1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis and Subaru clean up in IIHS 2018 safety ratings

Hyundai, its partner Kia and its Genesis division are the big winners in the latest vehicle safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, accounting for six of the 15 models that earned the Top Safety Pick+ awards for 2018. Subaru was right behind with four, Mercedes-Benz had two, and Toyota, BMW and Ford each had one. Another 47 vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick designation, where Toyota had 10 vehicle models, with Hyundai recognized for nine models. All but one of the seven vehicles in Subaru's lineup, the BRZ, qualified for one of the awards. IIHS strengthened the criteria for the Top Safety Pick+ award for 2018 to require headlights to earn a "good" rating — an "acceptable" rating was previously enough to notch the "plus" award — and good or acceptable passenger-side protection in the small overlap front crash, which replicates a crash involving just the front corner of a vehicle. It also required vehicles to have acceptable or good headlights for the first time to earn a Top Safety Pick award. Most of winners for both awards qualified on the basis of optional upgrades. IIHS in October began evaluating the passenger side of vehicles in its small overlap front crash test after it said it became clear that automakers were neglecting that side of the vehicle as they focused on improving driver-side protections. IIHS first began conducting driver-side small overlap crashes in 2012. It began measuring both how well low and high beams illuminated the road and the amount of glare they produce for oncoming vehicles as part of its ratings in 2016. The Top Safety Pick+ winners are listed below. The list doesn't include any minivans, pickups or minicars, which don't appear on either list of awardees. Small cars Kia Forte Kia Soul Subaru Impreza (sedan and wagon) Subaru WRX Midsize cars Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback Toyota Camry Large luxury cars BMW 5 series Genesis G80 Genesis G90 Lincoln Continental Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Midsize SUVs Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Midsize luxury SUV Mercedes-Benz GLC The full list of Top Safety Pick winners is available here.Related Video: Image Credit: IIHS BMW Genesis Hyundai Kia Lincoln Subaru Toyota Safety Crossover SUV Wagon Sedan crash test

Common Nissan Maxima vs. Subaru Legacy breakdowns

The Nissan Maxima and Subaru Legacy are both popular sedans. Similarities can be seen in price, styling, and performance. What are some common repair problems seen in each model? When do they occur and how much do they cost to fix? What about how to pay for car repairs? Let's find out. Check Engine Light Both Maxima and Legacy owners dread the appearance of this little light. In the Nissan, it's most likely a failed ignition coil. This part transforms the car battery voltage into a higher voltage required for starting. This problem appears more often in Maximas with over 140,000 miles. The cost to replace the ignition coil runs around $400, parts and labor. The check engine light on the Subaru Legacy is more often due to a failed oxygen sensor. The O2 sensor measures the oxygen level in the exhaust and can affect fuel consumption. This part fails more frequently in models with over 110,000 miles. The repair costs around $200. Legacy Sound System Problems It's not uncommon for the Legacy to have sound system failures at 140,000 miles or more. The speakers might not work or only function intermittently. Hitting a bump might also cause the radio to shut off. Repair costs here can vary, but the typical charge is around $600. Nissan Check Engine Light Part 2 The Nissan check engine light also may appear due to oil leaking from the camshaft position sensor. Difficulty with stalling and acceleration might occur as well. The repair costs around $250 and is more frequent in models with over 104,000 miles. Big-Ticket Items Some repairs are especially costly. In Maximas with over 120,000 miles, the power steering pump may begin to malfunction. This produces a clunking or knocking sound when driving over uneven terrain. Steering might be affected with abnormal noises heard when turning the steering wheel. A Nissan Maxima power steering pump replacement costs around $1,250, parts and labor. Now, if you begin to feel your Legacy vibrating or shuddering at around 116,000 miles, it may be a transmission problem. It's more noticeable when the car shifts gears. Legacy transmission repair can be expensive, costing up to $2,000 or more. Even more costly is a Subaru Legacy head gasket failure, seen more often at 110,000 miles or more. AC malfunction, fluid leaks, and engine overheating can occur when the head gasket fails. The repair costs are around $3,000.

Subaru punches out 15 millionth Boxer engine

It's a small milestone for our favorite manufacturer of gold-wheeled, all-wheel-drive sedans and crossovers, as Subaru announced that it has built its 15 millionth Boxer engine – a mere 49 years after it installed a tiny, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder mill in the 1966 1000 sedan. The milestone engine powers something a good bit larger than the 1000, which was (ironically considering Subaru today) the brand's first front-drive vehicle. Today's boxer, the so-called FB25 2.5-liter four, was built for the current Legacy and Outback. The 15 millionth Boxer hasn't been the brand's only accomplishment in 2015. The company built its 14 millionth Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system just last month. Subaru has only been at its trademark AWD system for 43 years, and with sales going the way they are, it seems only a matter of time before the Boxer engine is surpassed. Related Video: