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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  Cant beat it - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By miken2uzu - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Chose the L.L. Bean Outback over a Highlander, Pilot, Matrix, XC70, and A4 wagon. You just cant get another car with full time AWD, 8 inches of ground clearance, leather interior, dual moonroofs, 6 CD changer, ABS, side airbags and a 212 HP engine for less money (we paid just over $28k). Weve had it for about a year, and the Outbacks winter performance is better than any SUV Ive ever driven (including Explorer, Yukon, Jimmy and Envoy)- it is so much more confident on icy corners. Im a volunteer firefighter who MUST be able to get on the road no matter what the conditions, and this car got me to the station through 10 inches of snow on unplowed roads more than once.

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  Practical but fun to drive! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By itonix - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Outback 2.5 XT Limited for a month now and it has met all the expectations both in the city traffic and during a road trip. Car has solid build quality inside and out. As with all turbos it is not fast from complete stop, but power curve picks up as soon as you start moving. Plenty of power is available for having fun in the passing lane. Handling is very predictable and Momo wheel adds to the sporty feel. Real life gas mileage is 21 for a road trip and 16.5 for a congested city. Ride is surprisingly quiet on the highway. Interior is appointed in visually pleasing but practical way. Plenty of cargo room with rear seats down. Two-part sunroof.

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  I love my car - 2008 Subaru Forester
  By Audrey - August 2 - 11:50 pm

  My husband and I really love this car. It is the first Subaru weve owned, and well probably keep buying Subaru cars forever if they are like this one. Weve had it for 2 years, I love the turning radius on it (I can make u- turns on really narrow streets). Its easy to handle.

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  WRX best - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By cfredrickson - August 1 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have owned Bar none. Fast and agile in traffic and fun to drive

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  New to 95,000+, We LOVE this car - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By W. Robert - July 30 - 3:29 am

  We bought our 2011 Limited in 2010 to replace a lemon Honda Accord. This is our 1st Subaru, the whole family loves this car. Im a big guy at 64" and 280+ my wife is 51 and a light weight (shed kill me I posted a weight) . Bottom line is it fits BOTH of us, and we both find it extremely comfortable, including for long all day drives with limited rest breaks. More comfortable than a 2014 Mercedes E350 for 400 mile road trip (new rental) and left me wishing I had drove my Outback Limited instead. We have done normal servicing, bought 1 set of new tires at 50,000 which by the way inproved ride and handling over the factory tires. Passenger seat had a squeak, dealer fixed no charge as it should have been. Headlight bulbs have both needed replacement (seriously difficult task, go to YouTube for examples if you want to do it yourself). This is not a sporty performance machine, but it a roomy outstanding outdoorsy family car, that has turned out to be better than we expected. It drives more like a older American full size sedan, but has better road feel, and navy less acceleration ability, but it is more than adequate with outstanding full economy for the size of car it is. We averaged 27 mph mixed driving, after a move were we did much less freeway driving overall mpg fell to about 24. We are now thinking of a second Subaru. This car has been very reliable, required little maintenance, and is extremely comfortable for a an active family including vacations, camping, Home Depot runs, multi state trips, and all the running around a family does. Absolutely love it!!

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  Excellent car apart from the power! - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By drm - July 29 - 9:10 am

  This is my wifes car, I have been very impressed. Excellent handling, especially in the awful winter weve had in WI. Exterior and interior are very well done. Fit and finish is very good. The wagon utility is unquestionable. I think the car is very good value with the AWD and what you get in terms of extras with the LL Bean addition. Nav system is very good, the stereo is actually quite impressive. My benchmark is my 2008 Acura RL AWD, and considering the Subie is close to half the price I think its an extraordinarily good value. My only issue is that, considering the cars weight, I think the base 2.5 liter engine is a little underwhelming.

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  Exactly what Im looking for - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By driver_365 - July 29 - 9:06 am

  Ive put 450 miles on this lovely 2.5X ltd. Everything looks great so far! Nimble handling. Nice exterior. Plenty of room. Comfortable leather seats. Blue tooth. USB port. the backup camera is a nice safety feature. What I like most is the new engine, which is a surprise. Being also a 07 outback owner, I had expected nothing more than a noisy and slow H4. But this one is totally different. The new design has made low speed acceleration quiet, smooth and effortless. Another highlight is the Yokohama tires. They work well on ice and snow. So, theres no need for snow tires. I expect many years of enjoyable and reliable ride in this car.

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  New Subaru - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Neil S. - July 27 - 11:21 pm

  New to Subaru after luxury German cars. Car is under 1000 miles so its hard to give a true assessment but so far, love it. Very comfortable, very solid. Definitely go with the 6 cylinder for a quiet, solid feel.

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  A great car - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By Donovan - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Great car, fun to drive... VERY reliable.

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  Love my WRX! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By David1 - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Gas mileage is excellent given that its a turbocharged 4 - ride quality is first rate - handles well when you push it, but is comfortable as a daily driver. And you just cant beat AWD in the rain/mud/snow!