the U.S. in 1993 and continues to produce it today. In terms of buying this vehicle used, it cannot be easy to find it since many owners still have their original Legacy, and it's popular with consumers. If you can find one, its best years are 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2018 through 2022. All of these models are durable and reliable.
Now that you've learned about the best used Subarus and what years they are from, you can contact Apple Subaru to find your next used vehicle. At Apple Subaru, you can choose from an extensive used inventory of cars. We also offer other services such as maintenance for Subaru models, finance specials, and helpful resources for researching your vehicle. If you're interested in learning more, our specialists and technicians can help you find what you need. We're happy to help.
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