Which Subaru Is Right for You?

Three rows, up to eight seats, and 5,000 lbs. of towing. The Ascent is what happens when you actually need more than five seats but don't want a truck. EyeSight driver assist comes standard, which adds auto-emergency braking and adaptive cruise, useful on the stretch between downtown and Fred Meyer. It also has 19 cupholders, which tells you something about who Subaru designed this for.

The Forester has been Subaru's most popular family SUV for over two decades, and for good reason. Great visibility, tall roof line (no head-bumping getting kids in), plenty of cargo space, and a comfortable ride on longer drives. Ground clearance is 8.7 inches, which means most gravel routes around Juneau are no issue. If you're doing the Douglas Island ferry run regularly or heading out to Thane, you'll appreciate the ride quality.

Everything the Forester does well, now with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. The electric motor assists the gas engine during acceleration, which is where most fuel gets burned in stop-and-go driving. In town, where most Juneau commutes live, the hybrid system makes a real difference at the pump. You get the same space, clearance, and AWD. It just costs less to run.

If one car has to do everything, the Outback is it. Wagon body means serious cargo room without the bulk of an SUV. 8.7 inches of ground clearance clears the rough stuff on unmarked pullouts. Up to 3,500 lbs towing means your trailer comes too. And it's comfortable enough on longer trips that the drive to Haines doesn't feel like a chore.

The Crosstrek looks like a small SUV but drives more like a nimble hatchback. It fits into tight parking spots downtown, handles gravel and mud without hesitation, and gets good fuel economy for a car with AWD. The 8.7" of ground clearance is the same as the Outback. If you're solo or a couple and don't need three rows, this is often the smarter pick.

The Trailseeker is Subaru's newest SUV and it's built with people like us in mind: rugged enough for dirt roads but comfortable enough to not feel like a truck. Bigger than the Crosstrek, with a stronger emphasis on off-road capability right out of the box. If you've been waiting for something between the Crosstrek and the Outback Wilderness, this is it.

The Impreza is Subaru's entry-level model, but "entry-level" doesn't mean stripped down. You still get Symmetrical AWD, EyeSight safety tech, and a genuinely comfortable interior. It's the smallest car in the lineup, which works in your favor when parallel parking near the Federal Building or squeezing into the lot at Safeway. Available as a hatchback or sedan.

No gas. No emissions. No oil changes. The Solterra is Subaru's fully electric SUV with AWD as standard equipment. The electric motor means instant torque, so it moves quickly off the line. Charge at home overnight, show up Monday with a full "tank." For most people commuting within Juneau, the range covers a full week of driving without touching a charger during the workweek.

The Uncharted is the Solterra trim built for people who want an EV but also need to handle more demanding terrain. Upgraded suspension, more aggressive styling, and everything the Solterra already does well. It bridges the gap between "eco-conscious commuter" and "weekend explorer" without you having to choose.

The Crosstrek Hybrid is a plug-in, meaning you can charge it at home and run on electricity for most of your daily driving. If you run out of charge or drive further than normal, it switches to gas automatically with no drop in performance. It's probably the most practical hybrid for Juneau: compact size for town, enough range for longer hauls, and AWD for everything in between.

The WRX started as a rally car and it still acts like one. Turbocharged engine, Subaru's sport-tuned AWD, and a manual transmission option for purists. It's a full-size sedan that handles like something much smaller. On a wet stretch of road like the curves between Juneau and the glacier, the WRX's AWD and suspension tuning actually earn their reputation. Fast and practical.

Rear-wheel drive, a low center of gravity, and a manual transmission that actually rewards good driving. The BRZ isn't the car for hauling gear or navigating Costco parking lots. It's the car for the person who drives for the pleasure of driving. Available as a 2-door coupe. Fair warning: it's addictive. Not ideal as a primary vehicle in Juneau's winters, but an absolute blast as a second car.

The Forester Wilderness adds 9.2 inches of ground clearance (up from 8.7), a more aggressive suspension tune, all-terrain tires from the factory, and extra skid plating underneath. You still get 5 seats and practical cargo space, but now you can confidently take those unmarked gravel roads toward Salmon Creek or the trails off Glacier Highway. Subaru also bumped up the tow rating. It's the "yes to both" answer for families that also want to explore.

The Crosstrek Wilderness gives you a compact platform with serious off-road upgrades. Higher clearance, all-terrain tires, upgraded clutch packs for better traction on loose surfaces, and the same reinforced underbody protection. It's lighter and more nimble than the Forester or Outback Wilderness, which actually works in your favor on tighter trails. If you're solo or a couple and off-road access matters, this is worth a close look.

The Outback Wilderness is what you get when the regular Outback isn't enough. Ground clearance goes to 9.5 inches. The turbocharged engine produces more torque for hauling and climbing. You get all-terrain tires, a 3,500 lb tow rating, and a reinforced undercarriage. It's the closest thing Subaru makes to a small truck without actually being a truck, and for Juneau's mix of town driving and back-road exploring, that combination is hard to argue with.