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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  Fairly Impressed - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Kip in Boise - February 9 - 10:36 pm

  Weve had our 06 legacy for 2 years and were very happy with it, We have a few annoying rattles, and the interior scratches easy, otherwise it drives great and is very fun to drive!

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  Great car - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By mike - February 9 - 8:43 pm

  Have had my Outback for 20 months. Absolutely no problems. Its seen the dealership for oil changes and tire rotations only. Id highly recommend a Subaru to anyone shopping. Very reliable and dependable. This is my sixth Subaru and would be hardpressed not to buy another in the future. BTW, I like the grille on the 07 better than the ones on the 08 models.

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  Overall a fun and capable Subaru - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By cjphilip - February 8 - 4:26 pm

  I purchased this car used for about $8k with just about 161K on the odometer to replace a totaled grad present thanks to an inattentive freeway lane-changer. I loved it the moment I saw it, but dreaded the notch-y first gear. For being a younger male driver, I want something practical and safe, yet fun but wanted some comfort for occasional long drives and never could find a car i liked that didnt cause minor back aches even on a short test drive, except for this one. If only it had a few more inches of trunk space and more factory stereo options as the 80w preamp is barely enough for the 4 main, let alone the opt 6 speaker set, and Ive read the NAVI is not at all user-friendly

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  Rubedu Subaru - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By dan11911 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  This auto takes mountain roads like a dream. The response to curves is excellent. I go to mountains to observe Im an amature astronomer and I go high into the mountains. This car is the best handling car I have ever had. The gas milage is so/so. 20miles in town and 26 on the road.

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  Fun little car but nothing exceptional - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By SugarBear - February 8 - 8:53 am

  I love to drive this car! Its so much fun! BUT, the back seats do not fold down which kills me and the interior is pretty standard. No really extra features. I think if I were to do it over, I would get the Legacy instead b/c of the sunroom, and the more comfortable and luxorious interior or go with the WRX version. I have never had any problems with the car and the Subaru dealerships have always been great at doing maintainence and answering any questions that I have. The gas mileage is all right... I get around 28 mpg depending.

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  Bitter sweet - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By Pigo - February 4 - 10:03 pm

  I always love driving this car. The only draw back, and it is a major concern for me, is the drivers seat is unbearable. Within a few days of buying the car the problem became very apparent.This style is by far the best design that Subaru ever came up with for the Legacy. Understated good looks and nothing pretentious about it. Of course in typical Subaru fashion, the stereo is terrible, but in this price range there really is nothing that compares.

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  Manual Transmission Not the Best - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By lancer - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased with ride quality, interior, and comfort with a long drive. Biggest annoyance was with the manual transmission. Subaru has rigged the transmission to abruptly cut off when the gas pedal is released even at moderate cruising speeds. I took this to the dealer and the service rep commented that he had seen several complaints with this. It is something you can learn to live with, but it can be a nuisance especially if stuck in traffic.

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  Reliable - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Will Lee - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Having owned a Subaru previously I was encouraged to buy another for its reliability. This one I like even more. It is comfortable, has a nice weight to it for highway driving, corners amazingly well for a four door car and has good pickup for a four cylinder auto. And I like the safety facto of the all wheel drive.

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  I wish I had your Baja :( - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By kch5 - January 27 - 9:56 am

  90k miles M/T. If only the engine reliability was as great as the ride. Consistent 1Qt oil consumed per 1k miles driven since got at 60k (and Im assured by Subaru this is normal and not to worry about it, just fill it up every third gas fill up, no problem). Both head gaskets just blew, along with failed battery and failed water thermostat. To repair all problems, were talking new battery, head gaskets, thermostat, new piston rings or short block replacement=$5500 at dealer (about equal to trade in value), which means good-bye or home rebuild. Heartbroken trying to find a non-Subaru manual AWD replacement.

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  Great Little SUV - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By JT - January 25 - 5:56 am

  We bought our Forester new from the dealer and have had it maintained consistently by the same dealer. This car has been flawless and having regular maintenance has kept us ahead of potential problems. Yeah, the original Geolander tires only went 26K, but I put ContiPremierContac on after and got about 65K out of them. We have driven it on 7-8 hour day trips and found no comfort issues since the seat reclines. We like this car so much, we are debating whether to get a new one... and with only 96k miles on the car its a tough call ! This car has served us well during northern Ohio winters.