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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  1st Subaru, and I am glad I bought it. - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By jim_t - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Outback Sport on 6/1/04, and have loved every minute of driving. Im still under the break-in period (only 150 miles left) so Im keeping it (barely) under 4k RPM. Even keeping my Sport under 4k RPM, I still have enough power to freely move around at freeway speeds. I took my Sport and my fiancee on a nice long drive up Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Ventura the weekend after we bought it, and we were thrilled with the handling, power, and comfort. This is truly the perfect car for me. Plenty of room for the rugrats (when they come) and for Future Dog (when he is adopted).

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  Great little wagon! - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Tom Thumb - July 10 - 10:00 am

  After flipping cars every 6 mos for the past 2 years, I think Ive finally found the right balance of everything! Has plenty of room (like my old 4Runner), handles great (close enough to my A4), gets great gas mileage (MUCH better than my V6 Accord)...This car has handling, convenience and character to spare! The boxer engine is just a gem - likes to rev, rock and roll! The 2.5L engine has PLENTY of power and torque, gets better gas mileage than the 2.0L blown version, and costs about HALF to insure. Skip the WRX, skip the 9.2X and check this one out - you wont be disappointed.

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  review - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By getty45 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Great Amazing Car! Couldnt be happier. Great handling and power.

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  Excellent car, but VIN problems - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By subi2006 - July 10 - 7:43 am

  Great car for the money. This is my second Legacy. Comparing to 2001 the 2006 model feels more sporty due to more powerful engine, sport mode transmission and low profile tires. The only drawback is that 2006 Special and Limited Editions share the first 7 digits in the VIN which are used by everyone to ID the car. As the result a 22K SE comes up as 25.3K Limited and the owner pays higher insurance premiums, property taxes, registration fees, etc. Ask me how I know.

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  Maybe the best all around car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Subie4life - July 10 - 4:10 am

  I just got back from the dealer for a recall. Yep, after 96,000 miles this is the first time I took it to the dealer. What a great car. Ive totally abused this thing (from landscaping materials to my 4-60 lb dogs) and it begs for more. Ive only done routine maintenance (tires at 50k, oil every 3k) and its as strong as ever. It thrives in bad weather (torrential downpours here in Miami and trips to the snow in NC). I get not great, but definitely good gas mileage (21-22 city, 26-27 hwy) and it has plenty of room for just about anything I need. Yes...you should buy one. I expect to keep mine for well over 5 more years and 100k miles.

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  Very comfortable car - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Johnny - July 9 - 4:38 am

  Intuitive controls. Great driver aid and safety technology.

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  Suprising - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By bronco23bravo - July 6 - 10:03 am

  "Professional" reviews of the Crosstrek hint at the vehicles sluggish acceleration and mediocre drive quality. In my humble opinion, they are absolutly wrong. I just purchased a 2015 Crosstrek premium. I live in Northern ND and wanted a fun to drive AWD vehicle that gets decent MPG. My new Subie is exactly that. My prior vechicle was a 05 Nissan Maxima, this car hauled some serious butt. The crosstrek is of course slower but I was pleased at how fast the little car actully is. Very fun to drive, handles the snow drifts with ease and turns heads as I drive by. Love it so far. Will update with MPG and reliability.

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  Comfort, convenience, and safety - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Jerbear - July 6 - 5:46 am

  This is our second Subaru. The first was a 1999 Forester. We bought this one because it had better ground clearance than the Forester, was more roomy and looked better. Ours is a stick shift which we like because of the better control and because we tow it behind our RV on trips. We average about 21 mpg in mixed driving and around 29 mpg on the highway. Love the car. No problems aside from an alignment problem when new which was taken car of by the dealer. Wife is an EMT and HAS to be able to get through...this does--and does it very smoothly! Well get another in a couple of years as well.

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  Great Buy - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By DDOC - July 5 - 10:26 pm

  Just picked up my 2009 Legacy Limited. Impressed by just about every feature of this car. The only con that I may note would be that the vehicle has frame less windows. When you close the door you get your fingerprint smudges all over the window. Other than that it is an awesome vehicle.

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  AWD With Great Gas Mileage, What? - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By Kalen - July 5 - 6:36 am

  The wife and I were surprised to find the automatic got better mpg than the manual. We live about an hour from work (almost all highway), and have averaged 40.5 mpg with some limited city driving. Pure highway the car will pull a solid 41+ mpg. We bought the least expensive model through the Costco program and ended up $1,000 under invoice + $1,400 for tax and a dealer fee or $449. Car drives good and has plenty of power. Love the Bluetooth. And its nice that the 2016 base model (compared to previous years) comes standard with cruise control and a back up camera.