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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  Oil Burner, MPG not as advertised - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By movingon1 - March 14 - 4:06 am

  I bought the hatchback with a manual because I was looking for versatility with good mileage. Functionality wise, Im happy. Im 62" and the car is comfortable on long road trips and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the back, especially with the seats down. Also, the car is amazing in the snow. BUT- as others mentioned, the car has started burning oil at 30,000 miles! Almost 2 quarts between oil changes. Add to that the well known not-as-advertised MPG, and I am thinking about trading it in. I have logged every single tank on Fuelly. In the winter, 22 city, 27 highway. In the summer, 25 city 30 highway. Its rare to do better than 30 on the highway, but I drive 70-75.

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  Reliable all-weather performer - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By ttran - March 11 - 7:10 pm

  Bought mine at the tail end of winter in MN. Wish I bought it earlier! This thing plows snow like a champ, especially with the Blizzaks. Truly a vehicle of choice in the winter. Now that its summer time Im starting to notice the noise. I dont get any wind noise but the engine and road noise is definitely noticeable. Im hoping my next set of tires will solve the road noise but Im not sure what to do about the engine noise. Very buzzy. Handles well but could use more power. I give this a 10 during the winter and a 6.5 for the summer.

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  Subaru Forester X premium - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By maverick - March 11 - 1:40 am

  The car is a winner with great IIHS crash test ratings. For me it was a toss up between a Toyota RAV4 and this . When it comes to winter driving the Forester beats the RAV4 . During extreme driving conditions , the risk of driving is increased and my motive of buying the Forester was for times like these.

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  Not as good as they use to be. - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By lemonade - March 10 - 11:00 pm

  I bought this car thinking it would be as reliable and trouble free as my 95 Legacy. I was wrong! Numerous rattles, squeaks and creaks developed in the dash, console, and front passenger door. The auto transmissionwas rough and jerky shifting. The front end would grind and rattle when pulling into a parking space. Two dealers were unable to fix even a single problem. The dealer also always overfilled the engine by half a quart of oil during oil changes. Lousy service, warranty, and car. NEVER WILL BUY ONE AGAIN!

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  Great Value, Reasonable Compromises - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By mj - March 10 - 3:00 am

  Weve had the Subie for about four months now. I am very happy with it. The lackluster acceleration is noticeable, but the trade-off is very good fuel economy with standard fuel (25-29 mpg), I suspect the tranny largely to blame for the slow feeling to the car, and a fifth gear would help mpgs too! The stereo is quite weak, and there is no rest for my elbows on either side when driving this car. That said, the car has generally been delightful. Coming from Volvos I am impressed with the comfort of the driver seat the value (half the price of the XC70) safety gas mileage and reliability. Id strongly recomend this car-but realize that there are compromises made for mpg & low price.

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  5K miles and still smooth - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By slinky - March 9 - 9:06 am

  Thought Id wait to get a few miles on it to see how time would temper my opinion. Im still loving the performance every day I drive it, and still look for reasons to get out and drive. Even though the tires are fairly soft, they dont show much significant wear after 5K miles for a performance tire, and the car still corners as tenaciously as when first driven. Road noise is present, but not overwhelming even as the tires have aged. Personally, I like the wing and think its part of the cars character (hot wheels full sized toy). Only thing I dont like is how it creates a blind spot if looking over the shoulder. This is a drivers car.

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  New 2017 Outback Owner - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By D.E.P. - March 3 - 5:01 am

  I have always been a VW Owner, have a 12 YO 4-Motion Passat which is seeing the end of its tenure as an everyday driver. I would have liked to stay a VW owner but the new SportTrack is grossly overpriced and is nowhere near a competitor for the Outback, more like the Crosstrek. VW Would not budge on price and in lieu of that would not up the Warranty ( they can be tricky in terms of reliability). So I opted for the Outback, in the Premium Trim in the Color I wanted with the options I like, it came in less expensive than the Base S VW. I really think VW is going to have problems selling this car, they are not moving well at all. My wifes 2011 Impreza has been rock solid so the quality and resale value are there, unlike VW. Subaru AWD System is better than the Haldex system, I wish they had stayed with the Torsen. Only complaint is getting used to the CVT Transmission. It is not a race car but that is not what I bought it for.

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  reliable, trouble free car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By eric - March 2 - 4:00 pm

  It is a generally a well made car. I performed most of the fluid/filter change maintenance myself. The stock battery is too tiny, with the tiny alternator so got to watch out if you dont drive the car often or has a low mileage local commute. Cold start clutch shuddering is a well known "feature", and a hard to get in reverse gear. I have been stuck in city street trying to make u-turn because could not get in reverse. At 34k miles now the car desperately need the brake fluid change and a tune up. The really bad thing is the resale value comparably low but the car is a really good car, very reliable. Paint chips very easily. 3k miles synthetic oil change can be very troublesome and expensive, but is a must.

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  There is no No true competion for XT ! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By sweet_subie - March 2 - 1:46 pm

  It is a sports car/wagon/suv/sedan/crossover/convertible (open that moonroof, you will know). 5 Star crash test rating, best AWD, 250hp/torque, drives like sedan, shorter/lighter than Honda Accord/Camry/A6, smaller turning radius (34 inches) than most sport sedans, panoramic moonroof, 8.7 inches of ground clearance (more than 40 SUVs), electro gauges, Subaru reliability, top notch build quality, Subaru-backed generous extended warranty. Can buy $3-5k below MSRP. There is NOTHING LIKE THIS!

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  Fun and practical - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Adrian Smith - March 1 - 10:00 am

  After driving trucks for years, I finally decided to get something fun for the roads, but still needed to carry my music and camping equipment on regular occasion. What better than the Subaru WRX? You get the agility of a sports car and the utility of a wagon with the same vehicle. The interior is laid out intuitively and is very pleasant to the eyes. Exterior styling is nice, not obvious to everyone what lies underneath the hood, which is great. Bottom line is the car is incredibly fun to drive, without typical sports car compromises.