
.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 models
provide better traction when driving on
slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt or sand. By
shifting power between the front and rear
wheels, SUBARU AWD can also provide
added traction during acceleration, and
added engine braking force during decel-eration. 
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 model is better able to climb
steeper roads under snowy or slippery conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle. 
There is little difference in handling,
however, during extremely sharp turns or
sudden braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an
ample distance from other vehicles. .
Always check the cold tire pressure
before starting to drive. The recom- 
mended tire pressure is provided on the
tire placard, which is located under the
door latch on the driver ’s side.
. There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detailed information, refer to “Towing ”
F 9-14.
Driving tips/Driving tips for AWD models8-5  

depth of the water and the bottom of the 
stream bed for firmness and ensure that
the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly
and completely through the stream. The
water should be shallow enough that it
does not reach the vehicle’s undercar-
riage. Water entering the engine air intake
or the exhaust pipe or water splashing
onto electrical parts may damage your
vehicle and may cause it to stall. Never
attempt to drive through rushing water;
regardless of its depth, it can wash away
the ground from under your tires, resulting
in possible loss of traction and even
vehicle rollover. . Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in sand, 
mud or water. Do this by driving slowly
and stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat
that process several times to dry out the
brake discs and brake pads. . Do not drive or park over or near
flammable materials such as dry grass or 
fallen leaves, as they may burn easily. The
exhaust system is very hot while the
engine is running and right after engine
stops. This could create a fire hazard. . After driving through tall grass, mud,
rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there 
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones,
sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with
these materials trapped or adhering to the
underbody, a mechanical breakdown or
fire could occur. .
Secure all cargo carried inside the
vehicle and make certain that it is not 
piled higher than the seatbacks. During
sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo
could be thrown around in the vehicle and
cause injury. Do not pile heavy loads on
the roof. Those loads raise the vehicle ’s
center of gravity and make it more prone
to tip over. . If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from sand or mud, depress the accelerator 
pedal slightly and move the select lever 
back and forth between “D ” and “R ”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For 
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle. . When the road surface is extremely
slippery, you can obtain better traction by 
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st. . Never equip your vehicle with tires
larger than those specified in this manual.. Wash the vehicle ’s underbody after off-
road driving. Suspension components are 
particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they
need to be washed thoroughly. . Frequent driving of an AWD model
under hard-driving conditions such as rough roads or off roads will necessitate 
more frequent replacement of engine oil,
brake fluid and transmission oil than that
specified in the maintenance schedule
described in the
“Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”.
Remember that damage done to your
SUBARU while operating it off-road and
not using common sense precautions
such as those listed above is not eligible
for warranty coverage.
Driving tips/On –road and off –road driving8-7 

could make the pedals slippery and 
driving dangerous. 
While warming up the vehicle before 
driving, check that the accelerator pedal,
brake pedal, and all other controls operate 
smoothly. 
Clear away ice and snow that has 
accumulated under the fenders to avoid
making steering difficult. During severe
winter driving, stop when and where it is
safe to do so and check under the fenders
periodically. !Parking in cold weather
WARNING
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust 
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle if you park
the vehicle in snow with the enginerunning.
Do not use the parking brake when
parking for long periods in cold weather
since it could freeze in that position.
Instead, you should observe the followingtips. 
1. Place the select lever in “P ”position.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to 
prevent the vehicle from moving. When the vehicle is parked in snow or
when it snows, raise the wiper blades off
the glass to prevent damage to them. 
When the vehicle has been left parked 
after use on roads heavily covered with 
snow, or has been left parked during a 
snowstorm, icing may develop on the
brake system, which could cause poor
braking action. Check for snow or ice
buildup on the suspension, disc brakes
and brake hoses underneath the vehicle. 
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it, 
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-ness. !
Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in 
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weather. 
Use only additives that are specifically 
designed for this purpose. When an
antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty. 
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-
Driving tips/Winter driving8-9
– CONTINUED – 

8-10Driving tips/Winter driving
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 7-20 and “Vehicle Dynamics
Control system ”F 7-23.
! 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, use the defroster with the airflow
control button in the “
”position and the
temperature control dial set for maximum 
warmth until the wiper blades are com-
pletely thawed out. The wiper deicer is
helpful to thaw the windshield wiper
blades. To thaw out the rear wiper blade,
use the rear window defogger. 
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 control button in “
”and
the temperature control dial set for max- 
imum warmth. After the windshield gets
warmed enough to melt the frozen snow
on it, wash it away using the windshield
washer. 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. 
We recommend use of non-freezing type 
wiper blades (winter blades) during the
seasons in which you could have snow
and freezing 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
blades. If this happens, reduce the
vehicle speed.
NOTE 
When the season requiring non-freez- 
ing type wiper blades is over, replace
them with standard wiper blades. & Corrosion protection
Refer to “Corrosion protection ”F 10-4. &
Snow tires
WARNING
. When replacing original tires with
winter (snow) tires, make sure 
you use only tires of the same
size, circumference, speed sym-
bol and load index as the original
tires listed on the tire placard.
Using tires of other sizes or
constructions may affect speed-
ometer/odometer calibration and
clearance between the body and
tires. It also may be dangerous 
and lead to loss of vehicle con- trol.
. You must install four winter tires
that are of the same size, circum-
ferences, construction, manufac-
turer, brand (tread pattern), de-
gree of wear, speed symbol and
load index. Mixing tires of other
sizes, circumferences or con-
structions may result in severe
mechanical damage to the drive
train of your vehicle and may
affect ride, handling, braking and
speedometer/odometer calibra-
tion. It also may be dangerous
and lead to loss of vehicle con-trol. 

