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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  Good car, great combination of features - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By Jarred Bowman - February 17 - 8:11 pm

  The car is super safe and reliable (other than the transmission recall) and does everything pretty darn good. With good tires I have no concern driving anywhere and I do mountain passes with snow regularly. Tons of room too. Comfortable ride, seats and a good layout. Having the hatchback is very useful. My only complaint is there are cars with the same fuel economy (I get 31 mixed) that have more power. I find the car normally acceptable but forget passing on single lane roads unless you have TONS of room. Almost 10 seconds 0-60 in this day and age should really be a crime, especially in a $33k vehicle.

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  Question next purchase - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By experiences1 - December 30 - 1:13 pm

  This 2008 subie is my 3rd subaru experience. I was reluctant to leave a review because I have been told I am too critical so you be the judge. 1998 subaru was very noisy engine wise other than that a head gasket failure at 135000 miles 2001 subaru brakes once every other year at the dealer. Coolent leaks at the heads of the engine maintained by conditioner. 2008 Head gasket leaks at 68000 miles needed replacing. wire harness broke to tail lights. Noisy catalytic converters sheilding replaced under recall which is good. 75000 miles has a skip plugs and wires. ok

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  2011 Forester are not representative of the Subaru name - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By nornet - December 30 - 4:21 am

  I have had 3 Subarus. The plain old vanilla Legacy sedan was by far the best of the bunch (2008). The Outback Limited (2007) was pretty close behind. The Forester was one of the poorest vehicles I have drive. You can not sit in these seats for more than 2 hours. This problen goes back at least 10 years. My first encounter with a Forester (2000) was in the same quality seats. If you want to shuttle around the city than this can be overlooked but for any distance driving look elsewhere.

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  Cmon SUBARU, you can do Better - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Gman - December 24 - 9:58 pm

  Over all I am satisfied with the purchase of my 2016 Legacy. There are a few things that would have made this car a perfect 10. 1. Must improve speakers quality, as of today, its a JOKE. 2. Must make push button start a STANDARD feature. 3. Make the car ride a little softer, and perhaps a little more torque wouldnt hurt. Thats it.

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  2006 Spec B review - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Todd - December 18 - 1:00 am

  Definitely not worth the extra money for a specB. Subarus are designed by engineers, not by people who actually use the cars on a daily basis. Would I buy another one again? No, with emphasis! Too many annoying and poorly thought out features.

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  Wifes Car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Kevin - December 15 - 9:46 am

  I know what I have to say sounds a lot like nit picking. However If you are going to lay out 19k on a car you should know a few things. Over all it really is a good little car. However to make it a great car you are going to need to do some work.

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  Disappointed - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By MJ - December 14 - 12:36 pm

  Interior is so comfortable and it has all the bells and whistles. However, the performance is horrible. When attempting acceleration at any speed including highway entering the engine revs to almost 7000 rpm before it kicks in and sometimes I can have the pedal floored and it still doesnt accelerate. Like others mentioned there is a problem with the headlights and poor visibility. Also, blind spots are very dangerous, almost hit 2 cars. And tire pressure light has been an issue since day 1. Goes off for a day after filling tires and then starts flashing again. Had a 2005 Ford Escape with 170K miles, should have stuck with Ford.

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  Underwhelmed - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By A. Grupp - December 10 - 2:20 pm

  Overall, while I like the car and feel very safe driving it, I have been disappointed with a few issues. First, I agree with others citing the headlights as an issue. Not only is the low beam ineffectual, but I have had to replace the bulbs numerous times. Second, the heating has failed so I will need to spend $1K+ to fix it. And,now,the A/C is an issue. Third, there is a blind spot on the passenger side due to the small rear window. Fourth, the electrical system has been causing problems. I am sold on Subarus, just not on the Tribeca. I own a Forester and have owned the Outback. Love/loved both. Will revert to one of them moving forward.

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  The ugliest of the ugly duckling - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  For a WRX fan, the 08 is the one to stay away from. I am now at 41k miles and cannot hand this lease back in fast enough. The suspension is too soft with an intense amount of body roll, though the ride comfort is much improved (IMO leave that for the Impreza owners, not the WRX). The interior is clean but uninspiring with hard plastic everywhere. Throttle response is slow and the traction/abs systems are intrusive. Exterior styling speaks for itself. The sound system is close to the quality of a cell phone speaker in a tin can. Hatch boom is very prevalent. The AWD system in the snow is the only reason I gave FtD category an 8 but the OE RE050s leave a lot to be desired in all conditions.

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  Started out well then downhill - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Harstar - November 16 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle was nice until the warranty expired. Within 500 miles of the 36000 mile expiration, I had to replace the stereo and the MAP sensor. The lid of the center dash compartment doesnt close right. Check engine light started coming on in regular intervals which mechanic said was 02 sensor and after another 2000 miles it was running so roughly that it needed a major tune- up. Less than 100 miles later the coil went on it. It is still not running right. Mechanic is puzzled and I am frustrated.