Best wind handling Subaru

Cars that sit lower to the ground with less ground clearance are better in the wind, but still have some issues. So a sedan will be better than an SUV or crossover.

Maybe Ernie will answer this one. He advocates adding a beefier rear sway bar from the STi. This might help.

Thanks so much. I was going to do the sway bar upgrade because I like my Outback otherwise, but my mechanic has a Forester and wind issues too and says the main problem is the FRONT is too light and the rear bar won't help that. Any thoughts? Or recommendations for a good car for a windy commute?

FOR is correct and your mechanic is dead wrong. His Forester is wond sensitive because it's too tall and NARROW, and on soft springs. Your wider (and thus more stable) '15 OB unfortunately has soft springs and entirely too soft rear swaybar. The FRONT bar is fortunately stiff enough for proper steering, but the suspension and rear are too soft to keep the body in proper cohesive sync. The best remedy is to replace the rear wimpy (16mm) swaybar with Subaru's own beefy (20mm) STi swaybar for a profound improvement in reduction of sway, roll, and wind-buffeting, while also making the car safer by reducing understeer. Further moderate improvement will occur when reducing tire aspect ratio from 225/65R17 to 225/60R17 (Premium), or from 225/60R18 to 225/55R18 (Limited). But the swaybar replacement is the more important modification, with only pros and no cons. The bar is about $125 w/ bushings, plus $50-80 for endlinks and one hour labor tops. The only other option is to get a lower Legacy Sedan that doesn't require remediation either in the swaybar (although it still helps a bit), bor tire profile, as it already has fine 225/55R17 that work great. Keep tire pressures at 34-36F/32-34R for best handling at all speeds. Add 2psi rear with 2passengers and gear or 3 passengers. Keeping roof rack crossbars in-line will offer only minimal help with crosswinds. The $300 Sti swaybar mod's improvements are truly revelatory, and obvious to even wimpy drivers in mild twisties.

I came here to say thanks so much to Ernest (Ernie?) for the detailed and encouraging answer! I'm not seeing it up here right now but I have it in my inbox and it really helps me! I didn't want to get rid of the outback because I like its help with the Minnesota snow so much but I really needed a less stressful commute. Fingers crossed! -S

okay one MORE question about the sway bar upgrade- has anyone found it made traction worse on ice/snow? I read something about that on a different forum but it was disputed.

I seriously doubt the front is lighter than the rear. The weight is biased towards the front. Make sure the alignment is correct.

I suppose a stiff sway bar could inhibit weight transfer and articulation to a small degree. With good snow tires you should not have a problem. Look for the mountain/snowflake side wall symbol.

Ernie. Does the sway bar trick work on the 15 Forester?

Ernie- my mechanic said he couldn't find any rear sway bars for sale that promised to fit my 2015 outback and he didn't want me to pay for labor only to find out it didn't fit. He recommended a lip kit or splitter (not sure which actually- something re the lip so the air doesn't go under and lift me so much)?