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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  Caffeine-free version of Impreza WRX - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Space_Monkey - March 1 - 2:00 am

  AWD is no excuse to drive with abandon, but it instills more confidence in inclement weather. Despite small engine, lacking turbo of new Subarus, acceleration is adequate. Braking is never a problem. Uncommon exterior appearance turns heads (but Im tiring of others trying to race me.) Front seats are comfortable over long distances; offer good support when cornering. Climate system works well; use of A/C hardly affects power. Components (brakes, exhaust) have lasted longer than expected.

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  won out over audi a4 - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By subby boy - March 1 - 2:00 am

  My wife actually chose this car over the A4 avant wagon, with the conditions in Utah, the clearance, reliability, room, and features were a much better fit, of course it cost less as well

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  Good but Not Exciting - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By christy - February 28 - 1:36 am

  It is a decent car. It performs very well in snow -- better than our 4x4 rig. It is, well, just boring. But it is good.

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  WRX - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By ShoeBox - February 26 - 10:00 am

  Its a fast car, good engine reliability, and it has AWD, but the built in quality is so so. Squeaking is everywhere (window is squaking when you roll down). Dash board is ratling here and there. Seat is good for driving around the city, but its bad for out of town.

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  Not as good as I hoped - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By musiclvr1 - February 26 - 3:31 am

  6 months and 11k miles so far. own 3 other vehicles that are also driven on the same roads, parked in the same place, etc. only car with a cracked windshield? the forester. only car with hail damage? the forester. I almost 6 ft tall, and can not find a comfortable position. No telscoping wheel really sucks, as I have long legs and unless the seat is fully back, my legs are cramped if driving for any length of time, but then my arms are held nearly straight out to reach the wheel. I think the body is made of foil instead of sheat metal, recent light hail storm left 18 dents in the car. my other cars, not a single dent. radio is horrible, interior plastic feels cheaper every day.

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  A reliable cold-country vehicle - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Ed - February 25 - 8:30 pm

  This is my second Outback. Sold first one, a 2000, in 07 with 175 thousand miles bought this. Very reliable, as was the 2000. The driver power seats been improved, (2000 was poor) altho still could offer more positioning. Standard 2.5 has a little more power, which is nice and it still gets about the same mileage. Cars heavy on safety, which appeals to some. Wish theyd concentrate more on performance and mileage. That said its not bad in the latter two. I think safety issues are better addressed more by skillful driving. They eliminated the weather radio band which I think was a mistake, I used it a lot.

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  Roper Review - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By maroper - February 23 - 10:00 am

  We have had this vehicle for 30 months and it has never given us any trouble. I love to drive it. Has great pick up. You have to watch it or you find you are going faster than you realize. Had a problem with the speed sensor at 38,000 miles but the Power train warranty covered the total amount of repair. This has been a very dependable vehicle so far. Gets about 23 mpg. Would definitely buy it again.

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  Buy one you will love it - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By Moondog - February 21 - 9:56 pm

  In the small SUV vehicles I found the Forester to be the best buy and it is very reliable. I have owned Subarus before and can vouch for this.

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  My 1st Forester - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By peteyg - February 19 - 3:24 am

  Im overall very happy, but truly not head over heals. Initial throttle is a bit too anxious; it launches forward just pulling out of parking spot or at a red light, so Im training myself to press lightly on the pedal. Front seats: comfortable but wish they were deeper, they lack side support. Biggest disappointment: sound quality; its a Limited so I thought it would have been better. Sound mainly comes from lower front doors; sounds tinny & the bass response is awful. I repeat my favorite songs & Ive loved how my tunes sounded in my previous Jetta & Sorento (with base audio pkg) deep base and balanced in mid to high volumes, w/ Forester bass gets weaker & speakers crackle as vol goes up.

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By taniame - February 13 - 3:50 am

  Ive had my 05 Impreza RS Wagon for a week. So far so good. Great car, built in Japan with great quality contro. Fun to drive, very reliable. 165hp is not fast enough for an AWD, but it is good for daily commute I guess.