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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  Gas Hog & Dangerous - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By deetee3 - October 31 - 5:22 am

  I just bought this car. After driving Subarus for 25 years I thought this would be the car to have. Wrong. This car is a total gas hog. The transmission has a real safety issue. The automatic transmission does not slow the car down... it kicks out of gear instead. My old Subaru stayed in gear when I backed off the throttle and slowed the car down on ice. This new Forester requires breaking to slow the car. The last thing you want to do on ice is hit the breaks!

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  See my last review "I want to love this car, but..." - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By deserthillsman - October 28 - 4:38 am

  Since April of this year, I have to downgrade my opinion of this car. On a recent trip (1200 miles), I found the drivers seat to be so uncomfortable that my lower back and legs were wrecked for several days afterwards. There is no lumbar adjustment which is a big negative. Gas mileage on the trip was a mediocre 26. My overall mpg for the life of the car is 21.3. I drive fairly conservatively, smooth starts and braking. This car has absolutely no power when the A/C is on which is a requirement here in the summer. Transmission is rough. The silver paint used on the interior is cheap and has flaked off. The center console is absurd. Its the bottomless pit.

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  When the going gets tough - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Depressed Subaru - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Well, it all started well. Then the warranty expired and so did the rear- wheel bearings three times, then the Catalytic converter... I loved this car, now I cant wait to unload it. I drive waiting for the next thing to start buzzing, humming, or cracking. Oh hey, the great oversized windshield had to be replaced three times... But, the silver lining is that you can sell the car fast to dealers shipping overseas. Wonder why?

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  Disappointed - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Looking Elsewhere - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Is anyone else having problems with the crappy CD player in this thing? And Ive even gottn it replaced under warranty and it still skips or wont even play my CDs. Besides that, the Check Engine light keeps coming on even though Ive been reassured that "nothing is wrong".

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  Huge Disappointment! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Unhappy - September 15 - 2:06 pm

  Boy, am I disappointed and angry. This B9 started breaking down at approximately 40,000 miles and has not run properly since, despite four trips to the dealership. I lost all compression and had to have 2 Valve intakes, 2 valve exchanges, 13 o rings, and several gaskets replaced. It took two breakdowns to get this fixed. Now, one cylinder is not functioning. The dealership is not wanting to admit that this is a lemon and replace it as they should. I have contacted the national Subaru corporation for all the good it will do me. Be careful if you buy this auto. You too could get stuck with a lemon.

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  Nothing To Write Home About - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By hammer6048 - August 30 - 10:00 am

  My first Subie, be aware of the shakes that can occur with this car. Do some digging before you buy. Good gas mileage for the size, which is nice. There is a negative, very poor acceleration, I have the four with a manual transmission. You will need to plan your moves in the highway, faster traffic will come up fast in the passing lane and flooring the car does nothing. Comfortable ride on the highway, good seats.

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  Not like previous Subarus - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Russ - August 5 - 11:50 pm

  This model was a lemon from the start. First two days discovered there was almost no transmission fluid in the transmission. Dealer blamed us but rescinded when I wrote to Subaru Regional Manager. 70K miles car overheated due to blown gaskets, $3,000+ replacement of heads. Now at 125,000 it is being towed away as a donor as either the rod bearings or main bearings are starting to go. Two previous Subarus (1990s models) are still on the road after we gave them away at 225,000 miles years ago. This is the last Subaru we will buy.

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  Worst car ever owned - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By david338 - August 2 - 4:38 pm

  My 2005 Outback is a money pit. I guess I got a lemon. Does the mfg. replace lemons? Head gaskets need to be replaced (poor design). I have had to replace both front axles, CV joints, hubs right rear and front, bushings bearings, etc...... already put $2000 in and expecting to layout another $2000 (no joke). I would recommend buying a HONDA. Oh yeah my father in law bought a new outback and already had to replace front right CV. At least his was under warranty. Maybe I am the isolated anomaly but it still hurts.

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  Remote start max 30 ft range - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Allen - July 23 - 10:30 pm

  If wanting remote start. Dont purchase a Touring model. Due to Keyless Access the remote start has a 30 ft range. Very old technology. The other non Keyless Access models have a 400 ft range. I have reached out to Subaru of America and they states receiving numerous complaints about remote start. But did not have a fix for the issue.

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  Wanted to feel the love... - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Laura - July 16 - 11:30 am

  It took me over a year to get into this car...the mpgs and stability on the road were what put me over the top. I was sooooooo excited to get this outback, I mean super excited to take it camping and have a reliable and fuel efficient car to drive in town... I was so excited that 3 of my friends went out and bought Subarus, too (2 got foresters and 1 an Outback, too). This all being said, I am not 100% convinced that my experience is that of most Outback consumers, however I do now know Im not alone. It seems that the quality control of the outback is not consistent. Im speaking primarily when it comes to mpgs. Ive done everything I can to push this car to achieve greater in city mpgs to no avail..Ive done every trick in the book(and in the web) and still my in city mpgs hover between 17-18.5mpg. Now maybe on the 6cyl. I could get on board but I bought the 4cyl. with the expressed excitement that it could achieve much greater than that based on fuelly (and other wwws) as well as repeated assurance from the folks at Subaru dealerships("easily get 20-23mpg in your neighborhood") and other Outback owners in my neighborhood. The worst of it though had been the run around by the service departments and Subaru Corporate telling me off the record that its horrible mileage but that its considered within the secret specs by Subaru Corporate(that they wont share with me) so they wont be allowed to check the vehicle further...theyll make appointments to appease me but they will simply check for computer updates and call it a day with a car wash thrown in. To be sure its not a case of driver error, I can assure you I got much better mileage on a loaner Forester and another Outback and my highway mileage is great (28-32mpg) but once it hits a city street it tanks within minutes. My car just didnt get put together right but no one is willing to look inside of it, even though the shop manager confirmed the mpg himself by driving it for 2 days. Anyway, I wont be buying or leasing another Outback for fear Ill get another dud with no recourse because the company doesnt stand behind their mpg claims or their vehicles. Luckily, my other friends got great vehicles it seems, Ill just have to ride this lease out and see what pops up on the market in the next 2 years.