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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  Blue 04 WRX sedan - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Rick Dunham - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I live in Massachusetts, so having all wheel drive is a big plus.It is a fun car to drive in any kind of weather. I test drive the Mazda6s,WRX, and Nissan Maxima. Subarus reliability, all wheel drive, and the fun to drive factor really sold me.

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  Great little suv - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Doug - March 6 - 11:36 am

  I drove 2 Lexus RXs for 6 years before this little suv. I wanted better gas mileage at $3 per gallon. I am surprised at how pleased I am. Great handling. Much more fun to drive. And still pulls my boat adequately.

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  My Forester is a lemon - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Paul - February 28 - 2:53 am

  We love the way the Forester handles on difficult roads (we lived in MN and ME with it). We are very saddened by the horrible maintenance issues weve had. In the last eight months (starting at about 103,000 miles) weve sunk $4700 into the car hoping to keep it going, but were now looking at another $1800 in repairs. The killers have been that weve had to replace the clutch, the head gasket and both front axles. Now we have to replace the drive shaft. We will sadly dump our Forester, and will not buy another Subaru. The two cheap Chevys I owned before getting the Forester had better repair records than this! Were headed out to get another Honda.

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  Pleasant car to drive - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Tom - February 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is very quiet, nothing like the rattle box my wifes Focus is. Engine is very quiet, that my wife cant hear it well, and try to restart it twice. I dont like the abs at times as it kick in prematurely, but most time it is quiet. The interesting "safety" feature about the car is that if you forget to tighten your gas cap well, or if any glitches occur in the engine or drive train - the Cruise control light flashes, check engine light goes on, and the traction control light goes on. This scared the jeepers out of me at first - but it is an important safety feature to protect the engine. You can buy a code reader for $20 or take to action auto for the code to be read.

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  Nice Car, Poor Gas Mileage - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By suboutback12 - February 26 - 5:41 am

  I purchased my new Outback a few days ago. It drives nicely and has decent acceleration. I have noticed that the car has a shudder when shifting from park to drive or reverse to drive. I hope it goes away. I also have been getting about 18-19 mpg combined under normal driving conditions. I do not gun the pedal and do not have a lead foot. Why am I getting such poor gas mileage? I hope it improves, but so far it sucks.

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  Everything - Including The Dog - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Dave_in_CA - February 23 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I have been driving the XT for about a month. Just as the first reviewer said, I also bought this car for her and can now hardly stand to drive my car. We have been very pleased by this ultra- sensible sports car. Dog, kids, groceries and a sub 5.7 0-60 time. What more can you ask for? We looked at many wagons (Passat, Outback, Saturn) and chose the Forester for its comfort (her) and performance (me). The sound system is great, fit and finish are excellent (on par with Acura, better than Toyota IMHO) and the car just feels rock solid. No opinion on the reliablity but with regular service it should be fine.

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  Subaru 05 Outback Sudan - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Richard Llewellyn - February 18 - 4:06 pm

  Handles like a dream in the ice and snow, does not silp or slide and tracks very well

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  First week with my 2010 Legacy 3.6R Lim - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By idmd - February 16 - 4:36 pm

  Ive had the car for a week and its wonderful. 3.6R feels strong and smooth, 5-speed auto is spot on, and the car overall feels very well constructed and ridged without sacrificing ride quality. Has a sporty feeling overall. Interior room is superb (Im 65") and materials feel very high quality. iPod/iPhone integration could be better as its inconsistent (some touch screen buttons are inaccessible at times when they should not be). The NAV system also is not the most intuitive system out there but is very good. This car definitely looks better in- person compared to pictures where (for whatever reason) it tends to look awkward at times. Not so in real life.

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  So far so good - 2018 Subaru Forester
  By M Mosely - February 13 - 2:29 am

  Shift slips from drive into other gear too easily. Otherwise, works well. Visibility is FANTASTIC. I am short and the car seat raises me up high so I can see over front bumpers, and the blind spots are almost eliminated. Safety devices are GREAT. All work well and easily. Quality of inside looks a little cheap. Driving seat is not well padded. When back seats are collapsed forward, the cargo floor is not flat. The heater and fan controls are poorly designed. The computer features require study to learn. On the plus side, besides the amazing field of vision is the great handling, tight turn radius and smooth breaking. Acceleration is better than adequate. Parking is easy. The safety features work extremely well. Parking is easy. All I all, a wonderful car

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  my new outback 2.5 cvt - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By jack - February 10 - 4:50 am

  First of all Id like to say that I had apprehensions between the time of buying and delivery. I had to wait 2 months for the delivery and during this time I read all kinds of good and no so good comments about the OB. Well I have been driving this car for about 2 weeks now for 450 km in town and on highway (not done any offroad yet but Im sure It wont disappoint me) and I am happy to report that this car is the best 4X4 SUV I ever had.