Overview & Reviews

Subaru is a Japan-based automaker whose recent offerings are both practical and fun to drive. The automaker crafts vehicles whose all-wheel-drive powertrains and available turbochargers facilitate sharp performance. Incongruously, most Subaru vehicles are discreet and versatile enough to serve as competent family haulers, and the brand is known for boasting some of the best crash test scores in the automotive world.

In the early 1950s, a collection of Japanese companies joined to form Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Its automotive division came to be known as "Subaru," which is a Japanese word meaning "unite." In 1954, the first Subaru car was unveiled. Powered by a four-cylinder engine, the P-1 (its name was later changed to the Subaru 1500) boasted a front-wheel wishbone-type independent suspension and was the first car to feature a monocoque body designed in Japan. Sales were suspended due to challenges associated with funding and support, but Subaru soon resolved its difficulties and rolled out a sibling for its first-born; the 360 was introduced in 1958. Dubbed the Ladybird because of its ladybug shape, the compact 360 proved immensely popular, and remained in production for 12 years.

The 1960s saw the launch of the first Subaru truck. Based on the Subaru 360 platform, the Sambar minitruck offered both compact dimensions (a must for Japan's crowded, narrow streets) and an extremely spacious cargo bed. The truck was soon joined by the Sambar Light Van, a compact van built for both commercial and leisure use. In 1966, the automaker rolled out the 1000, a car that holds the distinction of being the first vehicle to use the drive technology that is the linchpin of current Subaru models: a front-wheel-drive system coupled to a horizontally opposed engine. This setup offered many advantages in handling and performance. By the end of the decade, Subaru North America had been founded, and exports to the United States had begun.

Subaru started the '70s with the introduction of the GL/DL (called the Leone in other markets). The sedan (it was soon joined by a coupe and a station wagon) broke new ground by offering four-wheel-drive (4WD) capability. Up until then, 4WD had only been offered in off-road-oriented vehicles. Coveted for use in the snow and in hilly regions, the GL and DL also benefited from the increasing popularity of outdoor sports like skiing and fishing, and went on to become the world's top-selling 4WD vehicle. In 1977, Subaru rolled out the successful Brat; based on the GL, it was a small car-based pickup whose cargo bed featured a pair of jump seats. More and more, young people were seeking a vehicle designed for an outdoorsy lifestyle, and the rugged Brat was perfectly in step with their needs.

Subaru continued to offer versatile but slightly quirky vehicles through the '80s. It developed the world's first electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. The technology made its debut later that decade in a new Subaru, the tiny Justy economy car. By the end of the '80s, Subaru had given birth to the Legacy, which replaced the outgoing GL/DL (now called the Loyale in the U.S.). Available as both a wagon and a sedan, the Legacy placed an emphasis on performance.

The automaker made a name for itself in motorsports in the 1990s by being the first Japanese marque to win the Manufacturers' title at the World Rally Championship three years in a row. The Subaru family continued to grow during this decade, with the addition of the high-performance SVX, the popular Legacy-based Outback wagon and the sporty Impreza. In the late '90s, General Motors acquired a 20 percent stake in parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) with the aim of strengthening its presence in foreign markets. This affiliation didn't last long, however, and Toyota currently owns a small percentage of FHI.

Today, Subaru's lineup includes everything from compact trucks to family-friendly wagons to high-performance cars such as the WRX STi. The brand is hailed as a top pick for enthusiasts seeking vehicles that offer a shot of utility with their performance thrills.

User Reviews:

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  POC car - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By Gomez Addams - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I hate that it is made out of cheap materials. The paint scratches easily. The interior is inferior. Cant even wash it at the risk of scratching the paint washing and drying.

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  I am very SAD - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By steve - November 13 - 12:40 pm

  2016 forester with 300 miles. the gas paddel has to much delay. sometime you have to push it 3 times to get it to take the fuel, has pulled me into the traffic several times and then nothing, leaves you hanging there, started before the first 100 miles, only has 300 miles on it now, has been in the shop 3 times, they keep saying it is ok, i guess they think i am dreaming, wish i had my old 1996 van back and my money out of this junk, dont buy one of these. PS loves its gas, about 15 miles to a gal.

