
2
Chapter 4: Climate control 
This chapter informs you how to operate 
the climate control. 
Chapter 5: Audio
This chapter informs you how to operate 
your audio system. 
Chapter 6: Interior equipment
This chapter informs you how to operate 
interior equipment. 
Chapter 7: Starting and operating
This chapter informs you how to start and 
operate your SUBARU. 
Chapter 8: Driving tips
This chapter informs you how to drive your 
SUBARU in various conditions and ex-
plains some safety tips on driving. 
Chapter 9: In case of emergency 
This chapter informs you what to do if you 
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating. 
Chapter 10: Appearance care
This chapter informs you how to keep your 
SUBARU looking good. 
Chapter 11: Maintenance and service
This chapter informs you when you need 
to take your SUBARU to the dealer for
scheduled maintenance and informs you
how to keep your SUBARU running
properly.Chapter 12: Specifications 
This chapter informs you about dimen- 
sions and capacities of your SUBARU. 
Chapter 13: Consumer information and 
Reporting safety defects 
This chapter informs you about Uniform 
tire quality grading standards and Report-
ing safety defects. 
Chapter 14: Index
This is an alphabetical listing of all that
’sin
this manual. You can use it to quickly find 
something you want to read.
& Safety warnings
You will find a number of WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs and NOTEs in this manual. 
These safety warnings alert you to poten- 
tial hazards that could result in injury to
you or others. 
Please read these safety warnings as well 
as all other portions of this manual care-
fully in order to gain a better understand-
ing of how to use your SUBARU vehicle
safely.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in 
which serious injury or death could 
result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a situation in 
which injury or damage to your
vehicle, or both, could result if the
caution is ignored.
NOTE 
A NOTE gives information or sugges- 
tions how to make better use of yourvehicle. & Safety symbol
You will find a circle with a slash through it 
in this manual. This symbol means “Do
not ”, “Do not do this ”,or “Do not let this
happen ”, depending upon the context.  

!Inspection
Perform the following steps at least twice 
a year to check the release handle for
correct operation. 
1. Open the trunk lid.
2. Use a flat-head screwdriver with a thin 
blade. Slide the screwdriver blade from
the slit aperture of the lock assembly to
the end until you hear a click.
This places the latch in the locked posi- tion.
3. Move the release handle, from outside 
the vehicle, in the direction of the arrow to
check if the latch is released. If the latch is not released, contact your
SUBARU dealer. 
In that case, use the key to release the 
latch, then close the trunk lid. 
Also, if the movement of the release 
handle feels restricted or not entirely
smooth during operation, or the handle
and/or handle base is cracked, contact
your SUBARU dealer.
Keys and doors/Trunk lid (4
–door)2-25    

6-14Interior equipment/Under–floor storage compartment
Under-floor storage compart- 
ment (if equipped)
4-door models
5-door models
The storage compartment is located under the floor of the trunk (4-door) or the cargo 
area (5-door), and it can be used to store
small items. To open the lid, pull the tabup.
NOTE . The shape of the storage compart-
ment may be different depending on 
the model.. When storing a flat tire, put the
storage tray in the trunk (4-door) or
the cargo area (5-door).
CAUTION
. Always keep the lids closed while
driving to reduce the risk of 
injury in the event of a sudden
stop or an accident.
. Do not store spray cans, contain-
ers with flammable or corrosive
liquids or any other dangerous
items in the storage compart-ment.   

