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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  Sooby rooby roo, we love you! - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Lucas Martin - May 5 - 2:58 am

  This car is amazing. I love how it looks. It really fits the Colorado lifestyle. Havent taken it to the shop in two years and still runs like new. The back is really cool. If you are a fun loving personand you live near the mountains, I highly recommend this car for you. It does have a few issues. One is that there are only 4 seats in the car. Another one is that the gearshift is pretty wobbly. But overall, this car is the most amazingest car ever.

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  Subaru Returns! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Nebulous - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Subaru has done it again, but with a regular car? This 4WD sedan does very well by my standards. It corners great and looks cool. Also throw in the 237 HP and youve got the greatest value around. NOTE: I do not work for subaru.

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  A guzzler? - 2017 Subaru Impreza
  By A Maryland driver - May 3 - 7:32 pm

  All would seem fine if my 2017 Impreza Hatchback had in town gas mileage better than the (very) low 20s. That is a large, expensive-in-the-long-term disappointment. This is the first car of any brand in which I havent easily exceeded the EPA mileage figures, beginning with the first full tank of fuel.

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  2006 Legacy SE Wagon - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By DesertEagle - May 3 - 3:43 am

  My wife has to drive a lot for work, so we were looking for a reliable vehicle with some space for the family trips. In 12000 miles, this car has been great. Good luggage capacity, decent gas mileage (26mpg average), good handling, firm but comfortable ride, and AWD. So far not a single problem with it. Love the interior (except for the seats) and the overall build quality of the car. For a wagon, the styling is also very nice. The engine has OK performance, but the 4 speed auto transmission is the weak point. It takes FOREVER to kick down once you floor it. Luckily there is the manumatic feature. Overall, we love the car and would definitely buy it again.

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  No regrets whatsoever - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Matt - May 2 - 5:56 am

  I have a 5 speed MT Special Edition. I have gone from VW products to Audi and I have no regrets at all. The build is great, the AWD is extremely capable and I have never gotten it stuck (and I have tried as I take it down trails through mud and snow and over rocks to go biking), the comfort and visibility is fantastic, the power is not earth moving but good enough, the mileage is very good considering its a big 4 cylinder and just 5 speeds. The only real downside is that the leg room in the rear seat is very very tight.

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  great utility car - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Ron - May 1 - 2:03 pm

  Bought new now I have 109,000 miles on it with very few problems brakes at 45,000 tires at 52,000 brake job was expensive $800. I commute 140 miles each way to work about 10 times a month. Average mpg 26.6 This is my third Subaru and the only reason I will probably not get a fourth is I need a change. I have noticed some of the reviews indicate this car is not good in the snow I live in the northeast and drive many miles on the backroads of Maine, New Hanpshire and Vermont and I think this car is great in the snow One caveat if you like quick acceleration and power THIS IS NOT THE CAR FOR YOU If you want reliable economical transportation and need AWD this is a great car.

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  Blue STi - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By subbynut - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Owned several high performance cars. The STi is the most practical. However it does not have the same quality build/fit and finish as the german and other japanese products.

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  The Good and The Bad - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By John - April 25 - 9:46 am

  Being that it has turbo, the WRX is a blast to drive in a straight line. Add corners to the equation and youd better hang on to the handles if you have the 08. Dont worry, they added sway bars to the 09 WRX because of the problem. They also added significantly more horsepower to the 09 WRX. I feel ripped off that these fixes didnt come with the original 08 WRX model.

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  Mostly good - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Kathy - April 25 - 5:10 am

  The car is almost as good as I expected. I like everything except the cruise control. Mine wont work and I cant get Subaru to fix it. Ive been to the dealership twice and they say to wait until November when they "might" have a solution. Ive tried to contact the regional customer service but so far, no one has bothered to call me back. Its been three weeks since the problem was first reported.

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  pleased - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By ozarks - April 24 - 1:12 pm

  After weeks of serious comparison and review, I settled on the Subaru Legacy as a new car purchase. The fit and finish is fine and the car is very comfortable and has excellent room for passengers. It is a mid-size vehicle. The car handles well and very little body roll in sharp transitions. The dash layout isnt as pretty as some competitors but the seats are excellent and the Harmon/Kardon optional sound system is good. Interface with iPhone was easy. My only disappointment at this stage is MPG, it isnt returning what I expected. The CVT is smooth but I didnt see anything close to 32 on the HWY on my first road trip. Im not a heavy foot driver and not a jackrabbit start or stop driver