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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  Still cant find a better car! - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By tintinet - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Now that the STI is on the horizon, I am only slightly tempted. The stock WRX delivers more than adequate performance. In 14K miles, Ive had no problems and my only critiques are slight quibbles about lack of outside thermometer, lack of heated seats, leather upholstery, and other things that really are secondary. For the money, the quality and performance of the WRX are unmatched, especially for those of us who do alot of winter driving.

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  a little dissapointed - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By skillet1 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Subaru. A little dissapointed after all the great things Ive heard. It has alot going for it but I feel it is way overpriced for what you get.$25k for cloth, manual, no moonroof, no homelink, only frt. airbags,anemic stereo, 4 cyl. w/ adequate power at best. Left front brake started squeaking after delivery and still sqeaks horribly. Found out they are notorious for squeaking and warping. MPG has been ok but have never gotten near the posted 27mpg hwy, 25mpg was my best and 23mpg is my avg. going to work and back which is 95% Hwy. I get 24mpg on the same trip with a RX300. However,the Outback is a practical, spacious, nice looking wgn.

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  Dont miss the Jeeps at all - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Subielvr - September 6 - 1:33 am

  I bought my Forester just over two years ago and its one of the, if not the, best purchases that Ive ever made. Even with the recommendations of friends who own Subies I was nervous about buying a car whos odometer had just passed over the 100,00 mile mark. It was much ado about nothing as in the last forty thousand miles the only expenses (aside from routine maintenance) Ive had are; replacing a cracked coil, new tires (would be necessary on any car), one rear wheel bearing, and the relatively expensive replacement of the timing belt which is really part of routine maintenance anyhow. Gas mileage is about 25 mpg around home and 30 using cruise control when traveling. I love this car!

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  Fun sports car yet fuel efficient - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By dgman - September 5 - 10:30 am

  I have had my WRX for over 3 years now. I almost bought an 04 Mazda 6 instead but after driving each of them, I couldnt get the performance of the Subie out of my head. It is just too much fun to drive. The turbo is a different kind of fast, but the car is undeniably fast. If you are a "muscle car" person who thrives on low end torque, you wont like this car. The WRX is grippy and slow off the line and the power explodes at 3K RPM all the way to redline. Second gear is amazing. If you behave and drive nicely, you can get close to 30 MPG. The trunk is usable. I even have a child seat in the backseat. The car is a 5 star safety rated vehicle. Lots of great features.

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  Great Combination - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By KS - September 5 - 6:13 am

  I traded in my Forester X for a WRX sedan and couldnt be happier with the decision. The WRX is a terrific combination for a cold weather city like Chicago: rocket like power and superb handling mated with all wheel drive and excellent cargo capacity. Im finding that the WRX has bigger back seats and tons of trunk space so Im not missing the wagon back. The refinement and finish and quiet ride of the interior is a world apart from the Forester. The only other car I would have considered would have been the Mazdaspeed3 but then I would have the awd for the weather. All around I dont think there is anything comparable in the price range.

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  Hello Subie! Goodbye Yota. - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Chas - September 5 - 3:06 am

  Replaced 2006 RAV4 Limited V6 4x4. Ive clocked 2500 miles so far while averaging 29.1 mpg in the month Ive owned the car. Mostly hwy commute on competitive rush hours. The 2.5 w/ CVT is weirdly smooth. I dont feel it in the seat of my pants, but the speedo spins up quick. I dont miss the power as much as I love the smooth, compliant ride. I always thought "corners like its on rails" was hyperbole, but wow! Harmon Kardon system is clear to the top. The passenger room feels comparable to RAV except 63" son reports the back seat doesnt cut it for extended trips, no room to slouch. Kinda buzzy during hard acceleration at hwy passing speeds.

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  My 2011 SSM STI - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By turbosti - September 4 - 3:12 am

  I purchased my Subaru from Heuberger Subaru in Colorado Springs, CO. It is my first Subaru and it will definitely not be my last! The car is an awesome car! I have enjoyed it very much so far. My options I got was the navigation, short throw shifter, all weather mats, and homelink rear view mirror. In my opinion you definitely need the short shifter. The navigation isnt the best and the speakers are very good, but that isnt the reason I bought the car. The car stock sounds really good and runs well. I am very happy with the car and plan on keeping it for quite some time. You will always get people cranking their necks to look at your car too.

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  2011 Outback 2.5 limited w/auto CVT - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By mike07734 - September 3 - 4:55 pm

  Over all, the vehicle is awesome. Had some issues with rattle in roof liner up near the sunroof, front passenger door. Dealer fixed. Another issue now surfaced after the custom installed the ambient light package, now the switch for the vent on the passenger side is stuck in the open position. They also put watered down wiper fluid in the wiper fluid tank during the last oil change. Drove to upstate NY where the washer jets froze up. Had to go to the store and buy real wiper fluid that doesnt freeze, then let the car engine warm up the frozen lines. Other than that, no other issues.

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  Not even close - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Flyer - September 2 - 11:48 pm

  After months of research we had narrowed our search down to the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid. Weve driven Toyotas for years. The morning we were going to the Toyota dealer we decided to go drive the Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited. The Subaru dealer was blocks from our house and on the way to the Toyota dealer. After reading many poor reviews of the Subarus acceleration issues and the gutless 2.5 engine I was shocked by how well the Subaru accelerated. Not only was the acceleration much better than expected but the Subaru held the road WAY better than the Toyota (we test drove both in pouring rain) and felt far better balanced and much easier to control. The road noise in the RAV4 was extremely loud and obtrusive while the Outback was much quieter. The interior on the Subaru felt comfortable and spacious with great lines of sight and visibility. The RAV4 felt cramped with awkward lines of sight. If you are considering one of the other SUVs (RAV4, CR-V, CX-5, Ford Escape) I would highly recommend test driving the Outback before buying one of the other cars.

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  Toss your $$ on a fire b4 buying this!!! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Hugdeath - September 2 - 10:00 am

  Bottom of drivers seat 2 narrow. Lost "9K" in value in 14 months. Worse than a large american SUV. 2 much buffeting with front windows down. Flimsy/poorly sized cupholders. Cheap paint. Svc dept placed me in "LEGACY STATION WAGON" for a week and a half while they kept vehicle over multiple nights for 4th time. Fun 2 drive at moderate speeds. No fun at low speed. Too sketchy at high speeds.