By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Soon after completing our first trip in a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid crossover we headed straight for the press materials to discover why we were experiencing a noticeable difference in low-end performance compared to the standard gas engine version we tested last year.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The sleek and useful five-door hatchback is gone and an optional continuously variable transmission has been added. At first blush this does not bode well for the all-new fourth generation 2015 Subaru WRX performance juggernaut. However, we believe the newest WRX, now in sedan format, is mighty good and it should please the hordes of speed-geek fans out there.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

When you think of compact crossover SUVs, names such as Escape, RAV4 and CR-V instantly come to mind. We think another should be added to the list of small top-tier family haulers — the Subaru Forester. And today, Subaru has taken its already excellent Forester to a new level of sophistication with a complete remake for the 2014 model year.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Subaru made a brilliant marketing move in the mid-90s creating a crossover version of its mid-sized Legacy station wagon by adding side body cladding, raising the suspension height, giving it a rugged-sounding name — the Outback — and enlisting the services of Australian actor Paul Hogan of Crocodile Dundee movie fame.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The "Beauty of All-Wheel Drive" is one of Subaru's more catchy advertising slogans. And it's very apt because for more than five decades every vehicle built by the Japanese manufacturer has been outfitted with power to all four wheels, at least until the 2013 model year.

After experiencing the fun-to-drive rear-wheel BRZ sports coupe we can forgive Subaru for deviating from the all-wheel drive formula. The BRZ, developed in partnership with Toyota, provides driving enjoyment for less than 30 grand.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We are fans of "trickle down" when it comes to automobiles. New, cutting-edge technologies are usually first used in high-dollar luxury vehicles before eventually "trickling down" to more affordable mainstream cars. So we were delighted when we recently discovered that one of our favorite 21st Century innovations, adaptive cruise control, has trickled down to the 2013 Subaru Legacy.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

When speaking of the excellent new crop of compact cars now in American showrooms or on the way later this year, seldom is the Subaru Impreza part of the discussion. That may change with an all-new, stylish and more fuel efficient 2012 Impreza. The redesigned Subaru is better looking, has more interior space and is more fuel efficient than its predecessor.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

For many years Subaru with its standard across-the-lineup all-wheel drive has been popular in the colder climates, but a slow seller in the rest of the country. Quirky styling, also kept Subaru a niche brand, something like Saab but in less expensive clothes.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Coloring out of the lines can be fun, but it can be risky in the automotive world.

Unusual styling can sink an otherwise excellent vehicle. A decade ago it sunk the best-selling car in America.

Let’s return to the mid-90s, heady days for Ford and its best-selling Taurus sedan. Ford introduced the jellybean-shaped Taurus in the late ’80s and it resonated with families across the land. By the early ’90s, the Taurus was the best selling car in America.