
To release the parking brake, hold downthe brake pedal while depressing theparkingbrake pedal and slowly releasingit.
When the parking brake is set while theengine is running, the brake systemwarning light illuminates. After startingthe vehicle, be sure that the warning lighthas turned off before the vehicle is driven.Refer to“Brake system warning light”F3-16.
&Parking tips
When parking your vehicle, always set theparking brake firmly and put the selectlever in the“P”(Park) position. Always setthe parking brake firmly when parking yourvehicle. Never rely on the transmissionalone to hold the vehicle.
When parking on a hill, always turn thesteering wheel. When the vehicle isheadedup the hill, the front wheels shouldbe turned away from the curb.
When facing downhill, the front wheelsshould be turned into the curb.
Cruise control
Cruise control enables you to maintain aconstant vehicle speed without holdingyour foot on the accelerator pedal and it isoperative when the vehicle speed is 25mph (40 km/h) or more. Make sure themain switch is turned“OFF”whenthecruise control is not in use to avoidunintentionally setting the cruise control.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control underany of the following conditions.These may cause loss of vehiclecontrol.
.driving up or down a steep grade
.driving on slippery or windingroads
.driving in heavy traffic
.towing a trailer
NOTE
If you move the cruise control lever orpress the main switch button whileturning the ignition switch“ON”, thecruise control function is deactivatedand the cruise control indicator lightflashes.To reactivate the cruise controlfunction, turn the ignition switch back
Starting and operating7-29
–CONTINUED–

&To temporarily cancel the
cruise control
The cruise control can be temporarilycanceled in the following ways.
.Pull the control lever toward you.
.Depressthe brake pedal.
WARNING
Do not place the select lever in the“N”position while driving. If theselect lever is shifted into the“N”position, cruise control can be can-celed but the engine brake will nolonger work. This could result in anaccident.
The cruise control set indicator light on thecombination meter turns off when the
cruise control is canceled.
To resume the cruise control after it hasbeen temporarily canceled and with vehi-cle speed of approximately 20 mph (32km/h) or more, push the control leverupward in the“RES/ACC”direction toreturn to the original cruising speed auto-matically.
The cruise control set indicator light on thecombination meter will automatically illu-minate at this time.
&To turn off the cruise control
There are two ways to turn off the cruisecontrol:
.Push the main switch again.
.Turn the ignition switch to the“Acc”or“LOCK”position (but only when thevehicle is completely stopped).
&To change the cruising speed
!To increase the speed (by controllever)
Push the control lever upward in the“RES/ACC”direction and hold it until the vehiclereaches the desired speed. Then, releasethe control lever. The vehicle speed at thatmoment will be memorized and treated asthe new set speed.
When the difference between the actualvehicle speed and the set speed is lessthan 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the set speed canbe increased 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each timeby pressing the control lever upward in the“RES/ACC”direction quickly.
Starting and operating7-31
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7-32Starting and operating
!To increase the speed (by accel-erator pedal)
1. Depress the accelerator pedal toaccelerate the vehicle to the desiredspeed.
2. Push the control lever downward in the“SET/COAST”direction once. Now thedesired speed is set and the vehicle willkeep running at that speed without de-pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTE
If the difference between the actualvehicle speed when the control leveris pushed downward and the speed lasttime you set is less than 4 mph (6.8km/h), the vehicle speed will be low-ered by 1 mph (1.6 km/h). This occursbecause the cruise control system unitregards this lever operation as thatintended to decrease the vehiclespeed.
!To decrease the speed (by controllever)
Push the control lever downward in the“SET/COAST”direction and hold it untilthe vehicle reaches the desired speed.Then, release the control lever. Thevehicle speed at that moment will bememorized and treated as the new setspeed.
When the difference between the actualvehicle speed and the set speed is lessthan 4 mph (6.8 km/h), the set speed canbe lowered 1 mph (1.6 km/h) each time bypressing the control lever downward in the“SET/COAST”direction quickly.
!To decrease the speed (by brakepedal)
1. Depress the brake pedal to releasecruise control temporarily.
2. When the speed decreases to thedesired speed, press the control leverdownward in the“SET/COAST”directiononce. Now the desired speed is set andthe vehicle will keep running at that speedwithout depressing the accelerator pedal.
&Cruise control indicator light
Refer to“Cruise control indicator light”F3-22.
&Cruise control set indicator
light
Refer to“Cruise control set indicator light”F3-22.

