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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  Great vehicle - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By JZ - August 10 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car used for my wife in July 2003 w/ 11k miles. Weve put 13k miles on the car in 9 months and have nothing but good things to say about the vehicle. AWD and Cold Weather Package was a God send during a rough winter in NJ. AWD is fantastic in the snow - no indication of the car slipping in acceleration in deep snow. Great for my wife who isnt real comfortable driving in inclement weather. No complaints from her now! A great mix of car comform and SUV characteristics with a youthful look and feel.

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  My Second Subaru! - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Tesh Shah - August 10 - 4:06 am

  I drove 2005 Saab 9-2x (Impreza Wagon) for 10 years and 206,000 miles with no or very little issues so I had to get another Subie. 2 months and 4700 miles into it; acceleration is a problem if you are going uphill thats for sure but not otherwise. Yes, it’s bit noisy but not enough to write home about. Throughout the cold Northeast winter; I have been averaging 28 mpg and hoping for a bit more when winter blend gas ends. Comfortable ride and the ability to see everything is a great safety feature. Love the backup Camera feature particularly with parallel parking in the city and avoiding snow banks. Here is to another 200,000 plus miles and 10 years!

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  more go less show - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By RJJ - August 10 - 2:00 am

  The gearing makes the 165 hp legacy GT feel quick and responsive. Its definitely lower geared which makes it accelerate aggressively but also results in the engine running at higher RPM at speed, e.g. 3750 rpm @ 80 mph. It could use a 6 speed transmission. Even at that speed/rpm the interior is quiet and the ride is smooth. The car handles beautifully and easily outcorners everything else in its price range. Overall the car feels very sporty and is a fun vehicle to drive.

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  A Super AWD - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Greg S - August 9 - 8:26 pm

  I am very happy with the 06 Forester X, 5 speed. It has great acceleration, handling and fuel economy. The visibility is great and it is easy to park. Adjustments for the seat height and steering wheel are great to accommodate smaller drivers. Plenty of room in the trunk for our large dog and the rubber cargo mat is highly recommended. Incredible amount of standard equipment and very good pricing. Nicely improved from 05.

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  Great car! - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Scooby-Rex - August 8 - 4:33 pm

  Purchased this car 2 weeks ago and almost reached 1000 miles. Gas mileage has been a little better than expected--my combined driving right now gets me 25.2 mpg (I dont baby the car but I am not too aggressive either). Interior is very nice--audio and climate controls are well designed, very decent quality, and more spacious than previous generation. Even without the sports grille, I think the exterior is decent. I did not buy the car for the looks anyways.

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  Very Practical Ride - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By jmurray - August 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car new. Had to hunt down a manual trany but am glad we did. Car seems to be able to do whatever we ask it to do. We live in the north and have had no trouble with cold/ice/snow. We have a bunch of the extra features (brush guard, roof rack, tow pkg, side rock guards) and they all are very functional. No problems with tyres.

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  bad trans - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By john doe - August 7 - 5:20 pm

  a loud whining noise from trans forward and reverse not in neutral or park,,,,,,and no help from dealer..... dont do it.

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  Much for the money! Great value. - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Peter - August 7 - 11:43 am

  I had a Subaru Legacy in the past, and this car is just about the same size. I like the handling, the fuel mileage, the AWD, the interior, and even the radio/CD player. I drove a friends Mercedes Benz a few years ago, and this car reminds me of the drive, comfort, stability, and tightness of that $50,000+ vehicle. I absolutely love it. I have Satellite radio and enjoy that on longer drives. I drives like you are on a cloud! Very, very smooth and comfy. I will be driving it for a long time!

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  There is hope. - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Francisco - August 7 - 9:26 am

  I have been driving for the last 24 of my 39 years. I thought that car manufactures have their engineers to make profitable and funny looking cars with gizmos, flashy looks etc... But an enjoyable ride was always produced on my driving style because of the fact that you are never satisfied with your car. They are always or too bumpy, to narrow, to short, too big, too heavy, too lightweight, too uncomfortable etc... until now. This is the first car that produced such a nice driving experience that I will say that it was designed to be enjoyed by the driver.

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  Ski car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Peter Phares - August 7 - 2:35 am

  The Outback was purchased as a ski-commuting vehicle (for usually no more than 2-3 passengers, including driver). Ive had it 2 months and driven 4,500 miles- 90% highway (200 miles each way to skiing). Overall, good cargo capacity, loading/unloading of cargo, and equipment (fold down half of the rear seat and putting skis inside in ski bags). The ride is comfortable, and I use the dynamic cruise control a lot- which works well, even in heavy traffic or slow traffic. Its a quiet vehicle with muted road and wind noise. GREAT snow traction! The 6 cylinder motor has good power, and the CVT works well generally- but reverse responsiveness is a bit uneven, and strange compared with a standard automatic (but hasnt been a big deal). The paddle shifters are very helpful on downhill grades. Fuel economy is ok, not great. Highway fuel economy is much better if you keep it 2-3 mph under 70 mph on the freeway (which can be slow on some CA freeways)--- keep it 2-3 MPH under 70 and I get 26-28 MPG. Avg 70 MPH, and I get no more than 26 MPG. If you average 75 on the freeway, youll get 24 mpg max. I dont jackrabbit start or use heavy throttle, mostly drive with eye-sight cruise control on. Currently, Im not using the roof rack and dont have a cargo box- so loading the roof would reduce mpg further. My biggest complaint about the car is driver seat comfort. I am 61", and 210 lbs. The seats are not large enough for someone over 6 tall, and its difficult to find a comfortable driving position for longer trips. If I had the ability to change the car, I would create a longer seat cushion for more thigh support, add more bolstering on the sides of the seats (almost none there now, not good in corners), improve adjustment range of seat tilt, and increase the steering wheel telescoping length. I have a 2009 Honda Accord coupe and a 1999 VW Passat, and in both cars I find several comfortable seating positions for long trips--- not so in the Outback.... Im constantly adjusting the seating position, but nothing feels quite right. The center console intrudes too much into the leg space. Im not uncomfortable in the car- but never very comfortable either. It also could use a center armrest which adjusts up/down. Wind noise with side mirrors is low, except in high cross winds, when you can get some significant rumble coming off the mirrors (guessing 15-20 mph+ cross winds it gets rumbly). The door storage pockets dont work well for water bottles, and Ive not yet been able to get the MirrorLink to work- from what Ive read, I need an older version of the app on my phone (which is not compatible with my newer Samsung phone)... so waiting on a software update from Subaru (annoying). One other complaint is the quality of the lower body cladding--- it pits very easily. My VW Passat with 180K miles on it has much less pitting on the lower cladding from snow and sand coming off the tires than the Outback with 4500 miles. The front splash guards need to be bigger and the cladding plastic a higher quality. Overall, Id give the car a "B" grade so far. The jury is out on whether I keep it long term or sell in a few years (I normally like to keep a car for 8-15 years) Too early to tell on reliability- although lots of friends with Subarus have had good luck.