Subaru is a Japanese automaker with several signature features, including engines with cylinders in a horizontally opposed (or boxer) configuration and symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive. These and other technologies have contributed to its well-known prowess in motorsport, particularly in rally racing. Insuring a Subaru can look very different when it’s a mainstream model such as an Impreza or Outback versus a performance-focused WRX or BRZ. A need for specialized parts and repair knowledge can contribute to premium costs along with external factors such as a driver’s history, collision or theft experience, location and more.
Subaru’s Ontario Insurance Rate Story
In Ontario, Subaru’s overall median cost of auto insurance per year is $2,272, which is 3% less than the median for all vehicles ($2,345). Specific vehicle models have very different insurance estimates that may be higher or lower than the median. In fact, there is an $827 difference between Subaru’s cheapest model to insure, the Impreza at approximately $2,213/year, and its priciest, the Crosstrek Onyx at $3,040/year.
| Median Subaru premium (Ontario) | $2,272 |
| Subaru vs Ontario all-vehicle median | -3% |
| Cheapest Subaru model to insure in Ontario | Impreza 2.0i 5Dr (~$2,213) |
| Most expensive Subaru model to insure in Ontario | Crosstrek Onyx (~$3,040) |
| Cheapest alternatives to insure | Mazda ($2,124), Toyota ($2,197), Mitsubishi ($2,235) |
How Subaru Insurance Rates Vary Across Ontario
In our city-specific median estimate data, a 2015 Outback in Ottawa costs $2,059 per year to insure, while a 2020 WRX in Brampton costs $4,861 — a difference of $2,802. The WRX is therefore more than twice as expensive to insure, even though its listed price is only about $4,000 higher. This highlights that multiple factors can influence quoting outcomes, including a model’s performance intent and the driver’s location.
| City | Model | Model Year | List Price | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markham, ON | Forester 2.5i | 2024 | $33,595 | $3,046 |
| Ottawa, ON | Forester 2.5X | 2010 | $27,872 | $2,443 |
| Waterloo, ON | Crosstrek Onyx | 2026 | $36,850 | $2,532 |
| Brampton, ON | WRX Sport 4Dr | 2020 | $36,377 | $4,861 |
| Kitchener, ON | Legacy 2.5i | 2014 | $27,296 | $2,079 |
| Mississauga, ON | BRZ | 2017 | $30,445 | $3,803 |
| Ottawa, ON | Outback 2.5i | 2015 | $32,366 | $2,059 |
| Toronto, ON | Impreza 2.0i 5Dr | 2016 | $25,903 | $2,318 |
Is a Used Subaru Cheaper to Insure?
Insurance on a used Subaru costs an estimated $2,179 per year, which is only $161, or about $13 per month, less than insurance on a new Subaru, which costs an estimated $2,340 per year.
However, the model and trim could be a bigger factor in Subaru insurance rates than the new/used issue. An in-demand used WRX STI, for example, might have higher insurance rates than a new Outback or Crosstrek.
| Vehicle | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| New Subaru | $2,340 |
| Used Subaru | $2,179 |
How Do Subaru Insurance Costs Compare With Its Competition?
Subaru holds a midpack position for insurance costs among mainstream brands at an estimated $2,272 annually, but the field is tightly packed. Mitsubishi’s median insurance rate is just $37 lower per year, for example, while Toyota is $75 lower and Kia is $27 more expensive. These differences amount to less than $7 per month at most. These results can also shift when quoting on specific vehicles and trim levels.
| Car brand | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Mazda | $2,124 |
| Toyota | $2,197 |
| Mitsubishi | $2,235 |
| Subaru | $2,272 |
| Kia | $2,299 |
| Honda | $2,303 |
| Nissan | $2,320 |
| Volkswagen | $2,506 |
| Hyundai | $2,684 |
Which Cars Are In Subaru Canada’s Line-up?
Subaru Canada’s website outlines a line-up that spans cars, SUVs, and a growing range of battery-electric vehicles.
Subaru models include the subcompact SUV Crosstrek, compact hatchback Impreza, compact SUV Forester, compact performance-oriented sedan WRX, midsize SUV Outback, performance-oriented two-door BRZ and a growing list of battery-electric vehicles in Canada, including the Solterra, Trailseeker and Uncharted.
Subaru’s core SUVs are the Crosstrek, Forester and Outback. The brand’s Legacy midsize sedan and high-performance WRX STI models have been discontinued, but are still available on the used-car market.
Common Subaru Insurance Questions
Are Subaru vehicles reliable and safe?
As a brand, Subaru ranks well in reliability. The 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study rates Subaru among the top 10 most reliable brands in the industry. Subaru also takes pride in its crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as its vehicles have historically largely been given the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating.