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:

• 

  Sucks gas, eats headlight bulbs and the doors wont unlock - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By tommymight - September 26 - 3:02 am

  I had my 2009 Tribeca Limited for 2 1/2 years and I just traded it on a new non-Subaru vehicle. More negatives than positives for me. Issue #1 is the fuel economy. I got 15 mpg around town in good weather and 12-13 mpg in winter. The car is great in snow, especially with Hakapelitta snow tires. On the highway, it was a miracle to get 21 mpg. The fuel tank is small - 16 gallons and I was filling it up constantly. Navigation system was weak, a $300 Garmin blew it away. This car EATS headlight and brake bulbs. I installed headlight bulbs 3 times in 2 1/2 years and brake bulbs twice. Dealer parts department told me they sold a ton of bulbs. The remote key unlock took 4 clicks to open all doors

• 

  First time owner! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By LCC - September 25 - 3:32 am

  I am so pleased with my Subaru Outback. It is the very first time that I am able to depend on a vehicle after owning a car as along as I have.

• 

  Fun To drive stealth rocket - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By JonFo - September 24 - 2:23 pm

  Love the power, excellent handling, quality build, reliability of this Subaru. Wagon is the way to go for convenience and for its excellent stealth characteristics.

• 

  Very Good except for torque - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By AJ - September 24 - 5:40 am

  The car is generally very good. I got it for an excellent price, even in its first year. I really like the interior design and layout and the great looking and useful hatch bodystyle. The interior generally is nice for the $ but I think the red lighting is juvenile and hard to read. The main problem with the car is the short-stroke engine combined with interia of AWD system makes it a torqueless dog both around town and on the highway. I cant fathom why the engineers would set it up that way. At least the short gearing kind of makes up for it, but then it ends up feeling like it needs a 6th gear. All together it drives and rides pretty well and is comfortable. MPG isnt bad for AWD.

• 

  Great car but cheap interior - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Brian - September 24 - 4:06 am

  Overall the car is great. I have the 3.0 L.L.Bean edition and its very luxurious. It has plenty of power and the fuel economy is ok I get about 15 mpg in the city but I could get 21 mpg city if i drive like a granny. The sound system is pretty good. I love the XM radio and the panoramic sunroof. The main thing I dont like about it is the quality of the interior materials. The leather feels very cheap and is not very soft. The leather around the parking brake is all cracked. The plastic around the AC controls is all scratched just from fingernails turning the dials. The factory Nav is useless! It gives you wrong directions and it always tells you to turn if there is just a curve in the road.

• 

  17 XT Touring attended finishing school - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By kurtamaxxguy - September 23 - 2:16 pm

  After mixed results with the 14 XT (was first year model, suffered major engine wear covered by TSB), I found Subaru had refined it for 17, smoothing out ride (less jiggly/harsh), reducing interior noise (engine quieter, tires less so), and upgrading interior trim and seat colors. Engine/CVT feel more polished, there are fewer rattles in dash and interior. Gains: LED headlights and brake lights, heated steering wheel, better shaped seats, color graphic displays, lighted vanity mirrors, memory seating. Losses: Harmon Kardon sound equalizer degrades to 3 bands rather than 10, Nav only available with Eyesight. A fair bit of chrome and shiny trim can prove distracting in sunlight. XTs nicely responsive on the road, with option to use regular fuel (at cost of 10 - 15% of power/MPG). Odd that torque vectorings only available with Eyesight, and that tailpipes soot up quickly. If you drive icy roads ditch the stock Bridgestones for ones having ice grip. Summary: a very practical, pleasant vehicle.

• 

  Subaru Legacy Spec B - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By sleepy58 - September 23 - 10:56 am

  Excellent AWD sport sedan. Very quick over a wide variety of road surfaces and conditions. Sport sharp mode in Si drive provides great throttle response. A stealth car that is great fun to drive.

• 

  2017 forester xt touring - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By jim - September 22 - 4:50 am

  have not had the forester that long,2 big disappiontments would be seats are very uncomfortable(not enough support and could have more padding) 2nd thing is it does not have wipers on/headlights on feature. most states now require this,it would be a nice feature to have. other than that,i am happy with it so far.

• 

  2017 Subaru Legacy Sport - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By MJM - September 21 - 1:25 pm

  Looked at the Accord and Jetta and found the Subaru to be superior. AWD is much appreciated in New England. I have had reliability issues. The coolant system has drained completely on two separate occassions leaving me high and dry. I find this completely unacceptable for a car with 4000 miles on it. I am researching my options but my preference would be return this car at this point. Ive got a Suburban with 200K miles on it which has had one coolant change in its lifetime. The legacy Sport is a 30K plus car and I can not rely on it for a drive beyond the grocery store. I am obviously not happy.

• 

  Great Value - True Drivers Car - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By DW - September 21 - 11:50 am

  The base audio is good only for the disinterested listener. Skip the HK-Nav package - upgrade the tweeters, speakers and add a subwoofer. Twice the car at a fraction of the cost of the real competitors.