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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  Most bang for buck - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By KC - September 26 - 8:00 pm

  Im writing this review because I just finished my 45-mile commute in the snow and it was actually a pleasant ride. The car is stable and comfortable in any situation: high speed, low speed, rain, snow, dirt or mud, etc. Its not perfect: I am seriously upgrading to a Legacy GT Wagon or an A4 Avant, but for $21k, its the most practical, fun, and reliable car out there. Just dont expect luxury. 40,000 miles in 1.5 years and no problems except for a few rattles, which is something youll hear a lot with Subarus. I drive 80mph to work in dry weather (all highway), and I get only 21 mpg, so lack of a 6th speed is disappointing.

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  Great all-round vehicle - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By wx_geek - September 26 - 5:26 am

  2002 Subaru Forester S A/T We purchased our Forester used from the original owners who needed a mini van. It now has 85k miles. We bought it while living in Wisconsin. It is the perfect all-weather vehicle. I have driven it in the worst of snow storms with several un-plowed inches of snow on the road and it has never once gotten stuck. I will caution that the Geolanders it comes with should be replaced if they have more than 40k miles on them as their snow traction is gone, even though they technically have tread left. We replaced ours after they caused us to lose traction during a storm and spun us around. We replaced them with Continental Conti-Extreme Contacts and they are great.

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  RAV4 wouldve been a HUGE mistake! - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By coastie463 - September 25 - 10:46 pm

  I was either looking into buying the Forester or the RAV4, and Im very glad I went with this car. I drove a RAV4 4CYL as a rental car for a long duration. It had a comfortable ride, got great gas mileage for a small SUV, was well equipped, had good front and rear leg room, and the performance was surprisingly good for a 4CYL engine. Sounds like a great car until you come to the driving dynamics: its boring. And lets not forget the rear horizontally opening door with the exterior mounted spare tire. I feel like I might accidentally swing the door in to my childs face if Im not careful. The Forester is everything the RAV4 is plus monumentally better driving dynamics and overall value.

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  2010 Legacy - It could have been great! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By John - September 24 - 11:50 pm

  This could have been a wonderful car. They had everything going for it except: It steers very poorly at interstate speeds. It tends to wander from side to side and never really has a tendency to just drive straight down the road. You have to constantly make small corrections in order to keep in your lane. And it is much worse in crosswinds. I have had it into the local dealer and of course they can find no fault with the car. It was out of alignment from the factory which they fixed. This is the first year Subaru has had drive by wire and they have not gotten it right. I have an 09 Forester which drives great, so I know they can make a good driving vehicle. Just not the 2010 Legacy.

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  Nice Car but burns oil-expensive service - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Daniel - September 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Subaru. I have already put 30,000 miles on it in 7 months. It actually surprised me with averaging 28-30 mpg on the highway. Negative is the service-burns about a quart and a half of oil every 4000 miles, dealer said it is normal to burn up to 1 quart per 1K miles. Book says you can change oil every 7000 miles, but you will be out of it. Free service for first 24,000 miles, but only according to book, so I had to pay for the extra oil changes. Service intervals actually are more expensive than the Acura I traded for it. Overall, I like it, but it is costing a lot more money to run than the dealer led me to think when I bought it. I probably wont buy another.

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  2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By joker75 - September 24 - 2:53 am

  I just purchased this car yesterday. I have already put 100 miles on it, and have been very impressed. The VDC has kept me going straight even on very snowy and icy roads. I originally wanted a 5 speed manual, but the throttle response was terrible. with the car in gear it took about a full second to even feel the engine try to accelerate after pressing the gas pedal. However, the throttle response on my auto is immediate.

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  176 plus, and still no sign of stopping - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By stephen - September 20 - 10:10 am

  I bought my first Subie on May 5th in 01. It had only six miles. Since then, Ive racked up just over 176,000 with no problems whatsoever. I kid you not. It still has the original clutch and I put new brakes on about a year ago for the very first time. I average about 28 mix and 31 highway. Its a five speed manual and that accounts for the great gas mileage. The only thing Ive done to is change the oil religiously and had a new water pump and timing belt but in at 120k. This car just keeps going and going. I live in Denver and frequent the slopes in the winter and work in Blackhawk. So the car has seen more than its fair share of snow, rain, and hot summers.

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  Reliabiity, Quality, Value, and AWD - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By smallblock - September 20 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this car because of its value. We knew it would be used in the snow and rain in the winter months and we were looking for a car that was AWD or 4 wheel drive, but it also had to be reliable. However, we didnt need or want a full SUV with a high price tag, insurance, and gasoline bills. We also wanted the ride of a car and not a truck. Moreover, our garage is built for three cars, not one car and an SUV. The Subaru just seemed to fit all of our needs from the weekly trips to COSTCO, to the weekends in Lake Tahoe we are extremely pleased with the Subaru and plan to keep it at least another 15 years.

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  Sweet ride - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Kismet - September 18 - 10:00 am

  It may not have the fit and finish of a BMW or Audi but it what it skimped in finish it made up for in performance. Thats not to say that the interior is ugly or what not. It is nice for the price, but its obvious that Subaru focused on the performance side. This car is so much fun to drive and it sticks to the road (after you dump the crappy tires that come with it). It is simply a shear pleasure to drive.

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  I love this car! - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Nanc - September 16 - 10:40 am

  I wanted an SUV for my sports, and a safe and reliable vehicle to transport my family and grandchildren. This car is wonderful!