Will Subaru race ahead amid Toyota’s woes?

We all love Japanese cars for they are “affordable” and easy to run.

Toyota, although an expensive car to buy, has been our favourite brand for decades.

Sadly, their fall from the throne of the automotive royalty seems inevitable— thanks to a well-orchestrated deconstruction of their flawless image by the US authorities through recalls.

Where will motorists look to next?

In the US focus will certainly turn to Detroit and local players like GM and Ford will look to regain some lost glory.

In Europe, brands such as Peugeot and Renault will continue to grow but the biggest beneficiary will continue to be Volkswagen who hope to take over as the No 1 automotive manufacturer by 2012.

Service provider

In Kenya, Toyota will continue to lead in the minds and hearts of consumers because we are creatures of habit and forget easily.

We will often stick to a service provider who offers less than reliable service like dropping calls just because everyone else is on the same telephone network.

We will drive a brand because all our neighbours have that make and continue to tolerate notorious matatus despite having the power to demand better and more humane service.

There is opportunity for other manufacturers to state their case and shine in Toyota’s misery.

It is the nature of business and there is no shame in prospering when your competition makes a wrong turn.

Nissan have forever been seen as inferior to Toyota.

It is a perception they have struggled to shake off.

I know for a fact that unlike brands like the Italian Alfa Romeo, Nissan does indeed produce really good cars.

Their after-sales service is also quite good.

Another brand that is shy of the limelight is Subaru.

Petrol-heads racing turbo charged Subaru Imprezas and Legacys are doing all the marketing while the custodians of the brand wait at horse jumping competitions to woo buyers with the passion and automotive-emotion of a plank of wood.

That said, Fuji Heavy Industries, the manufacturers of Subaru in Japan are working hard to provide the best technology in their new 2010 range of vehicles.

I was stunned on Tuesday evening by the zeal with which the Subaru owners will prove that their brand is a performer on the road.

A friend who owns a couple of Subarus will not miss the opportunity to prove how powerful his Station Wagon Legacy is at climbing hills.

The challenging Kinungi ascent on the super-smooth Nakuru-Nairobi highway should be christened “Subaru hill”.

Every Subaru owner cherishes this opportunity to overtake other vehicles on this stretch.

What can we expect from this shy Japanese brand in 2010? Here is a snap shot of the goodies available.

A set of new powertrains, including a revised 170-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine and a new 256-hp 3.6-litre Boxer engine.

This engine replaces the 3.0 litre that impressed when I tested the Tribeca a few years ago.

They have thrown in the first-ever six-speed manual transmission and available LineartronicTM CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) for Outback 2.5i models.

Out of sight is a new double-wishbone rear suspension and other chassis enhancements to deliver superiority in corners.

Because these cars are fast, they need to stop urgently so the improved Brake Assist safety feature now comes as standard.

Limited models offer new voice-activated GPS navigation system with rear backup camera, hands-free Bluetooth, USB/iPod input and streaming Bluetooth audio.

Unfortunately ,the GPS will not work locally so you will have to acquire portable Garmin Nuvi navigators which you can use in all your cars.

One thing that surprises me about some Subaru drivers is their craving for attention.

Because their exterior design has always been very discreet and bordering on stealth they are invisible to the naked eye.

That is why every Subaru, even those with 1600cc engines, are fitted with loud exhaust systems to attract attention of Kenyans looking for peace and quiet.

I wonder if Michuki’s sound pollution laws will catch up with this lot.

On the inside of the new models you will have enough entertainment to convince you to consider doing away with external noise.

The High-performance 440-watt, 9-speaker audio system comes with harman-kardon® speakers as standard on the Limited and available for Premium models which you can enjoy even better from the rear thanks to the 65/35 split fold-down reclining rear seat with armrest.

Other goodies include an Electric parking brake (handbrake) with Incline Start Assist function for drivers who cannot balance a vehicle on a hill.

The Subaru continues to be practical and offers innovative roof rails with crossbars that swing into position only when needed, to help reduce wind noise.

One feature I love in Japanese vehicles is the dark tint privacy glass at the back and this comes as standard on the Subaru Outback.

Subaru officiaonados know everything about their beasts but for those that are hoping to join this club here are the specs you can expect under the hood.

A Single overhead camshaft (SOHC) 4-cylinder aluminum boxer engine with a 2457cc with 170 hooves pounding through its Asymetric All Wheel Drive System to its four wheels.

To save you money it is equipped with the i-Active Valve Lift System (AVLS).