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 little SUV - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By rkoby - March 26 - 2:00 am

  After driving for about 5 months, this is a great little sport ute. Compared to my LandRover this car is much more fun to drive, much better gas mileage, better handling. Still has good headroom like LR. Could be better looking. Put on 17" wheels with Michelins which improved looks and handling. Drives more like sports car.

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  Subaru Legacy Wagon - Terrific! - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By Palingenesis - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I am extremely pleased with the Legacy Wagon. I do not like two-tone and I detest SUVs - the Legacy gives me AWD without these negatives. Exceptionally smooth 4 cylinder boxer engine - very nice sound when accelerating. Very solid - no rattles and gives a feeling of solidity. Very comfortable seats at an excellent height for easy entry and exiting.

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  Good All Purpose Vehicle - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Desert Rat - March 23 - 2:20 am

  First Subaru. Good leg room for the driver with an automatic. Tight foot space with the manual transmission. Small feet are a good thing if you want the manual. There is less legroom on the passenger side which is something that I hadnt realized till after purchase. Check it out if the passenger is tall. Seats are very firm and take some getting use to. My wife preferred the Outback to the Forester so we got the Outback. Interior controls are typical of Honda and Toyota and well laid out. Controls are convenient. Back seat leg room is tight -- acceptable for short trips. Ride is comfortable on most surfaces. My driving in more higway than city: mpg is about 24-25 of the first 1200 miles.

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  Initial review - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By JL - March 21 - 11:16 am

  Ive driven the car only a few hundred miles, and overall, I am very satisfied with the car. It has a very solid feel on the road, numerous safety features, a good deal of room, gas mileage that is in range with the rest of its class now, and competitive pricing. Ive driven it through inclement weather, and it handles beautifully.

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  Nice Car- Unless you have a BABY - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Carrie - March 19 - 2:07 pm

  This is a good car- except that it sacrifices function for design. Cmon Subaru- We like you because of your functional cars! I bought it because unlike my Forester, it has enough leg room for my husband in the front when the child seats are in the back. I like it because it drives good, it looks good, its all wheel drive, it has reasonable gas mileage, and has decent cargo space. If it werent for the leg room issue, I would stay with the Forester, which I think has a much better design. I am writing this review because it has two features which annoy me to no end. 1. The shape of the rear door/window makes it near impossible to buckle a child in and out of a rear-facing child seat. My poor baby has sustained more bumps to the head getting in and out of the carseat than I can count. 2. The seatbelt chime is about to drive me over the edge- and Im an avid seatbelt wearer. It also has several features which definitely get the thumbs down. 1. The slant of the front door/window makes it very awkward to get into the front seat. 2. There is very little storage space in the front. 3. The control panel for air & heat are not nice and straight-forward like those on the more basic subarus without dual climate control. 4. The rear cargo area is limited by the inward slope of the rear windshield. Of all of these complaints the only one that I feel is actually important is the rear-facing child seat issue. For me it is the deal breaker. Ive still got a few years of rear-facing child seat use ahead of me, and as much as I hate to do it, I am now looking for a new car.

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  Nothing else like it.... - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Arpeggio4u - March 3 - 10:53 am

  Noisy, but nothing competes for the money. I am early for work now, because driving this car is so much fun! Its as comfortable (more so actually) on gravel as it is on the highway. Wish list ... variable suspension, and a bit more sound protection (liquid filled engine mounts do help) for longer trips.

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  Nice car but... - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By oak6 - March 2 - 12:41 am

  Just returned this car off lease at 30k. The deal was too good to pass up: $199/mo. Reliability was excellent: no issues. I went through 3 Syracuse winters on M+S tires with no driving problems. That said, I was happy to be rid of the car. Engine noise is excessive and there is annoying vibration at over 2500rpm. Highway speed in 5th gear is about 2700rpm; get the picture? I test drove other Subes and all had the same issue. The boxers in the engine really go at it at high rpm. This car will accelerate briskly but that means high rpm. Who needs the beating. Great car at 200rpm which means 45mph. Homely. 27-30mpg (70% highway) duration of my ownership

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  True Sports Sedan under 30K - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Newbie - March 1 - 10:20 am

  This is my first Subaru. It is a great handling and very quick sedan. A true sports sedan for thousands less than European competition. It is also not your everyday Accord/Camry. I shopped around comparing it to the Volvo S40, VW Passat, Acura TSX, Accord, Mazda 6, Mazda 3, and Hyundai Sonata. It offered the best combination of price, looks, and sportiness. It also offers typical Japanese reliability and ranked number one in crash tests (only car in class to have Gold seal). The 2.5 turbo engine was also voted as the best engine world wide in the 2.0 - 2.5 class.

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  2012 subura forester - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By sewkraz - February 27 - 10:17 am

  drives well and is comfortable. what is not nice is the high pitched wind noise coming from the roof with the wind that sound s like your heat is on full blast above your head. The suv whines on acceleration.

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  Good bang for your buck - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By R.J. - February 22 - 5:06 am

  Had the vehicle for about 3 years now. Very satisfied with the fit and finish of the car. It has a lot of standard equipment for a base model. The 4 speed automatic transmission is a little bit lazy getting the car moving. The Forester fairs very well in inclement weather; it is also a very highly rated vehicle safetywise by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), especially when compared against rivals in this price range. My only real complaints are the tight back seat and the antiquated rear drum brakes on the 2.5X, with the perpetual squeaking problem that a dealer rep advised me was just a poor brake shoe design inherent on this model.