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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  2014 XV CrossTrek Premium Review - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Charles Marcino - January 15 - 3:55 am

  purchased in October of 2014 and have 7800 miles on the vehicle. So far so good. Had a very challenging trip to Syracuse NY in heavy snow and the little SUV took all of the heavy snow covered hilly roads within the city with no issues in addition to the 250 miles of snow covered highways. I have a bad back but the seats are comfortable and supportive. I am used to driving small 4 cylinder sedans so the pickup on the Crosstrek is no problem. The engine is a bit noisy when cold but seems to diminish as the engine warms.

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  Started Out Great Then Money Pit - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Dave In Denver - January 14 - 12:53 pm

  This was our second outback. We bought a 3.0h6 vdc used. It was the regional Subaru reps car and came fully loaded with everything including the McIntosh stereo. For 4 years we hauled 2 kids and a 80 lb dog all over Colorado. The car was great until it hit 100,000 miles. After that it was nonstop maintenance. A big problem was the car burned through brakes. Then the car began leaking oil. Lots of oil! The biggest problem was when we would go up a hill the vdc off light would come on then the engine would overheat. Two Subaru dealers could not find the problem. They overhauled the entire cooling system at great expense. Head gaskets were fine. We finally gave up and traded it in.

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  First car - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Massdrewski - January 14 - 11:20 am

  This is the first new car I have ever bought. Fun to drive and looks very stylish. I definitely get looks from other drivers. The fuel economy is marginal at best.

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  Really Like But... - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
  By Austin Hardy - January 14 - 8:12 am

  Only had this car a week but its fun to drive and stylish with a nice tight ride and fun exterior color (khaki gray). I went for the more expensive Limited edition to get leather and some other upgrades but was really disappointed it lacked both memory seating for multiple rivers or a rear gate button on either the remote or the car. Even though the entertainment system is easy to use other information setups are not user friendly. The settings menu is overly complicated with too many buttons to push and the Sabaru manual is the worst Ive even encountered. I had to go on U Tube to figure out something as simple as changing the time on the clock.

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  A step up - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By bschuetz - January 13 - 8:36 pm

  The 2007 Subaru Impreza is definitely an improvement over the 2001 Subaru Impreza I traded. Less body roll, more responsive steering, nicer interior. The transmission feels a bit more refined, and it actually has a synchro for first gear (2001 didnt). The clutch is more forgiving than the 2001, I can shift smoother. The engine sounds and feels more refined as well. And this thing is a blast to drive. Once youre on boost, this thing really goes. I have no regrets with my decision.

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  2011 Legacy 2.5L Limited - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By glee88 - January 13 - 10:06 am

  My car has 2,500 on it now. It drives nicely and has a superior ride. I have a young child and the access is commendable. The 2.5L is sluggish but is enough; it doesnt match the soothness or quietness of the Toyota and Honda engines. MPG with the CVT is good. I had to bring this car to a tire shop because of a leaky tire bead and the factory Bridgestone tires exhibited significant road noise at highway speeds. The hood shakes at highway speeds and when going over a bump. The AC struggles on hot days; getting the windows tinted helped. Visibility is excellent. Overall a very good vehicle if one can put up with those few minor issues.

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  Practical Yet Fun - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Jake F. - January 13 - 1:53 am

  I am overall very pleased with this car. The build quality seems excellent for this class. The doors give a quality thunk when you close them and all switches/levers feel durable. The performance of the 2.5 is adequate and when combined with the 5spd the result is a zippy little car. The suspension soaks up the bumps very nicely (better than my 04 Impala I traded for it) and I live near some very rough roads so that is appreciated. I am a large person (275 lbs) and I find the interior comfortable and roomy enough. Even though it is summer, I have already used the AWD to climb up a rain soaked muddy drive and it performed flawlessly. Im almost looking forward to the ND winter.

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  Perfect New England Car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By vtcj - January 9 - 11:33 pm

  So far, this car is terrific. We had tons of snow in Vermont this winter, and I was able to drive anywhere with the standard all-weather tires. While the drive doesnt quite have the feel of a European car, the 5 speed is fun enough and the price tag for an AWD vehicle is just right. Love the hatch for bike/skis/dog etc., and the premium package with the VDC, leather stuff and 6 disc changer is totally worth the money. MPG is better than expected. I do mostly highway driving, and after 10,000 miles Im starting to average around 29 MPG.

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  Nice car, but electronics not up to speed - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Steve mc - January 7 - 5:47 pm

  Navigation very average. Voice activation system is above average

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  Great to drive, awful to repair - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Nick - January 5 - 6:40 pm

  Well, I was very excited to buy this car a little over a year ago.The brakes went quickly, the paint chips way too easily. And it is VERY LOUD with the windows down, and if you smoke cigarettes in the car the ash comes back in and blows everywhere. But its very fast and handles excellent, and it is amazingly predictable in the snow. The boxer motor is brilliant and the throttle response is unbelievable.Truly one of the fastest vehicles in that price range. But I will never buy another Subaru because of their transmissions. Ive had to rebuild my transmission twice this MONTH ALONE! The input shaft (R,1st and 2nd) is cheaply made and I have pics of the gear completely munched under normal driving.