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 car - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Sergei - June 5 - 11:40 pm

  I have 12 months, 12K miles with my B9. Great car. This winter in Colorado was bad and I enjoyed driving. The car did very well on the snow and ice roads with manual shifting. I made a trip to Seattle (almost 3K miles, avg. speed about 75-80) plus there is my every day commute from home to work in Denver. The average mileage is 21 per gallon.

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  5th Subaru and the Worst one ever - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By James Meyer - June 5 - 6:17 pm

  We bought our 5th Subaru because of the Outbacks revised exterior styling, 4 cylinder engine and the new touch screen system. I was happy as we drove off into the sunset and then my attitude soured. I think the entire entertainment layout is horrible. The volume control for the stereo is very small. Touch screen is not intuitive. The outside temp and time displays are very small. The worst is how it handles in the snow. Just driving in my neighborhood I have slid around corners and through corners with bad traction control and antilock braking. My confidence is shattered. Mountain driving is no longer fun as I am white knuckling the entire time. Anyone else experience this?

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  Exceeded my Importation - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By RoadStar - June 4 - 11:50 pm

  My first import, wanted something that was not mainstream and found it! A real looker, have many positive compliments on it and especially since Subaru is has a history of not being attractive/sexy cars. Rides like a heavy SUV but with a soft suspension. Pulls my 18 I/O runabout boat with surprising ease. Corners very well and has solid brakes. So far able to pull out 260ish miles on a tank of 87 octane. And that is with the help of my "lead" foot. Base stereo should offer at least 6 disk in dash for this class of car.

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  New Happy Convert - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Scott Dorsey - June 4 - 12:25 pm

  With aging parents and growing kids to transport, I had completely outgrown my 2005 Honda CR-V. It was a nice car and served me well, but I was ready for a change. I was looking for a Crossover or SUV with similar or better gas mileage and driving experience. Nothing against Honda, but Id ruled out another Honda because I was ready for something different. Other SUVs like the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue and Dodge Journey caught my eye, so I test drove and enjoyed each. However, after doing the research on those models, I just wasnt sold on what they had to offer. Their rear visibility, blind spots and safety ratings were a concern, especially on the Rogue. Too, coming from a CR-V with All-wheel drive, I wanted to keep that feature without having to pay extra for it. So, when I finally got around to doing the research, then test driving the 2016 Outback, I was sold, almost immediately. The quality of the build, interior materials, front seat legroom comfort (for a tall guy like me - 62"), quiet cabin, nice ride and feel, short turning radius, unobstructed view, ease of use of the infotainment center and many other thoughtful appointments made me an instant convert. And, the CVT works great, too! In some ways, its hard to believe that a thoughtful guy like me made the switch so quickly. To top things off, Stivers Subaru of Decatur Georgia did an excellent job of addressing all my questions, to make the transition seamless! I purchased my 2016 Subaru Outback, 2.5i, Limited, in Twilight Blue with black/charcoal leather interior. I LOVE it! Since I made the switch, Ive received many favorable comments from friends and neighbors about how it looks. Theyre very handsome vehicles, and there arent many in my area, yet! Those whove had the opportunity to ride in my Subie were very pleased with the experience. I know Ive made a good choice, and now, Im looking forward to many happy years ahead behind the wheel of my 2016 Subaru Outback!

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  Love at first sight! Dare to be Different! - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Kek - June 4 - 11:41 am

  When I first saw my 2017 white Legacy Sport on the Subaru lot, I knew I was going to purchase it. The look of the sport model is fresher than the other Legacy models. After looking at dozens of Camrys and Accords, I just didnt want to be another person trying to get into someone elses car in a large parking lot because their Accord looked exactly like mine. This Legacy is what you get if you want to be unique, and not just another Camry/Accord driver. The safety features (Eyesight, high beam assist, etc) are excellent for a car in this price range and its no wonder all the other midsize cars have scrambled to catch up. The complaints I have are that the AUDIO system is horrible. Had I listened closer during my test drive, I would not have purchased the car because I am a music lover and music sounds horrible in the Legacy. There are no settings you can choose to help it other than balance all the sound onto the back speakers. If youre looking at a Legacy and like a nice AUDIO system, be sure to get the upgraded Harmon Kardon system. Also, the heating system seems to take too long to put out heat. I blame the 4 cylinder engine for this lack of heating power. On very cold days, the car seems to accelerate very sluggishly until it gets warmed up. Again another disadvantage I blame on the 4 cylinder engine. Everything else about the Legacy is great. The price, AWD, safety features and roomy interior are all hard to beat.

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  Not your standard grocery getter! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By WGR - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Have only owned car 1 month, purchased pre-owned at dealer where I work (Not a Subaru dealer). This car is a BLAST to drive. Has ride comfort of a much larger vehicle but very sporty feeling around corners & off the line. Plenty of interior space/cargo room & looks more like a hatchback than a wagon. Fuel economy has been good (between 27- 28 mpg in mixed driving w/AC on ALL the time!) AWD gives very secure feeling on loose gravel & should be good on snow also...My aunt has a 98 Legacy Outback & loves it, never drove in snow before buying her car, now cant keep her off the road. No problems so far!

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  LL Bean Luxury for Beer Budgets - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By Michael K - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car, this is our second Subaru (my car is the WRX). We compared the other SUWs in this class and the Subaru had all the features of the Volvo, Audi All Road, Passat Wagon, at much less of a price. Plus the inclusion of one year of ONstar, free general maintenence for three years, and the Subaru safety record, this car is a steal. It rocks in the Northeast

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  Wonderful Vehicle - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Rich Purdy - June 3 - 4:13 am

  We purchased this vehicle in trade for 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd with hi- preformance V8. Excellent decision! The performance exceeds expectation while quality, comfort and style are all excellent. Tested the Limited but found the sunroof too large and noisy when open. Also, preferred fabric over leather. Only disappointment is manual passenger seat. Narrowed the short list to this vehicle and the Volvo V50 T5. Clearly no comparison - XT rides, handles and outperforms in all areas. This vehicles actually overshadows our previous 01 Volvo V70 T5. Purchased vehicle over the internet (although local) and received exceptional, professional treatment along with favorable numbers.

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  3.0R around 1k miles initial review - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Eui - June 1 - 10:40 am

  This car suit my needs well. 4DR sedan with AWD, enough power, comfortable ride. It has all the features that I need, plus a moon roof that I did not really need (standard on 3.0R). All that for around $25k price tag was acceptable. I dont make much use of SI drive. I leave it on Sport mode, and take it easy on the throttle instead of making the computer do it for me. That way, I get fuel economy and throttle response also when needed. The MPG gauge does not show much of a difference unless I use low gear acceleration with Sport mode. Score of 6 for fuel economy is fair. Any worse then 17 city and 24 highway then I would not have considered this car, and the estimate seems accurate.

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  Not quite the dream car I thought - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Tom - May 30 - 10:06 pm

  The concept of an affordable, reliable, highly rated, economical, AWD, almost SUV that can tow 2400# made this a dream car. But after 5000 miles Im somewhat disappointed. The hillholder on the manual transmission is a PITA. It holds when you dont want it to and I feel like a drag racer winding up the engine and dumping the clutch to release it. If youre an experienced MT driver have them disconnect it before delivery. Otherwise, its $40 to do it later. My other big disappointment is the cruise control, which slows/speeds up on ANY hill. The dealer says its not supposed to work on hills but all my other cars have. They did a software fix today for the low speed lurching. Well see.