What Makes Subaru Hybrid Technology Superior to Other Car Brands

Hybrid vehicle technology is advancing fast, and every major manufacturer takes their own approach to mixing gasoline and electric power in the same vehicle.

However, Subaru hybrid technology offers some of the best performance and features available, and is widely respected as a front-runner in the market. Here's why Subaru hybrid tech is a cut above the efforts of its closest competitors.

Fully Intelligent Operation

The Subaru hybrid system intelligently coordinates the work of the gas and electric motors to produce the best performance and efficiency possible, depending on how the car is currently driving. It does this in several ways.

- When Starting

Whenever you press the start button on a hybrid Subaru, the gas engine is automatically started and the hybrid system prepared to give a powerful level of performance right from the start. You'll get the full benefit of both kinds of motor, so you can get moving as quickly and smoothly as possible, offering far superior performance than a standalone gas engine of the same capacity.

- Automatic Stopping and Starting

What's more, the system automatically turns off the gas engine when the car stops and the brake pedal is applied. When you release the brake and press down on the gas pedal, the system will monitor how much power you're requesting and either restart the gas engine for full power, or use the electric motor to move forward with minimal energy usage. In heavy traffic, this feature offers significant fuel savings.

- Driving Below 80km/h

When driving below 80km/h and the system detects that the battery has recently released a lot of charge, the gas engine is used to provide 100% of the driving power while recharging the battery at the same time.

- Cruising Above 80km/h

When you're driving at higher speeds and with a fully charged battery, the system will use the gas engine to provide most of the power, while using the electric motor to maintain the most efficient fuel consumption. The electric motor will also kick in when needed to provide the optimal amount of power and performance for the situation.

- Kinetic Regeneration

All Subaru hybrids use kinetic regeneration to keep a longer battery charge. This means that when you're coasting or decelerating, energy is captured from the wheels' rotation and transferred back into the battery as charge. Kinetic regeneration means you get back a proportion of the energy spent on forward motion, increasing range and reducing fuel costs.

- Full EV Mode

When high performance isn't required, such as during gentle acceleration and at low speeds, a Subaru hybrid will switch into full EV mode with the battery providing all the energy the car needs. This mode is ideal for typical urban driving, when high engine outputs are a waste of fuel energy.

Is Subaru Hybrid Technology Worth It?

The real beauty of all these technologies is that they inter-operate seamlessly in a Subaru hybrid, providing excellent performance, responsiveness, and efficiency without the driver needing to know what's happening under the hood.

Hybrid technology may currently come at a premium over a conventional gas powertrain, but when it results in superior performance with vastly lower fuel costs, the price is one that's definitely worth paying.