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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  I love this car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By nmp - September 11 - 6:36 pm

  IÂ’ve had my Suby for nearly three years now, and I love it more and more all the time. ItÂ’s been awesome for me -- a small, sporty woman. ItÂ’s a perfect size -- not too big, but large enough to handle multiple pairs of skis, snowboards, mountain bikes, and friends. IÂ’ve had a couple problems -- front brakes had issues after 18k, but the dealership replaced the rotors under warranty free of charge. Clock also quit -- also replaced under warranty.

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  The Worst Phone System - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Thomas - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I still cant believe how many steps I have to take to make a simple call. Even after that the computer usually says it doesnt recognize that name anyway and quits. Its dreadful and its clear to me now whey the salesman didnt demonstrate it. 3 different buttons for the phone on the wheel and not 1 to turn the stereo on. Still got to go the old fashioned way. The doors dont auto lock after the car is in drive. Even the Yaris does that. The lift gate does not open automatically. A low end Camry its standard. The so called 8 cup holders are a joke, 4 are on the doors so you cant put cups in them and the others are so big that even large water bottles tip over. Tiny sun roof.

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  Air Flow and Media Hub problems? - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By legacy66 - September 6 - 11:15 pm

  This is my first subaru - shortly after I had made my decisions to purchase an Acura, I stumbles across a Subaru dealership and was totally sold on the Legacy. I do have 2 concerns/problems Im wondering if anyone else is having...? The heater/ac airflow on the floor only setting pushes out way more air from the dash/windshield defroster. This is particularly irritating on a cold, sunny day. The upper part of the car becomes too hot, and the lower part where your feet are is too cold. I also had a media hub installed for my IPod and it makes a clicking noise whenever I play it in the car. Ive had the car serviced and they tell me both issues "are working as designed". ???

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  Will Buy Another One! - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By offroad001 - September 6 - 11:50 am

  I bought my 2K9 Outback on July 5th 2008. It was the first 2K9 on the lot. Got it at the July 4th Sale. I have 168,000+ miles on her. Great reliability and a great daily driver. I used to drive 100+ miles a day for work and it is a whole lot better than my Durango or Tahoe!! I keep my vehicles for a long time and this one is still holding up well. I did have the infamous head gasket leak and got that repaired at my mechanic around 133,000 miles. Just basic maintenance and she is good to go! This is my first Asian car. I am a truck man but this car has converted me. Still have my Tahoe but I let my wife drive it. $40.00 compared to $80.00 for a fillup between the two. Love this car!!!

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  First new car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By edan - September 5 - 6:23 am

  Its a sharp looking car. Gets me a lot of complements. Not a lot of people know what it is which I like. I cant seem to find a comfortable spot to put the seat, and the clutch is the most unforgiving Ive ever used. Fuel economy is pretty good I get about 25 city and 32 highway but I really baby it. There is no use trying to strangle power out of this thing. The interior is super nice, I love the blue accent light next to the shifter to put your phone or whatever. Fit and finish are exellent, interior is beautiful! Overall though Im really impressed with the car.

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  Watch out...suddenly its gone - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By unhappyexsubaruowner - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Radiator gave out (after only 75,000 miles). Although I pulled over right away, the result was cracked heads, rings, etc...they wont know the extent of the damage until they start working on it, but at minimum the repair s more than the car is worth. Subarus service after the sale is pathetic. In my experience, the service department has bordered on incompetent. In this latest case, the dealer offered to "take the car off my hands" for nothing, so long as I bought another car off him. So their solution was to sell me another car without consideration for the fact that the other car they sold me died after only 75,000 miles. Thanks for nothing.

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  No low-mileage drivers allowed - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By cllapham - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Although I love my Forester, I dont recommend it to anyone who doesnt regularly drive more than 20 miles a day. Its a great car when it starts, but mine is on its third battery and 8th or 9th dealer visit because of dead battery problems. The dealer says its because I dont drive enough (less than 100 miles a week). So, if youre a commuter, this is a great little car: safe, comfortable, good mileage. If you work from home... If you have a two-car family... If you live near your office... If you like to bike to work instead of always driving... This probably isnt the best car for you.

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  Blue tooth - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By joelira1 - September 2 - 1:59 pm

  car is great over all Handling, ease of driving, sure footed on wet roads The big problem in Imressa I own has been a defective blue tooth system The factory does not own up to problem after 7 Times of leaving car for Enginering to inspect Dealer confirms the problems over and over Factory gives every excuse put can not fix And will not replace with new car great car good dealer bad factory support

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  Empirical improvements over other legacy years - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By G Dog - September 2 - 12:49 pm

  We showed up at our local subaru dealership to look at a few low mile off-lease legacies that seemed fairly priced. 13s, 14s and 15s. Its worth noting that the sixth generation models benefited substantially from the small increase in power and what the dealer claimed were adjustments to the CVT powertrain. Stand on the accelerator of the 2013 and the vehicle sounds like the engine is racing, but there is very little corresponding acceleration. The chain is racing but the gears dont engage until the speeds match up. For the small increase in HP, it seems they got some of that worked out - the car doesnt get up and run away, but neither do you feel like your driving in a half-neutral gear with a slipping transmission. Another improvement is in the cabin soundproofing. The 2017 had much less road noise. And finally, it should be noted that the standard backup camera is really an asset vs. earlier offerings as the view out the back window - while better than many cars - is still restrictively high. We decided to go with a lease on the 2017 based on those considerations, and also dealers seem to be ordering far more PZEVs now than in the past, which Id take any day over a hybrid with heavy metal batteries that will require a strict EPA compliance when reprocessing (shipped off for reprocessing in China or elsewhere where cutting corners on environmental compliance is not uncommon), and the PZEV cost us nothing extra to get in a 2017 lease - I figure its because the residual with that feature gets a slight boost due to the higher exhaust warranty.

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  Not Fancy but dependable - 2008 Subaru Forester
  By Soyoung Chung - August 30 - 10:26 pm

  I waited for 2 years to review to avoid premature review. Finally, I feel comfortable to say "Yes, it is very dependable and reliable". I dont feel stylish nor luxurious, however very humble and sort of old friend. As other review, engine sounds a bit loud and when I accelerate, response is a little slow/hesitant. Although I am not driving the fastest car...I will be on time and safe! Thats all that counts!!! Thank you "SUBARU".