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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  fast fun car electronics suck - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Wayne Boucher - March 21 - 9:35 am

  I bought this car the day after Christmas and I love the handle and acceleration, I have a 2006 Miata 213,000 miles which I love and kept, the new Miata looks nice but driving it was very disappointing the new Miata is a dog because of the electronics. I wanted a manual transmission, yes corporate America not every is lazy and wants an automatic, some people like driving and hate cars that drive themselves. I love the acceleration of the car and the handling is awesome, once you shut off all the electronics crap that is. I hate the electronics, the hill assist I would not have bought the car if I could not turn hill assist off because it screws up driving the car, I shut the traction control off unless I forget, I wish I could shut off the antilock brakes, those suck. The airbags are dangerous, my daughter sits in the front and the airbags do not work by weight but by electric capacity and you cant shut them off so I am looking at how to disable them so my daughter doesnt get killed. The radio is the biggest piece of crap, it has 9 options which most of them try to connect to your phones internet, I want to delete those apps but cant. Touch screen radios in my option should be outlawed and I will be removing that crap radio from the car. They put a lot of annoying electronics in the car but if you search the net you can shut a lot of it off, wish I could shut off their annoying driving suggestions that come up when the car starts or its icy out, I know how to drive, dont need a car telling how to drive. On the plus the car has tons of room inside even in the back seat, more room than you would think for the cars size, they kept the interior simple which I like, I hate a lot of fancy crap, the truck is huge which is a plus because the new Miatas trunk was no bigger than a back pack. Acceleration is incredible, when you hit the throttle the car launches, it is more fun than the Lamborghini Galardo I drove because of the manual transmission. The handling is awesome too, not as nimble as the old Miata because it weighs 1000lbs more, it is still great for windy roads, lots of fun. I like the styling and you can get it real colors instead of just silver and black, I got bright blue, looks awesome. I wish I could have got a sun roof but they only came with leather and I will never own a car with leather so I will have to add the sun roof later. If you want a fun car try a wrx, they for people who like to drive, I like to drive and will never own a self driving car.

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  Love my car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By margie - March 20 - 10:43 pm

  I live in Northern NY, snow covered curvy, mountainous roads. I love the way the car handles and brakes.

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  Love my car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By margie - March 20 - 10:43 pm

  I live in Northern NY, snow covered curvy, mountainous roads. I love the way the car handles and brakes.

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  car for old man - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Syy - March 16 - 7:43 pm

  All I love about this car is the AWD. It feels soooo underpowered. Picking up is very slow. Heating system takes so long to feel warm. After a few months, the chemical-like smell inside is still strong. plastic parts feels so cheap inside. maybe the first and the last Subaru for me.

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  1000 miles - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By JT - March 15 - 4:03 pm

  This was my first Subie to date and so far its not bad. Front seats could of been of better quality and comfort. The stereo to be honest is very sub-par. Favorite feature is the bullet proof AWD, and probably the main reason I choose the Forester. Rattles in both the driver and passenger side doors. Turns out to be a loose piece called a baffle that can be corrected. Overall the car is better than most.

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  Super handling machine - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Alex Povolotski - March 13 - 2:13 am

  Drove this vehicle today. Super handling machine indeed! All wheel drive standard on all Subarus. I took it to the unpaved roads of the park and was making circles and other maneuvers at high speed. And that all was after rain. Not a hint of a wheel slip or something. Loved the car! Plenty of head room and leg room (Im 61). Steering is light, gas pedal is very responsive, power is aplenty, brake pedal feel is a bit mushy though. Rear seat legroom is good, cargo area is very accommodating. Pedals are nicely apart from each other, so you wont hit both.

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  good but noisy - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By driver1144 - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2000 Limited edition of the Outback wagon this winter and have had a few problems... some with the dealership (paint and dent problems), but some with the car itself. I like the way it handles in the winter roads and the seats are comfortable for long rides, but the brakes seem to be getting softer all the time and the wind noise in a big annoyance. They have told me at the dealership that the brakes being soft is just the way they are supposed to be and the wind noise so far has been unescapable. I have not had a car this load since my 78 thunderbird.

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  Overall good not perfect - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By billfeet - March 12 - 6:11 am

  I have 52K on my Legacy, it rides and handles well, the 2.5 id underpowered if you like quick acceleration but is is good for daily driving and parkway acceleration. Th plus to its power is I get 28 MPG mixed driving with AWD. The heated seat switch is in a horrible spor next to the shifter and unwanted hot seats in summer result. The interior vinyl is cheap needing a warranty replacement before 1 year on the armrest and already wearing through the replacement. Same is true for the door vinyl but has not worn out due to less constant arm pressure. The stock radio is a little weak, get the upgrade. Overall I like the car good snow performance and reliable,spend the extra on the limited

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  100,000 miles of service---*wheel bearings - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By eldee123 - March 11 - 10:45 pm

  I live in the mountains at Lake Tahoe. This car is more fun to drive up the mountain than my classic Corvette. The roof line is low enough to load my bikes on the roof rack. For some weird reason headlight bulbs dont last as long as you would expect. All owners need to know the warrantee on the wheel bearing problem is 100,000 miles. contact the Subaru mothership if a dealer wont fix it for free. Im going for a 2011 now and that should last me the rest of my life :-}

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  Very Fast Car - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Dara - March 10 - 10:36 am

  This car is really fun to drive. It feels like a American Muscle but has AWD.