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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  Subaru 3.6R Limited--great car - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Philly58 - May 3 - 1:10 am

  Have had this car three days and taken trips through Adirondack mountains and on thruways. As past owner of Mercedes 300E, present owner of BMW 540i, must say that this car is on their level in driveability, handling and comfort on road. Am tall and seat support under thighs could be a bit longer, but after a few days am not thinking about that. I love this car, but dont love the navigation manual which is just plain awful in its paucity of descriptions. Spent almost two hours trying to figure out how to have a full screen mode for the great radio system control. But have finally mastered all of this. Ill be selling the 540i now with regret, but this is a worthy replacement.

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  Getting there - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By weekend_mechanic - May 2 - 8:33 pm

  Were a couple with one toddler. We replaced our 97 Volvo 850 Wagon 131K with the Subaru wagon. Our criteria are: (long term over 100K miles) reliability, safety, affordability, fuel efficiency, economics, and aesthetics. We examined the Passat, Mazda 6, Volvo V50, Toyota Matrix, and Subaru Forester. The Passat failed on reliability not to mention costly maintenance in the long term. Mazda 6 did not satisfy our needs for driving in New England snow and ice. Volvo V50 would send our hard earn money to the bank, and failed on crash safety. The Matrix felt like toy car for young adults. My wife did not like the Forester cause its an SUV, but I like it. So our final choice was the Legacy.

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  Much better than expected - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By gdgg - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Got the 2.5X after looking all small SUVs and test driving the CRV and Escape. The Forester had the best ride/handling/road manners. Downsized from a extended minivan (family of 4) havent missed it, not even on our long summer trips. Put a Thule box on carry gear for trips and camping. Overall, the car surprizes us with how fun it is to drive and how refined it is for a small car. My wife would rather drive the Forester than her Lexus ES300! Turbo would be great fun, but has even worse fuel economy.

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  Excellent Car! - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Jon - May 1 - 9:33 pm

  I just traded my 2006 Xterra for this Subaru. Big difference, so I wont even try to compare the two. However, I did recently trade in my Mazda 6s, and I must say that the Subaru is almost every bit as fun to drive as the Mazda. The Subaru has a few points going for it over the Mazda. 1. All Wheel Drive 2. Im not constantly worrying that the automatic transmission is going to overheat and destroy itself. 3. The Subarus transmission computer is adaptive to the driver. The Mazda had pre-selected shift points that forced the car in overdrive before the RPMs even matched the gearing of the car. Besides, the car would never downshift while slowing down! Subaru has won my business.

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  Love my new Tribeca - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By David in Austin - May 1 - 9:20 pm

  I just purchased this vehicle this weekend, and absolutely love it. The ride and handling is great and the AWD system inspires confidence. Nav system is easy to use, but is a little far away. The redesign provides more rear seat room, and with the 7 passenger, you get rear AC controls that help a great deal. Handling is very precise and acceleration with the nex 3.6 liter engine is much better than in the previous generation.

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  Subaru happy - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By curt ritter - May 1 - 3:13 pm

  I have looked for several months for a vehicle including Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Dodge and Chevrolet. The best bargain that I found was the Outback. Great fuel economy and the handling is great. I would recommend purchasing a new one without question.

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  Best value out there - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By awall - May 1 - 10:00 am

  We bought our new Outback a week and a half ago, so I cant give much feedback about reliability yet, but so far we love the car. The redesign they did in 2010 made the outback one of the best family cars out there, in my opinion and the 2011 continues mostly unchanged. Rear seat space is fantastic. Ride is terrific and you feel well connected to the road. Bring on the snow!

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  A car for all seasons. - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By harrytdd - May 1 - 10:00 am

  Whats not to like when a car does all it says it does. MPG, comfort, cargo space, and safety. Just got back from a 1000 mile excursion to North Cal. forest areas with excellent MPG-32 on regular gas..AC on and traveling at posted speed limits. Havent quite figure the Bluetooth features, but the XM radio was a boon when driving in regular radio-deprived areas. Have not experienced any sustained wheel vibration when driving at the higher speeds. If it does appear, we hope that SOA will have a solution.

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  Lots of research paid off. Very impressed - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By flfoofighter - May 1 - 1:51 am

  Before I ever saw the 2015 Outback in person, it was at the top of my list when comparing all the features for the price. The model had a history of safety, reliability, good resale value, amongst the most room, best gas mileage, and best all-wheel drive system. In most comparisons, it was actually the best price too. The ground clearance was also the highest. When I went in for a test drive, the first thing that struck me was the quality inside and outside and the attention to detail. It could easily be confused for something more expensive than a luxury Acura. It drives very much like a car and only when fully loaded with friends do you notice its size. Very happy with this purchase.

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  Who knew? - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By stephen3484 - April 30 - 11:50 am

  After having to take a break from the Germans for a while this was an unexpectedly great car. It really is the Japanese BMW (without the BMW stigma!). The build quality is excellent. The handling, chassis dynamics and rigidity are very impressive. The all-wheel drive system does its job without you knowing. The flat fours power delivery is super smooth, though a little weak. The suspension is very compliant yet tight enough to not be sloppy. Once the motor gets broken in the gas mileage is pretty good. The 5-speed is notchy and vague unless you shift with a light hand and let the shifter find the gates instead of you putting it in the gates. Overall, it is a tremendous value.