With a new cabin air filter in place, you can breathe easy on all your travels. This filter works hard to filter dirt and debris from the fresh air flowing into your Subaru’s cabin space. As long as you change it often, the air will stay fresh and clean.
What’s the best cabin air filter for 2020 Subaru vehicles?
For most 2020 models, you can get an OEM Subaru cabin air filter for under $20 from the parts department. You can also go the aftermarket route with a K&N cabin air filter from Amazon for $40.
Should you get an OEM or aftermarket cabin air filter for your 2020 Subaru? How often should you change your filters? Are they easy to change? There’s a lot to know about this little part. Thankfully, we’re here to answer all your questions with this helpful guide.
Ideal Cabin Air Filter Service Interval for the 2020 Subaru
For most models, Subaru recommends that you service your cabin air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. You can reduce the interval to under 10,000 miles if you often drive through a lot of dust, pollen, or other debris.
Either way, it’s best to keep a close eye on the condition of this filter. So, ask your auto tech to inspect it thoroughly at every oil change. They will let you know if it’s damaged or dirty enough to need replacement at that time.
If you prefer, it’s possible to inspect and replace your cabin air filter yourself by following these steps:
- Open the glove box and slide the stopper arms off the pegs on either side
- Squeeze the back sides of the glove box and pull it out of the way
- Remove the cover in front of the cabin air filter box
- Pull the case out and remove the old air filter
- Install the new air filter and put everything back together
With that done, the air in your cabin space will be at its best and help elevate your driving experience.
Aftermarket vs. OEM: Which is Better for Your Subaru?
With an OEM cabin air filter from Subaru, you can expect it to perfectly fit in the case and provide the ideal amount of airflow. These filters are designed to remove all the top contaminants, like dust, allergens, and even mold spores.
At less than $20 each, OEM filters are less expensive right off the bat, but you have to buy a new one at each service interval. K&N filters, on the other hand, are reusable, which will save you money over time. You do have to clean and refresh them instead of just putting in a new one and calling it a day.
The refresh process requires you to remove the cabin air filter and clean the element to get all the contaminants out. Then, it has to fully dry, so you can coat it with the refresher. Once that’s dry, you can finally reinstall it. So, expect this process to cost more in labor at the shop if you go that route.
Although they follow the same service interval as OEM, aftermarket filters from K&N come with a 10-year, or 1-million mile, warranty. That means they will likely last much longer than your car does, all for a $40 investment.
You’ll have to weigh each option to decide between OEM and aftermarket cabin air filters for your 2020 Subaru. No matter what you choose, just make sure to go with the highest quality parts to ensure the best fit and function.
