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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  Should have got something else - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By nbabiarz - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Have 6k miles on the car, and am ready to get rid of it. The steering is terrible (wobbly, feels like Im in a boat being pushed back and forth across traffic) and my *new* car had rust on the door, plus several other defects. Ive been back to Subaru of Gwinnett 3 times to fix it, and they cant/wont. Ive been told "thats how all AWD vehicles drive" (I thought AWD was supposed to feel *more* stable than FWD?) and that I need to put air in the tires every week... Im very disappointed with the car, and with the lack of support from Subaru. I will not be being any more Subaru cars in the future.

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  2 head gaskets at 20k - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By dsomeda - August 3 - 8:50 am

  At 2 yrs old developed small oil drops leaks 20k miles. At 3yrs started to drip coolant on driveway and oil drops. Dealer would not cover this fix because Subaru claimed only the Forester has bad gaskets but they asked me for my VIN any way. They gave me a bottle of head gasket sealer for 2$ and told me they were going to charge me $3500 for new gasket replacement. The very fact that the dealer even stocked(sealant) and basically gave it to me indicated that they have a widespread problem. It did not work. Used Bars Stop Leak instead. 2014 75k add coolant twice a week and code (Knock) triggered prob due to worn bearings from water in oil.

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  crosstrek hybrid-where has the quality gone? - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By ny2dc - July 5 - 7:30 pm

  I owned a subaru forester from 1999-2004...loved the car. Not the nicest looking car but I lived in Colorado at the time and it was the perfect car to commute with as well had drive to the mountains. Since then I moved back east and stuck with toyota/lexus. With the new hybrid crosstrek I thought I would give it another try. I bought the car as a demo model so I did get a great deal, but long story short I was very disappointed. I kept the car only a few months and traded it back in. What a piece of junk. First.. no where near the 29/33. I averaged 23 mpg. The interior of the car was like a toy car. Very low quality. Overall the car is a piece of junk. Beware.

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  My car went boom - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By STigoesboom - July 1 - 1:20 pm

  I buy cars to race and to tune them. I have worked on Lambos to Kias. My brother owns a shop in Delaware where I do all of my work and dyno tuning. I was very surprised when then engine practically blew up with minor tuning (nothing internal and factory turbo). After talking with other people who have tried this seems to be a common occurrence. My suggestion... buy the car if you want a fairly quick car that is going to be left stock. You want to tune your car and make it special to you...buy something else.

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  $$$$ maintenance - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By hotwheels - June 25 - 4:36 pm

  No mechanical problems until dealer check at 114,000 miles. Cost $2100 to bring car up to speed, new water pump (even though I never had a water leak or change in antifreeze levels), was told oil valve leak on spark plug wires, needed $600 100,000 mile checkup with this bill and needed new rear brakes too. Wind noise is annoying. Bottom of driver door seal is loose and leaks. During freezing North Dakota winters the spring loaded gas cap freezes shut, cramped interior with just average gas mileage. Have been driving 41 years and never have had $2100 repair bill on any of my Hondas, Toyotas, or Nissans (some of them with 200,000+ miles). If I have one more problem, this car is going.

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  Ill never buy another Subaru! - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By lizlubee - May 26 - 2:33 am

  My Forester was purchased new and always received scheduled services and oil changes. It had very low mileage (<97,000 miles) and was in terrific condition (or so I thought). I recently learned it had a leaking head gasket (a notorious Subaru problem), 2 bad rear wheel bearings, and leaking oil pan. It also needed a new catalytic converter according to my mechanic. Well, any car that disintegrates before 100,000 miles is not worthy of my attention so I (in very short order) traded it in. I now have a 2014 Mazda CX 5 which is ten times the car my old Forester ever was!

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  WORST CAR I have EVER owned - and Ive owned some crappy cars - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By medic0749 - May 15 - 10:04 pm

  What a piece of crap. I bought this worthless excuse of a vehicle for 24,000.00 and it had 9 miles on it, that was 45 days ago. This "reliable" POS has been in the shop for repairs twice. Its "AWD" has put me in the ditch once already with a couple other near misses. Ive been driving vehicles for over 20 years, I drive an ambulance for a living. Ive never been in the ditch before owning this lame car. I used to own a 2001 subary impreza, what happened in 10 years. You really put your name on this POS? Most god awful, piece of junk on the road under the false pretense of 37 mpg (LOL!) and reliable? Cmon into the dealers twice in under 45 days! Get the extended warranty. 500miles

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  Dont buy a Subaru - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By dontbuyasubaru - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Dont buy this heap, nothing but trouble from day one. Check Engine light came on, took it to dealer (Car Mart Subaru in Wilmington) charged for 30K service when the car had 20K miles in order to fix light (came back on and is still on). AC is so-so. Wheel bearing replaced at 30k. Last week the rear view mirror fell off! Im going back to Honda, Ill never buy another Subaru,very poor customer relations/support.

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  8 years on: many major repairs - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By tommchugh - April 28 - 6:42 pm

  Bought this car new in 2003 because of manual transmission,wagon&4wheel disc. Until 2006 this was a reasonable car for my wife to drive for errands and commute. 2006 brought out the true character, noticed the clutch slipping at 48K. Had moved, took it to a dealer in new location, need 3 part clutch and brakes, calipers and rotors for ~$4.2K. Brakes had never "chirped", pass. front rotor very thin. Subaru after much back and forth did the parts but not the labor ($2.4K) at 48,000 miles. Fast forward to 2011, front brakes rotors and calipers @ 8 K mi., and today at 88K same for rears + fluid flush because of heat damage. Called Subaru today, thanked for report. Will NOT buy Subaru again

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  BURNS OIL & has a slight hesitation - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By coni_k_2014 - April 24 - 6:27 am

  I purchased a new 2014 Subaru Forester in July of 2013. All work has been done at Maita Subaru of Sacramento I use the Synthetic 0-20 weight oil, Maita has performed all oil changes. I drive a lot so from July to now I have put 28000 miles on my car. Maita said that this engine burns oil and I should have to add about a quart between oil changes. They said that its the engine and its design so it gets better gas mileage. So now I have to bring back in every 1200 miles to check and see if it is burning more than usual, NOT a Happy Subaru owner!!