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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  I like my Forester - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Sharpener - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Very capable in the ice and snow. Handles like a good sedan. Good fuel economy for a vehicle of this type. Adequate, but not thrilling acceleration. Everything works, so far.

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  love it needs heated seats - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By angiono - July 21 - 2:00 am

  love it dont need a ladder or parachute to get in or out of it, can carry a lot (2 7 xmas trees fit in easy peazy, just would like heated seats for the really cold days.

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  I LOVE IT! - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By KATHY JUDGE - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I FEEL SAVE IN MY SUBARU. ITS THE ONLY CAR ILL EVER OWN. I HAD A 1999 AND JUST TRADED IT FOR A 2004. THE MILAGE SEEMS TO BE ALITTLE BETTER.

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  MY 2003 OUTBACK - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By RICHVANWAG - July 21 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS OUR SECOND OUTBACK--WE PUT 135000 ON A 1999. THIS CAR IS THE H6, WHICH IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN POWER. WE FOUND THE OLD ONE AND THIS NEW ONE TO BE BULLETPROOF. THE NEW ONE HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. WE HAVE DRIVEN IT 14,000 MILES IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, AND NOT A SINGLE COMPLAINT. IT GETS REASONABLY GOOD GAS MILEAGE (ABOUT 25 IF YOU HOLD IT TO 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY) DROPPING TO 23-24 IF YOU DRIVE IT 80-85, WHICH IT DOES COMFORTABLY. I DISLIKE THE NOISE LEVEL IN THE CABIN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT IS AN EXCELLENT SNOW CAR. THE HIGH CLEARANCE IS A REAL PLUS IN DEEP SNOW.

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  Still great cars, more fun than ever! - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By gtskier - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle, moving upscale to compete with the likes of Audi and Acura in the AWD crossover arena. Too bad they got rid of the steering wheel buttons/paddles on the limited, went to other controls for stereo and cruise. The iDrive system is cool, maps the throttle response and upshift points to economy, sport and sport sharp. If you keep it in economy, expect mixed driving mileage at about 22-23. In sport or sport# mode expect maybe 16 mpg and lots of tickets!

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  Great Car - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Mark T - July 17 - 12:16 am

  So far Ive had it 3 weeks, and have a little over 1500 miles on it. Have taken a trip through Adirondack Mountains and averaged 30.1 miles and city driving is about 26. Its a great car for 20k, sunroof, premium stereo, fog lights, heated seats, winter package,alloy wheels and AWD. Looked @ a lot of other cars, Honda Fit Sport, Scion, Toyota, Nissan, etc, nothing and I mean nothing came close. Dealership was great to work with. Thanks Tony.

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  Legacy Meets WRX - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Bob R. - July 15 - 6:26 pm

  After 5,000 miles, I can say that Subaru has done a wonderful engineering job. They have mated the formerly slow, boring Legacy with the racy WRX. My 4-cylinder feels like an 8. Even with the 5-speed AT, the car still moves like a BMW. Turbo lag is not noticeable. The car handles, turns and brakes great. The MOMO steering wheel, luminescent gauges and grippy heated cloth seats tell you that youre about to go racing. However, this car is perfect for a family - comfortable, a forgiving ride, quiet (even the 17-inch sport tires do not roar) and safe with the additional air bags and AWD/ABS. My father took it out for a long run over all kinds of roads and came back amazed.

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  My first Subaru - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By Bob R. - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Outback in December 2003 and have just topped 5,000 miles. Acceleration is so-so, probably hurt by the AWD. My keyfob, for whatever reasons, does not unlock my doors in certain parking lots, but this is rare. Learn how to manually disable alarm. On the positive side, car is fun to drive, engine is quiet, car turns and handles well, automatic shifts smoothly, ABS braking is good, no mechanical problems and cargo room is excellent. My gas mileage has been similar to EPA numbers.

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  Really enjoy driving it - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By The Craw - July 14 - 8:11 pm

  I moved from a 2014 Crosstrek Hybrid to this car. The MPG is comparable, but it is much roomier. The head unit and audio is way way better in this model than in my previous Subaru, and the cabin is pretty quiet. I do have a couple of small complaints: 1. You cannot mute the audio in the NAV system, and it breaks into the music versus talking over the music. For me, this makes the NAV system too annoying to be used, and I end up using Google Maps instead. According to Subaru customer service, this is not something that they are planning on fixing. 2. The Bluetooth microphone seems to pickup a lot of noise, especially during highway driving. People on the other end say it is quite annoying to listen to. I have tried adjusting the mic volume, and it doesnt seem to help much. 3. The EyeSight cameras remove the area where you can store sunglasses, and make the rear view mirror a little challenging to adjust. They also should have blind spot available in this like it is in the Outback/Legacy. This is our 4th Subaru, and the reliability of the prior 3 has been exceptional. I expect this will be the same. All in all, I would definitely recommend this car. It is our 4th Subaru, and

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  Great cat so far - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Josiane Stickels - July 12 - 10:28 am

  I have only had this car for about a week, and the only thing I dont like is that the driver seat headrest is too far forward. Ive had to tilt my seat back so that I can get my head back far enough to be comfortable. If I put my seat back upright like Im used to the headrest pushes my head way too far forward not in line with my spine. Uncomfortable. Otherwise great car.