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 but could be better - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By mrtuvo - April 2 - 6:19 pm

  The car is very responsive and easy to drive. The seats are comfortable and the rear seats have plenty of legroom. It feels very sporty for an SUV. Visibility is great -- the best out of any vehicles I have ever driven. I also test drove the CR-V and CX-5 and ultimately decided on the Forester for the power and handling and down right fun to drive factor. CR-V was boring .... CX-5 felt a little sluggish even with the latest engine, and it was harder to get in/out of due to high step in ... also back seats felt cramped. The upgraded harmon kardon stereo sounds just ok .... blue tooth works well though, buttons are small.

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  great car - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By vlb - April 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun and sporty vehicle. In southeast Texas it is sort of rare, so I get a lot of looks and questions. I agree that the front seats need more comfort and the tilt wheel could use some more tilt. Overall, I enjoy the reliability of Subaru and plan to keep it for years....unless the seats get considerably more comfortable...then Ill get a new one..Are you listening, Subaru?

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  I miss my RS2.5 already - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By jcwren - April 1 - 3:16 pm

  I bought my 2.5RS in 2001, and have never regretted it for a moment. Unfortunately, on March 23rd, with 121,823 miles on it, someone nailed it in a parking lot and did $7K of damage, so it was totaled out. I had a lot of amateur radio gear installed in it, and when I had to go to the body shop to remove it, I just about cried when I walked away from the car (yea, 49 year old guy). I had planned to drive it until the wheels fell off, and it was over-due for the 105K major service interval. Only real problem was a slow drip from the head gasket on to the exhaust, which left the garage smelling like hot oil now and again. Would I buy another? Without question (if I could only find one...)

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  Oh My- What Fun - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By zsurfer - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Have had the car for 2 months. Cant get over the way the car performs. I came from a 92 GTI and thsi car rocks. Cant get over the rush of accelerations each time the tach hits 3K. Have to keep the turbo spooled to get the most out of the engine, but nothing beats crusiing along with the engine growkling along at the sweet spot. Oh and the AWD system is awesome. The car is amazing at spirited turns. Best bang for the buck. But if you are going to complain about the way the car looks or kack of leather and sunroof- This car is not for you.. You are just missing the point on what this car is about.

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  2000 Outback - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By Arunninreb - March 31 - 10:00 am

  For the most part my Subaru has been reliable and very fun to drive. Good service has been difficult to obtain, and repair parts are even harder. The car was involved in a high-speed freeway accident that could have been a life-threatening rollover in an SUV. Overall, the car came out of the accident fairly well (its been repaired and I still own it) and the occupants (my wife and child) were unharmed. Overall I have enjoyed owning this car. I highly recommend it as a family-car alternative to SUVs, due to the excellent fuel economy, handling, safety, and cargo room. I may buy another one..

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  Great Car with a few critical deficiencies - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By subroo13 - March 31 - 12:37 am

  We bought a 2007 LL Bean with Nav. The navigation stopped working a few days ago (after 3 years) - i.e., the screen does not turn on anymore. The dealer was indicating a few thousand dollars for replacement, which Im not going to. The cruise control does not work in downward inclines. The rear lock (lock to the doggy door) went bad twice. We got it fixed at an authorized dealership in Salt Lake City (Nate Wade) but it went wrong again within a year. On the positive, we just change oil and take it everywhere - in the most horrible roads in deep UT and travelled cross country in the US.

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  New Forester after 500 miles - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By BassFace - March 30 - 5:20 am

  Overall, I think was good bang for buck (especially after just driving in snow). I test drove many used Foresters, Honda CRV, Mazda CX-5, and husbands 2013 Rav4. Ending up liking new 2017 Forester most. Ordered from factory with all weather package minus some accessories like cargo net but including upgraded Kicker stereo and remote start. Took about 1 month to get. Pros: good quality materials, entertainment system look and functionality, decent gas mileage for small SUV, tight steering, sticks to road, very quiet under 50 mph, lots of storage, some bells and whistles (love sending and receiving text messages through car stereo) but not absurd amount, minor pro-color of dash when lights on (nice red hue). Cons: wind noise on highway-one reason I bought this car was for how quiet it seemed compared to others. It IS very quiet under 50mph, BUT cruising on highway, LOT of wind noise. I think this is because even though they added more sound dampening, theres so much glass, that its still, imo, hard to lessen. This is my biggest gripe. I drive a lot, and I like a relatively quiet cabin; pretty substantial delay when shifting between drive and reverse. Ive never experienced this, and it is especially annoying when in a parking lot; finally, overall, acceleration is pretty sluggish, especially 2nd gear-not a total dog, but other small SUVs much quicker from starting gate. Obviously these are my impressions, and others may agree/disagree. Im writing this because I found consumer reviews very helpful when I was deciding on what to buy. I will update this review after 5k miles.

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  So Far So Good - 2014 Subaru Outback
  By ssphoto66 - March 29 - 5:32 pm

  My car is now one year old, this January. So far Ive done about 15K miles with no drivability issues. My Pros: 1. Practical 2. Roomy 3. Well built 4. Ride height 5. CVT / MPG -- summer months as high as 30MPG! Winter average: 26. My Cons: 1. Base radio -- functional but not intuitive and poorly laid out. 2. Voice Recognition -- virtually useless / doesnt work well 3. Noise -- road noise can be prominent at times; 2015 is reportedly quieter. 4. Acceleration Gauge: annoying and useless. Id much rather have an engine temp indicator. 5. Oil prices; the synthetic oil is more expensive than I expected, so an oil change at the Subie dealership can be twice what you expect.

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  My second Sti- destruction of a fine car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By subdriver3 - March 29 - 3:33 am

  I am dissapointed in my 2008 Sti. It drives like a stretched limo compared to my former STI Sedan. Frankly, I am sorry I bought it. My previous Sedan STi was undoubtely the most fun, sensitive, firey driving experience I ever had. I looked forward to driving it every day and it was a magical experience. It was like a wild horse at my finger tips. This 2008 limo has been destroyed by Subaru in my opinion. Its acceleration, handling, ride almost feel like an ordinary car. It is boring. I wish I had spent less money and bought the WRX from what I hear. On the other hand, it is, for me, a reliable, stable luxury car of a draft horse that can handle the altitude of Colorado.

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  20 Minute Vacation - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Craig - March 26 - 5:03 am

  Moving from a 2004 WRX Wagon, my 2005 STI fixes the few things that I would have changed about the standard WRX . Power and handling come together providing entertainment that I couldnt afford before the STI. The wing is a bit outrageous and upsets many people on the road but Im having more fun than 99.9% of the driving public. Did I mention the power and handling.....