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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  Great car, cheap interior - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Becki - August 30 - 9:53 pm

  I bought this car about 2 weeks ago and so far so good! Its fun to drive, great handling, and roomy. However the interior seems to scuff EXTREMELY easily. I have black interior and anything that touches the dash or doors seems to leave behind a scuff mark-even if it barely touches it. The scuff marks buff out after washing with a damp cloth but it is still a pain. My car almost looks dirty theres so many scuff marks! Id hate to see what it looks like for someone who has kids!

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  SO nice>>> - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By jalterio - August 29 - 10:00 am

  Very nice car, er Suv, I mean cross over. Ample power, all wheel drive, reliable, efficient use of space, great crash test scores. What else could you want?

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  Poor MPG - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By bluerex - August 29 - 10:00 am

  expect poor MPG. It will get 28 on the hwy going 55mph, but youd have to be dead to drive this car like that. It will get 25mpg going 85 all day. But 20mpg when accelerating the way you WILL. Its a perfect long drive winter car, even the STi cant beat it for long hauls.

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  Wubaru Wagon 2002 - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By haji - August 29 - 10:00 am

  The car is very rattle prone. Dealer fixed 4 rattles with resistance. Wind and outside noise is uncomfortable. Car handles well in snow. Poor break angle prevents it from doing any serious off road. Premium sound system just doesnt sound right - sounds kind of hollow.

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  Value for Money - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Joe - August 28 - 2:56 pm

  Excellent performance. Great cornering, very stable on the road. Capable of very rapid changes in speed. Only reservations -- manual seat controls and seat structure. On a trip in excess of two hours the seats have poor to no vertical movement control. As the seats are low it is difficult to be comfortable. Worse the passenger seat base will not go back far enough to accommodate long legs. In the drivers seat, I find the left foot rest to be too high in relation to the gas pedal for long ride comfort. Passenger seat base is lower to floor than drivers seat base which affects rear passenger comfort (cannot with comfort put feet under front seat).

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  We live over a 1200 foot high mountain. - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Helen Laughlin - August 28 - 4:26 am

  We dont know from one day to the next what our weather will be in the winter. The Subaru is wonderful. This past winter the regular road was closed and we decided to take the summer only road. There was 6 inches of snow on the road and the Subaru went through it just fine. My daughter is in the Air Force and we are looking to help her buy a new Forester. You never know where you will be and it will get you through. It holds to the road just superbly. I drove 18 wheelers in all weather across the U.S. and my Subaru is just as fantastic to drive.

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  2016 Subaru Forrester - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Richard Dailey - August 28 - 2:09 am

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  Seven Years in - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By Subie Man - August 27 - 2:13 pm

  Purchased new, now have 77K on it. I love Subarus, and this one has its highs and one low. Snow and wet conditions cannot stop this car. I have tried to lose traction (all season radial tires, not snow rated) and cant. Love the reliability except for the head gasket that needed replacing - the car was past warranty (uh-oh), yet Subaru covered it (phew). No other repair issues, brakes are still fine, even. 20/27 MPG, even with Thule box on top.

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  Okay car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By koalapeck2 - August 27 - 1:20 am

  The drive is great. But the fun stops there. This car is good at one thing only: Rally driving. Couldnt really feel the turbo.

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  Good for snow, but thirsty and noisy - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Raj - August 27 - 12:50 am

  This is a fairly spacious little wagon that works well for our family of four and dog. The car shines in the snow, which weve had plenty of the last two winters. The reliability has not been so impressive - frozen calipers, broken primary pulley - and the clutch is pitifully heavy. The engine is torquey but thirsty - lots of sub-20 mpg tanks around town this winter. During the summer, I dream of selling the thing, but its effectiveness in the snow keeps it in the family (for now).