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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  Upgraded my ride from Honda to Subaru - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Fred H. - May 23 - 2:27 am

  After driving a Honda Element for over 12 years and 200k miles, it was time to upgrade to something nicer. A certain magazine raved about the Forester, and I whittled down my list to the Forester or a Mazda CX5. I chose the Forester because I was just more comfortable in the Forester. Im a large fellow (horizontally challenged), and have plenty of driver seat room, with a huge amount of space in front of me to adjust the steering wheel to my liking. The back seats have a lot of room for the kids - not as much as the Element, but more than most cars, even higher end cars. The gas mileage has been great - 80% of my commute is on the highway, and I easily get over 30MPG. The weekends when I run errands nearby, no so much... often under 20. My average so far is around 28. Acceleration feels very odd to me, coming from a four speed transmission. The CVT can be jerky, especially under stress (uphill grades or with the AC turned on); its hard to get smooth acceleration, but when youre at speed, it seems to work really well when you make minor adjustments to speed. Right now I have only two minor criticisms. One, the gas cap is on the wrong side. It will take some getting used to having the gas cap on the passenger side, especially when people are actually following the general rule to pull forward to the farthest pump you can use to make room for others.... and youre going the other way. The other thing is that I wish I could just turn off the screen for the infotainment system. You can turn off the screen under settings, but it comes right back on again every time you start the car. Look - sometimes I just dont want to listen to anything. And it always wants to restart Pandora in shuffle mode. Aside from those minor issues, Im really enjoying the Forester; its very comfortable, with a great ride position and great visibility.

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  2009 Tribeca - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By evansubi - May 22 - 6:19 pm

  I purchased this vehicle 2 years ago. At the time I was torn between the Tribeca and the Toyota Highlander. I priced both cars with the same (7seater, fully loaded) extras. Tribeca came to $39,200 and the Highlander $44,700. Then Toyota was willing to cut approx $1500-2000 dollars and Subaru cut $5000! So my final price for my car came to 34,200 dollars compare to 42,700 saved me about 8000... that alone is a great reason... No problems so far.. Fast (8sec 0-60), economy I get is between 18-20mpg mixed. Drove it to new york ave 20.5-22.5 mpg on 65-85mph Only concern is front shock sound.. will check at the dealer.. by the way 15.99 OIL Change is also a plus.!!!

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  Cant wait for winter - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By LD VADER - May 20 - 10:46 pm

  Bought a 2007 Impreza 2007 2.5i this week. Love the AWD. I cant force the tires to loose traction. 174hp is a little doggy after driving a V8 for a year but the 28mpg is a nice change.

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  Rock solid but a little boring - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By 3rdSubaru - May 13 - 6:36 pm

  This is the third Subaru Ive owned. In 57,000 mi, Ive yet to have a single problem. I have separate wheels for snow tires, and I put some sticky summer tires on the stock rims for summer driving. With snow tires, this car is unstoppable in the snow! I also have a full size 4x4 pickup truck, and this car easily out- performs it even in deep snow. Youd have to be a real idiot to get this car stuck. On dry (or wet) pavement, it handles nicely, but I wish theyd offer a more powerful engine. The 6-cylinder is OK, and I get a consistent 27mpg -- no complaints since I drive it pretty hard. My next car will probably be a BMW 335xi or an Audi S5, but the Subaru has served me well.

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  Ltd - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By rm - May 13 - 4:46 am

  Looked at purchasing a new car for about a year. Looked at Saturn Aura, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord Coupe. The Saturn was very nice but the build quality was not that great + I didnt know if the dealership would exist in the future. The Accord coupe rode very hard, the seats were very hard + the dashboard was too busy. Hadnt considered another Subaru (have a 2005 Outback 2.5i) until I determined I didnt like the Saturn or Honda. Drove the Forester (great!) then decided getting the Legacy was a no-brainer, given the reliability of my Outback. I gave the Outback to my wife & purchased the Legacy Limited. Now we both have no problems getting to our mountain top home in the winter!

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  Oh My! - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Stealthleadfoot - May 11 - 6:00 pm

  Bought the 05 Legacy GT 3 months ago. My wife and I liked it a lot right off the bat, and now, after 3500 miles, we like it even more. No buyers remorse in this house. Seriously fast, AWD handles like a dream in all kinds of terrain and weather, restrained but classy interior and exterior, great build quality and very adequate safety features. This is our first Subaru, and its certainly different from some of the older ones so beloved by many of our friends. Were glad we didnt pay the extra bucks for the runners-up. For one thing, being less popular, it doesnt look like Everymans cheap Beemer or Audi. Respectable adults with a delinquent residue -- go for it!

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  Very good car! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Andeas - May 10 - 3:16 pm

  My experience has been very good. We used the car for a cross-country trip and had no problems.

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  Perfect for my needs - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By crowing - May 9 - 8:50 am

  Lets get the caveats out of the way: smaller back seats, lower MPG due to AWD, maintenance can be expensive, and a somewhat stiff ride. Due to these things, this car may not be right for everyone. HOWEVER, I do give this car high ratings for very well executed design and performance. I love the style of the interior and found the seats and steering to be spot on. AWD is a great thing to have with Michigans erratic weather and this is one of the more economic choices. The Legacy is a bit heavier for the AWD, which may be why some people feel its a bit sluggish, but it also improves grip and cornering. So you know, the 2010 model does seem to have fixed a number of these quirks.

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  Happy with power, unhappy with quality - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Mark - May 8 - 12:26 pm

  I expected the usual Subaru quality with this vehicle. The performance is everything I expected but the build quality is not. Door handle trims falling off and arm rest covers falling off are not what I expect. The latest surprise was having to replace CV boots and clatch at 55000 miles. Ive driven manuals all my life and never replaced a clutch.

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  Blast - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Raf - May 6 - 10:00 am

  It is absolutely fantastic car. The infamous turbo lag can be sometimes annoying, but after 6 months I almost mastered beating it, when need power. Florida is flat, but those wet ramps are great! I took a wagon for utility (also looks are in my opinion better then sedan) and can recommend all cargo accessories from Subaru (bin, net, tray, etc.). Also get the armrest extension if you are tall. An of course, get short-throw shifter! Fuel economy is an oximoron for this car: 20/25 premium (at best) is pathetic for a 2.0 l engine. Highway can be even worse if keep the speed above 80 mph. But boy, is it worth it.