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:

• 

  im lovin every mile - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By eggya - November 9 - 5:00 pm

  This car performs best in blizzards and thunderstorms! The grip on the car is amazing. I recommend this car to anyone looking for a fast, fun to drive reliable car in the $25- $30k range. Get it fully loaded (GT limited) with all the options you can afford.

• 

  Highly recommended. - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Martind - November 9 - 10:00 am

  We bought new due to a dearth or nearly- new Foresters; glad we did now. Love the car. Feels rock-solid and unbreakable. Surprisingly quiet and comfortable with excellent features such as climate control, heated seats, etc. Dealer was very patient (I took my time deciding) and helpful. Handling is confidence-inspiring and new design tasteful. Would definitely recommend the car to anyone who has pets or needs a car with utility and not the price/fuel consumption of the larger SUVs.

• 

  lots of car/tall wagon/suv for your $$$ - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By smallfish - November 9 - 10:00 am

  put 1100 miles on my platinum silver forester 2.5X already. no problems so far. love the car. like the textured gray bumpers and side moldings which makes it look like a volvo cross county. like the heavy solid sound of the doors. base X model came with all the options i would ever need and use. although wish they had a moonroof option for the X. nice steel wheels even on a base model. lovely interior. sharp looking texturd soft vinyl trim all around. lots of car for your dollar.

• 

  Best family car ever - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By rkymtnhi - November 7 - 5:32 pm

  We now have about 13,200 miles on our Outback. Mostly been used for toting the kids to school, events and all the other household chores. We took it on a trip from Colorado to Minnesota over the holidays. First opportunity to drive on icy and snowy roads. The car is great in these conditions. Regarding MPGs. We average 28-32 in normal highway and byway roads. On the highway to MN with a fully loaded car, we dropped to 24-25 MPG with a fully loaded car going mostly about 75MPH. On the way back, I added a Thule 1600 Ascent for extra cargo space and dropped about 1-2 MPG more. There was a lot of wind in Iowa and Nebraska so its hard to tell how bad the damage was from the cargo carrier.

• 

  All around driving enjoyment - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By jim wightman - November 7 - 10:20 am

  I enjoy driving this car. We travel between Canada and Texas twice a year so our driving entails two very long high speed trips and then mostly driving around town. Excellent car for both driving types. Smooth, good cornering, pretty quiet, good gas mileage. Seats could be more comfortable. Front spoiler scrapes easily. As mentioned previously, first gear acceleration is not adequate unless rpm is high prior to clutch engagement. Some sign of early interior wear. First gear jerky at low speed.

• 

  First Subaru - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Ohio - November 6 - 3:56 am

  Best features for the money, seriously considered a VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI, however felt too small inside. If the Subaru had a diesel available it would have been much easier. In our first 3,300 miles averaging 27/28 mpg everyday driving and 31/32 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. These are actual numbers, not those on the dash computer which seems to run 1 1/2 mpg high. The more I drive it the more value for the money I feel we bought. Replaced an Audi A6 Quartto with 197k miles. AWD is the only way to go, not only for winter driving but also in heavy rain and even on dry surfaces. The CVT trans is super quiet, only at hard acceleration is it noticed. The paddle shifters are great.

• 

  Word of Warning - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By John Q Public - November 5 - 11:46 pm

  While I was initially excited about the purchase after test driving a well running car, my "dealer locate" vehicle arrived with what is commonly known as "stutter" under boost. The two dealers I have taken the car to both acknowledged the car does not run correctly, but they dont know how to fix it since it is most likely a computer issue. The dealership has "reflashes" for different turbo models and it will fix the problem on some cars but not all and it often returns. Subaru customer service has been no help, not even offering try replacing the computer on a $32k car with 6k mi. I am going to lemon law it.

• 

  fun to cruise - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By Paul - November 4 - 12:16 am

  The Baja picks up and zings with the turbo engine. The power seats are most impressive of any vehicle I have driven. Quick to accelerate, Fun to look at, and great handling makes the Baja a must have for outdoor enthusiasts who like the versatility, but want to avoid the motion-sickness of a bumpy ride of a pickup.

• 

  First Subaru - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Aaron - November 2 - 8:46 am

  I have owned many cars in the past. My previous car was a Lexus ES300. I do have to comment that I do not miss my Lexus one bit. The Impreza 2.5i is fun to drive, responsive, sporty, and economical. I live in the midwest, where we get our fair share of ice and snow. I have owned my Subaru for 5 days now, and can safely go places I never could go before in my Lexus. For a base model, it has a great build quality, there are plenty of features, it is much quieter on the road than the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, and when you factor in the AWD it becomes a no brainer.

• 

  Best Outbak Yet! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Dobes Rule! - November 2 - 3:00 am

  This car is great! I have owned 15 cars is the last 12 years. Including 7 Subarus. This new Outback is so similar to the Tribeca in terms of ride quality, feel, etc. that now Subaru is going to have to upgrade that vehicle to maintain its flagship status. Awesome ride quality. Great fit & finish. Love the CVT transmission. Stock stereo sound quality is the best Subaru has had yet. My in-laws liked the car well enough that they went & purchased one too. Now it looks like my parents will be trading in their Outback for this updated version. Great car Subaru! Keep up the good work!