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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  Wonderful Car! - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By B. - October 17 - 11:40 pm

  I love this car. We bought this car used and it worked fine, about 1 year later the tailgates wiper stopped working. The ball bearing went on 1 tire and is now going again. The light behind the speedometer and on the shifter do not work anymore and the clock died. The lining on every door is falling off. With all these problems I still love the car and would gladly buy one again. The car is perfect for winter driving and on dirt roads. I drive this car about 60 miles a day. Of all our cars this one gets the best mileage. I am very mean to my car and drive it on very rough terrain too. I have bent a strut, dented the oil pan, etc. but the car is still very reliable.

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  Poor mileage - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Barbara Rueckert - October 17 - 12:33 am

  In stop and start driving I get 15.8 to 16.2 mileage. Received message that my tires were low, they were not. Message went off when I hit cruise control. Computer problem?

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  2000 Subaru GT Sedan 5spd Manual - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By WD Baseley - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Dummies put UGLY advertising plate on car despite SPECIFIC instructions not to! Otherwise nice, good service. GT worth extra $ to me because of sunroof, rear LSD, power extras, upgraded sound sys. Extra bonus is better accel. due to lower final drive ratio. Gas mileage is fine (22 to 28) and car is very relaxed cruising at speed. Confidence-inspiring handling, fun to toss around in the twisties, safe as a house, good pep but could stand another 20-30 hp. Orig. equip. tires so-so, better rubber makes big difference. Also winter tires if you see snow; they turned my car from "gets me home in any conditions" to "whoo-hoo its snowing lets play!"

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  solid, but needs to be improved - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By dave in nyc - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Owned it for 4 years now and its generally well designed and engineered and a solid car for the price. However, if Subaru wants to remain competitive with its main competitors, it needs to pay attention to some interior details below and offer the little "extras" that give custormers satisfaction. And its absolutely necessary Subaru offer a 7 passenger "sport wagon" or I will certainly be trading in for a (Acura) MDX or equivalent in 2-3 years.

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  Perfect If Youre Looking For An AWD Sedan - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By Bridget - October 13 - 5:11 am

  I just purchased a 2013 Legacy with only 14k miles. I previously owned a 2008 Ford Escape. I wanted a car with better gas mileage that also had AWD. I was originally looking at Crosstreks, however, they are hard to come by pre-owned and the Legacy was a great deal. This is a great car if AWD is a must for you and you dont want to spend a lot of money. I wouldnt recommend the Legacy if you are looking for a real sporty/peppy ride. I dont find it boring but the CVT took me a while to get used to. It feels a little sluggish at times and is awkward in stop and go traffic. Its also pretty noisy. The steering is solid/heavy and you feel glued to the ground. The visibility/mobility is better than any other car I have owned. I can switch lanes very easily on congested highways. Its also super comfortable and roomy. Overall, I like the Legacy as it has everything that is important to me. It has AWD, good gas mileage and was under $20K. I also like it because its different. I didnt want to drive what everyone else out there has. I can see why Legacy has such a loyal following. Its a unique driving experience and that can be good or bad depending on what youre looking for. I made out pretty good and will probably look at Subarus again.

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  A real Subaru - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By Dave - October 9 - 8:26 am

  Nice car, no problems so far (7k miles/8 months). Fun to drive, more than adequate power from the 2.5 non-turbo, 5 speed manual has a nice feel. Competent for light off road use, get the skid plates. Fuel economy has been about 24 MPG, which isnt great, but it is acceptable.

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  Anywhere, Anytime - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By maineiac skibum - October 8 - 3:10 pm

  My wife picked out a silver 07 forester XT Sport with manual transmission. This is an Awesome SUV with an emphasis on Sport. We live in Maine and I work at a ski resort. We put snow tires on the subie and we do much better than many other vehicles. At the same time this car is FAST. The stick doesnt have VDC which is okay because the sound of 4 wheels screeching is a beautiful thing. The dogs love the large cargo area, and the luggage rack easily carries everything else. This car has been from Miami to Maine and has handled everything the way we wanted. If you are looking for a do-it-all funmobile - this is it.

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  A Happy Camper, Overall - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Timber - October 7 - 11:20 pm

  It has been a wonderful vehicle thus far. I bought it for the AWD, and I feel really safe driving it in the snow and ice. I dont ride in the backseat, but Ive heard from my passengers that it can be a little tight if you are over 60". The cargo room is just perfect for what I need it for. I enjoy finding new places to hide/store things. The front windows are rather noisy when driving at high speeds, but overall, I have been very pleased with my purchase. I did my research and it has paid off.

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  some problems - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By tony_19957 - October 6 - 2:00 am

  i will just mentioned the problems i had. had to return the 5 disc cd changer once for a replacement. the center hub cap on the wheel i lost two of them they do not seem to hold tight. the oxygen sensor which is part of the polution control was replace as part of a recall and comes on every now and then. The front windows squeel when going above 60 mph i guess it is worn. the driver side window button does not work all the time.

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  From Outback to GT - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By giddyap - October 4 - 10:33 am

  Through no fault of its own, a bad rollover accident in my Outback put us into the buyers market again. (lost our Outback, but we walked away) Went looking for another Subie of course! Test drove the 2002 Outback, Forrester and finally the GT. Hands down it was the GT!! With my daily commute of 90 miles (1/3 of the trip on mountain roads) I was glad to switch. The GT handles hair-pin curves and tight situations beautifully. Dont test drive a GT if you dont want to own one.