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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  My New Subaru MPG! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Joanne Erickson - September 15 - 8:50 pm

  My dream was to own a Subaru. I went to buy a used one and couldnt resist the new 2005 LL Bean Outback. I had saved for 12 years and had a substantial down payment plus a 4 year contract. My final plan was for this to be my last car. I drove it for a month before I realized that I was putting a lot of gas in it. I started checking the mileage and realized I was getting 10 mpg average. I was devastated! I checked the mileage several times to make sure. It actually did average 10-12 mpg. I contacted Subaru. They had me bring the car in and reset the computer. I returned home and really paid attention to the mpg. Now in town, I am averaging 8 mpg. Highway mpg is 28.

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  Wrx>Evo X> Focus/Fiesta ST - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By KC - September 14 - 3:19 am

  Best car for the money!

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  Fabulous Car - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By san_san - September 13 - 11:57 am

  I always feel this is one of those less talked about cars in the market. I own this year for more than an year now and extremely happy with the performance. Subarus AWD delivers when needed in snow driving conditions and I feel safe when coming to abrupt stops on icy roads.

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  Subaru Rating - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Daryl - September 13 - 2:13 am

  So far we are very happy with our new vehicle. We wish we just knew more about the electronics. At our age its hard to learn to operate a lot of the doo-dads.

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  WOW!! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By vursion7 - September 13 - 2:00 am

  This car does it all!! Used it to get to the trailhead of a fourteener and somehow it made it all the way up. At times there were some Wranglers struggling to make it. Once, at the top people were coming over to check out the car (sports car) that made it to the top. Truely unbelievable!

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  Great looking date, but has to get loose - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Plains Drifter - September 13 - 2:00 am

  I find the look of the legacy to be attractive but my beef with the car is clear in the amount of HP it has. This car is built for safety first and that as the driver you certainly can tell. However, with safety comes alot of weight and this car needs at least another 25hp & also a 6spd tranny. On the bright side, Ive never driven a sports car that handles better, the AWD is awesome and this car is just as sure footed on wet ground as it is on dry ground

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  Stamina plus - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By SoAnn Ott - September 13 - 12:13 am

  Goes places that a regular or four wheel drive vehicle wouldnt attempt. Streamlined looks besides. This is the truck of our dreams.

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  1st Subaru - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By twrangham - September 12 - 11:20 am

  Ok, me being a newbie to the Subies, I wanted to give my initial impression as it only has 1k miles. So far so good. I went for the Premium model only because of the Bluetooth Audio (must-have if you own an iPhone). Other features such as Heated seats, power drivers seat, and the add-on rubber mats make this wagon pretty cool. I was a bit hesitant at first when trading in my almost new 2011 5.0 Mustang in for something more family-friendly, but the smooth CVT transmisison and great gas mileage are nice. Looking forward to some vacations and many miles in my new car. Only thing a bit odd was how the 3.6 wasnt really offered outside of the Limited model in my area.

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  Great Car - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By VTJoe - September 11 - 10:00 am

  My 2001 Forester is a great car. It does everything I ask it to do. Ive never been short of space, it handles well, and many of the amenities make it fun to drive. There are never any problems with the service at Van Bortel Subaru in Victor, NY. Below book prices, no pressure from the service people and they do everything they can to make you want to come back.

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  Head Gasket and Sway Bar - Ouch! - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By ensoniqman - September 11 - 2:33 am

  We bought our 2000 Subaru Outback Wagon as second owners over 4 years ago & the engine has slowing been declining since then. Great looks and reputation, but I wish we had researched the engine a little more. Head gaskets are known for blowing at under 100k miles on these Subarus, and our was no exception. The front sway bar also sheared off. Never had this problem with my Toyota or Hondas in the past. We also had an oil analysis performed by Blackstone Laboratories three years ago. Their results came in good, but that was before the gasket blew. We maintained the engine regularly with a new belt, synthetic oil, new plugs & filter.