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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  Best car under $25K....period! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By iland99 - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Excellent little car. Awesome performance, decent gas mileage, very comfortable. I took the car on a 1300 mile road trip from Houston, TX to central Minnesota, had to stop only for gas. The front seats are awesome! 6- disc in-dash CD changer came in very handy on the trip. This car is also awesome in the snow. I was hoping for a little better gas mileage than 24 mpg I saw on the trip, but I had the cruise set at 80+ mph the whole way. AWESOME CAR!

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  Best all-around wagon, but not inspiring - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Nostoc2 - May 2 - 2:00 am

  On a price per feature and per reliability ratings basis, I concluded the LL Bean beat the AWD V-6 Passat and Volvo. The styling, in and out, and the materials quality of the Subaru does not match those competitors, however, so I do not get excited to drive the Outback as I might the Passat, nor do I have the cache that comes with driving a Volvo. But I get more storage space, better foul weather operation (Subarus more sophisticated AWD and higher elevation off the ground), more hi end horsepower and extra luxury features for my money.

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  Interior Lighting - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By JAY KOSACK - May 2 - 1:26 am

  I had a 2002 LL Bean. My son now has it. Excellent car. The 2005 LL Bean is a great improvement. The performance, ride, comfort and styling are much better. Interior lighting, at night, is a major problem. When this model was made the moon roof was extended. A very nice feature. The problem is the interior light is much further back on the roof. The only lighting for the front of the car is the two door lights, which is not sufficient. They claimed to have (and advertised) a lighted glove box. It doesnt exist. Engine noise is louder than my previous model.

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  fun fun fun - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By bill - May 1 - 9:03 pm

  Well I just bought my Subaru not too long ago and I love it. Ive done some mild mods and the throttle response is a lot better than what some of the other reviews have suggested. Its a fun to drive car and it looks good too. If you know anything about cars and are mechanically inclined (even the slightest bit) you can fix the minor squeaks that Ive read in some of the other reviews. I personally havent experienced any of those problems.

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  05 Forester 2.5 XS - great in snow if... - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By James - May 1 - 2:20 am

  Our 2005 Forester replaced my old 1991 4WD Mazda MPV. My first winter with the car was a big disappointment as the car didnt handle well in the snow. Hang those wretched Yokohama tires! I replaced them with a set of Michelin HydroRangers, and this cars winter performance is greatly improved! The car has great visibility and entry/exit access for the front seat. Newer models have different option schemes, so Im a bit in a quandary on selecting a Forester for my wife. I like the power, heated cloth seats. It doesnt look like thats possible on the newer models.

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  Whats not to like? - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By swtracker - April 30 - 4:28 pm

  We researched for a long time, driving nearly 20 vehicles over 9 months before deciding on this model. On the road it is extremely quiet. I like the leg and headroom and the fit and finish is remarkable. I have been averaging 28 MPG overall with the CVT and am really surprised by that. While the Outback is not considered a SUV, it has almost the same cargo space as our Mid-sized SUV. We live in the mountains and have found the AWD to be very adequate for rough forest service roads and it was able to get through 8 inches of snow with the standard factory highyway tires.

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  2011 Legacy - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By james212 - April 30 - 11:09 am

  I have 5500 miles on my new Legacy and I like the car better then I thought I would. The car has some quirks. It idles high when cold. The electronic parking brake can be applied while driving. The car does not have a pass through into the trunk behind the rear seat arm rest. There are no shimmies or vibrations however my car was parked out in a blizzard and ice or snow created alarming vibrations above 35 mph. It went away after some driving. The dealership had no additional explanation. The Harmon-Karden sound system can sound muddy at highway speeds. Gas filler release door has on backup except to force it open. When the transmission is cold it does not want to shift.

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  What a Car! - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Mike - April 29 - 7:53 pm

  What a car! After 12 years and 195,000 miles I visited my local Suby dealer in hopes of replacing my 1993 Impreza with an 05 or 06 Impreza. The 93 served me well, and is still running great today. Instead I was floored by my original sighting of the 2006 Legacy. One drive and I was hooked. I passed on the Impreza and scooped up a beautiful Legacy 2.5i SE. 5 speed. Silver metallic with a great looking two tone black interior. This car hits the mark in almost every category. looks, great performer for its category, comfort and overall user friendly interior and controls. I ungraded the unit with a rear spoiler, and fog light package. People often mistake my little Suby for an Acura. Love it.

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  Great Alaska Car - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Kenny - April 29 - 5:06 pm

  So far so good. Wish it had better gas mileage, but I knew what I would get before I bought it, just did not know how much gas prices would rise.

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  Would not by another Subaru - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By G Frank - April 28 - 1:36 pm

  Negatives:The head gasket went at 73,000, just past the warranty. I went online and there were 450 complaints on one website about the head gaskets on Subarus, yet never a factory recall. At 75,000, a fuel injector had to be replaced. Mileage on car is lousy -- as low as 19 mpg in town. Car leans a lot on turns and dealers said that is characteristic of the car. Turning radius is poor and is therefore dangerous when making a u-turn.