Let’s be honest!
Reliability is one of the virtues you look for in a car after its beauty. And if you are in a frenzy choosing between Subaru and Toyota, we are here with the best Subaru vs Toyota reliability comparison.
The two cars are very different from each other, but the fact is that both of them offer you a lot of features that make them really reliable.
However, Toyota is one of the most respected car manufacturers in the world. They sell millions of cars each year, and their reliability statistics help prove that they are the best-selling cars on the market.
But let’s not ruin the fun.
Let’s watch these cars go head-to-head below!
Quick Subaru Vs Toyota Comparison Table
| Features: | Subaru | Toyota |
| Design | Mostly AWD drive systems and Boxer engines. | Toyota provides diverse models with AWD, 4WD, FWD, and 2WD. This versatility meets the long-term success and users’ comfort. |
Durability | Subaru cars can last approximately 200,000 miles with an average lifespan of ten to thirteen years. | On the other hand, Toyota cars can stretch up to 300,000 miles with lesser repairs. Hence, it can span up to 13 to 17 years of extensive use. |
| Gas mileage | Good | Better |
| Technology | Great | Great |
| Safety | Good | Better |
| Engine Performance & Dependability | Good | More reliable |
| Repair And Maintenance Cost | Pricey | Affordable |
Subaru Vs Toyota Reliability
Between Subaru vs Toyota, who is more reliable?
In a competitive market such as the car industry, an automaker’s ability to build and sell reliable cars can drastically affect its bottom line. Therefore, it is a MUST-HAVE virtue.
And speaking of the most reliable brands, Toyota and Subaru are always brought up —as they sit prevalently on the top of the hierarchy.
However, Toyota has held the mantle of leadership regarding reliability for as long as I can remember, beating Subaru hands down.
Toyota’s cars have an excellent reputation for dependability, so much so that it became the first to receive a Triple-A rating from Consumer Reports.
Aside from that, Toyota was named the most reliable brand in Auto Trader’s New Car Awards for 2021.
As a result, many Toyota models have been known to surpass the 300K mile mark (think of the million-mile Tundra).
Meanwhile, Subaru usually tops out at around 200K.
Let’s go into more detail:
Design
Subaru and Toyota produce unique designs for all of their models, but Toyota’s are generally more reliable because they offer more variations.
The Subaru BRZ is the only model that does not have standard all-wheel drive.
The impressive traction provision of its all-wheel-drive system makes it look like a win for Subaru, but limiting every other car to this type of propulsion may be viewed as a setback by consumers who want greater variety from their vehicles.
Subaru also provides superior handling, making it unlikely that you’ll lose control of your car in even the worst conditions.
Toyota, on the other hand, does even better.
Toyota offers four different systems for determining how its vehicles are driven—all-wheel drive (AWD), 4WD, front-wheel drive (FWD), and 2 WD.
Hence, customers can choose models that meet their individual needs.
Durability
Toyota cars last longer than Subaru’s, even though Subaru does better in snow. Overall, Toyota has the edge because its engines last longer.
Many Subaru cars don’t last beyond 200,000 miles. But your maintenance habits can greatly affect how long a car lasts—on average, Subarus lasts between 10 and 13 years in extensive use.
However, with proper maintenance and servicing, Toyota cars can last up to 300,000 miles.
A Toyota is built to last and rarely requires significant repairs in the first 100,000 miles.
Gas Mileage
Toyota is more economical!
Looking at the ratings for gas mileage in Toyota and Subaru cars, we found that Toyota has a stronger position than Subaru. The Toyota Corolla gets better mileage than the Subaru Impreza.
Fuel economy is a major selling point for the Subaru Crosstrek, Legacy, and Forester.
However, it’s not common knowledge that other models in their lineup perform quite well with fuel efficiency, as most Toyota models do.
Thus, Toyota still reigns supreme.
Repair and Maintenance Cost
Subaru repair and maintenance costs more than Toyota. Subaru has an average annual repair cost of $617, while Toyota has an average of only $441—and that’s a significant difference!
