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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  Beautiful car - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Brad - June 21 - 1:03 pm

  I like quite a few things about the car. I am actually getting 28.5mpg (75% highway & 25% city with very careful driving). The vehicle is comfortable. CVT transmission is really smooth. I am enjoying the drive. I used to drive Maxima before (265 HP), but I am happy with this. The interior looks beautiful, but some of the materials are cheap, can scratch very easily and I am sure will rattle soon. Wish they could have used better materials, especially when I paid $2800 for it. The seats are comfortable, but wish they were little thicker (would be more comfortable). The door lock knobs are a bit weird. Dont know if they are closed or open. And the locks dont unlock when you park the car.

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  new owner - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By charles young - June 21 - 4:16 am

  I am new in the Subaru area. I bought a Baja to play with. I like it very much, but it is to early to really give an experienced report. Will do that later. So far it has been what I expected.

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  The More I Drive It the More I Like It - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By 1stsubaru - June 19 - 7:00 am

  I have a base model 5 speed Impreza sedan with over 2500 miles on it, the only options being the all weather mats (which are nice) and a jack for an ipod or something. This is my first Subaru, which I purchased as its the first Subaru that appears to get decent fuel economy. Ive only been in snow a few times, the most being about 5 to 6 inches which presented no problems in spite of the poorly rated tires. Average mileage for mainly stop and go with short highway driving has been 27 mpg to 28 mpg, which seems as rated. I drove sport bikes for over twenty years and dont expect cars that Im willing to pay for to provide the performance levels that I was accustomed to, so for me cars are just comfortable transportation and the Impreza is fine. The Impreza hp is about the same as a Ford OHV Taurus, the torque about 20 lbs/ft less, we.ve done many road trips in a Taurus with a family of five so I expect the Impreza can do the same.

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  A Nice Ride - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Doc9x - June 11 - 2:00 am

  This is a very capable vehicle. I have used mine to haul LOTS of stuff on cross-California trips, sometimes traveling at speeds of 95 mph or more. It provides a very solid, comfortable ride. Its great on the highway. I have used the rack to transport items with no problems. There is some wind noise at times, particularly at speeds over 70 mph. I find that at 165 horsepower, there is plenty of power. I havent had any problems and Ive put on almost 9,000 miles in five months. Gas mileage isnÂ’t bad for a car of this size (28 mpg highway @ 65-75 mph).

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  Excellent car - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By D.B. Cameron - June 11 - 12:40 am

  This is my third Subaru. The first (1985) lasted 10 years (in Ohio salt country); the second, 11 years (Ohio - > California); the third is just 1.5 years old and doing very well. Almost no post purchase fix ups. Very reliable. Decent fuel mileage (26-27), Really fine road handling (I used to have sports cars), great "mudder" (I live in the mountains and ski a fair amount). Good night road view. Only irritating problem is that, compared with my old Legacy, it is larger on the outside and smaller on the inside; strange engineering. So far, at least, it looks like another 10 or 12 year investment.

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  poor redesign of oil drain plug washer - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By bergerb2 - June 10 - 4:40 am

  first oil change - get oil on garage floor. think its carelss cleanup. several weaks later - still fresh oil. back to dealer - and its the crushable washer/gasket thatr was not seated correctly and/or overtorqued. told it needs to be replaced each time. seem to confirm on various web sites. design looks like the pull tab on a pop- top can. done to save money or enrich subaru dealers. either way it stinks.

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  love it. - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Riley - June 7 - 3:20 pm

  I really like this car. The interior design is the perfect blend of sporty and classy. It feels upscale but still racy. I would love to see a boost gauge somewhere though. The AWD is great in snow and rain (and grips like crazy on dry pavement!). Only a couple gripes - 25mpg is poor for a midsize sedan, even though it is turbocharged with AWD. Also, the rear seats dont fold down, and its a little hard to use the power outlet in the dash (folds out). I also would have liked to see an aux audio jack for mp3 players. The car drives like a dream, blows anything else in its class out of the water, and looks great. The transmission really isnt half bad for an autobox.

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  Switching from Forester 2009 to 2017 - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Konstantin - June 6 - 6:38 am

  WHAT IS WORSE: Instruments panel - terrible light and readability. Barely visible even at max setting of dimmer. No contrast at all. All controls are less comfortable. Like, position of ventilation knob is hard to read. Right button on dash board notoriously still does _nothing_, just sits there. This is just weird. All infotainment stuff is just junk. Car controls must become simpler, not over-complicated. Less storage space inside: central console in 2009 has 2 compartments, now it is only one and smaller. No sliding cover for central console. The place under central infotainment panel is smaller. The place for cups is shallow and smaller. Rear view camera does not beep when in critical proximity. Rear view screen has poor brightness, in sunny day barely visible. Front sun visors are smaller with ugly retractable side extensions. Drivers floor mat retention hooks changed from steady metal knobs to plastic stripes and they are very hard to find, they are moving from side to side. WHAT IS BETTER: rear view camera - the only really useful improvement of controls. Side visibility is better. Added light in the trunk. Added roof rails for all trims. Roof antenna does not swing (always had to adjust it after car wash). Alloy wheels look better and they are lighter. Less road noise. Thicker windshield. WHAT I HOPE WAS IMPROVED: bottom heat shields - on 2009 they start making annoying rattling sounds after 30K mi, now they removed(?) them. All internal panels have better soundproofing - old car was making all sort of sounds, esp. in a cold weather. AND MAIN ISSUE - heads gaskets, I do hope they will not start leaking at 60K.

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  Only time Ive bought a 3rd one. - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Jon C. - June 5 - 10:36 pm

  Compared to other SUVs I tried, this one is the only one that didnt handle like a truck (compared to Ford Explorer, Nissan Xterra, etc.) and didnt get buffeted around in the wind. This is the 3rd one Ive owned and it is still the best snow car Ive ever driven (I ski and regularly go into snow country). It also quite adequately tows my boat. My only gripe is that the current models "sport automatic" drive is not as smooth as my last one (2002).

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  Inexpensive but underpowered - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By SWISS - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I like my Outback, but I wish it had more power for the price. Gas mileage is only average - maybe 23 mpg, and thats not lead footing it either. Mine developed several interior rattles after just 10,000 gentle highway and around town miles. Its a decent car, hauls a lot of gear, but I wont buy another until they boost the power of the 4 cylinder because theres no way Ill pay $28K - $30K for the H6! (Might as well get a used XC70 or a nicer new Passat 4motion for that price...)