To Avoid Fuel Limits, Subaru Is Turning a Sedan Into a Truck

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/13/arts/13SUBA.html?hp

The Subaru Outback sedan looks like any other midsize car, with a trunk and comfortable seating for four adults.

But Subaru is tweaking some parts of the Outback sedan and wagon this year to meet the specifications of a light truck, the same regulatory category used by pickups and sport utilities. Why? Largely to avoid tougher fuel economy and air pollution standards for cars.

It is the first time an automaker plans to make changes in a sedan — like raising its ground clearance by about an inch and a half — so it can qualify as a light truck. But it is hardly the first time an automaker has taken advantage of the nation's complex fuel regulations, which divide each manufacturer's annual vehicle fleet into two categories. Light trucks will have to average only 21.2 miles a gallon in the 2005 model year. By contrast, each automaker's full fleet of passenger cars must average 27.5 miles a gallon.

The move will let Subaru sell more vehicles with turbochargers, which pep up performance but hurt mileage and increase pollution. "It was difficult to achieve emissions performance with the turbos," said Fred D. Adcock, executive vice president of Subaru of America. They also made it hard to meet fleetwide fuel economy standards for cars.

[SheilaT]

1. I have a Subaru Outback

and the only thing I don't like about it is the crappy mileage. I think I got around 20-22 mpg in the city. it's the full time four wheel drive that eats it up.

[kysrsoze]

3. That's funny. An AWD twin-turbo Audi RS6 w/ 450hp averages about 20mpg

What's wrong with Subaru? Why can't they up the mileage? Maybe they ought to think about building a more efficient V6.

[neomonkey]

4. What's funny is that you don't know anything about the RS6

First of all, it is a V8, second of all, they are estimating 15mpg, third of all, it's gonna cost you about $85k to park one of these in your garage.

If Subaru made a car for $90k, I guarantee you it would dazzle.

I drive a Subaru WRX, and driving in LA, I'm lucky to get 20mpg. Not very impressive, but I hardly think spending a fortune on high-priced German steel is the solution.

[Peregrine]

2. Hell the Chrysler PT Cruiser is a truck

according to the Feds. The one thing that is driving the creation of soft-roaders (Toyota Highlander, Chrysler Pacifica, Nissan Murano, etc.) over wagons is that they are "light trucks" and wagons are cars.

Years ago it was safety regulations and emission controls instead of CAFE. Chevy did a Vega Camback (no rear windows) and it was classified as a truck so it didn't have to have the same safety and emission controls as a car.

But on the other hand, Subaru with their Brat stuck seats in the bed and got it classified as a car instead of a light truck. Why? There was a heavy tarrif on imported pickups.

[stevedeshazer]

5. Not Subaru's fault, IMO

The problem is with the law, not the manufacturer.

Chrysler's minivans, in production since 1984, are classed as trucks, too.

Bushco policy dictates less environmental regulation, more pollution, and no meaningful effort to wean Amerika from fossil fuel.

[SheilaT]

6. I believe that all minivans

are classified as trucks. SUVs all are. And at 20-22 mpg that's enormously better than any of the behemoths like Suburbans, Blazers, and every other whale of a vehicle you can name. And long-distance highway driving gives me 25-28 mpg. It's just that like most people, I mostly make a lot of short runs around town.

My previous car was an Infiniti G-20 which got better mileage. I had an accident and totalled it three years ago and when I went shopping for a replacement car we had snow on the ground, so I went back to Subaru (which had been my car before the Infiniti) because I wanted to return to 4WD. I love my Subaru. It's reliable and good in all road conditions.

Since I always drive a manual transmission, even in a non 4WD I have a lot of control. Good gas mileage is important to me, and I'll probably look harder at more fuel-efficient cars next time.