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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  Sports Car for the Outdoor Enthusiast! - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Aron M - March 9 - 11:35 am

  So, I have always wanted to own a Subaru WRX. Ever since I drove one in 2002, I have been in love. The symmetrical all-wheel drive, the look, the feel of the car grip the road, the speed...oh, what speed, indeed! It is amazing, when you slam the stick shift from 1st to 2nd, and the turbo kicks in (albeit with a bit of turbo lag), it makes you feel like you could take on the best Nascar drivers! Now, I have my 2016 Subaru WRX Premium as my everyday driver. I leased mine, and have been driving it everyday for just over a month. The first couple of weeks take some getting used to with the clutch. I have just gone over the 1000-mile "break in" period. Unbeknownst to me, however with a read of the manual and a quick look online, I did not realize that I had to keep it under 4,000 RPMs, and not take off really quickly. Whoops! I am still having trouble adjusting to the clutch, and I have not owned a ton of manual transmission cars, but I learned to drive on a stick shift, and driven plenty more. I do not stall out, but my biggest problem is the shift from 2nd to 3rd (with smooth shifts only happening maybe 1 out of every 3 times), and 3rd to 4th (with smooth shifts happening 2 out of every 3 times). Not bad, but I would like to get both numbers down to 0 by the end of my second month. At least with a quick Google search, I realized that I am in good company. With all this in mind, I love the looks that I get when I am driving it on the road, the turbocharged 268-bhp engine is plenty powerful, and it feels like a sports car. A sports car that can handle the snow and mud! And at only $30,000, you wont mind getting it a bit dirty. I have yet to take it to the snow, as it is April in Fresno, CA and it has all but disappeared. I still have the summer tires that came with the car, but I plan on getting all weather this fall. The WRX can be a bit touchy in city traffic, in 1st or 2nd, but you get used to. My advice is that if you do not want to deal with a clutch like this on a daily basis, then look at other stick shift cars that are easier on the person shifting. What I mean is more forgiving. Or just spend the extra money and get the CVT (continuously variable transmission). After the first couple of weeks, I even started to doubt my penchant for driving stick shift. However, as I stuck (pun intended!) with it, I have been overjoyed that I did! So, if you are a Subaru WRX enthusiast, and want to feel like that kid that just got his first Camaro at the age of 16, then I highly recommend this car. It may not be for everybody, but I definitely is worth that test drive!

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  Best Outback Yet! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Gary - March 8 - 10:25 pm

  Fourth Subaru owned since my 2000 Outback. Have had one from each generation The 2000 was a good car but underpowered. Drove it for about 85,000 miles before trading, never let me down. Had a company car for 8 years, but we bought a 2008 Outback XT Limited (turbo) for my wife to replace a disappointing GMC Envoy XUV. That 2008 XT was a fun car, lots of power and good handling. Downside was high level of highway noise and fuel economy only 20-22 mpg, maybe 26 on long highway trips. Wife drove the XT from 2007 to 2011when it got handed down to me from 2012 to 2016. From 2009 through 2012 I had a 2009 Forester fleet car for work. Way quieter but very numb handling and down on power compared to the Turbo. Not the best riding car but never left me stranded. Drove that for over 60k. The 2017 model is head and shoulders above any previous Subaru owned. The best bang for the buck is the base model at around $25,000 if you dont need all the active safety options or the six cylinder. The car is quiet, roomy, good handling, excellent in snow and ice, has adequate acceleration, and so far has been getting combined over 28 mpg on regular gas. The CVT automatic transmission makes excellent use of the 175 hp 2.5 liter engine. Six speeds with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Also has a low-speed "off road" mode and steep hill ascent mode which most people will never use, but with the good ground clearance, you might drive it to Moab and do some real off-road driving. We live in the mountains and there are 7-8 months per year where you may need AWD or even snow tires. The Subaru line has never let us down. Driven this one in about 8 inches of fresh powder and it does get a little "floaty" where my wifes Wrangler Unlimited just plows through. If you need AWD at any time where you live or drive, I believe the Subaru is the best choice for getting where you need to go safely. In addition, I worked in he insurance industry and have seen fewer injuries or fatalities in Subaru vehicles than any other brand except perhaps Volvo, Mercedes, BMW.

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  I LOVE this thing! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By GYRFALCON - March 6 - 6:23 am

  Once I went out on a test drive, I was doomed! This car floats over the road, and is as quiet as an electric vehicle, yet still has plenty of muscle and handles beautifully. The reviewer who said it drives like "a big, heavy truck" had to be following one with his windows open and ODing on the fumes. The nose does take some getting used to, but the interior and other angles of the exterior are design marvels. So - if you love the feel of being pulled laboriously down the road by a noisy, vibrating engine placed at your knee level, and really enjoy the look of fake burled wood all around, then by all means stay away. Otherwise, you may just get Becad.

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  Best Wagon for the $ - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Richardson - March 3 - 10:00 am

  After test driving both the Passat and Volvo V70 series wagons we werent totally satisfied. Then we decided to give Subaru a try. First we drove a base model Outback & liked the look but not all the features. Then the sales person showed us the 2.5 GT Legacy wagon. We kept the car over night and really tested it out. The handling is superb, sound system rocks! Seats are comfortable with plenty of room to spare. We were a bit worried that the 4 cyl. engine wouldnt be enough power, but its fine for most driving and its quieter.

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  Best car ever owned - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By tony D - March 1 - 4:10 am

  Well I have 103,000 miles and I beat on this poor car and do the minimal maintenance and it has never let me down.The cars handling has saved my life several times the latest was a high speed deer avoidance situation the guy in the Acura behind me was not so lucky. The head gasket problem You have to use the Subaru coolant only or you will be screwed. just starting leaking a small amount of oil recently but I do use mobile 1 synthetic and it will find its way out of any engine sooner or later. My only complaint would be wind noise on the drivers side only. I also had a problem with the engine computer but the solution was to leave the battery disconnected overnight problem solved.

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  Good value - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By LSO528 - February 27 - 6:24 am

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  Subaru all the way from now on. - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Kate A - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Was reluctant to look at a Subaru until I disappointingly test drove Toyotas and Hondas in the same class. I fell in love with this car from the minute I set foot in it. I have found it handles highway driving brilliantly. But I especially enjoy taking it down winding back roads where I get to show off its superior handling and give the engine and suspense a great workout. It is effortless to drive and makes long distances feel like a breeze.

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  Safe, Excellent Reliability Car - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Subaru Owner - February 26 - 7:43 pm

  I have owned my Forester for over 6 years now and could not be more pleased. The AWD is very safe in the rain and ice. We even tried to get it to slide in bad weather and couldnt get it to! It has been very reliable and dependable and has held up well. I have only replaced one wheel bearing since I owned the car, everything else has been perfect. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants a safe reliable car that is very comfortable to drive.

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  Best valued car taking everything into account - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Alberto - February 25 - 7:38 pm

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  Great Vacation - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By musketball - February 24 - 10:00 am

  My 01 Forester L is all I expected,I had a 92 Legacy LS before so I knew I was getting a great vehical,I did all the research and read all the reports I could before I purchased it,its a pleasure to drive,my dog and I drove from central Florida to visit my son in Colorado,it was a real pleasure to drive on the road,we drove it up Pikes Peak to check it out at 14110 ft. elevation, it didnt know it was at elevation, it ran like it was at sea level.