
6-10Interior equipment
trim can be used to hold beverage bottles 
and other items. Accessory power outlets
Power outlet below the climate control
Power outlet in the center console
Power outlet in the cargo area (Outback)
Accessory power outlets are provided 
below the climate control, in the center
console and in the cargo area. Electrical
power (12V DC) from the battery is
available at any of the outlets when the
ignition switch is in either the “Acc ”or “ON ”
position. 
You can use an in-vehicle electrical 
appliance by connecting it to an outlet. 
The maximum power rating of an appli- 
ance that can be connected is 120W.Do
not use an appliance which exceeds the 
indicated wattage for each outlet. 
When using appliances connected to two 
or more outlets simultaneously, the total
power consumed by them must not
exceed 120W.    

&Entering the vehicle follow- 
ing remote engine start shut- down
An alarm trigger may occur if the vehicle is 
opened by the remote keyless entry
transmitter within a few seconds immedi-
ately following remote engine start shut-down. & Pre-heating or pre-cooling 
the interior of the vehicle
Models with automatic climate control system: 
After the system starts the engine, the 
automatic climate control system will
activate the “FULL AUTO ”mode and heat
or cool the interior to the predetermined
median (room) temperature. No pre-
setting of controls is necessary. 
Models without automatic climate con- 
trol system: 
Before exiting the vehicle, set the tem- 
perature controls to the desired setting
and operation. After the system starts the
engine, the heater or air conditioning will
activate and heat or cool the interior to
your setting. &
Service mode
In service mode, the remote engine start
function is temporarily disabled to prevent
the system from unexpectedly starting the
engine while being serviced. 
To engage or disengage service mode: 
1. Enter the vehicle and close all vehicle 
doors and the trunk/rear gate. 
2. Verify that the select lever is in the “P ”
position (AT and CVT models)
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON ”
position
5. Press and release the remote engine 
start transmitter “
”button three times.
The system will honk the vehicle ’s horn
each time the button is pressed. 
6. The system will pause for 1 second 
then honk the vehicle ’s horn three times to
indicate that the service mode has been
engaged or honk one time to indicate that
the service mode has been disengaged.
NOTE 
When taking your vehicle in for service, 
it is recommended that you inform the
service personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with a remote engine startsystem. &
Remote transmitter program
New transmitters can be programmed to
the remote engine start system in the
event that a transmitter is lost, stolen,
damaged or additional transmitters are
desired (the system will accept up to eight
transmitters). New remote engine start
transmitters can be programmed accord-
ing to the following procedure. 
1. Open the driver ’s door (the driver ’s
door must remain opened throughout the 
entire process). 
2. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
3. Turn the ignition switch to “ON ”then
“ LOCK ”, back to “ON ”then “LOCK ”, then
back to “ON ”again and leave the ignition
“ ON ”throughout the programming pro-
cess.
4. The system will flash the side marker 
lights, tail lights and front position lights
and honk the horn three times, indicating
that the system has entered the transmit-
ter learn mode. 
5. Press and release the “
”button on
the transmitter that you want to program. 
6. The system will flash the side marker 
lights, tail lights and front position lights
and honk the horn one time, indicating that
the system has learned the transmitter.
Upon successful programming, the re-
mote start confirmation transmitter button Starting and operating
7-13
– CONTINUED – 

7-18Starting and operating
than 5 seconds in any position 
except the “N ” or “P ” position
when the brake is applied or
when chocks are used in the
wheels. This may cause the
transmission fluid to overheat.
. Avoid shifting from one of the
forward driving positions into the“ R ” position or vice versa until
the vehicle has completely
stopped. Such shifting may
cause damage to the transmis-sion.
. When parking the vehicle, first
securely apply the parking brake
and then place the select lever inthe “P ” position. Avoid parking
for a long time with the select
lever in any other position as
doing so could result in a dead
battery.
NOTE . For AT models, when the engine
coolant temperature is still low, the 
transmission will upshift to higher
engine speeds than when the coolant
temperature is sufficiently high in order
to shorten the warm-up time and
improve driveability. The gearshift tim-
ing will automatically shift to the nor- mal timing after the engine has warmedup..
Immediately after transmission fluid
is replaced, you may feel that the
transmission operation is somewhat
unusual. This results from invalidation
of data which the on-board computer
has collected and stored in memory to
allow the transmission to shift at the
most appropriate times for the current
condition of your vehicle. Optimized
shifting will be restored as the vehicle
continues to be driven for a while.. When driving a vehicle that is
equipped with CVT under continuous
heavy load conditions such as towing a 
camper or climbing a long, steep hill, 
the engine speed or the vehicle speed
may automatically be reduced. This is
not a malfunction. This phenomenon
results from the engine control func-
tion maintaining the cooling perfor-
mance of the vehicle. The engine and
vehicle speed will return to a normal
speed when the engine is able to
maintain the optimum cooling perfor-
mance after the heavy load decreases.
Driving under a heavy load must be
performed with extreme care. Do not
try to pass a vehicle in front when
driving on an uphill slope while towing.. The continuously variable transmis-
sion is a chain type system that provides superior transmission effi-
ciency for maximum fuel economy. At
times, depending on varying driving
conditions, a chain operating sound
may be heard that is characteristic of
this type of system.
& Select lever
: With the brake pedal depressed, shift
while pressing the button in
: Shift while pressing the button in: Shift without pressing the button
The select lever has four positions, “P ”,
“ R ”, “N ”, “D ”and also has a manual gate
for using the manual mode. ! P (Park)
This position is for parking the vehicle and 
starting the engine.   

