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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  Good so far - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Good so far - October 7 - 5:20 pm

  Just bought a month ago. Positives: Quiet, fairly comfortable, great styling, AWD always good, and I like the outside temp gauge. Negatives: Rear seats dont fold down -- only small center split does, no trunk opener on electronic key device, cold weather operation to be desired (lagging start -- taking about 2-3 times longer to turn over, stiff manual transmission until warmed up). Overall not a bad car, but I wish I had done a little more shopping around to see what other buys were out there.

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  08 special edition - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By d. - October 7 - 7:23 am

  After I drove the 08 Legacy. The decision to buy was easy. My first Subaru , but definitely not the last . Test drove several others.

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  Engine Failure - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By MJU - October 6 - 8:33 pm

  I had my Forester XT limited for about 4 months and had driven it about 6,000 miles. I really liked the car, but the engine died on a family vacation. It now needs to be replaced. It is all under warranty, but it still is an inconvenience It also makes me feel uneasy about the engine from now on, even if it is brand new. I had heard and read so many positive things about the Subaru boxer engine that this shocks me.

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  Overboard on safety issues - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Erin - October 6 - 2:43 pm

  This is my first Subaru and I was attracted by the redesign. Overall, I like the car, but dont LOVE it like I loved my past VWs. The GPS system cannot be programmed while the car is moving, not even by a passenger. So, if Im driving and need to change course, even by simply pressing a button for a previous destination or home, the car has to come to a stop, which means pulling to the side of the road if on the highway. Also, there is very limited iPod control when the vehicle is moving. You can change songs on a playlist, but cannot change the playlist while moving, forcing me to unplug my iPod to change lists and then plug it back in, or pull over. That seems MUCH safer...

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  Problems - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By happydog - October 6 - 10:00 am

  We have had too many problems with this car. When applying brakes the steering wheel will shimmy. This only happens when brakes are warm. The air conditioner has quit twice. The grill over the fog light fell off. The windshield has cracked twice in the same place. Dealer has tried to fix problems. It is back at a dealer now for another attempt at fixing.

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  Solid car, with quirks - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Goatmount - October 5 - 9:40 pm

  I have put 150,000 miles on car with no major problems. Changed timing belt at 90,000, as all Subarus are required, which is about a $400 job. The engine is solid and will probably run to 200,000 with very few issues. Great in snow and cold. One of the most fun small cars to drive out there. There are some quirks to the 2002 model. The driver side seat belt squeaks every time you move even an inch. I have talked with other 2002 impreza owners and this appears to be a common problem. Replacing fog lights is $200 per light! The wheels get thrown out of alignment after driving through deep snow. As with all AWD cars, all the tires have to be replaced at the same time. Auto windows both broke.

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  Timely Purchase - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Andrey - September 30 - 4:13 pm

  We live in Northern Virginia, which doesnt get a lot of snow, however, it still does get some, and we do travel up north to PA and upstate NY, so we felt we needed to replace one of our rear- wheel drive vehicles with something either FWD or AWD. We just lived through the blizzard of 2009, and the car performed wonderfully while the snow was still falling.. zipping by those so called "SUVs" which dont necessarily have AWD (do your research!). We put on around 100miles just driving around snow, and also took a skiing trip, which we wouldnt have attempted without this car. The heated seats, heated wiper areas were pretty nice to have in snow too. Car is fun to drive, even with 170HP.

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  You can do better - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Bob L - September 30 - 8:46 am

  Bought this wagon because of all the reviews I had read. This vehicle performs exceptionally well and looks nice. Quality control is good. Now for the bad. EPA sticker 22-28 mpg. The last car I had was rated the same and I averaged 23-25 mixed driving. This vehicle is getting 20 mpg mixed but will get 28-29 on highway driving. The headrests are very obtrusive and hard to see past. I am average height (59") and the electric drivers seat doesnt quite give me the leg room I need. The passenger seat, although manual, is way worse. I cant even stretch out my legs. The rear legroom is terrible. Also trade-in value is the worst I have seen on any car I have owned.

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  Excellent car for this price - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By wend - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Good horsepower, decent acceleration, excellent handling, spacious interior, fun and sporty looks makes it a good choice for anything under 20k. Go for the silver exterior color.

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  FUN 2 DRIVE - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By GRAY - September 28 - 9:00 am

  I have wanted a WRX for some time now, but could not afford one. Subaru offered a sweet lease deal on the 2.5i that we couldnt pass up. $199 a month with NO money down (4yr. lease). It turned out to be a really fun car to drive. Felt sorry for the salesman during my test drive. He had to hang on tight a couple of times. But hey, it was MY test drive! Great build quality.