With proper maintenance, most Subaru vehicles last well over 200,000 miles. Subaru consistently ranks among the top brands for long-term reliability — a reputation backed by industry studies and a strong track record among high-mileage vehicle owners.

The keys to a long-lived Subaru are routine: regular oil changes, timely tire rotations, and keeping up with differential fluid service. Follow your model's maintenance schedule and a Subaru can be a companion for well over a decade.

Yes. Subaru is consistently rated among the most reliable automotive brands by consumer organizations and industry analysts. Today's lineup — built on updated engines and improved manufacturing — is more dependable than any previous generation.

The head gasket and oil consumption concerns that affected some 1996–2004 models have been resolved. Current Subaru vehicles across all trims reflect a strong commitment to quality and durability.

Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is a full-time, always-active system that continuously sends power to all four wheels. Unlike on-demand or part-time AWD systems used by many competitors — which only engage after a wheel begins to slip — Subaru's AWD is working for you every moment you're on the road.

The "Symmetrical" part refers to the perfectly mirrored layout of the drivetrain components, which creates a balanced, low center-of-gravity platform. This contributes to the confident, planted feel Subaru drivers notice in corners, on wet roads, and especially in snow.

EyeSight is Subaru's active safety suite, standard on most new models, powered by dual stereo cameras mounted inside the windshield. It includes:

Pre-Collision Braking — can autonomously apply the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of a front-end collision. Adaptive Cruise Control — maintains a set following distance from the vehicle ahead. Lane Departure Warning & Lane Keep Assist — alerts you when drifting and actively corrects steering. Lead Vehicle Start Alert — notifies you when traffic ahead has started moving.

Vehicles equipped with EyeSight show significantly lower rates of rear-end crashes with injuries compared to non-equipped models.

Yes. Subaru has one of the strongest safety records in the automotive industry. Multiple Subaru models have earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation — the organization's highest rating. Visit IIHS.org for current model year results. NHTSA also consistently awards Subaru vehicles high overall safety scores.

Most new Subaru models come standard with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology — confirm availability on your specific model and trim. Every Subaru also includes a reinforced safety cage and a full airbag system. Safety is built in, not bolted on.

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD requires all four tires to rotate at the same speed. When one tire has a significantly different tread depth — and therefore a slightly different rolling diameter — it forces the AWD center differential to continuously compensate, causing premature and expensive wear.

Subaru recommends keeping all four tires within 2/32" of tread depth of each other. If you damage one tire on a relatively new set, ask your dealer about shaving a new tire to match the remaining tread depth. It's a small cost that protects a much larger investment.

Every 5,000–7,500 miles. Because the AWD system drives all four wheels, tires tend to wear more evenly overall, but regular rotation prevents any uneven patterns from developing. It also gives your service technician the chance to inspect brake components, suspension, and spot any issues early.

No — most Subaru models run on regular 87-octane unleaded. The WRX and BRZ are the exceptions, requiring 91-octane premium for performance optimization. Always check your specific model's fuel door or owner's manual to confirm.

New Subaru vehicles include:

Basic Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles — covers the engine, transmission, and AWD system

Extended service plans are also available. Ask our finance team at West Herr Subaru of Lockport about the right plan for your ownership goals.

Crosstrek — Compact, fuel-efficient, great for city and suburban driving. Best if you prioritize efficiency and maneuverability. Forester — Midsize crossover with excellent visibility, interior space, and versatility. A top pick for families. Outback — Subaru's most capable model. Largest cargo area, available trailer towing, highest ground clearance. Great for adventure and family hauling. Legacy — Traditional sedan with AWD. For those who want Subaru reliability without an SUV. Ascent — Three-row SUV for larger families who need genuine seating for 7–8. WRX / BRZ — Performance-focused for driving enthusiasts.

Not sure? Come into West Herr Subaru of Lockport and we'll help you find the right fit with a no-pressure test drive.

Yes. Subaru consistently ranks near the top of brand resale value studies. Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds regularly recognize the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek among the best in their segments for retained value. Strong reliability, loyal ownership demand, and standard AWD across the lineup all contribute to this.

Subaru's SUBARU BOXER® engine features a horizontally-opposed cylinder layout — the pistons move side to side rather than up and down. This flat, compact design sits lower in the engine bay, lowering the vehicle's overall center of gravity for better handling balance.

It also pairs naturally with Subaru's Symmetrical AWD: the engine, transmission, and driveshafts are all aligned in one straight line from front to rear, which is part of what makes Subaru's drivetrain so mechanically balanced.

Subaru is widely regarded as one of the best automotive brands for snowy climates — and for good reason. Every Subaru comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, no trim level upgrades required. That AWD system is always active, providing traction before wheel slip occurs rather than reacting after.

Ground clearance across the lineup ranges from 8.7" to 9.5", which handles real snow accumulation without bottoming out. For Western New York — where lake-effect snow can pile up overnight — Subaru owners consistently report a level of winter confidence that front-wheel-drive vehicles simply can't match.

Yes — and this is one of the most important things to understand about winter driving. AWD helps you accelerate and maintain traction, but it does nothing to help you brake or steer on ice and packed snow. Braking physics apply equally to two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.

