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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  Really like this vehicle - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By RobR - May 15 - 1:16 pm

  Ive owned Audis, BMWs, VWs, and I looked at them all again before buying Subaru. Its got push-you-back-in-the-seat power, stealthy looks, and features that costs lots more $$$ on the other brands. I couldnt be happier with it. Very high Fun To Drive factor and is always ready to do more. Handles great in the snow as well. When Im nice to it, I get 31 MPG hwy, when Im not, 20 - 22. Its a nice surprise and everyone asks me what kind of car it is when they see it on the road. Big difference between standard legacy and legacy GT. Its worth the difference in price.

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  First Subaru and love it - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Love it - May 15 - 1:40 am

  As a former Honda and Toyota owner, I read the information in Consumer report about the Forester. Along with that review, Edmunds, and the fact one of my sons owns one, I bought our first one. This car rides so much better than our Honda CR-V. This probably will not be our last Subaru.

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  The Danks! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Fedgar420 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  The car is a joy to drive. The handling is incomparable to anything else in its class, or even on the road (especially for the dollar). When driving it hard, though, the gas mileage isnt much to jump up-and-down about. Other than that, its a great car for the MONEY!

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  Great vehicle more than just a car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Adam Williams - May 14 - 12:45 am

  Had to buy mine to order. Dealer says they sell before they hit the lot. Three weeks before it got to my garage. Worth the wait.

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  Cool car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By BebeDeimos - May 13 - 10:00 am

  The car is excellent. Lots of room for a tall person and good design for off road without compromizing anything for on-road use. The car has plenty of acceleration, however the A/C tends to bog down the engine a bit. I have installed an aftermarket stereo with Infinity speakers, an Infinity subwoofer and a Blaupunkt amp. My advice is to skip the stereo upgrades and install an aftermarket yourself. The basic Clarion is not very good and even the upgraded speakers suck. The optional subwoofer is not very good, but it is small (which is why it is not very good).

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  Safe and fund to drive - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By rramirez2001 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I love my subaru. I love the way it drives and how safe I feel in it. It handles like a dream in wet weather. Its the perfect height, no climbing up or down. If i had to say anything negative, it would be that the back seat is a little shallow, not a lot of leg room. So if you have tall children or will be carting friends around a great deal, they wont be able to really kick their feet out in the back. Other than that, I think its perfect.

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  Subie Newbie - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By Anonymous - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Wanted to downsize from my SUV to a sedan, and test drove a CTS, G37, Accord, TL and RL. Really liked the CTS and RL, but wasnt quite ready to spend that kind of money. On a whim, I stuck my head in a Subaru dealership, and was blown away. The 3.6 Subie drove better than everything but the CTS, was fairly quiet inside (didnt have the defroster on then), and had a rockin stereo. They found a red one with black interior, and the deal was done.

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  Subaru # 7 - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By ihtpsswrds - May 11 - 8:10 am

  This buggy replaces my wifes 2004 Forester that was hit TWICE while stopped in traffic. An incredibly safe vehicle. We walked away both times with very few injuries. Both times we were plowed by much larger trucks; you should see the other guy:). My wife prefers the zero hip entry height of this over my slightly lower Outback. The Turbo adds zip and a feeling of "lightness" during acceleration and the "smart" airbags front and side are a great comfort. The seat heaters and the climate control system are perfect for the local climate, where an hours drive may take you over a 40 degree temp change. If it wasnt for the outside temp display, you might not notice the difference.

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  Stealth AWD sedan - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Sleepy - May 10 - 6:56 am

  The Spec B is a great low profile performance sedan. The Euros cant match the performance or reliability for the money. Add snow tires (the stock Bridgestones are summer only) for winter and you have an unstoppable all season sport sedan. Having owned a Mercedes C230 and a BMW 328i, I can say the Subaru is much more fun to drive.

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  The Best Subaru Built for a Family - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By afrog - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This car is fantastic, balancing fund driving with an exceptionally functional layout. Go with the Turbo four, its worlds better than the base engine.