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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  Street Shredder - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By NHdriver - December 8 - 10:00 am

  On the whole, this car kicks some serious butt! The only issue I have with it is that there isnt any real room. My 3 year old son takes up a lot of space in the back with his car seat, so the driver really cant be that big of a person. Were moving from a 98 KIA Sportage. That being said, there are several MILLION pluses on the Subarus side. The only minus I can think of is the roominess. The Sportage had a little more room in the front and in the back and more head room as well. Our Subaru gives you so much confidence while driving. No matter what Ive put it through so far, it seems as if it knows what Im about to do before I do.

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  Horray for CVT! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By helm - December 8 - 3:23 am

  Ive had the car for two weeks and continue to be impressed with the design. The 2.5 is a little gutless off the line and under heavy acceleration, but it gets the job done and for the 26- 28 mpg Im getting around the city on regular grade gas, its well worth the trade. Averaged 32 mpg on a recent road trip. The CVT transmission is remarkably smooth and keeps the tach in a sweet spot. Handling is fantastic. What the Legacy lacks under the hood is more than made up for in the turns. Bluetooth works well, wheel controls are well placed, seats are comfortable and supportive and there is no lack of passenger space. No noticeable blind spots or tiny rear view issues as is common in many new cars.

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  2 Fast 2 Furious - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Johannes - December 8 - 12:33 am

  After reviewing the CR-V, RAV-4, and Forester, we decided on the Forester. Not only did my wife agree, but so does Consumer Reports. It was rated their top small SUV. Once we decided on the Forester, I got prices from the internet. There were serious price ranges. Dealers were adding on options and trying to pass them off as necessary items. However, I have found that the only options necessary are the cargo tray, splash guards, and bumper cover. The above options come as a package. After much debate here are the following totals: price $26,100 plus tax & license. I took the $1,500 cash rebate. Bringing the total to $24,600. Seriously shop around to get best deal.

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  overall impression - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By road ninja - December 7 - 11:10 am

  Very fun to drive. Now put on 3,500 miles. Awesome road handling. Nice heavy duty suspension - handles off road bumps incredibly. Decent fuel mileage avg. 26mpg. Front bumper is too low - bottoms out if not careful. Exterior paint chips too easily - front plastic bumper absorbs road debris. Very jerky manual transmission when maintaining slow speed. 1st gear take off power is very weak, yet in all gears when passing 3500rpms acceleration picks up! Upgraded sound system is ok, not impressive; the stereo reception is not the best. Low fuel warning light is inconsistent. Some wind noise, overall love the vehicle am content. still worth the purchase - good price. AWD system is great!

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  Fix the seats - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By roadturtle - December 5 - 10:33 pm

  2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 X, Auto. This is my first Subaru. While I really like my AWD wagon. Subaru needs to up their game. The drivers seat has broken twice in less than 4000 miles. It took two weeks to get a new frame. A long time. Tech stated that Subaru has known about this problem for awhile. Yet they gave me another seat frame that broke in about one week. I am now waiting for another seat frame. Why couldnt I buy a drivers power seat without spending $4000 extra. Now I wish I had. This may be last Subaru.

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  Great bang for the buck - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Jonathan G. - December 5 - 9:33 pm

  My 72 year old Mom decided it was time to trade in her 1990 Mercedes 300E for a new Mercedes. We looked at both the new Mercedes "C" and "E" models and we were NOT impressed. Looked at Cadillac and Lincoln, just not right. Took her to the Subaru dealer, she got in the Outback, shut the door and her eyes twinkled and said this is "IT". The only thing bad was the dealer offered her almost nothing for her Mercedes that only had 80K miles in garage kept perfect condition. But maybe that was good, because I told her I would buy it for that much, and later that day she said I could have it as a gift for helping her select her new Subaru - AKA Miss Suzy!

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  A great touring car - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By lhaugen - December 4 - 3:30 pm

  Shortly after buying this vehicle, we took a 2000 mile round trip vacation. This car is very responsive and makes long driving days seem shorter. Best of all, we got up to 28 miles a gallon!

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  Feel Secure - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Merle - December 2 - 8:36 pm

  Just like our 1997 Outback, its reliable, good of fuel, and we feel secure.

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  Wonderful Driving Experience - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By E. Castro - December 2 - 11:13 am

  I got great financing from Subaru. I think this is the best year for the Subaru. Finally a car company has finally put the true meaning of "GT" into a car: style, performance, power and handling. Its not some superficial dressed up version that they slapped GT on it to give you an impression that its faster then their standard models. This thing GOES!

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  Great Car!! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Jaap - December 1 - 10:50 pm

  Just bought a Tribeca after test driving several SUVs. The final choice was between a Murano and the Tribeca. I was able to get a great deal on the Tri (maybe due to the bad reviews on looks). This car is great! Moved from Texas to Massachusetts and needed a car that would be safe in the snow . Just survived my first snow storm and this car handles suburb. Especially the guided traction control helped me out in some slippery situations. 3rd row is a joke but it is made up for by the double sliding middle seats. Im 63 and the legroom in the back seat is great. Power is at higher RPM (by design) so dont be afraid to rev it up when needed. I found the 250 hp to be sufficient.