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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  good car - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By oscar - November 28 - 8:50 pm

  I sell Hondas, so you can imagine what kind of buyer I am. The Subaru is for my wife (yes I could not sell her a Honda). Anyways the car is great - she loves it, the only thing they need to improve is the pick up from 0 to 60 for the auto transmission, its a little bit sluggish. Also a gas guzzler considering is a small car; we get 18.5 miles to gallon on city with light traffic. That is what I get in my V-6 Isuzu Rodeo 4x4, then again you have to consider that the Baja is an all wheel drive. Overall Ill give a 9.5.

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  WOW! Our first Subaru Outback - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By mikeminardi - November 27 - 1:43 pm

  We just took delivery on our very first Subaru Outback. It is our first Subaru ever. My wife has been driving Honda Odysseys for many years and wanted to down size a bit, but still have room to haul stuff. She does a not of gardening. Our initial impressions of the 2015 Subaru Outback are very good. Comfortable, quiet, great driving position and great visibility. And it has a lot of space for hauling stuff. We purchased the 2.5i Limited. We like the leather seats and the soft touch materials. It seems very solid and refined for a vehicle designed to go off road. The performance of the 4 cylinder engine is just fine and the overall build quality is outstanding.

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  Its a thing of beauty - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Jim - November 26 - 11:03 pm

  Granted only 200 miles on this 2010 2.5 hatchback (auto), but I love it. Sort of fell into the purchase, but very happy. Very nice styling, good features, performance pretty good - outstanding value overall. Put some 140,000 miles on a 2001 Audi A4 (1.8) Quattro - and I dont see the Subaru as a let down at all.

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  Snazzy! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Patrick OBRIEN - November 26 - 4:01 am

  Neat car with great features. On our first road trip we got 26 plus mpg.

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  Icy, Steep Hills? No Problem - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By skilift - November 24 - 3:16 pm

  I bought this car for two reasons: for a 60 mile (round trip) commute to work each day and to get me up the hill to go skiing on the weekends. This car has performed admirably in both respects. I was pleasantly surprised by how well my Subaru handled snowy or icy, steep hills. I didnt find a hill all winter that I couldnt get up and it didnt matter where, or how, I parked, I never got stuck. And this was during a winter that the papers said was the areas most snowy since 1916. In addition, the car is comfortable for my commute. This is saying something considering I am 61". Observed mpg: 25-26 with ski racks; 28-30 w/o ski racks. Great vehicle for camping, too.

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  Sweetest thing on 4 Wheels - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Seth - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car after carefully research of cars under 30k, which included BMW 330ci and Lexus IS 300. By far, it is worth the bang for the bucks I paid. Excellent acceleration and handling but drifts while cornering. It is a joy to drive and have racked up 13k miles in under 8 months.Awesome handling in snow and rain... Planing a trip across America this summer hope to cya all... Ciao

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  Sweetest thing on 4 Wheels - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By seth - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car after carefully research of cars under 30k, which included BMW 330ci and Lexus IS 300. By far, it is worth the bang for the bucks I paid. Excellent acceleration and handling but drifts while cornering. It is a joy to drive and have racked up 13k miles in under 8 months.Awesome handling in snow and rain... Planing a trip across America this summer hope to cya all... Ciao

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  SUBARU = QUALITY - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By lmhunter - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Subarus always start, hold to the road, never need repair. Parking lot where I worlk is full of them. Everyone is pleased.

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  Quirky but fun and reliable - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By elgreen - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Okay, so the Forester is neither car nor SUV, but its still roomy, reliable, reasonably thrifty (compared to competitors in the compact SUV market) and is fun to drive. Okay, so being low to the ground with fat 16" tires isnt going to make it an off-roader anytime soon, but that same low to the ground trait also makes it fun to drive, and the 165 horsepower engine moves its 3,000 pounds around with reasonable alacrity.

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  Tough to Beat for Value & Quality - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Anthony Lo - November 20 - 10:06 pm

  This is our familys 3rd Subaru. Traded in a 2008 Forester that we loved for its ruggedness, reliability, AWD, and safety but needed more rear leg room as 2nd child is on the way. Got a steal of deal on the transaction and could not be happier with our new 2010 Forester. Its just the right size inside but still has a compact exterior that is easy to maneuver. The interior is well laid out and all body components are tightly built. Yes, we have a couple of rattles hear and there but nothing overly annoying. Be careful of the light grey interior (might get dirty fast). Overall, this is not a particularly luxurious vehicle but is still solid, safe, and very reliable. Cant beat it for value.