
New vehicle break-in driving–the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km) ..................................... 8-2
Fuel economy hints ............................................ 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............ 8-2
Catalytic converter .............................................. 8-3
Periodic inspections ........................................... 8-4
Driving in foreign countries ............................... 8-4
Driving tips for AWD models .............................. 8-4
On-road and off-road driving .............................. 8-5
Winter driving ...................................................... 8-7
Operation during cold weather ............................. 8-7
Driving on snowy and icy roads .......................... 8-9
Corrosion protection .......................................... 8-10
Snow tires ......................................................... 8-10
Tire chains ......................................................... 8-11
Rocking the vehicle ............................................ 8-11 Loading your vehicle
......................................... 8-11
Vehicle capacity weight ...................................... 8-12
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........................ 8-12
Roof rails and crossbar (if equipped) .................. 8-13
Roof molding and crossbar (if equipped) ............ 8-16
Trailer hitch (if equipped) .................................. 8-18
Connecting a trailer ........................................... 8-18
When you do not tow a trailer .. .......................... 8-20
Trailer towing ..................................................... 8-20
Warranties and maintenance .............................. 8-20
Maximum load limits .......................................... 8-20
Trailer hitches .................................................... 8-23
Connecting a trailer ........................................... 8-24
Trailer towing tips .............................................. 8-26Driving tips
8 

create a traffic safety hazard. 
For safety, always connect the towing 
vehicle and trailer with trailer safety
chains. Pass the chains crossing each
other under the trailer tongue to prevent
the trailer from dropping onto the ground
in case the trailer tongue should discon-
nect from the hitch ball. Allow sufficient
slack in the chains taking tight turn
situations into account; however, be care-
ful not to let them drag on the ground. 
For more information about the safety 
chain connection, refer to the instructions
for your hitch and trailer. !Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle, 
check that the standard side mirrors
provide a good rearward field of view
without significant blind spots. If significant blind spots occur with the vehicle
’s stan-
dard side mirrors, use towing mirrors that
conform with Federal, state/province and/
or other applicable regulations. ! Trailer lights
CAUTION
Direct splicing or other improper 
connection of trailer lights may
damage your vehicle ’s electrical
system and cause a malfunction of
your vehicle ’s lighting system.
Connection of trailer lights to your vehi-cle ’s electrical system requires modifica-
tions to the vehicle ’s lighting circuit to
increase its capacity and accommodate
wiring changes. To ensure the trailer lights
are connected properly, please consult
your SUBARU dealer. Check for proper
operation of the turn signals, the brake
lights and parking lights each time you 
hitch up. ! Tires
WARNING
Never tow a trailer when the tem- 
porary spare tire is used. The tem-
porary spare tire is not designed to
sustain the towing load. Use of the temporary spare tire when towing
can result in failure of the spare tire
and/or less stability of the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle
are properly inflated. 
The recommended cold tire pressure 
under trailer towing conditions is shownin “Tires ”F 12-8 and in “GAS STATION
REFERENCE ”at the end of this manual.
Adjust the rear tire pressure to the
recommended pressure when the tires
are cold. Normal pressure should be
maintained in the front tires. 
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and 
proper inflation pressure should be in
accordance with the trailer manufacturer ’s
specifications. 
In the event your vehicle gets a flat tire 
when towing a trailer, ask a commercial
road service to repair the flat tire. 
If you carry a regular size spare tire in your 
vehicle or trailer as a precaution against
getting a flat tire, be sure that the spare
tire is firmly secured. Driving tips
8-25
– CONTINUED –  