7-8Starting and operating/Preparing to drive
.A vehiclefails the OBDII inspection if
the “CHECK ENGINE ”warning light is not
properly operating (light is illuminated or is 
not working due to a burned out bulb) or
there is one or more diagnostic trouble
codes stored in the vehicle ’s computer.
. A state emission inspection may reject
(not pass or fail) a vehicle if the number of
OBDII system readiness monitors “NOT
READY ”is greater than one. If the
vehicle ’s battery has been recently re-
placed or disconnected, the OBDII system
inspection may indicate that the vehicle is
not ready for the emission test. Under this
condition, the vehicle driver should be
instructed to drive his/her vehicle for a few 
days to reset the readiness monitors and 
return for an emission re-inspection. . Owners of rejected or failing vehicles
should contact their SUBARU Dealer for service. 
Some states still use dynamometers in 
their emission inspection program. A
dynamometer is a treadmill or roller-like
testing device that allows your vehicle ’s
wheels to turn while the vehicle remains in
one place. Prior to your vehicle being put
on a dynamometer, tell your emission
inspector
not to place your SUBARU
AWD vehicle on a two-wheel dynam- 
ometer. Otherwise, serious transmis-
sion damage will result. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and states using two-wheel
dynamometers in their emission testing
program have EXEMPTED SUBARU
AWD vehicles from the portion of the
testing program that involves a two-wheel
dynamometer. There are some states that
use four-wheel dynamometers in their
testing program. When properly used, this
equipment should not damage a SUBARU
AWD vehicle. 
Under no circumstances should the rear 
wheels be jacked off the ground, nor
should the driveshaft be disconnected for
state emission testing.
Preparing to drive 
You should perform the following checks 
and adjustments every day before you
start driving. 
1. Check that all windows, mirrors, and 
lights are clean and unobstructed. 
2. Check the appearance and condition 
of the tires. Also check tires for properinflation. 
3. Look under the vehicle for any sign of leaks. 
4. Check that the hood, trunk (4-door) 
and rear gate (5-door) are fully closed. 
5. Check the adjustment of the seat.
6. Check the adjustment of the inside 
and outside mirrors. 
7. Fasten your seatbelt. Check that your 
passengers have fastened their seatbelts. 
8. Check the operation of the warning 
and indicator lights when the ignition
switch is turned to the
“ON ”position.
9. Check the gauges, indicator and warn- 
ing lights after starting the engine.
NOTE 
Engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, 
washer fluid and other fluid levels
should be checked daily, weekly or at
fuel stops. 

7-24Starting and operating/Limited slip differential (LSD) (STI)
Limited slip differential (LSD) (STI) 
The LSD provides optimum distribution of 
power according to the difference in
revolutions between the right and left
wheels that may be caused by certain
driving conditions, thereby improving driv-
ing stability on snow-covered, muddy or
other slippery roads or when high speeddriving.
CAUTION
. Never start the engine while a tire
on one side is jacked up, as the 
vehicle may move.
. If one tire is spinning in mud,
avoid continued spinning at high 
speed as this could adversely 
affect the LSD.
. 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 will adversely affect
the LSD. Power steering 
The power steering system operates only 
when the engine is running. 
If you lose power steering assist because 
the engine stops or the system fails to
function, you can steer but it will take
much more effort.
CAUTION
Do not hold the steering wheel at the 
fully locked position left or right for
more than 5 seconds. This may
damage the power steering pump.
NOTE 
Right after the engine has been started 
and before it has warmed up, you may
hear a noise coming from areas adja-
cent to the power steering pump which
is located at the right-front area of the
engine compartment. This noise is
normal. It does not indicate power
steering system trouble. Braking &
Braking tips
WARNING
Never rest your foot on the brake 
pedal while driving. This can cause 
dangerous overheating of the 
brakes and needless wear on the
brake pads and linings.
! When the brakes get wet
When driving in rain or after washing the
vehicle, the brakes may get wet. As a
result, brake stopping distance will be
longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle
at a safe speed while lightly depressing
the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. ! Use of engine braking
Remember to make use of engine braking 
in addition to foot braking. When descend-
ing a grade, if only the foot brake is used,
the brakes may start working improperly
because of brake fluid overheating,
caused by overheated brake pads. To
help prevent this, shift into a lower gear to
get stronger engine braking. ! Braking when a tire is punctured
Do not depress the brake pedal suddenly 
when a tire is punctured. This could cause 

7-32Starting and operating/Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (U.S.–spec. models)
. Even when the Vehicle Dynamics
Control system is deactivated, compo- 
nents of the brake control system may
still activate. When the brake control
system is activated, the Vehicle Dy-
namics Control operation indicator
light illuminates. Tire pressure monitoring 
system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec.models)
The tire pressure monitoring system pro- 
vides the driver with a warning message
by sending a signal from a sensor that is
installed in each wheel when tire pressure
is severely low. 
The tire pressure monitoring system will 
activate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 20 mph (32 km/h). Also,
this system may not react immediately to a
sudden drop in tire pressure (for example,
a blow-out caused by running over a
sharp object).
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light 
illuminates while driving, never
brake suddenly and keep driving
straight ahead while gradually redu-
cing speed. Then slowly pull off the
road to a safe place. Otherwise an
accident involving serious vehicle
damage and serious personal injury
could occur. 
Check the pressure for all four tires 
and adjust the pressure to the COLD
tire pressure shown on the tire
placard on the door pillar on thedriver ’s side.
Even when the vehicle is driven a
very short distance, the tires get
warm and their pressures increase
accordingly. Be sure to let the tires
cool thoroughly before adjusting
their pressures to the standard
values shown on the tire placard.
Refer to “Tires and wheels ”F 11-24.
The tire pressure monitoring system
does not function when the vehicle
is stationary. After adjusting the tire
pressures, increase the vehicle
speed to at least 20 mph (32 km/h)
to start the TPMS re-checking of the
tire inflation pressures. If the tire
pressures are now above the severe  

