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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  Best all wheel drive system - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By RDG - February 26 - 2:40 pm

  We looked at all other SUVs and nothing came close, the design alone indicates how they take everything in consideration they take pride in designing a one of a kind, all other SUVs have plain dashes, also the engine is like no other, way ahead in all aspects. The all wheel drive has 33% less parts than the rest, reliability and resale far ahead of the others, don, t believe all these so called experts?

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  Subaru fan - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By CA Subaru - February 26 - 2:26 am

  This is our second Subaru - also own 2003 Forester. It snows where we live and the Subaru AWD is arguably the best on the market. Wanted a larger Subaru, but did not like the styling of the original B9 Tribeca, nor its lack of power and premium fuel requirement. All these objections overcome with the new version. It handles like a smaller vehicle, is very secure feeling, and comfortable (except for adults in the third row, but we knew this when we bought it - it is fine for children.

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  Like the ad says, We Lived - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Don Miller - February 24 - 5:53 pm

  We love this car. We were in crash in our 2015 Outback when a woman pulled in front of us(failed to yield) and the front end of our car was destroyed. The car was totaled. My wife and I had injuries, but nothing life threatening. The 5 star safety rated Outback safety features saved us from serious injuries. Based on this, and the fact that we really liked this car, we have bought a 2016 Outback with all the same safety items. I would also like to add that Joe Amore of Subaru International of Merrilleville, In did and excellent job in finding us a new Outback with the extras we wanted

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By belaircarguy - February 24 - 1:40 pm

  Great Car! Bought a 2005 Legacy GT Limited Wagon for my college daughter. 100,000 miles on it, but was well cared for by an adult owner. Interior looks new, and paint is flawless. Turbo engine is powerful and car is fun to drive. Built quality of a Subaru is second to none. Overall, could not be happier. Did know that at this mileage I would need to replace the timing belt/water pump/drive belts and also needs new spark plugs. Cannot complain, as this is normal maintenance items.

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  Perfect family car - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By wagondad - February 23 - 6:39 pm

  Fills the duties of daily transportation perfectly, fast enough not to get boring and utilitarian enough that I dont feel guilty for enjoying it so much. The only thing I HATE about this car is the danged speakers rattling the door panels. REALLY?? Seriously guys, its a $30,000 car and you couldnt spend the time in development to make sure the map pockets dont vibrate apart when someones listening to music? Hell, even NPR throws this car for a loop...if Lakshmi Sing messes your sound system up, you have a problem. So I will spend this weekend stuffing my map pockets full of old towels. Oh, 45,000 miles and no problems. Original tires/brakes. Yeah, much love for Subaru.

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  Awesome Car - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Ran S - February 23 - 9:21 am

  This is the best car i ever own. It is much better than other SUVs /wagons in this segment. Best bang for the buck with the comfort and safety features.

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  Very fun to drive - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By big rob - February 23 - 7:10 am

  I love this car, it has character to it. I like that there are not many on the road. Its nice to be the only one in the neighborhood with one. This car gets a lot of lookers.

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  Very Good Car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By anotherORhipstaru - February 22 - 12:13 am

  The biggest draws to the Outback for me were the resale value, practicality and build quality. For the price, the materials and construction are very good. The options were great, near luxury.Its difficult to find them on a similar vehicle for the price. The interior is pleasant and logically laid out. The back storage is great. Not just the total cubic feet, but the dimensions allow flexibility in what can be stored. I have the 3.6R, and it was worth it. The ride is smooth and quiet, great for long trips. The acceleration responds quickly, but might not be pony-car-esque for some. The power is good for mountain passes and keeping the revs low. The clearance is high, so there can be occasional control challenges at high speeds with heavy crosswinds, but good control during normal driving. The gas milage depends on how its driven. It can be either powerful or efficient. Theres an instrument to help with that on the dash. Even though Ive evaluated it in a rational way, please dont take that as "not fun". Its tons of fun feeling that I made the right choice, a year later, when making my car payments. When shopping, I test drove fun cars too. They were great to drive for a half hour test drive, but I bought something I could live with. The Outback was the right choice for me.

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  Happy so far - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By theKman - February 19 - 11:23 pm

  In a little under a year of driving this vehicle, I have had zero problems with it. I chose it for its AWD here in New England, even though I work for a Toyota dealer. It appealed to me much more than the AWD Matrix. I expected a little more power from the engine, and assume its soaked up a bit from the AWD, but Im glad I chose the 2.5RS over the WRX. I couldnt justify the $5,000+ premium over the 2.5, plus the WRX requires premium gas. The interior is pleasing to the eye, and very comfortable for my 63", 230lb. frame. The base factory audio system is extremely lacking in features and sound quality. I appreciate the functionality of the wagon and the folding rear seats.

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  Wonderful car! - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Isaac - February 19 - 2:16 am

  We live in Colorado so this Subaru really gets tested during the winter and long trips up to the mountains. For the 3 years we have had it it has had zero problems with the vehicle and the 4 cylinder boxer engine runs fantastic.