Subaru Named Best Mainstream Car Brand of 2011

NORTH READING, MA (12/07/2010)(readMedia)-- Automotive Leasing Group (ALG) named Subaru as the Best Mainstream Brand for the second year running in its annual Residual Value Awards. This is the 12th year that ALG has presented its Residual Value Awards, which are used as an industry benchmark of vehicle quality and future trade-in values.

The Residual Value Awards recognize vehicles from the new model year that will best retain their original value. Based on factors that include production totals, demand, vehicle quality, segment competition and performance history, ALG chooses a top model for each vehicle class.

This year, three of Subaru's six vehicles won in their respective segments. The Subaru Forester won Best Compact Utility for the third straight year, the Subaru Outback won in the midsize utility class for the second year in a row and the Subaru Legacy was named the top midsize car. This is the first time Subaru has won four ALG awards in a single year, an impressive achievement for an automaker with a smaller model lineup than competitors such as Ford and Honda.

David Vernet, general manager of Massachusetts Subaru dealer North Reading Subaru, sees the automaker's focus on refining a few models as the key to its success at the Residual Value Awards. The all-wheel drive lineup has built a dedicated and loyal following among New England drivers who want vehicles that offer consistent performance in the region's challenging weather conditions.

"While other companies rethink everything every few years, Subaru keeps on improving the cars and SUVs that it makes," said Vernet. "You won't find a new engine every three years, or a totally new model every four years. Instead, Subaru strives to make its all-wheel drive and Boxer engines as dependable and functional as they can possibly be. This is the same strategy that helped Mercedes and Porsche become two of the world's highest-quality automakers."

ALG's awards focus on anticipated residual value after three years on the road, but Subaru's reliability extends far beyond that. Of Subaru vehicles made in the last 10 years, 95% are still on the road. Subaru attributes the longevity of its vehicles in part to the low vibrations of the Boxer engine, which puts minimal stress and wear on the vehicle.

In its constant search for ways to improve its vehicles, Subaru has now sets its sights on boosting the fuel economy of its models. For 2011, the Subaru Forester 2.5X has been updated with a more fuel-efficient version of the Boxer engine, an upgrade that will reach other Subaru models next year. The modified engine provides 27 mpg on the highway without sacrificing the 170 horsepower that keeps the Forester agile.

"While all-wheel drive and reliability will always be the bread and butter for Subaru, the company is constantly looking for ways to respond to its customer requests," said Vernet. "It's why Subaru vehicles continue to win more awards, and why more customers show up at our Massachusetts Subaru dealership each year."

About North Reading Subaru:

North Reading Subaru has the hunger of a new dealer seeking to prove itself, and the automotive experience of the Melkonians, an automotive family with a long history of satisfied customers. Established in December of 2009, North Reading Subaru has already emerged as a destination for Greater Boston Subaru sales and service. To learn more about their wide variety of new and pre-owned Subaru models, you can visit them online at www.northreadingsubaru.com, call them at 978-396-6090, or visit them at 260 Main Street, North Reading, MA.