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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  my wife LOVES this car - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By ken_from_nj - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Had need for a new vehicle in Sept and w/ 6 month baby - looked for a "wagon" type car ideally with awd/4wd but not a monster suv and wanted to stay btwn 20- 25k (lower end) after endless searching the forester fit the bill perfectly. have it 3 weeks & already have trip to VT on it. rides great & looks really cool (blk)- constantly getting compliments and it has EVERY feature & then some. got great deal thru BJs auto website & dealer without much haggle within a few hundred of dealer invoice & dealer threw in bunch of xtras for taking off lot (bumper cover/rearview mirror dimmer/compass, cargonets, roof rubstrips, etc)

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  Fun to drive - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By Michael Bardsley - March 27 - 10:00 am

  When i was introduced to the car, the salesman took me to an offroad test area, and put the car through its paces. I was shocked at how well the car drove. Since we purchase this in Alaska, we moved back to the lower 48 in mid-winter, with the subaru (L Sedan) pulling a 3,000 Ib trailer down the Alcan Highway. It performed great. Since then we have even had to use it to pull a stuck ford focus out of the sand at the beach before the ocean ate it for lunch. My only complaint would be the tight fit for a tall person driving.

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  This car/SUV is a sleeper! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By sea_eagle22 - March 27 - 1:03 am

  Bought a 2011 limited at the end of Sept 2010 and drove it to Southwest Florida from MD. Mileage was 30mpg on the interstate. Locally I am getting 26+ in combined driving. Seats are wonderful times 10 exp 100. The only thing I dont like is the cheap radio display which can not show the majority of the letters of the artist or song title. We have the technology! I experienced the vibration, caused by conti tires that could not be balanced. Two tires were replaced at 3500 miles. Did I say the seats are fantastic? It takes some time to get use to the rea view camera in the rearview mirror

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  Worth every penny! - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By WASTEWORLD - March 26 - 9:43 pm

  Bought 2 years ago with 120K miles (!); changed timing belt and alternator, burned later with upgraded 300W sound system. Both front CV Joints replaced after towing 2500lb trailer at 80MPH. Spark plugs and wires replaced, had a engine hesitation problem with old ones. Other than that runs and runs!

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  Very well designed utility vehicle - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By WD - March 26 - 4:26 pm

  Good interior design, not that kind of cheap plastic style as in Toyota Camry! Plenty of space, nice touch on the fine details, such lights in the cargo area, hooks for shopping bags, surround sound effect, auto-adjustment of audio volume based on speed, instantaneous and average MPG, etc. Good car-like suspension. Very quiet ride on local roads and highways. Very good gas mileage, 29 MPG after a week of daily commuting, 50% on state highway and 50% on local roads. Acceleration a bit slow with a 4cyl, not bad for an AWD of this size and this MPG.

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  My 1st SUBARU-"Its a keeper" - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By hank60 - March 26 - 1:23 pm

  This 2009 Legacy is a good value for what it is; I bought it used with about 20k miles on it---now its 4 yrs later with over 75k miles. The AWD is great for the Ohio winters, especially once I replaced the OE tires with higher quality treads. I get about 25 mpg overall city/hwy which is not great, but for having AWD and the comfort and space for me, its OK. I appreciate the rear seatbacks which fold forward, which gives extra space for storage, or transporting materials from Home Depot when doing weekend projects. I wish the engine had more power for quicker acceleration at times, but its adequate most of the time. The car has been basically trouble-free...its a KEEPER for me!

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  Someones trash became my treasure!! - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By mista_tee - March 25 - 11:24 pm

  I bought my Legacy 3.0R used with 13400 miles. This is my commuter car. Its a blast to drive with great acceleration and braking. I wish there was a little less body roll but overall very sporty ride. Maybe if I upgrade the roll and strut bars. I love the black cloth and silver trim. I upgraded to a bluetooth pioneer radio and the factory Harmon Kardon sounds much better than the stock unit not that the stocker is bad. The gas mileage isnt great but I knew what I was getting into before I bought it. The back seat is a little tight for adults but we own a SUV if we need to haul passengers.

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  Cant beat this Subie - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Outstanding Subie - March 25 - 3:00 pm

  Replaced a 92 Ford Explorer 4X4 with this model. I would do the trade again in a heartbeat now that Ive had a chance to get a feel for this Forester, took a 3000 mile trip loaded to the max and still got 26 / 27 mpg highway at 75 MPH average. Smooth ride, reasonable response to the gas pedal, another gear in the automatic would be nice to smooth out the engine speed in the down shifts.

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  Absolutely Love this Car! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By WRXracer256 - March 25 - 10:20 am

  I have had this car for about 3 and a half years and it now has 55,611 miles on it. I must say that this car is a beast. I love how it handles, accelerates, and brakes. It works wonderfully in the NJ snowstorms and can launch to 60 in under 5 seconds. The mileage is ok, but thats what you get for a turbocharged vehicle. I get about 18MPG all around on 93 Octane (Shell V-Power). I have driven this car around the country and have never doubted its reliability once. It has never left me stuck and has always brought me to point B safely. I recommend this car to everybody who enjoys a 5SPD and whiplash inducing thrust.

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  An Outstanding Vehicle - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Jude - March 24 - 11:56 am

  I bought the 2009 Outback SE recently and took my wife on a road trip during some very heavy rain. The car handled extremely well on Interstate "heavy rain," rough roads with heavy rain, and incomplete roads. Never had any traction problems. Interior is very comfortable, easy to use (no extra stuff to figure out - simple and straight forward), and the cargo area is very useful. We are expecting our first child soon, and the child seat latch system seems very straight forward.