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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  excellent car - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By andy hines - July 31 - 10:00 am

  ive been a ford man all my life. this is my first car other than one of the big 3... simply the best car ive ever owned

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  Baja Turbo - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By Baja Turbo 2 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I like them so much that i bought another after the first one.They could have left off some of the standard items so they could sell them cheaper.Still could use more power.Im planning on buying a 06 if it is built on the new legacy/outback platform and with the flat 6.Its fun to drive especially in the rain.All in all its a great car/truck.

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  SCARY - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Arthur Lawson - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 2BMW m-3 sedans,2 twin turbo z cars, a supra twin turbo, 2 corvettes, a taurus SHO,a VW gti 1.8t,and an audi quqttro,this WRX has been so reliable it is scary !!!!!!.No problems.Only slightly warped rotors due to frequent downhill driving.This is the most reliable car I have ever owned.

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  Caveat Subaru - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By ideafarmer - July 30 - 7:19 pm

  First tank: 17mpg, second tank: 22mpg. Third tank ave 24.3 so far. Mileage 600 ish with 65% city and 35% highway. Hoping for higher. Tire noise quite loud. Doors very thin and light. Long shift delay from reverse to drive when cold, puts passengers at risk. Subaru says it’s “normal” essentially placing blame with owner. Tilts in crosswinds at 65mph. Leans too much in corners, but still feels predictable. Overall handling is good. Ride is supple. Brakes feel mushy but work fine. Steering is too heavy at all speeds. Paddle shifting with CVT works well.

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  Good car, but not for what I bought it for (MPG) - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By jr981 - July 27 - 1:06 pm

  Overall the car is fine. I really like the interior and the way it handles on flat roads and downhill in the mountains. Its light and fun to drive in these conditions and feels very stable. Downside: Its more underpowered than I expected--even hilly neighborhoods have the engine revving high and loud. AC seems to increase the problem. The nav system is not intuitive--my cell phone app is more user friendly. Speakers are tinny and HD radio is not useful because it keeps fading out--unsure if the problem is the car or HD radio in general. Biggest problem is MPG--have yet to break 25 MPG with 60+% highway driving. Trip computer seems to overestimate actual by about 1.4 MPG.

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  2000 Limited GT Legacy - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Boogar - July 25 - 10:00 am

  This is my wifes car, but I love to drive it. For the longest time We had the only one in town. It has always been fun to drive it and has never let us down. I would recommend this car to everyone. Reliable, beautiful and truly a pleasure to drive. I cant say anything bad about this car.

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  A pickup with an auto ride - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By ptdulac - July 25 - 10:00 am

  The best thing is the manuverability. Considering the size it easily wheels around town without a problem. The worst is my choice to leave off the Turbo. If acceleration is not important to you, this truck will be perfect.

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  2004 subaru impreza wagon wrx - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By wrx dan - July 19 - 10:00 am

  most enjoyable car to drive that Ive ever had. Fun factor is very high. I especially like the fact that it is a hot little car and few people know about it. not like the Honda Civic on every block situation.

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  Not quite what I expected - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By coffeebean2 - July 17 - 6:43 pm

  We have a 2006 Outback and love it. So I wanted another Subaru because of the AWD. Considered another Outback but went with the Outback Sport. The fuel economy is not what I expected, the automatic shifts later than when I think it should (possibly contributing to the fuel economy issue), and the manual drivers seat gradually sinks down. I filled up the gas tank on Saturday, drove approximately 30 miles in-town, and Im down below 3/4 of a tank. Thats similar to what I was seeing with my 2001 Chevy Blazer. Also, snow gets packed up behind the wheels - when I try to kick it off, the splash guards look like theyre about to come off.

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  May be the perfect car... - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By maastrichtian - July 16 - 4:06 pm

  Perfect blend of performance, utility, economy, reliability... Performance: 0-60 in ~6 sec (with AWD). Utility: AWD for off-road + rain/snow, >60 cu.ft. cargo capacity, decent ground clearance as opposed to many sports cars, allows you to navigate over bad roads or off road. Economy: I paid ~$22k & get ~25 miles per gallon fuel economy. Reliability: its a Subaru! Everyone Ive ever known who had Subarus still has them. Also nice is the long list of standard features: 6-disc in-dash cd player, side airbags, ABS brakes (saved me from a wreck about 100 miles after buying it -- I would have crashed into stopped highway traffic had I been in my Pathfinder), automatic climate control.