IMO, they were a little biased. In the 35mph meanuver you can see the steering and when the start to steer straight again. Like when the Tribeca couldn't make it up the litlte obstical course, ya roll back some and come up with momentom. I can see where they are biased, and where they are not. Truely the Legacy and Forester are VERY well balanced, but in some tests they are biased because even said, "these are subaru sale people at the wheel, not porofessional drivers." They're "professional drivrs" at the obsticle course, but become subaru sales people at the end. Only a driver who knows what he's/she's doing will be able to bring out the cars weaknesses. I myself do a lot of testing on how the car will behave if I try different driving habits. I got the car high centered up front, and both rear tires on the ground, it didn't pull back at all, front wheels just spun. This is with our 5spd viscous unit. This viscous unit is not strong enough to lock the center diff. it sucked. I've had it where I go hi-centered on a curb right before the rear wheels, this was when I had my welded center diff in. Of course it was a situation where I wasn't going to get out because the front diff was an open diff, and one wheel spinning isn't going to be transferring power to the other side at all. ya, I can see where they are biased, and where they are not, but that's my opinion. The Tribeca and Outback where equipped with VDC, which will apply braking to a certain wheel to prevent oversteer, thus inducing understeer. Pull out that fuse and the Outback and Tribeca will have the same characteristics. You can't mess with vehical dynamics.
Interesting comparison, although very biased. I'd have a few questions regarding the tests: Subaru salespeople were drivers...why not get profesionals for the hill climb? Were the same tires used on all vehicles in the comparisons? - doubtful Were the drivers all of similar weight? a woman driver at 130 lbs vs a male at 200 would make a drastic difference in cornering characteristics The water during the volvo wet surface testing seems deeper and to encompass more area, are all of the variables the same, excluding the vehicle? The subaru's have excellent awd systems, but a comparison without proof of fair play is just like a false statement of "well I'm better than you....BECAUSE"
