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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  Great value for the price - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By peter kung - May 8 - 4:01 pm

  Its a SUV so expect a little more wobbly ride than a sedan.

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  Fun Car - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By porkfarm - May 4 - 11:50 am

  I chose this over the EVO MR, because of the interior and the cruise control. I do have to admit that the EVO MR looked better from the outside; then again, I canÂ’t see the outside when I am driving. STi is definitely built for the fun/excitement factor, not for comfort. It took a few days for me get use to that much hp and turbo and control, but now, it puts a smile on my face every time I step into the car. This or the EVO probably are the best performance machines (ignoring the comfort) for a sub $40k purchase. Definitely a car to consider before having kids. Other cars I considered were G35, 330i, TL, IS350, GTO, Cobra, 350Z.

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  Who Needs A Minivan? - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By dr_nano - May 4 - 7:36 am

  Our 04 Nissan Quest had reached the end of its wretched life (poor build quality & reliability) and we needed something to take the kids around, the trash to the transfer station, and the dog to the vet while dealing with the NH roads and weather. Plus my wife has to park in muddy fields when she works at a local school and she has to get out of those fields. The Outback does all of these very well. It is smaller than her Quest but we found that we only need that extra space about 0.001% of the time and we can rent a proper van when we do. Well take the better fuel mileage, the solid feel, and the confidence we can go anywhere of the Outback over any minivan.

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  Subarutiful! - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By Joe - May 3 - 10:14 am

  Loving my purchase so far. GREAT handling, especially in snow, excellent mpg, peppy get up and go, braking so-so. The heater takes a little long to get going and is very loud on high. Lots of storage (room for dog crates) and great bluetooth. Audio quality 6.5 out of 10. Overall, a great car!

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  Engine went south at 5000 miles - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PNSM - May 3 - 10:03 am

  I enjoyed the car until the engine stopped and left me stranded on the Interstate today. The Roadside Assistance feature works well, very efficient. I got good gas mileage. The AWD is wonderful especially in the rain. The interior is well designed but the radio is inferior - sound quality is just not there. The ride and comfort level were good. Reliability and faith in Subaru took a hit today after 5,000 miles of fun, I am without a vehicle. Not looking forward to the inconvenience of getting the car back - the nearest dealer is almost 100 miles away.

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  Fun to Drive - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Joe - May 2 - 12:53 pm

  This is my first Subaru. While I am generally very pleased, I have had the car back in shop 4 times in six months to correct defective center blower vents. That problem aside, it has been a great car.

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  Excellent car - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By yuba4 - April 29 - 11:12 pm

  Suby has been reliable and a perfect fit for our requirements. Bought new in 2002, it now has almost 200k miles and is still a great car. Replaced head gaskets at 150k (common problem), but otherwise not many repairs. Her features and capabilities are a perfect match for our family of four.

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  Good, but needs improvements - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By clarkma5 - April 29 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car...but its hard to call it a real performance car. The suspension is too soft, the tires are too skimpy, and the shifter is too balky. For performance driving, the engines great, but around town its a bugaboo...with only 2.0 liters of displacement and a low 8:1 compression ratio, this engine is gutless until the turbo kicks in around 3k RPM. The interior is pretty mediocre, with lots of hard plastic, but build qualitys good and there are no major ergonomic flaws. Stereos bad, though...too heavy on bass and all the sound gets squished together. Hard to tell instruments apart! Still a good performance value for the money, though.

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  No Reason To Buy High-End - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Jim - April 26 - 10:03 am

  The functionality of the Outback is great -- hauling bikes; moving friends; loading up my band gear. It does this well while remaining a practical urban car (read: easy to park). However, the VDC has failed 5 times -- each time while in the Sierras during a snow fall! Isnt that when I would most need it? Also, McIntosh has failed twice (radio reception is horrible). The two reasons for why I bought the upgraded Outback are both failing ... why did I spend that money?

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  Good value, nothing fancy - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By js - April 25 - 9:00 pm

  We bought the 07 Outback Basic from my parents when we had our second child. Its been reliable and rugged, and the high ground clearance has been great for the frequently-flooded streets of Houston. Its a boring car, but cant be beat for the price!