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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  Legacy - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Legacy - May 12 - 6:26 am

  I am an average driver, and this car has been full of issues. First the check engine light kept coming on, and took it in about 4 times with no luck. (can’t find a good Subaru dealer) After warranty was over a non Subaru mechanic found the threads to the knock sensor were striped, causing it to bounce around and get a false signal. Then at 35,000 miles the rear wheel bearing went out. There have been 2 recalls on it, a coolant additive was put in to help prevent issues with the bad head gasket design, and a rear suspension issues was the other. Now at 100,000 miles, the transmission is acting up. Should have bought a Chevy or a Ford, I never had issues like this with them.

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  The not- so-great car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Lilmizme87 - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used, maybe that was the first mistake. The second week I had it, something was wrong with the transimission. Two months later something was wrong with the engine. A month later, the same problem came back because the dealership didnt fix it the first time. Now, the transmission needs to be fix, again. I take very good care of this car, yet it falls apart easily. I dont race it (cause Id lose) and I dont floor it every time I drive. It should not be falling apart so much. I would not recommend this car considering youll be looking for alternative transportation since itll be in the shop every other week.

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  Buyer Beware! - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Adams - May 9 - 6:26 pm

  We spent $15k on a used Outback two years ago. The thought was to pay more up front and spend less on maintenance. Wrong! We just spent $4k in the last two weeks on repairs: $1500 for a new clutch and $2400 to replace the head gaskets (the car has 88,000 miles). As well as $300 in towing fees because it died in a remote spot. The car is now worth about $7k according to KBB, so all in all weve probably spent $20k on a car that didnt even make it to a 100,000 miles without over $5k in maintenance costs. Ive owned many other, lower-cost vehicles that ran much stronger and longer than the Outback. I would not recommend Subaru products to anyone.

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  Eats rear tires - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Last Subaru - May 6 - 1:43 pm

  Ive owned four Subarus. The quality of each successive Subaru has declined. Recently, I discovered that the Outback eats rear tires - $1000 worth of (80K) tires in 35K miles. After taking it to a dealer, I got the sales pitch answer, "Were a small dealership, but we are unaware of a problem". So I proceeded to Les Schab. They told me that they aware of four other Subarus with the same problem. Also, the problem is well documented on the internet. Im a licensed mechanical engineer and Ive owned my last Subaru as Ive lost trust in Subaru as a company. I can understand design problems - but not acknowledging the problem and taking responsibility for it is unacceptable.

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  Many problems, sold mine - 2000 Subaru Forester
  By rhk0328 - May 5 - 10:00 am

  Its really been a nightmare on problems coming up. I owned the car until 72,000 miles. I had to replace 5 wheel bearings with no sign of a fix. I had to replace the clutch/flywheel/pressure plate around 50k milesfo $1500. Both of these problems are well documented. Good news is that the cluch problem is supposed to be fixed now. That chattering sound is not normal. Mine went bad. I got bad support from subaru for the problems. Its really been a thorn in my side. My gas mileage was around 21 mpg. The stock tires (bridgestones duelers) wear really poorly. The cheaper brands work better. The windshield is also fragile, chipping easily.

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  Would not by another Subaru - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By G Frank - April 28 - 1:36 pm

  Negatives:The head gasket went at 73,000, just past the warranty. I went online and there were 450 complaints on one website about the head gaskets on Subarus, yet never a factory recall. At 75,000, a fuel injector had to be replaced. Mileage on car is lousy -- as low as 19 mpg in town. Car leans a lot on turns and dealers said that is characteristic of the car. Turning radius is poor and is therefore dangerous when making a u-turn.

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  Outback Sport Disappoints - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By Suzanne - April 7 - 7:56 am

  I got the space that I wanted in a small wagon. However, I am very disappointed with the ride and the noise level. This car rides and sounds like my mothers rattletrap station wagon that she had when I was a kid. The ride is harsh, feeling every tiny bump in the road, and everything in the back rattles. The paint chips at the least little touch, and the pinstripe on the passenger side is peeling off. This car, with only 4,500 miles on it is the worst car mistake Ive ever made! It had 3,500 miles on it when purchased in Sept 07, so Ive only put 1,000 miles on it. It could also use more storage space in the front. I dont see myself keeping much longer than a year or so.

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  Avg car - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Angel - March 29 - 4:50 pm

  Noise on highway, expensive maintenance, hard to fit car seats, good handling, good gas mileage. I was not happy with it, that I had to replace it with a Honda Odyssey.

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  2011 Subaru outback cvt 2.5i - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By billj33 - March 18 - 9:10 pm

  I have an annoying chriping sound when driving slow & or coasting. Dealer replaced at 2000 mi, the timing belt, tensioners, & pulleys, & submitted a QMR to Subaru. The noise continues, & Dealer states this noise is common with 2011 Outbacks. I have filed an ongoing Case # with Subaru. The noise is unacceptable, & Subaru needs to address this problem.

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  Not up to the reputation - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By doverbync - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Recently traded my Foester in for another make and model. From day one, the car had problems with the clutch (shuddering when cold). Dealer never could/would try to fix it. Had many concerns from reading this forum and others about wheel bearings and windshield glass (mine had a chip in it when traded) and interior quality in general. This car was not up to the hype given by Consumer Reports and other magazines that did not live with one for more than a month or so. Would not recommend this car again!