8-2Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving
–the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km)
The performance and long life of yourvehicle are dependent on how you handleand care for your vehicle while it is new.Follow these instructions during the first1,000 miles (1,600 km):
.Do not race the engine. And do notallow engine speed to exceed 4,000 rpmexcept in an emergency.
.Do not drive at one constant engine orvehicle speed for a long time, either fast orslow.
.Avoid starting suddenly and rapidacceleration, except in an emergency.
.Avoid hard braking, except in anemergency.
The same break-in procedures should beapplied to a newly installed or overhauledengine or when brake pads or brakelinings are replaced with new ones.
Fuel economy hints
The following suggestions will help to saveyour fuel.
.Select the proper gear position for thespeed and road conditions.
.Avoid sudden acceleration or decelera-tion. Always accelerate gently until youreach the desired speed. Then try tomaintain that speed for as long aspossible.
.Do not pump the accelerator and avoidracing the engine.
.Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
.Keep the engine properly tuned.
.Keep the tires inflated to the correctpressureshown on the tire placard, whichis located under the door latch on thedriver’s side. Low pressure will increasetire wear and fuel consumption.
.Use the air conditioner only whennecessary.
.Keep the front and rear wheels inproper alignment.
.Avoid carrying unnecessary luggage orcargo.
Engine exhaust gas (carbon
monoxide)
WARNING
.Never inhale engine exhaust gas.Engine exhaust gas containscarbon monoxide, a colorlessand odorless gas which is dan-gerous, or even lethal, if inhaled.
.Always properly maintain the en-gine exhaust system to preventengine exhaust gas from enter-ing the vehicle.
.Never run theengine in a closedspace, such as a garage, exceptfor the brief time needed to drivethe vehicle in or out of it.
.Avoid remaining in a parkedvehicle for a lengthy time whilethe engine is running. If that isunavoidable, then use the venti-lation fan to force fresh air intothe vehicle.
.Always keep the front ventilatorinlet grille free from snow, leavesor other obstructions to ensurethat the ventilation system al-ways works properly.
.If at any time you suspect that

depth of the water and the bottom of thestream bed for firmness and ensure thatthe bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowlyand completely through the stream. Thewater should be shallow enough that itdoes not reach the vehicle’s undercar-riage. Water entering the engine air intakeor the exhaust pipe or water splashingonto electrical parts may damage yourvehicle and may cause it to stall. Neverattempt to drive through rushing water;regardless of its depth, it can wash awaythe ground from under your tires, resultingin possible loss of traction and evenvehicle rollover.
.Always check your brakes for effec-tiveness immediately after driving in sand,mud or water. Do this by driving slowlyand stepping on the brake pedal. Repeatthat process several times to dry out thebrake discsand brake pads.
.Do not drive or park over or nearflammable materials such as dry grass orfallen leaves,as they may burn easily. Theexhaust system is very hot while theengine is running and right after enginestops. This could create a fire hazard.
.After driving through tall grass, mud,rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that thereis no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones,sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on theunderbody. Clear off any such matter from
the underbody. If the vehicle is used withthese materials trapped or adhering to theunderbody, a mechanical breakdown orfire could occur.
.Secure all cargo carried inside thevehicle and make certain that it is notpiled higher than the seatbacks. Duringsudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargocould be thrown around in the vehicle andcause injury. Do not pile heavy loads onthe roof. Those loads raise the vehicle’scenter of gravity and make it more proneto tip over.
.If you must rock the vehicle to free itfrom sand or mud, depress the acceleratorpedal slightly andmove the select leverback and forth between“D”and“R”repeatedly. Do not race the engine. Forthe best possible traction, avoid spinningthe wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
.When the road surface is extremelyslippery, you can obtain better traction bystarting the vehicle with the transmissionin 2nd than 1st.
.Never equip your vehicle with tireslarger than thosespecified in this manual.
.Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-road driving. Suspension components areparticularly prone to dirt buildup, so theyneed to be washed thoroughly.
.Frequent driving of an AWD modelunder hard-driving conditions such as
rough roads or off roads will necessitatemore frequent replacement of engine oil,brake fluid and transmission oil than thatspecified in the maintenance scheduledescribed in the“Warranty and Mainte-nance Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to yourSUBARU while operating it off-road andnot using common sense precautionssuch as those listed above is not eligiblefor warranty coverage.
Driving tips8-7