Engine
Subaru is the only car brand that uses Boxer engines for all its cars—and this gives it amazing balance and stability. And that translates to superb control: because of the lower center of gravity, Subaru’s cars are incredibly stable on even rough terrain
However, it has a few drawbacks: high maintenance cost and size. In the end, Toyota engines last longer than Subaru’s.
Safety
Although Toyota and Subaru have great safety features and high safety ratings, the former has higher scores. There are 12 Toyotas with top safety pick awards —eight more than Subaru’s four.
And while Toyota’s cars are rated highly in all categories of vehicle safety, Subaru has none that rate well for minivans or large cars.
Technology
Subaru and Toyota both feature impressive technology packages, but the Toyota version has more features.
Subaru’s system includes vehicle diagnostic alerts and stolen vehicle recovery—two things that are notably absent in its competitor’s package.
Also, Subaru’s driver assists technology has earned the company top scores in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Integrating dual-color cameras and intelligent systems gives Subaru an advantage over Toyota in the race to develop new technology.
Toyota definitely captures the lower hands here. However, the Toyota safety Sence makes up for Subaru’s rare features.
And this includes:
- Pre-collision system
- Pedestrian detection system
- Dynamic radar cruise control
- Blind spot monitor
- Lane departure alert
- Emergency brake assist
- Automatic high beams
- Lane tracing assistant
- Rear cross-traffic alert
What Is The Most Reliable Car Brand?
A reliable car is one you can trust to get you where you need to go, and it can condone the cruel treatment of everyday use without developing issues in less than no time.
Below is the complete table of the most reliable car brands and their ratings according to drive.com:
| Rank | Brand | Average |
| 1 | Toyota | 72 |
| 2 | Lexus | 72 |
| 3 | BMW | 65 |
| 4 | Mazda | 65 |
| 5 | Honda | 62 |
| 6 | Audi | 60 |
| 7 | Subaru | 59 |
| 8 | Acura | 57 |
| 9 | Kia | 54 |
| 10 | Lincoln | 54 |
| 11 | Buick | 54 |
| 12 | Genesis | 52 |
| 13 | Hyundai | 46 |
| 14 | Volvo | 45 |
| 15 | Nissan | 44 |
| 16 | Ram | 42 |
| 17 | Cadillac | 42 |
| 18 | Ford | 41 |
| 19 | Tesla | 40 |
| 20 | Chevrolet | 40 |
| 21 | GMC | 36 |
| 22 | Volkswagen | 31 |
| 23 | Jeep | 30 |
| 24 | Mercedes-Benz | 26 |
What Are The Most Reliable Car Models?
When you’re looking for a new car, there are a lot of things to consider. You have to consider your budget and what kind of features you need in your car.
One thing that’s often overlooked is the reliability of the model. It’s important to know that certain models are more reliable than others so you can make an informed decision about which model will be best for you.
Here are some of the most reliable car models:
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- 2023 Lexus GX
- 2023 Mini Cooper
- 2022 Toyota Prius
- 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
What Is The Most Reliable Suv Of All Time?
SUV is every family’s dream car. They’re spacious and comfortable, with up to five rows of seats that can fit the entire family.
Plus, they have all-wheel drive, meaning you can easily drive through snow and ice.
However, if you seek the most reliable of its kind, here are a few to put on your must-have list:
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Lexus LX
- Volvo XC90
- Toyota 4Runner
- Mitsubishi Pajero
- Toyota Sequoia
- Nissan Patrol
Which Toyota Engine Is Most Reliable?
The Toyota engine is known for being reliable, but the reliability of each engine varies from vehicle to vehicle.
Here are the three most reliable engines ever made by Toyota:
The 2GR-FKS or the A25A-FXS may be considered Toyota’s best engines, depending on whether you are looking for traditional V6 power or cutting-edge hybrid efficiency.
With the new V35A-FTS, you can have the best of both worlds with its ground-breaking twin-turbo hybrid design.
Conclusion
In summary, a lack of confidence among consumers may keep them from a potential overall winner.
But I think the decision is clear between Subaru vs Toyota reliability.
It is Toyota swamping Subaru in terms of Design, durability, gas mileage, repair and maintenance cost, engine performance and reliability, and safety.
That is indeed a hands-down win!
But despite their many strengths, both Subaru and Toyota have their share of weaknesses compared to their rivals.
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