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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  2016 Subaru Forester a Disappointment - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Vicki S. - July 24 - 4:47 am

  The new Subaru Forester is not an improvement over previous year models. I had this as a courtesy car for 3 days, so it went on my 45 mile each way work commute which takes me across small neighborhood roads as well as the majors and the turnpike, so all kinds of driving. I noticed right away that the interior has some line of sight problems. The side windows are junked up with fake little triangle windows near the front corners, so that the reflection of the interior is plainly visible in the window when you are trying to look at the side rear view mirrors. When trying to adjust the rear view mirror to see out the back and sides of the vehicle I accidently hit the on-star emergency button and was promptly given a call. These small 911 butons turned out to be right above where I put my hand to bring the RW mirror to my height, so rotating the mirror down brought my knuckles into contact witthe call buttons. Behind me, in the way of seeing to traffic, were the seat belt line from the back cargo area to the center back seat, and all 3 headrests also blocked my view. The back of the car supplies large corner blind spots so that there is no adjustment that lets you see cars coming from behind you right or left. I never achieved a position that alieviated the sight problems, and could not find the knob to adjust the outside view mirrors. The seats are made of a shiny cover material so I was unsteady and sliding off them, these are "cloth" seats, I think, that also had a heated feature with controls front and down on the center console. The seats are supposed to be buckets, but are so uncomfortable, stiff and slippery that it was more like a personal bench seat. The dials and knobs on the radio and heat are cheap shiny silver plastic that really feel and look rather low class. The dashboard is still the sticky soft fake leather that I had in my 2008 Outback and already sported a layer of fuzz and dust that I know from experience cannot be removed. The feel of the ride, compared to my old Outback that needs struts, was just as bouncy and all over the road as my 08, so maybe I dont need that strut job afterall. The Forester has LOTS of headroom, and a moonroof, but the front dash seemed all wrong, nothing was near enough for me to be able to use it easily or without stretching and craning. Acceleration was awful in that it jerked around, although I am willing to say that maybe that was me not being able to find a comfortable seating position. In slow and go traffic I had trouble keeping it completely straight on, and there was a little audio buzzer on the dash to tell me each time I strayed close to my lane line and yet nothing to tell me when other people were coming into my lane. Climate controls were hard to figure out -- remember this coming from an Outback owner. Maybe a larger person than myself would appreciate the shape of this car, but for someone 5 feet 5" this car was too big and uncomfortable. When it comes time to replace my 08 Outback I will be looking at something that does not put me in a 4 wheel skyscraper. I thought it was good on gas, maybe because it has a larger tank than my Outback. But it would also be too tall for me to load my kayak as I am used to doing.

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  Looks cool and drives great! - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
  By Chad f - July 24 - 3:36 am

  Leased the car three weeks ago, I commute 40 miles a day for work. The car looks really cool I get alot of looks. The inside is nice and roomy and the car play is nice. The only thing I wish it had was more horsepower, this is the only thing I dont like. Engine feels weak and struggles to accelerate, but for the price point I guess I cant complain. Overall great car!

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  Review from Desert Environment - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By iouae - July 24 - 3:29 am

  bought my 2.5 B sport in 2009, now it has 120K miles on it, still feels as good as new. Super reliable, and as good as it runs in snow, so it does in the desert. Corners like a dream and the power is okay. depreciation is way lower than you would expect in this harsh environment in UAE. MPG is not that great, but who cares since Gas here is so cheap. The only cons here are the cheap sound system they send to this region, and the air noise insulation is poor, this gets annoying since most of the time we travel on highways in Dubai!

