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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  Not-so-great - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By dvnguyen - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Started to experience minor problems when the car reached 30,000 miles mark. The interior faded significantly, engine ran rough etc.... But the most annoying thing was the failure of the rear wheel bearing. Turned out this is the common problem for this model year. Subaru started to use Legacy bearing to correct the problem; however, it refused, thus far, to admit that it is a design flaw.

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  Impreza Hatchback Imprezzive - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By trimmer1 - December 25 - 10:25 pm

  My first Subaru, picked up a few weeks ago after laborous research, test drives, and deliberations. Could not be happier with my purchase. No car is absolutely perfect, but this car meet every one of my criteria at or beyond expectations. It is comfortable, practical, fun to drive, and as versatile as any car I have owned. I use it as a city car and it takes pot holes like a champ, manuevers perfectly, feel safe and comfortable, and squeezes into those tough spots a full size just cant. I love my Subaru and the Impreza wont win any contests on looks alone, but is really the most practical and well rounded car I can find.

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  Best deal for a practical off road car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Julius - December 25 - 3:29 pm

  I bought this car for better access to climbing areas. For the price, I could not find a better car with high clearance that can handle off road driving along with reasonable safety features (Eyesight package) for long drives. This is a great, fuel efficient car for comfortable road trips to adventure destinations. The one thing it is not is a fun drive. It is a relatively low power SUV crossover, so it lacks acceleration and sportiness, but that isnt why you buy an Outback...

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  Excellent commuter car - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By eric Hvisc - December 25 - 2:00 am

  I drive 30 miles every day to work on one of the most aggressive highways in the New York metro area. and the ride is smooth and nimble. Oh and by the way Im 511" and weigh 280 lbs

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  2 Lemons - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Brian - December 24 - 5:23 pm

  My first 09 Outback was delivered to me with a broken heater. The next morning it took 7 tries to get it started. The car was replaced with another one. The second car was miss firing from the time of purchase and had a check engine light 6 days after purchase. Subaru HQ claims the miss firing is part of break in and they will not repair the vehicle.

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  Sports sedan of an SUV - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By sheepdog - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I wanted a family car/suv that drove like a sports car. This is the car chose. Fits the bill pretty well. I did research at Subaru outback.org and found a lot of them add a Subaru 19 mm rear sway bar kit ($72 online) that makes the car corner much flatter but still ride well. This 10 minute easy install job provided my family sports car. Best $72 upgrade ever. Dealership had no problem with the switch for warranty. Drives with a German feel now. Watch your speed, the car likes to be driven over 60 mph everywhere!

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  Darn That Transmission - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By duzduz - December 22 - 12:16 pm

  Overall I truly loved this car. Unfortunately the window noise everyone talks about came up for me around 30,000 miles but bigger than that, the transmission! Clunky from about 56,000 miles and finally bit the dust at 140,000. Come now, thats too early. Im a very gentle driver, never accelerate too fast, and would certainly expect a better lifetime out of such a major (and EXPENSIVE) element of the car. Sounds like this is a trend with the 03 Outback :(

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  Most Fun Compact Car with AWD! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By David - December 22 - 5:50 am

  Ive had my Impreza 2.5 RS Sports Wagon for just over a month. Its exactly what Im looking for -- compact size, reasonable power, and lots of cargo space. Ive had two other compact cars (Dodge Neon and Ford Focus) and the Impreza is the best by far. The front seats are excellent for everyday driving, they are very supportive and controls are exactly where they should be. Passing power is great in city, I can change lanes with ease. One thing that Im uncertain about the Impreza are the frameless doors, although they feel sporty, but might increase wind noise in a couple years ?

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  2 years and 33k miles later - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By brent05 - December 22 - 1:32 am

  Got a great vehicle just about 2 years ago, and still love it. Had some difficulty on color choice because apparently they dont built as many cars as what I was used to (chevy Malibu) but I am still happy with my choice. Met a nice guy camping in northern Michigan that had one and was raving about how good it was in snow and he even let me drive it around down the road and back. Got mine in August of 13 and so far so good. I do mainly highway driving with my cruise set at 60-62 and Ive been getting 31.2-31.5 MPG at the pump. Only complaint is the trip computer tells me Im getting 34.1 on average...I WISH!

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  Love, love, love it! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By InLove - December 21 - 3:30 pm

  I love this car. It is so practical, yet stylish. I get so many compliments on it. Its a very capable SUV with good gas mileage, many creature comforts, and an impressive list of well-thought-out features. I have had some hiccups on my particular vehicle, such as trouble with cold starts and a noise in the steering column. However, Subaru has done a fantastic job addressing these issues and wont rest until they are completely resolved. You cannot go wrong with this vehicle!