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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  Love My Subaru - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By SCB - October 27 - 10:00 am

  We just traded in our Dodge MiniVan for the Subaru Outback. We have two children and I did not think we needed another van but I wanted to have room and we take car trips often so comfort was one of my big factors. We have not taken a car trip with it yet, but I know we will not have a problem. I also wanted the AWD and of course the bigger engine. I have always heard great things about the outback and that it had all the safety features to make you feel good with having small children in it. The child seat anchors are a plus.

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  Subie GT - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Michael - October 25 - 3:03 am

  So far it has been excellent. The fit and finish of the interior and exterior have been awesome. I would have liked to have seen the doors close more securely, but overall it is awesome. The power of the turbo is smooth and the shift from gear to gear leaves you breathless. A+. I am glad to see more mods available to date.

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  Fun and fast! - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By VJD - October 24 - 5:13 am

  Finally drove a new, with 6 miles on it, pearl white 2010 WRX HB equipped with the SPT shortshifter and exhaust. Within a few minutes I knew this was the car for me. Excellent low end power, handling and road feel. Plus it has AWD. Finally found a replacement for my long gone 04 R32.

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  Impressive Impreza! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By andrew - October 24 - 3:51 am

  I just bought my 2005 Impreza 2.5 RS 5 speed. I bought this car because i needed something that was good in bad weather especially snow. It had to be good to decent on fuel because i do some driving for work. I didnt want a blah car either and i didnt want to spend over 3 grand on it. well, i got the car with 157k miles for 1500 bucks! very clean in and out! one owner since new and serviced by the dealer. I have put about 800 miles on it so far and i have to say, I LOVE IT! We just had about a foot of snow and this thing was unstoppable! Handles really good , driving position is good, shifting is good though i think the shifter should be taller. Its comfortable and nice to drive. The engine makes a great sound, i dont think i have an after market exhaust but man does it sound great! The brakes are not that great. The pedal doesnt grab right away, you have to get your foot in it to brake. I have heard this is common with these cars. The interior is nice, plain jane but not dull looking at all. It gives you a sporty feel when driving it even though you know its an econo box. The seats are nice and just comfortable enough. The trunk is huge! Takes potholes and other road imperfection really well. The doors feel really light. I guess this is done for reduce weight and better fuel economy because of the all wheel drive system. The radio is horrible! doesnt not have good reception. The ac is ok and the heat is really hot! I some how find myself wanting to drive it more. Ive owned and own pretty cool cars and this subie is just as much fun to drive! There are a few things i have discovered that owners must pay attention to. Change oil regularly, change your coolant every 2 years and make sure your battery terminals have no corrosion on them. This is to help avoid the head gasket issues these cars have. This car had that taken car of including a new ac compressor. I read that it is best to use subaru coolant etc instead of your conventional coolants. I would recommend this car to anyone as long as you do your home work. Its the best alternative to owning a big, gas guzzling suv. It was between a subaru and a nissan xterra but i really do feel i made the right choice! I could have gone with a front wheel drive vehicle but i really wanted 4x4 or all wheel drive and this subaru in my honest opinion is the best choice hands down! Update: previous owner didnt replace timing belt tensioner, it slipped, ruined the heads. Luckly, my friend knew of a Subaru geek and the heads were rebuilt, ported, new valves, cleaned all carbon build up, cleaned pistons and piston walls, new belt and pulleys. Runs amazingly! More pep and pulls through out the rpm gauge. Its fantastic.......but Im bored. Not enough performance. Not many blizzards here in new jersey so whats the point? Awd and fine tuned handling is a high plus on this car. I should have spent the money on the wrx.

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  My favorite car. - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By hoofer - October 22 - 10:03 am

  By far the best car Ive ever owned. I looked at a new Forester and found this S Premium on the used lot. It was a great deal. It was sporty but not a giant SUV. The ride is exceptional and the leather trim is excellent. I cant wait to try it out this winter in the Chicago snow. When my wife first saw it she called it the Pope-Mobile as it sits high. No problems to speak of so far; must have been owned by a family prior. Premium package comes with leather, heated seats and mirrors, front wiper deicers in the windshield and giant sunroof. The gas mileage is excellent on the highway and good in the city. Previous cars were Honda Civics and CRX. A step up in comfort, thats for sure.

