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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  maytte says... - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Maytte - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Generally its a good car, its safe, comfortable and drives smooth. Its a nice size for me and handles and responds very well.

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  great in the snow - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By benoit léveillé - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Im from Québec province,close from Montréal and here the weather isnt particuliary great, especially during winter and thats why I purchased this car and so far Im convinced of my choice! This is the best affordable AWD, and a true one like the Audis, in his class, a lot better then the Matrix/Vibe. Only if this car have Mazda3 look...

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  First time Subaru owner and Very Happy - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Cheryl Laneve - November 12 - 11:05 am

  My first Subaru and have only had it for a week. I really like it. I have my first recall repair this coming week.

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  An awesome car for all times! - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By NeoGeo - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Every drive has been enjoyable. I have roughed a blizzard in 2000 with this car and the AWD just amazes me. Gas mileage averages around 25 MPG including spirited driving. The standard feature list is incredible and should be for the base price. The seats are comfy and gripy, the interior room is spacious, and the rear seat is somewhat spacious. I havent had any problems with the 2.5 RS, sans a passenger seat that did not kick up when the rear passengers wanted to exit, which Subaru fixed. Also, Subaru has been great to deal with during oil changes and their support of factory performance parts and accessories is on par with Toyotas TRD department.

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  Nice car with small irritiations - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By fladabosco - November 9 - 10:38 am

  Its a nice, solid, comfortable car and gets amazing mpg considering how big the car is. The CVT transmission takes a little getting used to. The paddle shifters are a fun toy but if you think you can drive this thing like a Lambo you are crazy. Three complaints - the computer system is poorly designed. If you have your phone plugged in and do anything it turns the radio on! If you are in reverse you cant turn the radio off or down! The whole thing is unnecessarily confusing and complicated. Its like Windows from 1994. The keys really suck. They are huge and sharp and cost $430 to replace! There is no reason for that other than being a rip off.I

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  09 Forester with Lots of Miles Already - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By GM - November 4 - 9:46 pm

  I have put 20,000 miles on the Forester in six months and find it to be a pleasant vehicle to drive. I am a big guy and find the drivers seat comfortable and the interior controls within easy reach except for the heated seat switches. It performs well in the snow in Vermont with the standard tires and the gas mileage has been a steady 24 to 25 mpg with lots of hwy driving. The passenger seat is strange to get used to with it being so low. There is a rattle in the moonroof mechanism that needs attention and the road noise is loud compared to our Camry.

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  Great Car for the Price - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By HLC - October 29 - 2:46 am

  This is a great car for the price (under $20K). It is fun to drive and it handles corners very well. The storage capacity is very reasonable for its small size. I love the AWD, but it does take getting used to if youve never had it before. Fuel economy is just ok (about 22-25 mpg), but it runs on regular gas which is a huge plus. I spent slightly more on my last new car (1995 Infiniti G20) and this one has nearly as many features. I looked at a lot of cars (Hondas, Toyotas, and luxury preowned) and the Forester is by far the best car for the price.

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  Its like a cockroach - its almost indestructible - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By sherry32 - October 28 - 9:14 am

  My 2006 Outback Wagon has over 132,000 miles on it, and has been completely trouble free for 7 years. It drives no differently than it did when it was new. Id actually kind of like a new car, but its hard to justify the expense when this one is paid for and is so reliable.

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  great car except for the tires - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Johnny - October 26 - 7:56 am

  In the 5 short months that I have owned this car I have had 4 flats and totally destroyed one tire. I was told that the size of the tires is the problem by one person and other things by others. The service manager told me that it was my problem and that there was nothing that he was going to do. I would buy this car again, it is a great car in the snow and it is fun to drive.

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  Stiff Ride negates positives. - 2014 Subaru Legacy
  By bsr52 - October 25 - 2:17 pm

  I have driven this 2014 Legacy Sport for three months. The reliability of Subaru, all wheel drive and heated seats are all positives that are negated by the poor ride quality. I feel every dip, bump and tar strip in the road and will be trading this after a year. A younger driver might not care about the ride because the car looks sharp and handles well. I owned a 2001 Subaru Outback station wagon for 6 years and it was reliable and a comfortable ride with reasonable handling in not too large of a vehicle. If they built that vehicle today with an improved transmission I think they wood sell a lot of them. I appreciate any comments and criticism.