"Subaru" is Japanese for "Shameless:" That "Share the Love Event" ad

 

Let's see if I get this straight:

Subaru is a Deeply CaringTM Company because (for a limited time*) it will give a donation to the American Cancer Society for every Subaru purchased.   That's the message they want us to take in, and here's a cancer victim they're willing to exploit in the process of selling it. 

Now let's break this down and expose why this is cynical, shameless, and just plain gross:

The deal is that Subaru will give a "Minimum Contribution" of $300 for each Subaru purchased or leased between 12/20/2025 and 01/02/2026.  Yeah, this is a VERY limited time offer.  Not even two full weeks.  But we aren't supposed to notice that- the Awwwwww Isn't Subaru Wonderful vibes are supposed to last a lot longer.  Is this a popular time of year to buy a new car?  I don't know, maybe.  I doubt that has anything to do with the timing of this ad however, unless there's a sense of desperation to get the 2025s off the lot before they depreciate even more.

Yeah, but it's a super-generous offer anyway, right?  Well, let's see how generous it really is:

According to Edmunds.com, depending on the model, a new Subaru Outback will run you anywhere from $31,000 to $46,000.  The same site informs me that the typical Lease deal on the same car will run anywhere from $340 to $700 or more a month, assuming $2500 down, plus interest.  In other words, Subaru's very very generous Heart of Gold Offer amounts to something considerably less than one percent of the total price of the purchase, or less than a single payment, or less than 20% of a single down payment, or far, far less than the interest the dealership will make on any sale or lease deal. 

But I guess we're supposed to ignore all that and focus on the sweet sweet Hallmark-level commercial and the moment which I guess was made possible by Subaru Somehow Just Turn Your Brain Off And Don't Think About It Too Much Just Buy a Subaru Don't You Want To Cure Cancer You Ghouls?

Here's an Alternate Proposal:  Maybe spending $30,000 or more buying a Subaru isn't the most efficient way to help fund the cure for cancer.  How about writing a check to the American Cancer Society instead?  That way you give to a good cause without funding an exploitive corporation AND aren't locked in to a multiyear contract to drive an overrated, overpriced vehicle because you were guilted by a tv commercial into it a few days after Christmas in 2025.