AVH in a Subaru usually means Auto Vehicle Hold. It’s a feature that keeps the car stopped after you come to a full stop, so you can take your foot off the brake until you press the gas again.

What it does

  • Holds brake pressure at a stop.
  • Helps in stop-and-go traffic, at red lights, and on hills.
  • Releases automatically when you accelerate.

Why people use it

  • It reduces foot fatigue in traffic.
  • It can make hill stops feel easier and steadier.
  • Some drivers like it for drive-thrus and long waits.

How it works

  • You turn AVH on with the AVH button.
  • A dashboard light shows when it’s active.
  • You must come to a complete stop before it engages.

Small note

Some Subaru owners refer to it as “AVH,” while a few sources loosely describe it as “Advanced Vehicle Hold,” but the common meaning is Auto Vehicle Hold.

TL;DR: AVH is Subaru’s brake-hold feature for stops, traffic, and hills.