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:

• 

  Great country vehilce - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By Thor Thorleifson - January 13 - 8:22 am

  Driven 100,000 km (60,000# miles) in 2 years 4 months, half highway/half gravel & dirt roads & rocky cattle pastures, hasnt missed a beat. Seats are comfortable, controls are great, Sat radio / stereo are great though the knobs and display screen are cheap.

• 

  Over 100K Miles - No Real Problems - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By GLS127 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Very satisfied with my 99 Forester L. I have only had to do regular oil changes, new tires, a tune-up, and front brakes in 5+ years. Factory tires only lasted about 45K miles, but current Goodrich Long Trails have 60K with plenty of tread left. Subaru dealer added coolant conditioner earlier this year as part of a factory recall. Very fun to drive, I would definitely buy one again.

• 

  Pleased but with soem reservations... - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By pa_mama - January 10 - 12:47 am

  Our main issue with our new Forester is the distinct side to side sway (floating) we see on the highway. It isnt so noticeable at lower speeds and/or winding roads. Has anyone else observed/felt this problem? I have read of sway bar and sway bar link issues in Outbacks. I wonder if there are any with the Forester. Also, I agree with the one reviewer about seat comfort. We have the heated leather seats with the lumber support and multi position driver seat adjustment but I find that after driving for any length of time my right hip and back are quite sore. I dont have any problem when sitting in the passenger seat. Also, placement of passenger assist handle above the door is odd.

• 

  Owned 2017 Legacy 3.6R for one week now - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Paul H. - January 10 - 12:44 am

  This is my families 5th Subaru, my last car was a VW diesel Jetta which I just sold back to VW after the big scandal. So far I am pretty happy with this model. The performance with the 3.6R is great but you do pay for the AWD and performance in MPGs but that is understandable. I looked at Hondas and Acuras but really preferred the interior on the Subaru its clean and elegant, it has a little bit of fake wood, but not as plasticky as the Acura. Handling is very good, nice tight suspension and very comfortable, the HID headlights are awesome. The additional safety features Eyesight, blindspot detection etc. are really nice features and well implemented. On the down side the voice control for GPS is a joke I wont go into detail here but the implementation is pathetic. Also there is no carplay option even though Subaru offers it on its own Impreza line. The small console compartment where the USB port is located, is to small to hold an IPhone 6 let alone a 6+, without leaving the compartment door open. The three criticisms above are really comfort and convenience issues I still love subarus but they were soooo close to getting a perfect score.

• 

  A fun vehicle - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Daggzy - January 8 - 3:36 pm

  This has got to be one of the most underrated cars out there, Its practicality is useful for almost situation a driver wants(except racing) unless turbod. It was my best friend in 20cm of snow and its AWD never let me down.

• 

  Unique in its class - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By canadian-awd - January 6 - 5:53 pm

  Ive put on about 5,000 miles since purchasing. So far, the cars been great in all conditions--comfortable cruising at highway speeds, and fun through twisty back roads. A lot of rare features in a class of mostly cookie-cutter cars - boxer engine, symmetrical awd, versatile 4 door hatchback style. Combined with best-in-class crash safety, a sporty ride and handling, and decent fuel economy, the Impreza has been a good choice for me.

• 

  1999 Subaru - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By ed - January 4 - 7:03 am

  Bought this as second forester for our family with teenagers starting to drive. Excellent reliability, not tippy like other SUVÂ’s. Only complaint is lack of attractive exterior appearance. DoesnÂ’t bother me. About 20mpg city/25 highway with automatic transmission. Looking to get another used forester as my other teens start driving.

• 

  Too many problems - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By StrictlyMediocre - January 4 - 4:13 am

  I have 122,000 on the car. I plan to keep it until 250,000 if it will last. I am on my 4th set of replacement head gaskets (5 sets total). After the dealer did the first 4 HG jobs, I found a mechanic who says "use the turbo head gasket, it will never leak again." Question: why doesnt the dealer do that? Also replaced the pistons at 122K because originals had seized rings and were so noisy I couldnt hear myself think on a cold day. Now using 3rd party pistons as well. Car handles great. Reset the "learning" engine computer for better performance. Wind noise in driver/pass. window can be fixed by squeezing molding together where side mirror is mounted. This will probably be my last Subie.

• 

  Finding Forester - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By ksub - January 3 - 9:10 am

  In looking for a smaller SUV for my wife, the search really came down to a CR-V or Forester. The key decision points were full-time AWD, top safety scores, and price. Little things like heated seats, 6-disc CD, and auto climate were nice too. Also, and more subjective, this vehicle handles much more carlike - very nimble with good visibility. This vehicle also creates confidence with its great traction - on road or off. I really think this is a well-engineered and well-built vehicle.

• 

  Great car, poor lumbar support - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Cy Martin - January 3 - 12:56 am

  If youre looking for a fun-to-drive car thats inexpensive, yet fast "out of the box" -- look no further. Yes, an Evo is faster, but you can get a dealership down to $23/24K with research and careful choice of options. Also, I wonder if Mitsu Co. will be around in a decade. For anyone who has a long commute, I would heartily recommend buying lumbar support. Otherwise, after the 1K break-in period, this all-wheel drive turbo fun machine will have you grinning at every driving opportunity. That is, if you can drive a manual transmission. Im 6 foot with a 32 inch inseam, and have no problem fitting into the drivers seat. The pedals are set for heel-toe driving, so get tapered shoes.