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  Very Impressed with the new Outback Limited Loaded - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Lars Anderson - July 24 - 1:42 am

  I have never owned a Subaru. I have owned 2013-15 BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Q7, VW CC, and Honda Odyssey for comparison [Yes...lots of new car purchases in last 2 years]. I test drove the 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen [better fuel economy and acceleration but smaller, less advance safety features, and more road noise] and 2015 Mazda CX-5 [just didnt do it for me but deserves a look]. I traded in my 2013 X3. Flaws, but not deal breakers: Voice recognition for entering destination address never works, and system locks out manual address input while driving so you need to stop to change an address in this setting. The Keyless FOB can not be programed to unlock all doors with one button, but keyless entry with door button can. Key FOB open button just has to be pressed twice. Adaptive cruise control button that adjusts distance from car in front not iconically intuitive. Side mirrors dont power fold. Mute button for music doesnt pause song. Turn signal level a little high for optimal ergonomics for me. Poor acceleration but adequate for conservative drivers. XM radio screen difficult to navigate. Voice recognition takes few minutes to initialize but bluetooth acquires instantly. Things I like moving from front to back: Very good head and fog light dispersement, Limited 18" wheels, Night time Approach light in the side mirror and side mirror auto dimming feature, HK stereo is quite impressive and better than premium Q7 stereo, Lane assist really works keeping you in the lane if you dont put hands on steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, lane change warning doesnt warn too early like Honda Odyssey system, Blue interior lighting and instrument panel, 3 12V and 2 USB jacks, Quality/Speed and resolution of infotainment screen, well balanced steering, Forward Adjustable head rest [not just up and down], seat comfort and leather quality, electronic parking break, rear seat AC vents and heated seats, rear seats flip down effortlessly and flat, rear trunk screen cover can be stored in car when not in use, rear seats can recline a bit, roof rack adjustability, road noise on chip & seal roads is very good and better than Audi but similar to BMW, minimal wind noise. Corners well with minimal body roll during conservative driving but certainly not on any rails. I am very impressed with quality, comfort, and electronics. Fun to cruise [quiet and comfy] so I can hear the great stereo. Look forward to tackling some dirt roads and throwing skis, kayak and bikes on top.

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  My Review - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By omar777 - July 23 - 8:10 pm

  Overall a good car. Bought it used and so far have not had any major problems with it. Parts and labor are a little expensive. Not too much visibility from the drivers seat when backing up. Seats not very comfortable.

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  Awesome ride - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Doriss - July 22 - 11:33 pm

  I am quite new to the Subaru experience although family members have owned them. I love the body style of the Forester and the smooth ride it gives me. Instrument panel is simple and easy to access. All-wheel-drive was a must for me and Subaru has perfected that engineering.I love it and now understand why Subaru advertising includes "Love" in their commercials! It says it all!

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  This is the car youve been waiting for. - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Matt - July 22 - 4:33 am

  An excellent, smooth ride. Stable, very little body roll even when accelerating into turns. Instrument panel and console layout well done. Smooth acceleration, smooth stops. Originally considered SE but the Limited boasts a lot of features that more than justify the increase in cost, though both trims drive exactly the same. Seats are comfortable, power seats & telescoping/tilt wheel easy to find your sweet spot in the drivers seat. The 2.5 4-cylinder is more than enough power. If you are considering a mid-size sedan, the safety features of this Subaru more than make up for the sacrifice of a few MPG with a FWD/RWD car.

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  Subaru joins the many automakers that kill roofline height - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By jamesrivera - July 21 - 1:31 pm

  With this OUtback, my wife is pleased, but not me. When Isit in the front seat I feel like I am aout to eat the roof in front of me. THe old Outback;s rooflije did not slope down as much as this one. I have poor visibility in this car. I wanted to like the new Outback but its not for me. Ive been looking for a car myself, so far the Cmax is a better option.

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By saboats - July 20 - 12:56 am

  I have in 2 years never had a problem with this car. I love it!

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  Garbage Garbage Garbage! - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Kelly - July 19 - 3:56 pm

  OMG! What a piece of garbage...Car rattles and is unusually loud...couldnt fit my infant sons carseat behind driver without being "Jacked Up" to the dashboard! If you are a tall or heavy-set person (I am not) than forget it! Plastic garbage.