.Do not use a combination of
radial, belted bias or bias tires 
since it may cause dangerous
handling characteristics and lead
to an accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with “all season
tires ”which are designed to provide an
adequate measure of traction, handling
and braking performance in year-round
driving. In winter, it may be possible to
enhance performance through use of tires
designed specifically for winter drivingconditions. 
If you choose to install winter tires on your 
vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire size
and type. You must install four winter tires
that are of the same size, construction,
brand and load range and you should
never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires
since this may result in dangerous hand-
ling characteristics. When you choose a
tire, make sure that there is enough
clearance between the tire and vehicle
body. 
Remember to drive with care at all times 
regardless of the type of tires on yourvehicle. 
Your vehicle comes with P255/55R18 “ all season tires ”as original equip-
ment. You should be aware that some winter tires with that same size desig-
nation may actually be too large for the
vehicle and may cause rubbing on
sharp turns. Listed in the following is
the winter tire size that we recommend.
Recommended winter (snow) tire size P255/55R18 stud less
& Tire chains
CAUTION
Tire chains cannot be used on your 
vehicle because of the lack of
clearance between the tires and
vehicle body.
& Rocking the vehicle
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-
erator pedal slightly and move the select
lever back and forth between “D ”and “R ”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle. 
When the road surface is extremely 
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission in 2nd than 1st. 
For information about holding the trans- 
mission in the 2nd position, refer to“
Selection of manual mode ”F 7-16 and
“ Driving tips ”F 7-17.
Driving tips/Winter driving8-11 

The load capacity of your vehicle is 
determined by weight, not by available
cargo space. The maximum load you can
carry in your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the driver’s
side door pillar. It includes the total weight
of the driver and all passengers and their
belongings, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier,
etc., and the tongue load of a trailer. &
GVWR and GAWR (Gross 
Vehicle Weight Rating and 
Gross Axle Weight Rating)
Certification label
The certification label attached to the driver ’s side door shows GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR (Gross
Axle Weight Rating). 
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must 
never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the
combined total of weight of the vehicle,
fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage, any
optional equipment and trailer tongue
load. Therefore, the GVW changes de-
pending on the situation. 
In addition, the total weight applied to 
each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be adjusted by relocating luggage inside thevehicle. 
Even if the total weight of your luggage is 
lower than the vehicle capacity weight,
either front or rear GAW may exceed the
GAWR, depending on the distribution of
the luggage. 
When possible, the load should be evenly 
distributed throughout the vehicle. 
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you 
should confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a
vehicle scale, found at a commercial
weighing station. 
Do not use replacement tires with a lower 
load range than the originals because they
may lower the GVWR and GAWR limita-
tions. Replacement tires with a higher load
range than the originals do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Driving tips/Loading your vehicle8-13
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Trailer towing 
Your vehicle is designed and intended to 
be used primarily as a passenger-carrying
vehicle. Towing a trailer puts additional
loads on your vehicle’s engine, drivetrain,
brakes, tires and suspension and has an
adverse effect on fuel economy. 
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety 
and satisfaction depend upon proper use
of correct equipment and cautious opera-
tion of your vehicle. Seek the advice of
your SUBARU dealer to assist you in
purchasing a hitch and other necessary
towing equipment appropriate for your
vehicle. In addition, be sure to follow the
instructions on correct installation and use
provided by the trailer and other towing
equipment manufacturers. 
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for 
injuries or vehicle damage that result from
trailer towing equipment, or from any
errors or omissions in the instructions 
accompanying such equipment or for your 
failure to follow the proper instructions.
& Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to
vehicle damage or malfunction caused
by trailer towing. If you use your vehicle to
tow a trailer, more frequent maintenance will be required due to the additional load.
(Refer to
“Maintenance schedule under
severe driving conditions ”in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet ”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer
be towed with a new vehicle or a vehicle
with any new powertrain component (en-
gine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) of driving.
& Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load 
limits explained in the following.
Exceeding the maximum load limits
could cause personal injury and/or
vehicle damage.
CAUTION
. Adequate size trailer brakes are
required when the trailer and its 
cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg)
total weight.
. Before towing a trailer, check the
trailer total weight, GVW, GAWs
and tongue load. Make sure the
load and its distribution in your vehicle and trailer are accepta-ble.
! Total trailer weight
Total trailer weight
The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus 
its cargo load) must never exceed the
maximum weight shown in the followingtable.
Driving tips/Trailer towing8-21
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8-24Driving tips/Trailer towing
Vehicle without cooling kit: 200 lbs (90 kg) 
Vehicle with cooling kit: 350 lbs (158 kg)
1) Jack 
2) Bathroom scale
The tongue load can be weighed with a 
bathroom scale as shown in the illustration
above. When weighing the tongue load,
be sure to position the towing coupler at
the height at which it would be during
actual towing, using a jack as shown.
F: Front
The tongue load can be adjusted by 
proper distribution of the load in the trailer.
Never load the trailer with more weight in
the back than in the front; approximately 
60 percent of the trailer load should be in 
the front and approximately 40 percent in
the rear. Also, distribute the load as evenly
as possible on both the left and rightsides. 
Be sure that all cargo is firmly secured to 
prevent a change in weight distribution
while driving. &
Trailer hitches
WARNING
Never drill the frame or under-body 
of your vehicle to install a commer-
cial trailer hitch. If you do, danger-
ous exhaust gas, water or mud may
enter the passenger compartment
through the drilled hole. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a
colorless and odorless gas which is
dangerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
Also, drilling the frame or under-
body of your vehicle could cause 
deterioration of strength of your 
vehicle and cause corrosion around
the drilled hole.
CAUTION
. Do not modify the vehicle ex-
haust system, brake system, or 
other systems when installing a
hitch or other trailer towingequipment.
. Do not use axle-mounted hitches
as they can cause damage to the
axle housing, wheel bearings,
wheels or tires.
Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and