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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  Great in Snow, But not Without Issues - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By JoJo Bean - December 30 - 6:11 am

  Love the car in the NY winters, but beware of recalls and poor build quality! Be ready to carry a quart of oil with you as you will need to add some in between oil changes. At 65k the head gasket is starting to fail and theres a recall to replace the entire engine due to a piston ring issue! Also, the sheet metal is terribly thin and dents very easily. Even though its hard to beat this car in the snow and ice, I would seriously consider other options.

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  My experience with my 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By Loren Rochester - December 29 - 3:41 am

  I was very excited to get this car... good gas mileage and All-Wheel drive seemed like a perfect fit for Wisconsin. I liked everything about the car except three things: 1) The transmission went out at 66,000 miles, 6000 miles out of warranty. The dealership told me it would cost $8500 to replace it with a new one, or they could put a used one in for $4500. I called Subaru Corporate and after three days of investigation, they said it was up to the service manager. I went to the dealership and raised hell. Virtually all of my miles were interstate travel with very little elevation change, no stop and start traffic. After some phone calls, the service manager got the price down to $1500 for a new transmission. I was still mad, but didnt feel I had much choice; $1500 was better than $8500, and I still had to make payments on the vehicle. 2) I was surprised one day when the oil light came on early in my ownership. The car didnt have that many miles on it. The car was, in fact, low on oil. From that point forward, I went through a quart of Mobile 1 0W20 about every 3000 miles. I checked it every time I filled it up. I am over 60, and have never had a car that went through a quart of oil between oil changes. Recommended oil changes were 7000 miles with synthetic oil. The dealership wanted $85 for an oil change. I bought Subaru filters from the dealership for $5-$6, and bought Mobile 1 0W20 from Walmart for about $26 for a 5 quart jug, and changed the oil myself religiously every 7000 miles. I just traded the car in, three years old, and it was going through a quart of oil every 2000 miles. I had this problem when the transmission went out, and talked to the service manager about it. He did not act the least bit surprised. BTW, if you buy quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic, they are about $8 a quart, so this is not paltry change being spent on oil, I obviously bought 5 quart jugs and had them on hand all of the time. 3) For about the last 9-12 months, the car did not start very well. I usually had to crank it for a few seconds, quit, then crank it some more with the gas pedal pressed down, then it would start. The oil thing and the starting thing I have found are common complaints. I traded the Impreza in on a Ford Focus. I put about 33,000 miles on a car per year, and the Impreza had 99,920 miles on it. This is the first time in decades that I got rid of a car with fewer than 170,000-180,000 miles on it. I didnt trust it. Im not sure that the Focus will be any better, but I got a 4 yr.-100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on it. Im sure it wont be as good in the snow, but I can work around that. IMHO opinion, Subaru should have replaced the transmission gratis. Using the 0W20 oil is not a good idea in my opinion. They are doing it to improve gas mileage, but I think it is blowing past the pistons. The Focus uses 5W20. As far as starting difficulties goes, I dont have a clue what the problem is. If they would have taken care of the transmission and they had proven that they had solved the oil thing, I would have considered another Subaru. This was my first, and there seems to be a lot of loyal Subaru owners out there, but I will probably not consider another.

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  First one, not the last one - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Wendell eisels - December 28 - 12:19 am

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  Another Subaru for us! - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Erik and Kelley - December 27 - 6:10 pm

  I just took possession of a 2009 Subaru Limited edition (non turbo). The interior space is far superior to my 2001 Subaru Forester. The "fit and finish" are a step up--still a little plastic, though. Engine is adequate to good, with some pep (but not extra- ordinary speed or handling). Nearly bought a Toyota V-6 Rav 4 which drove a little better, but the extra cost (nearly 3000 dollars) and the smaller interior for me (I am over 6 feet tall) made the Subaru the choice. Looking for 8-10 good years from this vehicle, a good choice for a safe, reliable, practical car that drives quite well in the snow and can handle two small kids and one dog. See you in the mountains of West Virginia!

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  Outback 2.5i New - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By YWilson - December 27 - 11:53 am

  Well, this is my first Subaru. I am very happy with this purchase. The only thing is I drove off the lot with a tapping in one of my tires. Turns out a screw came loose and stuck in my tire. It was from the Tire Pressure Monitor. Strange. Still waiting on a special "screw" for this part. Its been 3 days. Otherwise the car is great. The dealer replaced the tire for free. I drive 100 miles a day and it gets better gas mileage as it breaks in. This will be a long term keeper for me.

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  Good vehicle at the price - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By AJ - December 27 - 3:06 am

  Ive owned this car for a bit over a year now. Heres the short-attention-span review. - Very good engine performance. - Good handling, although the rear suspension could be firmer. - Good brake feel and feedback, easy to modulate. - Great to have a sport wagon with a manual transmission. - Good, but not great seats. At least theyre cloth! (I hate hot/cold, sticky/slippery leather seats). - Awful climate control. With the AC on, it doesnt give you air at one temperature, but pulses alternating HOT and COLD air. - Bad driving position. Lack of a telescoping steering wheel really hurts. - Electronic throttle not ready for prime-time. - 26 mpg hwy, not so hot.

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  Great drive, bad mileage - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Amber - December 26 - 12:56 pm

  Love the car, hate the gas mileage. The nav system is awesome! I love the feel of the drive. Love the payout. It feels safe and I dont find any issues with the acceleration. Lots of room. Easy to load two big doggies in the back. Anyone have ideas on how to improve MPG? I have been using the premium gas.

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  First but not last Subaru - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By houstonscott - December 26 - 7:24 am

  I already have 8,000 miles on my Touring model with Eye Sight. I live in Houston but also own a home in Colorado. I have owned everything from Fords and Buicks, to Toyota, Honda, and Hyundais. The build and design quality of this Forester is truly outstanding in every way. The room inside relative to the size of the exterior is amazing. Seats are extremely comfortable, and I have back issues. The vehicle has a very pleasing tight feel.

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  Lovin the Subi! - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Kristin - December 26 - 3:33 am

  This is my first Subaru purchase and I love it! I also looked at the CR-V and Rav-4, and wasnt impressed by either. The Forester has a better build and a symmetric AWD that is untouched in the automotive world. Plus, I got a lot more car from my money. It is fun to drive, handles beautifully (especially in the snow), and has plenty of room but you dont feel like youre driving a bus. And it does come with heated cloth seats and a front license plate mount--I have them both! The cup holders are fine, too, and there are eight of them. Not sure what people are complaining about...

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  Well worth the money - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By foxvalues - December 24 - 11:46 am

  Excellent car, fun to drive, luxurious feel.