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:

• 

  A Good Review. - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By M.P. - September 19 - 6:50 am

  This is my first Subaru, we like it, is roomy, has good handling and stability. The ride is good. It had the same rattling noises everyone is complaining about. The door noise is caused by a plastic cover behind the doors panel; just take the door panel out and put some insulating material and thats fixed. Once in a while I do get some rattling in the dash area and in the cargo area. Having some A/C issues with the a/c clutch engaging and disengaging at blower speed 1. Also, the A/C Clutch is very noisy. Trying to get this fixed with the dealer. Overall is a good family vehicle.

• 

  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Louis C. - September 18 - 5:36 am

  Ive had three Subarus and this has to be the best overall package. Not that Ive had any problems with the others, but the Forester has its advantages. Ground clearance being one of the strong points along with handling. You feel really safe and in control. Good brakes, good power and very reliable. This car is underrated.

• 

  Horrible MPG - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By jjttss - September 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a great go-getter around town. If you want more (off-road ability, sports car handling, etc) look elsewhere. The design is a definite step up from prior years. Seats are stiff, but comfortable, though they could use more thigh support in the front. BUT TERRIBLE MILEAGE! Using Premium gas, this car gets well under 20mpg (15 on some tanks!) city and mixed driving. Im kind of disgusted.

• 

  Dependable workhorse - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By ctac - September 13 - 1:23 am

  Our family has been running this Outback for almost four years. We put a little over 50K miles on it, with probably 30K of daily commute and 10K of annual ski trips. Subarus are usually praised for their AWD, but in the first couple of winters I had some skidding incidents (shouldnt have pressed the gas pedal so carelessly on tight turns! This is a manual transmission car, so not all of the fancy electronic stabilization systems are available). Once that has been figured out, we found ourselves working as a snow taxi for our friends in a small Midwestern town. I was disappointed with the fuel economy at first (it was clearly below the nominal rating), but then it somehow got better.

• 

  My First Subi - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Steve - September 12 - 9:30 pm

  This is my first time buying a non-GM car. Have only driven 300 miles. No problems yet. Love the way this car handles. Great acceleration and smooth ride. Was perfect to drive during a recent snowfall. Looking forward to taking this car on next backwoods camping trip. So far no regrets I didnt buy GM.

• 

  Outback is A OK - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Titleist - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great combination of features with this car; AWD, great gas mileage, lots of room, quiet with a nice ride, very dependable. Wonderful for trips and when the weather is bad. Always felt safe while driving this car. I may lease another Subaru but with a 6 cyl this time.

• 

  Serious Fun! - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By mark_fex - September 11 - 1:25 am

  This is a fast, excellent handling little car that is inexpensive and practical. Its a little rough around the edges but I love driving this car! Sometimes I have trouble taking off smoothly but after a second of turbo lag it really moves! Handling is precise and grip is amazing. The ride is very firm but well controlled. The clutch emits a pukey smell when slipped and the A/C is marginal. There is quite a bit of road and wind noise inside. I cant seem to get the base stereo to sound good; Kicker speaker upgrade is on the way.

• 

  Horribly disappointed - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By john - September 9 - 11:50 pm

  After years of Honda loyalty I cannot believe this clunker is how I satisfy my Subaru dream. Like numerous other posts I too experience the road drift at highway speeds as well as the vibration. My headliner has been replaced as has my barely mediocre radio due to defects. Occasionally my "new" radio will not turn on at all. The car often "slams" into reverse, and constantly hesitates from a dead stop. Car nearly stalls whenever I brake hard, idle, or turn the AC up to max, which is still inadequate and insufficient to keep my baby girl cool in the back seat. Local dealer attributes the RPM drop to strain on the electric system.Really. Expensive maintenance reduces value.

• 

  You get what you pay for. - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By firebladepilot - September 8 - 6:47 pm

  Needs more horsepower to drag the AWD system around. Stereo system was so bad I pulled it out after 2 weeks of ownership. Design and quality of the car is above and beyond what I expected in this price range. I have had ZERO problems with my Impreza, the last 4 Toyotas I bought new all had to go back to the dealer for minor problems or recalls, not the little Subaru. Comfortable for long drives and fun on short ones.

• 

  My subi review - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By donaldb - September 8 - 6:40 pm

  Wife and I bought the 09 XT LTD w/navi. about a month ago. So far we are extremely pleased. Only a little frustrated with the dimming of the navi system while underway. I dont like someone else deciding what tasks I can perform safely and those I cant. Other than the navi dimming, we are both very pleased with our new Forester and only 2 weeks after we bought it is when Motor Trend named it their sport utility of the year against some of the stiffest competition on the market. We drank the kool aid... and became Subaru owners... come join us. Build quality seems excellent, owner satisfaction is ranked well, safety and comfort is A-1, if you like the looks then jump in.