Philippine motoring media recently had the opportunity to test the full line-up of Subaru vehicles in the Subaru Eco Adventure Drive hosted by Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (MIPI), the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country. Held last October 2-3, the drive from Manila to Angeles, Pampanga featured two activities to showcase Subaru technology. The first focused on Subaru fuel efficiency; the second, their off-road capabilities.
For the fuel economy run, the drive kicked off from the Subaru Greenhills showroom and took on a mix of city and highway driving conditions through EDSA and the North Luzon Expressway, finishing at the Shell gas station in Clark Field, Pampanga. Competing in the run were variants of the Subaru Forester, Subaru XV, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Subaru BRZ, Subaru WRX, and Subaru WRX STI. An official observer from the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) verified the mechanics and results of the eco-run.
After a hearty lunch at Peppers 21 at The Widus Hotel and Casino, the group took on the off-road adventure of driving through the lahar bed at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo. The trail—which included a mix of river crossings, slippery uphill and downhill slopes, soft wet muddy trails from the heavy rains—tested the mettle not only of the Subaru vehicles, but also the extreme driving skills of the motoring media.
The power of the Subaru Boxer engine matched to its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system proved to be more than capable in taking on the rough terrain. The mad dash through the muddy, uncharted trail on the Subaru Forester and Subaru XV delivered an adrenaline rush as drivers took on the extreme challenge. Indeed, the Subaru compact SUV and crossover variants ably demonstrated their performance, fuel efficiency, and off-road capabilities, providing the driver with confidence to take on any terrain and weather conditions.
Here’s a short video clip of how the Subaru XV crossover gamely took on the raging river beds of the Pinatubo trail.
For a closer look at the various models, visit any of the Subaru showrooms at EDSA Greenhills, Bonifacio Global City, Manila Bay, Alabang, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan De Oro, or go the website www.motorimage.net/PH.