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  Should have gotten another car - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By AMR - October 4 - 9:20 am

  The car has a non turbo 4 and it has very poor performance and gets dismal mileage, 15 to 16 in the city, 20 to 21 on the highway. It rattles daily, the carpet finish is poor, it takes 3 to 5 turns to start in the rain and the nav system is not only hard to use it is very bad at getting you from A to B in the easiest way possible.

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  5 Year Review - Accelerating Misery - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By foonman_2000 - September 16 - 12:04 am

  Is there a limit to how much you can hate your car? After trying to get the dealer to fix the “Subaru Shimmy” for two years didn’t help the relationship. After ten emails to SOA, I gave up. The car simply has never handled well. With each passing year other unpleasant features of the car are started to surface. Cheap interior, uncomfortable seats, poor heating and cooling, weird brakes come to mind. Not to mention the CVT. While driving over a mountain pass, every light on dash board lit up and the car just stopped dead. This was at 44K miles (covered under power train). How could Subaru make a car this bad?

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  the worst car ever - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By James Yerks - July 2 - 4:14 am

  The worst car and the worst company support .Please look elswere and don.t buy any subaru .Our car has very bad steering and no held but alot company b-s.Kelly and megan are a company [non-permissible content removed] and won.t buy back our car that we call a skate board. Do yourself favor and don.t buy a subaru.Jim Yerks

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  Would never buy this car again - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By jwindler - May 28 - 2:16 am

  Have had my 2015 Outback all of 10 days and would never buy another one with the navigation system. In the 2015, you can not turn off the voice guidance system. I am forever hearing, "recalculating route!" I have called one dealer, taken it to another, and spent 10 days waiting for Subaru to tell me it is not possible to turn off the voice guidance. Performance, comport, value, fun to drive, etc., are all a zero when you cant enjoy sitting in the car. Every song, every radio station every conversation in the car is punctuated by the guidance voice interruption. Turning it down helps (Subarus only suggestions), but it is still always there!

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  Should have stayed basic - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Mr.Moto - March 18 - 9:59 pm

  I decided for my third Subaru I would get it with all the bells and whistles. I was one of the lucky ones who got one with a bad steering column and its been down hill since. I am on the second radio and the navigation still has problems. The rear hatch has been looked at three times and it still decides on its own when it will open or close. The answer my dealer has given is when the power hatch wont respond just hold the button down and it should become a manual hatch. How convenient. I want to know if I hold the ignition button down will the price of 3.6R I bought become the same price as the 2.5 and where do i get my refund? If you want to feel the "Love" save your money and get a base model.

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  Do not buy this car - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By 2012outback - March 10 - 8:06 am

  This car has a 60,000 transmission warranty. Our transmission needs to be replaced at 67,000 miles. The car is less than 2 years old and the mileage is all highway miles. I could not recommend this vehicle to anyone. When the transmission went out I was on the highway with children in the car. I cannot express how horrifying this experience was. Dont buy this car.

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  Worst car I have ever owned! - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By hatemysubaru - February 22 - 2:22 am

  This was my first Subaru and it will be my last. I have owned all types of cars in my lifetime and this has been the worst. I have 94k highway miles on this car and now I have to replace the catalytic converter for $1,400, sensors, recalls, just replaced the muffler guard for $500 and the list keeps going. This car is severly underpowered and uncomfortable to drive and worse for passengers. I bought it because of the reputation but that was a mistake. To top it off the mileage is only 25 MPG on the highway. I have a family of 5 drivers and everyone hates this car. Dont waste your money on a Sabaru!

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  Engine Blew at 107,000 - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By Jody Miller - November 24 - 8:57 pm

  Car is just 3 years old, all highway driving. Followed maintenance schedule, last service for timing belt, 105,000 requested to do diagnostic testing and check engine carefully for my friend same car and year transmission went. One month later no signs or warning, when driving, dash board lights came on, pulled over and within 5 minutes the coolant poorer out, had towed and told that engine, radiator, valves, engine shot. needs a total rebuilt. Have a compliant in with Subura , told that this happen, not often, but car millage over warranty. How many people even have their car paid off by 3 years, costly repair, wish I could just get rid of the car, not great for resale either. Will see if Subrura pulls through and helps?!