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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  Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By skiwee - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Baja has proven itself in several snowstorms in the Northeast. (Changed Bridgestones to Dunlop Wintersport M2 tires.)Unstoppable, reliable, great handling and ride. Only positive comments from onlookers, so far.

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  This is one awesome car! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Mike A. - July 26 - 11:32 pm

  My 2016 Outback 2.5 Limited now has 2600+ miles on it with 2000 put on during a round trip to St. Louis and back. I love this car already. Its very roomy and comfortable, handles well, has plenty of acceleration (especially considering its a 2.5 liter four cylinder), gets 33+ mpg on the highway, and in every way so far, has exceeded my expectations. The sound system is plain awesome, and the safety features just outstanding. While traveling on an interstate doing about 65, a car suddenly switched lanes and cut in front of me. The Outbacks Eye Sight system detected the treat and automatically applied the brakes and slowed me down. I cant speak to its reliability yet, but expect it to be very good based on Subarus history. I have several minor complaints...both the clock and the outside temperature display are on an information "strip" on the lower part of the dash, and are quite small and can be difficult to find quickly. The manual(s) have a ton of information in them, but can be tricky and a bit difficult to use 1) because of how they are organized, and 2) because the writers first language was clearly not English. I think Subaru could have done better in both areas. Overall, the car is fantastic and I am very pleased that I opted for the Subaru. In my opinion, it offers great value, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone considering it.

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  Excellent fun! - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By JimHinCO - July 25 - 1:10 am

  I simply love everything about the car. Amazingly fun to drive, excellent performance, luxurious, unique, safe, and the envy of so many friends. I have a slight buzz from the sun roof from time to time, and I do wish it would have come in a color worthy of its flashiness...but amazing none-the-less.

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  The Blue Pearl - 2018 Subaru Forester
  By Tim from Portland - July 25 - 12:39 am

  Stayed with a Subaru. This is our 4th Subie in 15 yers. 1st one retired after 250000 miles. 2nd one (Outback 07)was totaled by a hit and run We lurched this on for all of the safety improvements.

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  Great Car - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Carol Bertanza - July 24 - 7:00 am

  I owned a Toyota Highlander. I have a very bad lumbar problem. The seats were to short in the highlander for leg support. My Forester seats are great. Everything about my Forester is great. Fun to drive, the sun-roof is so big its like having a convertible when open. Most important VERY COMFORTABLE - cant say enough GREAT things about this car. Best I have ever owned!

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  Very Impressed with the new Outback Limited Loaded - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Lars Anderson - July 24 - 1:42 am

  I have never owned a Subaru. I have owned 2013-15 BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Q7, VW CC, and Honda Odyssey for comparison [Yes...lots of new car purchases in last 2 years]. I test drove the 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen [better fuel economy and acceleration but smaller, less advance safety features, and more road noise] and 2015 Mazda CX-5 [just didnt do it for me but deserves a look]. I traded in my 2013 X3. Flaws, but not deal breakers: Voice recognition for entering destination address never works, and system locks out manual address input while driving so you need to stop to change an address in this setting. The Keyless FOB can not be programed to unlock all doors with one button, but keyless entry with door button can. Key FOB open button just has to be pressed twice. Adaptive cruise control button that adjusts distance from car in front not iconically intuitive. Side mirrors dont power fold. Mute button for music doesnt pause song. Turn signal level a little high for optimal ergonomics for me. Poor acceleration but adequate for conservative drivers. XM radio screen difficult to navigate. Voice recognition takes few minutes to initialize but bluetooth acquires instantly. Things I like moving from front to back: Very good head and fog light dispersement, Limited 18" wheels, Night time Approach light in the side mirror and side mirror auto dimming feature, HK stereo is quite impressive and better than premium Q7 stereo, Lane assist really works keeping you in the lane if you dont put hands on steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, lane change warning doesnt warn too early like Honda Odyssey system, Blue interior lighting and instrument panel, 3 12V and 2 USB jacks, Quality/Speed and resolution of infotainment screen, well balanced steering, Forward Adjustable head rest [not just up and down], seat comfort and leather quality, electronic parking break, rear seat AC vents and heated seats, rear seats flip down effortlessly and flat, rear trunk screen cover can be stored in car when not in use, rear seats can recline a bit, roof rack adjustability, road noise on chip & seal roads is very good and better than Audi but similar to BMW, minimal wind noise. Corners well with minimal body roll during conservative driving but certainly not on any rails. I am very impressed with quality, comfort, and electronics. Fun to cruise [quiet and comfy] so I can hear the great stereo. Look forward to tackling some dirt roads and throwing skis, kayak and bikes on top.

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  Awesome ride - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Doriss - July 22 - 11:33 pm

  I am quite new to the Subaru experience although family members have owned them. I love the body style of the Forester and the smooth ride it gives me. Instrument panel is simple and easy to access. All-wheel-drive was a must for me and Subaru has perfected that engineering.I love it and now understand why Subaru advertising includes "Love" in their commercials! It says it all!

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  This is the car youve been waiting for. - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Matt - July 22 - 4:33 am

  An excellent, smooth ride. Stable, very little body roll even when accelerating into turns. Instrument panel and console layout well done. Smooth acceleration, smooth stops. Originally considered SE but the Limited boasts a lot of features that more than justify the increase in cost, though both trims drive exactly the same. Seats are comfortable, power seats & telescoping/tilt wheel easy to find your sweet spot in the drivers seat. The 2.5 4-cylinder is more than enough power. If you are considering a mid-size sedan, the safety features of this Subaru more than make up for the sacrifice of a few MPG with a FWD/RWD car.

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By saboats - July 20 - 12:56 am

  I have in 2 years never had a problem with this car. I love it!

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  Great Crossover - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By Mike9743 - July 17 - 10:16 pm

  Great all around vehicle; it does OK on gas; it looks and drives fantastic... best large vehicle Ive ever owned.