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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  Beware high altitude driving - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By denver5357 - September 14 - 8:16 pm

  Bought our 2.5i wagon a month ago. Good value for the money but I have stumbled upon an existing problem which is apparently being kept quiet. We live in Colorado, and our brand new Subaru starts slowly in cold temps and barely started when we have gone into the mountains (9000+ feet of altitude). This seems to be a common problem around here, though I havent read of it anywhere. The programming parameters for the cars electronics somehow dont properly take into account the effect of altitude. Mountain owners (say the dealer) have trouble starting Outbacks all the time. Called Subaru of America and was assigned a case number. This should have been fixed years ago. New battery had no effect.

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  Sweet car! Visibility? - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By mary lou - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Just had it 3 days. Great replacement for Jeep Cherokee in gas, but I didnt realize it was a little cramped until I put the family in. Very responsive and fun to drive. BIG OL blind spots at 10 and 2 - watch out jumping onto oncoming...

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  good, except... - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Suz - September 12 - 1:06 pm

  The rear view camera is nice but I wish they had included an object warning beep. There is a shortage of storage. The speedometer is hard to read, they should have made it digital like in other Subaru 2016 models. That being said, I love the vehicle, great mileage, responsive except on hills, looks great, and some nice features like dimming side mirrors.

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  Not quite what I expected - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By c - September 7 - 3:20 am

  Bought car new. Every year at inspection, have to have clamps for exhaust system tacked to get rid of rattling. Was told last year that rotors will need replaced shortly. Major problem - manual transmission would not stay in 5th gear on highway at 48k miles. Took to Subaru dealer, then it was stuck in 1st gear! 3 rebuilds to fix transmission; in shop for a month! Check engine light came on at 63k, turned out to be bad sensor, lucky that it was under warranty or would have cost $600. Has been a great vehicle to haul stuff when moving, camping, mountain biking. Fun to drive the manual with AWD in winter conditions.

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  Annoyed and Disappointed - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By Carol - September 6 - 7:20 pm

  Have had this car for almost two years now, and the warranty is about to run out. Its been in three times for warranty fixes (CD player jammed, mechanical issue front right drive train, climate control). And now -- after three visits during which the mechanics agreed there was a problem with the climate control -- I am told the system is functioning "normally." So why is it blowing cold air when I have the temp set to 72? My 3-year-old is freezing in the back seat. Enough with this car... Im going back to an Outback.

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  Outstanding all-around car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By wrx - September 3 - 11:50 pm

  Fast, reliable, excellent utility. I can haul snowboards to the mountains and take it to a track day and still have a blast. Easily customized. Reprogram the ECU for an easy ~25hp bump. Driveability improves as boost comes on sooner. Short shifter kit also suggested. I only get 22mpg on mixed commute.

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  Horrible 3.0 motor - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Jr - September 2 - 5:36 am

  The 3.0 in this vehicle is horrible. Its a pig to put it bluntly. Im getting rid of this vehicle with 7,500 miles. Im sick of it and its lack of power.

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  Subaru 2 - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By John Juray - September 2 - 12:16 am

  Great car, glad I went with the 6. Handles well, no real issues other than cost. All safety features should be standard!

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  1st Subaru, last Subaru w/ the bells & whistles - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Nikki - September 1 - 7:19 am

  Replacing a mid-size sedan for something with utility for an active lifestyle. Enter the new 2016 Subaru Outback. With limited inventory, selection was few so I settled on a 2.5 Limited model with every bell and whistle including all of the aftermarket options. Hindsight, 16k miles later, I should have opted for the 3.6 without the bells and whistles. The key-less/proximity entry/ start is a pain in the ass in that I have no way to hide this giant remote while I surf or scuba dive which impacts doing anything with the water; the standard key would have been far more functional for me. I am finding the rear auto opener isnt so great when I have something extra long and sticks out. Regarding the Navigation system, it is crap. It is a Tom-tom and even in Southern California, there are places/cities that arent even in the database. Google/Yahoo maps on your phone is far more reliable. And that takes me to the voice activation. It rarely recognizes anything I say unlike iPhones Suri. As far as mechanical, I have been very pleased though I wish breaking wasnt so soft or the engine were the 3.6 so it had some immediately available acceleration for passing and hills. But all and all, it has not been a lemon outside of the navigation system, crossing fingers. Again, just go for the base models.

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  Second Outback ... better than our 13. - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Steve H - August 31 - 4:16 pm

  Our 13 Outback Premium had 50,000 miles on it, and we got a good trade on a 16 Limited. We did go down a trim level, but other than the radio & leather - we are happy. The Outback overall is not too big on the outside, but not too small on the inside - so a good comprimise. And its a nice balance between performance and economy. We had a minor issues with a wear spot on the outer edge of the leather seat along the outer seam area on the 13. The local dealer worked with Subaru to get it repaired free of charge (thanks C&S Waterloo & Subaru). And the repaired seat (new leather top portion) still looked good and was holding up when we traded for the 16. I do like the cloth seats in the 16. Our 16 drives better and gets better mileage than our 13! We now have 4,000 miles on the 16. The 16 CVT is calibrated a little differently than the 13 - and seems to do much less "downshifting" going up hills, which is way better! The CVT just is happier overall - so more enjoyable to drive. Also, the ride seems more compliant (not as harsh over bumps, etc) while at the same time - seems to corner a little flatter. To me, the driving experience has improved over our 13. The MPGs are better with the 16. In our old 13 highway driving was around 26-28 at best, and really negatively effected by how windy it was. The 16 seems to get 27-28 just in 45-55 MPH suburban type driving. And on the highway weve gotten 30-31 on long trips (like driving from IA to SC). On the interstate we are usually going with the flow traffic, so 7-8 over. (Ofcourse that uses more gas.) Even though this is a mid-level Premium, it has nice freatures (and more than the 13). We decided to get the sunroof, instead of all the new safety options. The safety features would be nice, and hopfully they will be standard in most autos in the near future. And I should say, the mid-level radio in our Premium is really not too bad. Not as good as my 13 Limited (ofcourse), but you can stand to listen to it. I recently rented a Toyota Senna van to haul a full load of moving items, and the radio in the rental Toyota was terrible! It actually gave me a headack, so I had to turn it off! The Premium Outback radio is much better to my ears! Also the mid-level Premium does have some nice electronic features that are fun to play with. If you have a smart phone, it can work with that too. I havent used the call feature (like on GM vehicles). Not sure I would pay extra for it as an option. I dont notice any more actual usable space inside the 16 compared to the 13 (even though Subaru seems to indicate there is). I think any small amount of extra space is just where the lower edge of the windshild is mover forward a little - but not really extra space you can use. The 13 armrest lid design was better than the 16. It had a two step top compartment inside the lid where you put penciles & pens in one level, and other itmes in the next level. The 16 did away with this useful feature. So, not as good to store pens, etc. And Id like a little more knee room for my right leg (as is true in most all cars that are made nowdays.) I like to spread open my legs, and cant do that with the armrest housing. Wish the housing was about 2" thinner to give the driver more leg room! Are you listening Subaru??? Id recommend the optional plastic trim over the rear bumper by the tail gate, and the all weather floor protectors, and the seat back and cargo protectors. We got the power rear gate, and it works OK, but not a big deal too me. Ironically, since Ive had the Outbacks, we have left the mid-west winters for the SC area (and grand daughters), so havent actually had much snow experience ... yet. But returning to IA for turkey day in a few weeks, so who knows??? Ive just done the normal maintenance, and no problems (other than the worn leather in the 13 that Subaru replaced). The Outbacks have been good, and the 16 is better!