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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  Outback VDC H6 wagon - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By FRM - October 10 - 6:03 am

  I have always admired Subaru for their AWD which fascinated me back in the 70s. Finally I bought one and it had the McIntosh promo stereo CD player. This stereo has rekindled my love for music as I had forgotten what beautiful music sounds like. The special sound design of the interior contributed to the greatness of the stereo. I have since listened to other systems in more expensive cars that cannot compare. The car has power with the 212hp 6 and is quiet probably because of the special sound treatment mentioned already. I have not had problems at all and the AWD can go through snow like it is not there. Ice is tough for any car. The only con is wind noise but I am well satisfied.

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  Great little wagon - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By homer - October 9 - 7:40 pm

  I bought this car new in 2003 and have loved it ever since. I just payed it off and plan on keeping it until it dies. It handles great in the rain and snow. The only warranty work I had done was to replace the CD changer and rear view mirror. My only complaint is the very loud road noise. Its a great car that can definitely move when you want it to.

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  what I expected - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By gr410 - October 9 - 11:52 am

  dont expect the comfort of a luxury car but be happy it is a safe car that drives well

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  Wish they still made this more car-like wagon - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Subie Driver - October 9 - 11:09 am

  Bought the car used with around 60K; its now at 114K. Drove the newer generation, but found it rode too truck-like, and was kind of noisy, with an unrefined drivetrain. It was also hard to see out of and had particularly uncomfortable front seats. This generation is more car-like and the better for it (havent driven the latest gen, though). Its an incredibly versatile vehicle - it drives like a sedan (and is fairly luxurious with the heated leather seats and wood trim), but has more cargo room than a similarly sized/equipped SUV. The downside is the drivetrain, which, though not as noticeably as the same-level one in the next generation, still lacks refinement, being a bit noisy and having some vibration. At certain speeds the transmission pauses before engaging, clunking when it finally does. Also the dual climate control doesnt work well, leaving both front seat occupants unhappy. But overall the car is comfortable and efficient both in town or on the highway and is like a Swiss pocket knife in terms of usability, perfect for hauling everything from furniture to dogs to groceries, while still being easy to park and decent on gas, and it has been completely reliable. Build quality is excellent, too, with interior and exterior materials holding up fantastically, even though the cars not garaged. If youre far from a major city, you may have a hard time finding people who understand this relatively rare car and how to work on and properly outfit it with brakes, tires, etc., and service things like the differentials, so keep that in mind. UPDATE: Well, once the Outback reached around 125K, we encountered a major problem that despite all of our research prior to buying the car we somehow never heard about: head gasket problems. Apparently some head gaskets for this model are prone to fail, and ours did - on a road trip, no less. The car was failing, with major oil seepage both into and out of the motor, and we couldnt schedule an indie shop for a repair in time, so we had to have it repaired at the dealership (ouch). While weve been assured that now it’s good for 100K miles or more (a better head gasket was installed), the car, after all weve put into it at this point, basically has no resale value for us - we could only hope to recoup what all weve spent on it. So keep this in mind if youre considering one of this model year. So that’s about $25,000 total for a car thats lasted 70K miles, should we decided to sell it. Not such a good deal after all.

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  Happy Owner - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By SuperSubu - October 9 - 10:00 am

  No complaints...runs perfectly and I get many compliments. Tires are a bit noisy - I will not put the same ones on when I replace them.

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  Consolation prize - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By Defo - October 8 - 8:10 pm

  $100 a week on fuel was reason enough to sell my Frontier and acquire a used Baja. Id trade-off the loss of a little pickup and a 6 bed for the all wheel drive/better handling, great standard features (fog lights, power moonroof, ski rack, bed extender, etc.) to save 30% on the gas bill any day! This vehicle is a great downsizing option. Subaru may want to re-think their decision to stop making them before a competitor does.

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  Plain and Simple Truth - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By juanmafxt - October 8 - 6:01 am

  This is the pioneer and last of the true sport crossovers. There are a lot of copycats nowadays, but this one is the real thing. Manual tranny, 4.44FD, AWD with 50/50 torque split, big STI engine 2.5L, factory turbo with low compression pistons, disc brakes, LSD and other good stuff. All parts from the WRX and STI fit into this vehicle since they share the platform. Tons of aftermarket parts and can be made to go very fast for very little. Great sleeper vehicle. This is not a car for nannies. If you intent is to buy a car and just put gas in it and forget everything else, this is not the car for you. Change PM parts and the car will reward you with a great bargain.

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  Subaru outback limited - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Kurt - October 7 - 6:38 pm

  The 4 cylinder engine is quite powerful and unless youre towing a lot I would not suggest the 6 cylinder option

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  Mechanic told me its a great car! - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By canadianman - October 7 - 1:04 pm

  I must say that this car has easy to operate functions and is very smooth on the road. It has very good acceleration and fun to drive. Very spacious, in fact 10/10! I picked the cloth interior for my 2.5i and it has heated seats. The handling is satisfying and the car itself is the best out of all the competition. Its almost exotic!

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  Nice overall car but wandering issue on highway - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By stradivarius - October 7 - 3:57 am

  This is my sixth Subaru and it is the most refined Subaru I have owned. The interior is very comfortable and after 4000 miles it does most things well, except driving on the highway. The first extended highway drive I encountered I found that the car wandered and I had to do constant corrections to keep it in the lane. It felt like driving on an extremely windy day but it was dead calm. I contacted the dealer and they advised to bring it in as it probably needed an alignment. When I brought it in someone test drove the car and said it was normal. That day I had a friend drive it who noticed it immediately. My wife wont drive it on the highway and Subaru claims this is normal? Buyer Beware!!