13-10Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
. To maximize the life of each tire
and ensure that the tires wear 
uniformly, it is best to rotate the 
tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). 
For information about the tire rota-
tion order, refer to “Tire rotation ”
F 11-27 .
Replace any damaged or
unevenly worn tires at the time of 
rotation. After tire rotation, adjust 
the tire pressures and make sure 
the wheel nuts are correctly tigh- 
tened. For information about the
tightening torque and tightening 
sequence for the wheel nuts, refer to “Flat tires ”F 9-6 .
& Vehicle load limit –how to
determine
The load capacity of your vehicle is 
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of 
your vehicle is shown on the 
vehicle placard attached to the
driver ’s side B-pillar. Locate the
statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs ”on your vehicle
’s placard.
Thevehicleplacardalsoshows 
seating capacity of your vehicle. 
The total load capacity includes the 
total weight of driver and all pas-
sengers and their belongings, any
cargo, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike 
carrier, etc., and the tongue load of 
a trailer. Therefore cargo capacity
can be calculated by the followingmethod. 
Cargo capacity = Load limit  (total
weight of occupants + total weight 
of optional equipment + tongue 
load of a trailer (if applicable)) 
For information about vehicle load- 
ing, refer to “Loading your vehicle ”
F 8-11 .
For information about towing capa-
city and weight limits, refer to“ Trailer towing ”F 8-20 . !
Calculating total and load ca- 
pacities varying seating con-
figurations
Calculate the available load capa- 
city as shown in the followingexamples. 
Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the 
vehicle is 1,157 lbs (525 kg), which
is indicated on the vehicle placard
with the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo 
should never exceed 525 kg or 
1,157 lbs ”.  

13-14Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and 
luggage load capacity. For exam-
ple, if the “XXX ”amount equals
1,400 lbs (635 kg) and there will be 
five- 150 lbs (68 kg) passengers in 
your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capa-
city is 650 lbs. (1,400  750 (5 6
150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4. 6. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be 
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and 
luggage load capacity of your ve- hicle. Uniform tire quality grading standards 
This information indicates the rela- 
tive performance of passenger car 
tires in the area of treadwear, 
traction, and temperature resis-
tance. This is to aid the consumer
in making an informed choice in the
purchase of tires. 
Quality grades can be found where 
applicable on the tire sidewall be- 
tween tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width. For example: 
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tem- 
perature A 
The quality grades apply to new 
pneumatic tires for use on passen- 
ger cars. However, they do not 
apply to deep tread, winter type
snow tires, space-saver or tempor-
ary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 12 inches
or less, or to some limited produc- 
tion tires. 
All passenger car tires must con-form to Federal Safety Require- 
ments in addition to these grades. &
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara- 
tive rating based on the wear rate of 
the tire when tested under con- 
trolled conditions on a specified
government test course. 
For example, a tire graded 150 
would wear one and one-half (1-
1/2) times as well on the govern- 
ment course as a tire graded 100. 
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, 
service practices and differences in 
road characteristics and climate. & Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to 
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire ’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spe- 

14-10Index
Weight.................................................................. 8-20
Traction Control system OFF indicator light .......................................... 3-18, 7-25
OFF switch ........................................................... 7-27
Trailer Connecting ............................................................ 8-18
Hitch ............................................................ 8-18, 8-23
Towing .................................................................. 8-20
Towing tips ............................................................ 8-26
Trip meter ................................................................... 3-7
Turn signal Indicator lights ....................................................... 3-20
Lever .................................................................... 3-28
U 
Under-floor storage compartment ................................. 6-16
V
Valet mode ................................................................ 2-18
Vanity mirror ...................................................... 6-5, 11-44
Vehicle Capacity weight ..................................................... 8-12
Identification ........................................................ 12-16
Symbols .................................................................... 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control Operation indicator light .................................. 3-18, 7-25
System ................................................................. 7-23
Warning light ................................................. 3-18, 7-25
Ventilator .................................................................... 4-2 W
Warning and indicator lights
.......................................... 3-9
Warning chimes
Seatbelt. ........................................................ 1-18, 3-10
Warning light ABS.............................................................. 3-15, 7-21
All-Wheel Drive ...................................................... 3-18
AT OIL TEMP ......................................................... 3-13
Brake system ......................................................... 3-16
Charge .................................................................. 3-13
CHECK ENGINE .................................................... 3-12
Door open ............................................................. 3-17
Low fuel ......................................................... 3-8, 3-17
Low tire pressure .................................................... 3-14
Oil pressure ........................................................... 3-13
Rear differential oil temperature ................................ 3-14
Seatbelt. ........................................................ 1-18, 3-10
SRS airbag system ................................................. 3-11
Vehicle Dynamics Control ................................ 3-18, 7-25
Windshield washer fluid ........................................... 3-18
Warranties ..................................................................... 1
Warranties and maintenance ........................................ 8-20
Washing .................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing .................................................. 10-3
Wear indicators ........................................................ 11-26
Wheel Alignment .............................................................. 12-9
Aluminum ............................................................ 11-28
Balance ............................................................... 11-26
Nut tightening torque ............................................... 12-8
Replacement. ....................................................... 11-28