Dedicated winter tires use a softer rubber compound that stays pliable below 45°F and specialized tread patterns that channel slush and grip ice. In Western New York, where lake-effect snow, freezing rain, and black ice are seasonal realities, winter tires paired with Subaru AWD is the safest and most capable combination available.

Every Subaru is a solid choice for WNY winters, but a few stand out:

Outback — Up to 9.5" of ground clearance, the most cargo space, and available trailer towing. Best overall for deep snow and rough road conditions. Forester — 8.7" clearance, excellent visibility, and a versatile interior. A top pick for WNY families. Crosstrek — Slightly lower clearance (8.7") but excellent fuel economy and a nimble footprint great for city streets and suburban routes.

All three perform best in WNY winters when paired with a quality set of dedicated winter tires.

Absolutely. Lockport sits in a zone that regularly receives heavy lake-effect snow from both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and Subaru vehicles were designed with exactly these conditions in mind. Standard Symmetrical AWD, substantial ground clearance, and available features like X-MODE give Subaru drivers genuine capability in significant accumulation.

West Herr Subaru of Lockport's service team is right here in the community — we know these roads and these winters. We'll make sure your Subaru is properly equipped and ready before the first major storm hits.

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD improves your ability to maintain directional control on ice compared to two-wheel-drive vehicles, but no AWD system suspends physics. Black ice reduces grip for all four tires equally, and braking distance remains a challenge for every vehicle.

What does help significantly: Subaru's standard Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which works alongside AWD to manage stability in slippery conditions, and — most importantly — a quality set of winter tires. Independent tire industry testing (including studies by Tire Rack and Bridgestone) shows winter tires can reduce stopping distances on ice by up to 30–40% compared to all-season tires. That margin matters.

X-MODE is available on select Subaru models (Forester, Outback, Crosstrek) and optimizes the engine, transmission, and AWD torque distribution for very low-traction, low-speed situations. It's designed for deep snow, steep grades, mud, and loose terrain.

Activate X-MODE when you're navigating deep snow, steep hills, or if you get stuck and need extra traction to recover. It is not intended for normal road driving — for everyday snowy commutes, standard AWD and traction control are the right tools. Think of X-MODE as the emergency capability you hope you never need, but are very glad to have.

Keep traction control on for virtually all winter driving. It works in concert with your AWD system to prevent wheel spin and maintain stability. In most situations, disabling it will make your vehicle harder to control, not easier.

The one exception: if you're stuck in deep snow and need to rock the vehicle free, briefly disabling traction control may allow enough wheel spin to help. Once you're moving, turn it back on.

Plan to install winter tires by early November — sometimes even late October, given WNY's early lake-effect season. The rule of thumb is to switch when daily temperatures consistently drop below 45°F, which is when all-season rubber compounds begin to harden and lose grip.

Keep your winter tires on through at least mid-April. Late-season snowstorms are common throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region, and an early switchover to all-season tires has caught many drivers off guard. West Herr Subaru of Lockport's service center can handle your seasonal tire swaps and store your off-season set if needed.

For WNY conditions — heavy accumulation, ice, and cold temperatures — the most commonly recommended winter tires for Subaru vehicles are:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — Outstanding ice traction; a perennial top pick. Michelin X-Ice XI3 / X-Ice Snow — Excellent balance of ice, snow, and wet performance with low road noise. Goodyear WinterCommand Ultra — Strong all-around winter performer at a competitive price.

The most important factor is matching the right size to your specific model. Our service team can recommend and install the right set for your Subaru.

Here's the pre-winter checklist our service team at West Herr Subaru of Lockport recommends:

✅ Install winter tires by early November ✅ Check tire pressure — cold air drops PSI; check after each 10°F temperature drop ✅ Test your battery — cold weather dramatically reduces battery capacity ✅ Inspect coolant/antifreeze — ensure proper freeze protection for our temperatures ✅ Switch to winter wiper blades — standard blades ice up and streak ✅ Service your AWD differential fluid if you're approaching 30,000–60,000 miles ✅ Verify remote start is working — a Lockport winter morning luxury ✅ Keep a winter kit in your trunk: ice scraper, small shovel, sand/cat litter, jumper cables or jump pack

Schedule a winter prep service with us and we'll handle the mechanical checklist start to finish.

EyeSight's stereo cameras can have reduced effectiveness when heavy snow, freezing rain, or thick fog obstructs their field of view. The system will alert you when visibility is limited enough to affect its performance. In these conditions, it's important not to rely on EyeSight features as a substitute for attentive driving.

Best practice for WNY winters: fully clear your windshield of snow and ice before driving, including the area directly behind the rearview mirror where the EyeSight cameras are mounted. This keeps the system operating at its best from the moment you pull out of the driveway.

Three things consistently set Subaru apart for WNY drivers:

1. Standard AWD on every model. You don't have to pick the right trim level or pay an upgrade fee to get all-wheel drive. Every Subaru, from the base Crosstrek to the top-spec Outback Wilderness, comes with it.

2. Full-time, always-engaged AWD. Many competitors use on-demand AWD systems that only activate after traction loss is detected. Subaru's system is distributing power proactively — before the slip happens.

3. A proven track record in harsh climates. Subaru has built its brand identity around exactly the conditions WNY delivers every winter. The reliability, resale value, and owner loyalty that result speak for themselves.

Add in standard EyeSight safety technology and competitive pricing, and Subaru delivers outstanding total value for drivers in our region.