In this position, the transmission is me- 
chanically locked to prevent the vehicle
from rolling freely. 
When you park the vehicle, first apply the 
parking brake, then shift into the“P ”
position. Do not hold the vehicle with only
the transmission. 
To shift the select lever from the “P ”to any
other position, you should depress the 
brake pedal fully then move the select
lever. This prevents the vehicle from
lurching when it is started. NOTE 
To protect the engine while the “P ”
position is selected, the engine is 
controlled such that the engine speed 
may not become too high even if the
accelerator pedal is depressed hard. ! R (Reverse)
This position is for backing the vehicle. 
To shift from the “N ” to “R ”position, stop
the vehicle completely then move the 
lever to the “R ”position.
! N (Neutral)
This position is for restarting a stalledengine. 
In this position the wheels and transmis- 
sion are not locked. In this position, the transmission is neutral; the vehicle will roll
freely, even on the slightest incline unless
the parking brake or foot brake is applied. 
Avoid coasting with the transmission neutral. 
During coasting, there is no engine brak- 
ing effect.
NOTE . To protect the engine while the “N ”
position is selected, the engine is 
controlled such that the engine speed
may not become too high even if the
accelerator pedal is depressed hard.. If the select lever is in the “N ”
position when you stop the engine for
parking, you may not subsequently be
able to move it to the “R ” and “P ”
positions. If this happens, turn the
ignition switch to the “ON ”position.
You will then be able to move the select
lever to the “P ” position.
WARNING
Do not drive the vehicle with the 
select lever in the “N ” (neutral)
position. Engine braking has no
effect in this condition and the risk
of an accident is consequently in-creased. !
D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving. The
transmission automatically shifts into a
suitable gear according to the vehicle
speed and the acceleration you require. 
When more acceleration is required in this 
position, depress the accelerator pedal
fully to the floor and hold that position. The
transmission will automatically downshift.
When you release the pedal, the transmis-
sion will return to the original gear posi-tion. 
To use the manual mode, move the lever 
from this position into the manual gate.
NOTE (AT models only) 
Automatic downshifts to 4th or 3rd may 
occur even when driving on a level
road depending on conditions, such as
how hard you depress the brake pedal. ! While climbing a grade
When driving up a hill, undesired upshift is 
prevented from taking place when the
accelerator is released. This minimizes
the chance of subsequent downshifting to
a lower gear when accelerating again.
This prevents repeated upshifting and
downshifting resulting in a smoother op-
eration of the vehicle. Starting and operating
7-19
– CONTINUED – 

Driving tips for AWD vehicles
WARNING
. Always maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and 
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
ing or under other similar condi-tions.
. Always use the utmost care in
driving –overconfidence be-
cause you are driving an All-
Wheel Drive vehicle could easily
lead to a serious accident.
. When replacing a tire, you must
use a tire that is of the same size,
circumference, construction,
brand (tread pattern), speed sym-
bol and load index as the original
tires listed on the tire placard.
Using tires of other sizes, cir-
cumferences or constructions
may result in severe mechanical 
damage to the drive train of your 
vehicle and may affect ride,
handling, braking, speedometer/
odometer calibration, and clear-
ance between the body and tires.
It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control.
. You must install four tires that are
of the same size, circumferences,
construction, manufacturer,
brand (tread pattern), degree of
wear, speed symbol and load
index. Mixing tires of other sizes,
circumferences or constructions
may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your
vehicle and may affect ride,
handling, braking and speed-
ometer/odometer calibration. It
also may be dangerous and lead
to loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
If you use a temporary spare tire to 
replace a flat tire, be sure to use the
original temporary spare tire stored
in the vehicle. Using other sizes may
result in severe mechanical damage
to the drive train of your vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive distributes the engine 
power to all four wheels. AWD vehicles
provide better traction when driving on
slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand.
By shifting power between the front and
rear wheels, SUBARU AWD can also
provide added traction during accelera-
tion, and added engine braking force
during deceleration. 
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle 
may handle differently than an ordinary
two wheel drive vehicle and it contains
some features unique to AWD. For safety
purposes as well as to avoid damaging
the AWD system, you should keep the
following tips in mind: . An AWD vehicle is better able to climb
steeper roads under snowy or slippery Driving tips
8-5
– CONTINUED –  

