Nick Senior has seen styling fads come and go at Subaru. The Managing Director for the Japanese importer has been with the company a long time -- long enough to recall the outcry over the 'bug-eyed' Impreza and, two facelifts on, the 'three-panel' Impreza.

With its WRX-based appeal to younger buyers, it always seemed to be the Impreza that drew the worst outrage for its styling.

Now, however, criticism is mounting against the other models in the range also. First the Tribeca and its bland facelift, followed more recently by the latest Liberty and Outback models. The Exiga people mover is not earning praise for being a masterpiece of design -- and just to show no hard feelings, the punters are still railing against the latest Impreza's looks...

"It amazes me sometimes, you read stories where people say 'this is not a pretty car' or 'it's not a car I like', but it's up to the individual to make up their own mind in terms of styling."

That's how Senior summed up his feelings during the media launch of the Exiga in Canberra earlier this week. The Subaru MD had just observed two journalists failing to agree on the looks of the first generation WRX -- 'pretty' versus 'purposeful'.

Discussion quickly turned to the styling of the current Subaru range. The Carsales Network offered the view that styling hadn't affected sales of the latest Impreza. If anything, Subaru's small car is selling in larger numbers than ever before.

"I make that point," replied Senior. "I think it gets back to some of the people who are talking about styling are not in touch with customers and what the customers want.

"We've never sold more Imprezas than we have at the moment. The Forester is still number one selling SUV; 730 odd Libertys last month and the most Outbacks for a number of years."

So is Subaru just one of those exceptional companies that can sell cars on the strength of their substance, irrespective of how they look?

"I think the substance is spot on the money and also, I don't think that for many people the styling is an issue," Senior answered.

"The brand has to be a little bit individual and we certainly attract people who don't mind being individuals. Sometimes that resonates with them, being not a 'me too' car, like every medium-sized car or like every small car is -- something where you're proud enough to be a little bit different."

Although there's no easy way to prove it, Senior may well be right when he suggests the Subaru range is achieving a sort of 'respectable cult' status -- and that image seems to have little to do with styling.

"It's now cool -- and has been for some time -- for someone to drive a Liberty or any Subaru into a car park at a golf club, park it and say 'that's my Subaru'. In 1990, 1991, that wouldn't have happened, because we were a 'me too' company."

With its early 90s product range comprising first-generation Liberty, the Brumby ute, Fiori kei-car and the L-Series 4x4 wagons, it's doubtful that Subaru was a 'me too' company even then. Perhaps it's actually easier to define Subaru and its philosophy than it is to define a 'me too' company anyway...

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi