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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  Most versatile vehicle I have driven - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By kalins1 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Sure it wont haul 2 tons of top soil, but considering most truck owners only use their full beds 10 percent of the time (cant remember where that research came from), the Baja has plenty of hauling capacity. Plus, if you throw a hitch on it, you can haul a trailer and basically double the capacity. Did I mention that our Baja has been getting 26 mpg!!!

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  A great suprise - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By bach - April 16 - 10:00 am

  My last two cars have been Saabs, I like a car that handles and is fun to drive. The Subaru Outback is the best car I have driven and owned. The six cylinder is as almost as powerful as my 3.0 Turbo-charged Saab was. But the velvet smooth power is certainly in contrast to what the Saab felt like. The hydrauling motor-mounts must be the difference. Ive driven this car only about 1400 miles now but it is a real pleasure. The only thing is the comfort of the seats. It does have plenty of lumbar support for the lower back, but we have a jeep and a lexus as well, and the seats are just more comfortable in the other cars.

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  Subaru Forester -- great car - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Brian Dines - April 16 - 8:26 am

  Bought the car 2 years ago from a friend for $7500. Its been an excellent, reliable little SUV. Ive put about 25000 miles on it and the only maintenance thats been required was to replace a couple of CV boots ... and that was cheap. Best used car Ive ever owned. I get about 27 mpg driving 65-75 mph, about 300 miles a tank.

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  Like it more as time goes on - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By HJW - April 15 - 11:50 pm

  A practical car that made sense to buy, but wait! Its been a blast to drive, even more so on logging roads and when roads get curvy. Not a single problem so far.

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  Head gasket on 4cyl. - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By steviet - April 15 - 3:53 pm

  Im surprised that the last review is so old. At just under 100,000 miles, my head gasket blew. This appears to be a design flaw. I think Subaru should reimburse me $2400.

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  Best Car - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By thebest - April 15 - 1:26 am

  Have had car for a little over a month, been through 1 blizzard already and roughing one right now in Wyoming. Came to work this morning over drifted roads and very little visibility. This car made it fine. One drift made the car jump but it never felt like I was losing control. I would highly recommend this car to anyone who does a lot of driving in winter conditions with snow, ice, drifts, mud, etc.

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  BMW Performance at Half the Price - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Bearfoot - April 15 - 12:56 am

  The 2.5 GT autostick is a hoot to drive! Plenty of power on tap at any speed and confident handling. Turbo lag could be reduced. Car is comfortable for long (500 mile) trips and I have a bad back. Others considered: Infinity g35X, BMW 330ix, & Audi A4 Quattro. The 2.5 GT has all of the comfort and safety figures at a far lower cost. Build quality is excellent. The doors close with a reassuring thump. Take comparitive test drives, check your wallet and youll by the Legacy GT

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  Big Inside and Almost a Turbo - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By rmnord - April 13 - 11:16 pm

  Living in the Rockies at 9100 I was looking for a replacement for my 06 Outback XT. I wanted enough power to accelerate uphill at altitude and the supposed improved fuel economy and use of regular fuel were certainly an appeal. So I drove the 2.5i w/ CVT and found it to be almost as powerful as the turbo and when using the paddle shifters, quite fun to drive. Ive now owned it for a month and am mostly satisfied w/ a few exceptions. Build quality doesnt seem as good as previous Subys-seems like some rattles that shouldnt be there. The ride is lots more spongy and soft. Lack of temp gauge bad idea. Interior comfort is great-Im 63" and have lots of legroom-almost like a European car.

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  Great car, but questions about customer service - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Carlos - April 13 - 12:17 am

  First of all, I think the 2016 Outback is a great vehicle. It has lived up to my expectations and I highly recommend it. Very comfortable, well designed and the eye sight system is great. My only issue so far is the famous Subaru customer service that I have heard so much about with glowing reviews. I havent had that experience. When I got the car the Nav maps werent working properly, so the dealer swapped it out for another infotainment system from a demo on the lot. So far so good, except that I didnt get the advertised 3 yr SiriusXM traffic subscription. I asked Sirius about it and they said contact Subaru. I contacted the dealer and they said contact Subaru customer service. I contacted customer service and they said they would research and get back to me in 48 hrs. Its been almost 2 weeks and no contact. I e-mailed them several days ago and no response. This is not a big issue, but i am disappointed after all I have heard over the years about Subaru customer service. Hopefully I wont have any serious problems down the road where I need their help.

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  My Favorite Girlfriend - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Matt - April 12 - 6:20 pm

  Trixie has gotten me through 2 bad breakups and many famous NY winters, and Im still in love. I picked her up on 11/18/78 (happy birthday to me) and have never regretted it. The fuel economy is great, 29hwy with a K&N filter. The turbo lag is perfect for tame suburban driving, then you can let the ponies run on the country roads. Like all, I wish it was a little more posh, but it is what is, a Rally Cars little Bro. Speaking of rallying, the car handles wonderfully on dirt and washboard roads. All in all, a wonderful car and a terrific buy for under $25K. 0-60 in sub 6, and almost 30mpg hwy. What else do you want?!