low pressure threshold, the low tire 
pressure warning light should turn
off a few minutes later. 
If this light still illuminates while 
driving after adjusting the tire pres-
sure, a tire may have significant
damage and a fast leak that causes
the tire to lose air rapidly. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire
as soon as possible. 
When a spare tire is mounted or a 
wheel rim is replaced without the
original pressure sensor/transmitter
being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will illuminate
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute. This indicates
the TPMS is unable to monitor all
four road wheels. Contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible
for tire and sensor replacement and/
or system resetting. 
Do not inject any tire liquid or 
aerosol tire sealant into the tires,
as this may cause a malfunction of
the tire pressure sensors. If the light
illuminates steadily after blinking for
approximately one minute, promptly
contact a SUBARU dealer to have
the system inspected.CAUTION
. Do not place metal film or any
metal parts in the cargo area/ 
trunk. This may cause poor re-
ception of the signals from the
tire pressure sensors, and the
tire pressure monitoring system
will not function properly.
. FCC WARNING
Changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance
could void the user ’s authority
to operate the equipment.
NOTE 
This device complies with Part 15 of 
the FCC Rules and RSS-Gen of IC
Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this de-
vice may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesiredoperation. Parking your vehicle &
Parking brake
To set the parking brake, depress the 
brake pedal firmly and hold it down until 
the parking brake lever is fully pulled up.
To release the parking brake, pull the lever 
up slightly, press the release button, then 
lower the lever while keeping the button pressed. 
When the parking brake is set while the 
engine is running, the parking brake
warning light illuminates. After starting
the vehicle, be sure that the warning light
has turned off before the vehicle is driven.
Refer to “Parking brake warning ”F 3-19.
Starting and operating/Parking your vehicle7-33
– CONTINUED –  

8-2Driving tips/New vehicle break–in driving –the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
New vehicle break-in driving – the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km) 
The performance and long life of your 
vehicle are dependent on how you handle
and care for your vehicle while it is new.
Follow these instructions during the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km): . Do not race the engine. And do not
allow engine speed to exceed 4,000 rpm 
except in an emergency. . Do not drive at one constant engine or
vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or 
slow. . Avoid starting suddenly and rapid
acceleration, except in an emergency.. Avoid hard braking, except in an
emergency. 
The same break-in procedures should be 
applied to an overhauled engine, newly
mounted engine or when brake pads or
brake linings are replaced with new ones. Fuel economy hints 
The following suggestions will help to save fuel. .
Select the proper gear position for the
speed and road conditions.. Avoid sudden acceleration or decelera-
tion. Always accelerate gently until you 
reach the desired speed. Then try to
maintain that speed for as long aspossible. . Do not pump the accelerator and avoid
racing the engine.. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep the engine properly tuned.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the tire placard, which 
is located under the door latch on thedriver ’s side. Low pressure will increase
tire wear and fuel consumption. . Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.. Keep the front and rear wheels in
proper alignment.. Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage or
cargo. Engine exhaust gas (carbon 
monoxide)
WARNING
. Never inhale engine exhaust gas.
Engine exhaust gas contains 
carbon monoxide, a colorless
and odorless gas which is dan-
gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
. Always properly maintain the en-
gine exhaust system to prevent
engine exhaust gas from enter-
ing the vehicle.
. Never run the engine in a closed
space, such as a garage, except
for the brief time needed to drive
the vehicle in or out of it.
. Avoid remaining in a parked
vehicle for a lengthy time while
the engine is running. If that is
unavoidable, then use the venti-
lation fan to force fresh air into
the vehicle.
. Always keep the front ventilator
inlet grille free from snow, leaves 
or other obstructions to ensure 
that the ventilation system al-
ways works properly.
. If at any time you suspect that