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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  I drive for a living - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By I Drive - August 11 - 7:03 am

  I drive a ton of miles a year (50-70K) and hate to read a review from somebody who bought a car last week and says "Its the best Ive ever had." Well, yeah. Ive had my Forester for a few months and already have 9000 miles without a hitch. Im getting 28-30 mpg and like the ride on both highway and in town. The stereo is adequate, not great. Cargo room is like my previous 07 Forester. I wish I got the 5 speed to improve the performance off the line. When I drive in NYC my leg got cramped in my old car...a trade off. Im just mad that the car policy at work changed and I have to sell it.

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  GO! - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By NYMA - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Spent 1 hour editing review with only 600 words, wacky site would not let me submit, so sorry, no review.

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  Car of the Year 2004 - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By musee13 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is a dream. So much power and style. Will turn heads and rpms on a dime.

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  Amazing - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Adam Filipowicz - August 8 - 2:00 am

  What an Amazing car worth twice the price

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  Street Beast - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Bill Westlake - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Hands down the best car I have ever driven. Its fast and handles with the best of them.

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  My little unstoppable AWD tank… - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By travelking - August 7 - 1:55 pm

  This is the best car I’ve ever had. While this car only has decent gas mileage, due mostly to the AWD, the reliability and performance of this car is unparalleled. I bought this car new and drove it to 267,000 miles. The problems I had with it were minor. I’ve gone through a couple of alternators, batteries, and clutches; but this is to be expected. At about 230,000 miles I had to replace the sychros in the manual transmission. At around 250,000 miles I developed a radiator leak which was fixed with a bottle of radiator sealant. The car was finally done by a broken timing belt. If I had replaced the timing belt when my mechanic advised, the little Subaru would still be on the road.

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  One Great Car - 2000 Subaru Forester
  By foogazy - August 7 - 10:00 am

  The Forester is a great small SUV with lots of great features. It has decent pickup for a 4 cylinder and handles very well. It is a comfortable ride, although the back seat is a bit cramped. The cargo area is laid out nicely and has plenty of room. Overall, I am very very happy with this purchase and would definately recommend it to others

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  The 2003 is awesome! - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By redhooked - August 7 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just bought one of the first 2003 Forester 2.5XS models and it is better than I expected. I orginally wanted a 2002 but the dealer could not get one from another dealer. He made me an offer on the showrooms 2003 and I am glad I went for it. The interior is amazing with the in dash 6 disc w/ tape deck and very comfortable leather seats. I also considered the Honda CRV but I didnt fit in it to well being 63". I will highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Too much fun - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Leif_in_seattle - August 7 - 4:13 am

  I’ve been driving my WRX wagon for about two weeks now and I’m more impressed with it every day. The overall road feel and driver interface is amazing. Steering is precise, and acceleration is exhilarating, even before the turbo kicks in. Previous versions of the WRX were plagued by a pronounced turbo lag and lame torque at lower RPMs, but the new 2.5L engine in the ’06 distributes power across a much wider band. It still jumps at 3500-4000 RPMs when the turbo kicks in, but it’s quicker off the line with a much smoother transition into the turbo burst, resulting in a more even, muscular acceleration. The AWD enables it to handle great on all surfaces and under all conditions.

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  My first Subaru, probably not my last - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Jerry Kindall - August 4 - 5:00 pm

  I test-drove a lot of midsize cars and chose the 2010 Legacy for one simple reason: when the drivers seat is adjusted to be comfortable for me, theres still room for it to go back some more! And theres headroom galore, too, as the seat height is adjustable. Beyond the comfort, this car feels like its glued to the road -- if Ive driven another car thats more sure-footed, I dont remember when. The fuel economy of the CVT was the clincher (this car gets almost as good mileage as my previous car, a 2003 Hyundai Elantra, despite being much bigger and having AWD).