could make the pedals slippery anddriving dangerous.
While warming up the vehicle beforedriving, check that the accelerator pedal,brake pedal, and all other controls operatesmoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that hasaccumulated under the fenders to avoidmaking steering difficult. During severewinter driving, stop when and where it issafe to do so and check under the fendersperiodically.
!Parking in cold weather
WARNING
Snow can trap dangerous exhaustgases under your vehicle. Keepsnow clear of the exhaust pipe andfrom around your vehicle if you parkthe vehicle in snow with the enginerunning.
Do not use the parking brake whenparking for long periods in cold weathersince 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 toprevent the vehicle from moving.
When the vehicle is parked in snow orwhen it snows, raise the wiper blades offthe glass to prevent damage to them.
When the vehicle has been left parkedafter use on roads heavily covered withsnow, or has been left parked during asnowstorm, icing may develop on thebrake system, which could cause poorbraking action.Check for snow or icebuildup on the suspension, disc brakesand brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,being careful not to damage the discbrakes and brake hoses and ABS har-ness.
!Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming inthe fuel system and the risk of its freezing,use of an antifreeze additive in the fueltank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specificallydesigned for this purpose. When anantifreeze additive is used, its effect lastslonger if the tank is refilled whenever thefuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be usedfor an extended period, it is best to havethe fuel tank filled to capacity.
&Driving on snowy and icy
roads
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control onslippery roads such as snowy or icyroads. This may cause loss ofvehicle control.
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous drivingin snowstorms. Snow will enter theengine’sintakesystemandmayhinder the airflow, which could re-sult in engine shutdown or evenbreakdown.
To prevent skidding and slipping, avoidsudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-speed driving, and sharp turning whendriving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance betweenyour vehicle and the vehicle ahead of youto avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use theengine brake effectively to control thevehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gearwhen necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-
Driving tips8-9
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8-10Driving tips
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possiblyleading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-hances your vehicle’sbrakingperfor-mance on snowy and icy roads. Forinformation about braking on slipperysurfaces, refer to“ABS (Anti-lock BrakeSystem)”F7-20 and“Vehicle DynamicsControl system”F7-23.
!Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make surethe wiper blades are not frozen to thewindshield or rear window. If the wiperblades are frozen to the windshield or rearwindow, use the defroster with the airflowcontrol button in the“”position and thetemperature control dial set for maximumwarmth until the wiper blades are com-pletely thawed out. The wiper deicer ishelpful to thaw the windshield wiperblades. To thaw out the rear wiper blade,use the rear window defogger.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow startsto stick on the surface of the windshielddespite wiper operation, use the defrosterwith the airflow control button in“”andthe temperature control dial set for max-imum warmth. After the windshield getswarmed enoughto melt the frozen snowon it, wash it away using the windshieldwasher.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents thewiper from working effectively. If snow isstuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road toa safe place, then remove it. If you stopthe vehicle at road side, use the hazardwarning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing typewiper blades (winter blades) during theseasons in which you could have snowand freezing temperatures. Blades of thistype givesuperior wiping performance insnowy conditions. Be sure to use bladesthat are suitable for your vehicle.
CAUTION
During high-speed driving, non-freezing type wiper blades may notperformas well as standard wiperblades. If this happens, reduce thevehicle speed.
NOTE
When the season requiring non-freez-ing type wiper blades is over, replacethem with standard wiper blades.
&Corrosion protection
Refer to“Corrosion protection”F10-4.
&Snow tires
WARNING
.When replacing original tires withwinter (snow) tires, make sureyou use only tires of the samesize, circumference, speed sym-bol and load index as the originaltires listed on the tire placard.Using tires of other sizes orconstructions may affect speed-ometer/odometer calibration andclearance between the body andtires. It also may be dangerousand lead to loss of vehicle con-trol.
.You must install four winter tiresthat are of the same size, circum-ferences,construction, manufac-turer, brand (tread pattern), de-gree of wear, speed symbol andload index. Mixing tires of othersizes, circumferences or con-structions may result in severemechanical damage to the drivetrain of your vehicle and mayaffect ride, handling, braking andspeedometer/odometer calibra-tion. It also may be dangerousand lead to loss of vehicle con-trol.

8-18Driving tips
secure all cargo.
!Installing carrying attachments onthe crossbars
When installing any carrying attachmentssuch as a bike carrier, ski carrier, kayakcarrier, cargo basket, etc. on the cross-bars, follow the manufacturer’s instruc-tions and make sure that the attachmentsare securely fixed to the crossbars. Useonly attachments designed specifically forthe crossbars. The maximum load limit ofthe cargo,crossbars and carrying attach-ments must not exceed150 lbs (68 kg).Before operating the vehicle, make surethat the cargo is properly secured on theattachments.
NOTE
Remember that the vehicle’s center ofgravity is altered with the weight of theload on the roof, thus affecting thedriving characteristics.
Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, hardcornering and abrupt stops. Crosswindeffects will be increased.
!Removal and installation of thecrossbars
Each of the two roof moldings has twomounting points for crossbars. Eachmounting point is fitted with a cover. Usea screwdriver to remove the covers. Wheninstallingthe crossbars on the roof mold-ing, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Trailer hitch (if equipped)
1) Trailer hitch
WARNING
.Never exceed the maximumweight specified for the trailerhitch. Exceedingthe maximumweight could cause an accidentresulting in serious personal in-juries. Permissible trailer weightchanges depending on the situa-tion. For possible recommenda-tions and limitations, refer to“Trailer towing”F8-21.
.Trailer brakes are required whenthe towing load exceeds 1,000lbs (453 kg). Be sure your trailer