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  Enjoyed my Subaru - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By dowpwr - October 21 - 11:56 am

  Had my 2009 Subaru for 5 years and I really enjoyed it. It drove more like a sedan with the horizontally opposed engine which is one of the reasons I bought this car over the Lexus or highlander. Great in snow, and fun to drive. Peppy off the start. Technology was way behind (nav useless). In fact all the tech in the car was below average, but if you dont care about that kind of stuff its not a deal breaker. Never had any problems with the car. Gas mileage was low. 13 around city. Long trips Id average 21mpg. Small tank hurt its range. Couldnt get 300 miles without worrying about where the next gas station was.

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  Update since purchase - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By tayl23 - October 18 - 6:00 am

  Since my last review 11/27, my wife has put 3400 miles on her car. I drive it from time to time and have to say Im impressed with the car. I enjoy driving it and feel it has a lot of pick up with the boxster engine. The car feels very tight and the steering wheel is excellent in terms of its thickness and feel. We had trouble finding a car seat that did not angle so far back, but found a Britax that fits perfectly. We have had a couple of snow storms and the car has handled great. Very happy with the purchase so far and would recommend.

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  Best of the best! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Robert - October 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a real car, not like those other non powerful engine, thank you for briging the WRX to the US.

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  Fast Fun and Practical - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Keith Thurston - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Very quick, handles great, fun to drive, yet practical enough that I can use it for work. This car does what you want it to, want to go fast and take some turns agressively? No problem, want to settle down and set the cruise (you wont)and listen to the killer sound system? Go ahead and you will be suprised at the ride and lack of road noise. It handles the daily commute grind as well as your favorite twisty road.

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  Outback 3.6R Limited...falling in love...fast! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Brit - October 15 - 3:07 pm

  It was time to give up the 12 year old daily driver (Jaguar x-type awd with manual transmission - LOVED this car, just did not want to part with it). Needed an all wheel drive car that could fit the family and all of our stuff. Test drove the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Audi Q5, a couple of Mercedes 4matic vehicles, and my wife has been driving Volvo for over a decade. Each time I drove one those previously mentioned brands there was something that I didnt like, but assured myself that I would get over it. Did a ton of research and kept coming away with the thought that getting over something when paying for a $45,000+ car just did not make sense. On a whim I decided to include Subaru on the last "luxury brand" internet searches...then decided to walk the lot of the local Subaru dealership. So thankful I did! As soon as we left on the first test drive of a 2017 Outback 3.6R Limited I was hooked. Unlike the other brands, there was nothing I did not like. No beeps, no over-technology, the interior trim and leather is Mercedes 350-level-nice, the visibility and sight lines are great, the sound system is awesome and the seats are comfortable. Then, we got to driving...I like to drive...and while its a big vehicle, it does not drive like a big vehicle. It has an unexpected 4 corner balance to it and, really nice, dare I say "fun" power band. I took the thing through its paces and didnt want the test drive to end. Went home to "digest" and then went back that night to drive it again...and then bought that very vehicle two days later. Stunned how much I like it...dare I say...love..this wagon? SUV? Cross-over? Dont care what you call it...other than possibly the best, most underrated and unexpected value I have ever come across. To be fair, this is the 3.6R with the bigger wheels. Drove the 2.5 before purchasing just to be sure (some reviews say there is not a big difference unless you are towing...dont believe it, drive them both...), and lets just say the power level of the 2.5 was not my cup of tea. Also, I am not a "technology" guy - all I wanted was Bluetooth and a sunroof - the Limited had both...and while the "Eye-sight" system seems like a great idea, I am anti-beeps and boops coming from the car while I am driving, thus no need for that either.