8-10Driving tips
If your SUBARU is not going to be used 
for an extended period, it is best to have
the fuel tank filled to capacity. &Driving on snowy and icy roads
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control on 
slippery roads such as snowy or icy 
roads. This may cause loss of
vehicle control.
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous driving 
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine ’s intake system and may
hinder the airflow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or evenbreakdown.
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads. 
Always maintain ample distance between 
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking. 
To supplement the foot brake, use the 
engine brake effectively to control the vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear
when necessary.) 
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha- 
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control. 
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en- 
hances your vehicle
’s braking perfor-
mance on snowy and icy roads. For
information about braking on slippery
surfaces, refer to “ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System) ”F 7-24 and “Vehicle Dynamics
Control system ”F 7-26.
! Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure
the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window. 
If the wiper blades are frozen to the 
windshield or rear window, perform the
following procedure. . To thaw the windshield wiper blades,
use the defroster with the airflow selection in “
”and the temperature set for
maximum warmth until the wiper blades 
are completely thawed. Refer to “Climate
control ”F 4-1.
. If your vehicle is equipped with a wiper
deicer, use it. It is helpful to thaw the
windshield wiper blades. Refer to “Defog-
ger and deicer ”F 3-34.
. To thaw the rear wiper blade, use the rear window defogger. Refer to
“Defogger
and deicer ”F 3-34.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts
to stick on the surface of the windshield
despite wiper operation, use the defroster
with the airflow selection in “
”and the
temperature set for maximum warmth. 
After the windshield gets warmed enough
to melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away
using the windshield washer. Refer to“ Windshield washer ”F 3-32.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.
Refer to “Hazard warning flasher ”F 3-5.
We recommend use of non-freezing type
wiper blades (winter blades) during the
seasons you could have snow and freez-
ing temperatures. Blades of this type give
superior wiping performance in snowy
conditions. Be sure to use blades that
are suitable for your vehicle.
CAUTION
During high-speed driving, non- 
freezing type wiper blades may not
perform as well as standard wiper 

Exterior care....................................................... 10-2
Washing ............................................................. 10-2
Waxing and polishing ......................................... 10-3
Cleaning aluminum wheels ................................. 10-3
Corrosion protection .......................................... 10-4
Most common causes of corrosion ..................... 10-4
To help prevent corrosion ................................... 10-4 Cleaning the interior
.......................................... 10-5
Seat fabric ......................................................... 10-5
Leather seat materials ........................................ 10-5
Synthetic leather upholstery ............................... 10-5
Climate control panel, audio panel, instrument panel, console panel, switches, combination 
meter, and other plastic surface ....................... 10-5
Monitor (if equipped) .......................................... 10-6Appearance care
10 

Cleaning the interior 
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate 
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. (Do not use
organic solvents.) &Seat fabric
Remove loose dirt, dust or debris with a 
vacuum cleaner. If the dirt is caked on the
fabric or hard to remove with a vacuum
cleaner, use a soft brush then vacuum it. 
Wipe the fabric surface with a tightly 
wrung cloth and dry the seat fabric
thoroughly. If the fabric is still dirty, wipe
using a solution of mild soap and luke-
warm water then dry thoroughly. 
If the stain does not come out, try a 
commercially available fabric cleaner. Use
the cleaner on a hidden place and make
sure it does not affect the fabric adversely.
Use the cleaner according to its instruc-tions. NOTE 
When cleaning the seat, do not use 
benzine, paint thinner, or any similarmaterials. &
Leather seat materials
The leather used by SUBARU is a high
quality natural product which will retain its
distinctive appearance and feel for many
years with proper care. 
Allowing dust or road dirt to build up on the 
surface can cause the material to become
brittle and to wear prematurely. Regular
cleaning with a soft, moist, natural fiber
cloth should be performed monthly, taking
care not to soak the leather or allow water 
to penetrate the stitched seams. 
A mild detergent suitable for cleaning 
woolen fabrics may be used to remove
difficult dirt spots, rubbing with a soft, dry
cloth afterwards to restore the luster. If
your SUBARU is to be parked for a long
time in bright sunlight, it is recommended
that the seats and headrests be covered,
or the windows shaded, to prevent fading
or shrinkage. 
Minor surface blemishes or bald patches 
may be treated with a commercial leather
spray lacquer. You will discover that each
leather seat section will develop soft folds
or wrinkles, which is characteristic of
genuine leather. & Synthetic leather upholstery
The synthetic leather material used on the 
SUBARU may be cleaned using mild soap or detergent and water, after first vacuum-
ing or brushing away loose dirt. Allow the
soap to soak in for a few minutes and wipe
off with a clean, damp cloth. Commercial
foam-type cleaners suitable for synthetic
leather materials may be used when
necessary. NOTE 
Strong cleaning agents such as sol- 
vents, paint thinners, window cleaner
or gasoline must never be used on
leather or synthetic interior materials. &
Climate control panel, audio 
panel, instrument panel,
console panel, switches, 
combination meter, and other 
plastic surface
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the climate 
control panel, audio equipment, instru-
ment panel, center console, combination
meter panel, and switches. NOTE 
Do not use organic solvents such as 
paint thinners or gasoline, or strong
cleaning agents that contain thosesolvents. Appearance care
10-5
– CONTINUED –