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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  Dont let your car die:( - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By michaelborge - February 11 - 12:32 am

  I am really unhappy that I bought my car. I have had it four weeks and it has spent the last 3 days in the shop. One of my kids left a dome light on in the car over night and it died. The next morning I tried to jump it and it wouldnt jump. The car had stopped recognizing my keys and remote starter. I had to get it towed and reprogrammed. I dont want a car that is going to need to be towed if the battery goes dead. The gas milage is no where near thirty like it say that it can get. I average about 20 on the highway.

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  Constantly having to check engine oil - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By john749 - February 9 - 11:04 am

  Ok. we do drive a lot of miles(33,000) in 1 year. We have car serviced every 5000 miles at our local Subaru dealer with Subaru products. Each time of service I buy 2 extra quarts of oil this will keep it full until next service.I have complained they(dealer) tell me its normal consumption.No leaks. It does drive and ride well just a pain to keep up with the engine oil.We bought this car brand new and we dont abuse it.This is info for anyone thinking of buying the 14 forester 2.5.We buy a new car every 3 years not sure if well buy another Subaru.

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  1st Subaru after 17 years of Cherokees - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By babybob - February 7 - 1:33 am

  Since Jeep no longer made the Cherokee & gas prices are high, it seemed to be the logical choice to get a "highly regarded" Forester. Ive owned it for almost a year & have 12500 miles on it. The car (& make no mistake, it is a car) gets decent mileage for this type of vehicle, rides peppily after a bit of sluggishness at the start, & gives a decent ride on a nice dry highway. The build quality of the body seems flimsy, tinny. Doesnt come across as a sturdy car at all. Has developed several rattles & a crunching sound in the rear when going over speed bumps/dips. Experience in the snow has been frightful, if not downright dangerous. Useless in SLUSH(!) in city driving. Wont even think of taking it offroad.

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  Never again - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By larry - January 31 - 5:46 pm

  This car is the worst used car Ive ever owned and Ive new bought a new car in my life. Ive had trouble with the alarm going off for no reason for months and the dealer not being able to figure it out then finally they discovered the rear hood latch was faulty. Ive had several sensors replaced one cost three hundred and one around four hundred. The rear wheel bearing went out and the heater fan needed to be replaced. It blows headlights constantly and has a horrible squeak in the dash. All these repairs in less than a year, and the car doesnt even have 70k on it - seems ridiculous back to toyotas for me.

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  Under powered / poor engineering - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Richard Feeman - January 22 - 10:55 am

  The engine is woefully underpowered and can barely get up the hill where I live. I usually have the get the engine to 4,000 rpm to maintain a speed of 25 mph going up a 10 to 15 degree slope. The engine sounds like it is about to fly apart going up my hill. The CVT transmission has a serious design flaw in that there is a full 2 second delay when shifting from reverse to drive. When you are backing out onto a road that slopes slightly up or down, you must be prepared to wait the full 2 seconds with your foot on the brake instead of the accelerator, or the car will roll on you, possibly hitting another car or obstacle. I have had the car checked at the Subaru dealer and have been told that this unsafe behavior is "normal".

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  Our second scooby - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By tscascade1 - January 3 - 10:33 am

  For those looking for a purely utilitarian vehicle, this is it. It eats up anything wet, snowy, or off pavement. Great for outdoorsy families. The unfortunate drawbacks are the ride quality and the noise. When driving this car I sometimes feel like the thing is on a Jell-o mold. The body roll,the acceleration squat, and the brake dive is annoying. It is also grossly underpowered for a 3200 pound cube. If you can bring yourself to do it, settle for the 4-speed automatic. The M/T feels like a broomstick connected to a pillow. Fortunately, it comes in turbo trim and may be worth the premium fuel cost to get the motor & suspension upgrades. In the end, at its price point, nothing comes close!

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  Stick Shift Problems - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By sewerwitch - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Limited Wagon has lots of room and a great auto to drive on Vermont ski trips. But - we had to replace the clutch at 28000 miles and again at 52000 miles. At first we thought it was my wifes driving (but she had driven stick shift cars for many years)now we think it is a design flaw. Plus when reving the engine to drive up an incline a horrible smell would enter the cabin. A transmission seal leak??

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  Faulty Head Gaskets Still - Buyer Beware - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Faulty Head Gaskets - December 29 - 12:46 am

  Clutch shudder 25K miles. Replaced under warranty. Both head gaskets leaking at 89K miles. Fixed at a cost of $2K. Reputation for reliability is based upon pre 2.5L models. These cars are prone to issues by design and are expensive when need to be repaired.

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  Crosstrek Problems - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By catskhiker - December 28 - 7:03 pm

  I have a 2013 Crosstrek with 35,000mi purchased in 2012. It eats a qt of oil aprx every 12-1500 mi. The manual says this is normal for a boxer engine. Ive had many boxer engines & NONE of the others ate oil. It also eats the right rear tire. You have to buy AWD tires in groups of 4, so this is expensive. I sorta like the car & love the look, but my old vw bug had more pep. Both have manual trans. Seriously considering trading it in.

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  Worst car I ever owned - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By thebaaron - December 7 - 6:33 am

  I picked up this car with 30k miles in great shape and right away started having problems with window seals, moon roof seal, O2 sensors, head lights, check engine light, heat shield, clutch, electrical bugs, you name it, Ive fixed it, until finally with 70k miles on the odometer, the engine jumped time and bent all the valves costing me $3500. No aftermarket support either, because no one wants anything to do with this lemon. I cant say that I blame them. I cant wait to be rid of this heap.