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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  Most annoying vehicle ever - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By canuck - February 18 - 1:06 pm

  after 6 months, I am wishing I had never bought this thing: 1 - very poor stereo 2 - dealer fixed interior rattles with duct tape and foam, Im serious, ceiling still rattles 3 - very uncomfortable seats 4 - annoying blue interior lights 5 - poor manual gear box 6 - cheap interior, small controls 7 - no decent drink holder 8 - stupid noisy engine 9 - after turning off engine, it ticks for 10 mins when cooling, like a cheap bike, - normal apparently - maybe for subaru 10 - stupid chime when seat belt not engaged 11 - poor paint job that chips easily 12 - overall rough ride 13 - cannot open door with key if alarm activated without setting it off Buy something else

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  2001 Subaru Forester - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By suzieque69 - February 9 - 1:26 am

  I had a baby and wanted a safe vehicle. After doing much research, chose the 2001 Forester. Within the first year had problems ranging from 02 sensors, cruise control issues, paint coming off sport grille, sluggish acceleration, etc. I have thrown several thousand into repairs for this vehicle. Multiple 02 sensors, uneven tire wear (mult. sets), cup holder broke, clock went out, defrost out, head gaskets need replacing and had to replace catalytic converter and timing belt all before 110000! Gets lower than stated mileage, loud road noise, cant ever use cruise control or car starts jumping and jerking dangerously (but no dealer can replicate or figure out). DONT BUY!!!

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  made of cheap plastic - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By neveragain70 - December 30 - 5:32 am

  Driven 46k. Mtor and drive OK, But burns oil, doesnt delver promise mpg and airbag and track warning lights continual go off and on due to poor engineering and sensor designs. Particularly digusting is fact that the outer body is made of thin cheap plastic with parts held on without screws. As such fog light covers are continually failing off and the body parts break with even gentle contact. I have been driving for 40 plus years and I have never seen such poor quality.

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  This car is unsafe and has quality issues - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By millieone - December 28 - 12:00 pm

  I purchased a year old outback with 17,000 miles in excellent condition. Shortly after while driving with my wife in the passengers seat the air bag off indicator light was on. Its sometimes on and some times off. My wife weights about 120lbs well above 102lbs limit. The car also has rust forming under the lip of the rear hatch door. Subaru refuses to cover the rust repair and says the air works as designed. This is a serious safety issue. They said they fixed it in the 2012 model. There solution was to sell me a new car. Wow this company sucks! We bought this car for its reported safety, what a joke. My wife and daughter are nervous when sitting in the front seat

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  Accord and Camry: we want a wagon - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By WishIhadaHonda - December 11 - 2:00 am

  We really wanted a new Honda Accord or Toyota Camry wagon, but unfortunately those manufacturers stopped making wagons in the mid -1990s. This car was more expensive (around $20,000) than Camry ($16,000) or Accord. It is considerably less sturdy (doors dont close smoothly; interior feels "cheap") than those other Japanese cars. Finally, the Legacy gets horrible gas mileage (around 22 mpg) even though this is a vehicle with standard transmission. This last issue is a real sore spot with me. Our previous car was an 1986 Camry that still got 40 mpg even after 253,000 miles.

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  Great little Subie - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Robert Millsop - December 4 - 10:00 am

  A Great small car. To the point.

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  Just dont expect service - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By Argus - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Dont expect to get any type of service from a Subaru dealer. Used synthetic oil every 5K since new. Ive had a knocking noise in my engine since 70,000km - diagnosed as a "bad bottom end". Im now at 86,000km and to this date no one has been able/willing to fix it, and it continues to get worse. They claim the area "rep" has to inspect all warranty claims over $800 in value, and he is in the nighbourhood once every 3 months. Its been 5 months now and 16,000 km later Im still waiting to get my car fixed. Fuel economy is down roughly 40% from new. Ill be taking Subaru to small claims court in May and selling my car as soon after as possible.

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  Boat on wheels - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By nina - November 19 - 8:20 pm

  Not as fun to drive as the manual shift Outback. Slow to get going from a stop and noisy engine rev makes it seem like an effort for the car to get going. Compared to my 11 year old Outback which has zippy pick-up with only four cylinders, this six cylinder car has the perfomance of a dinosaur. Nice interior styling though, but everything is electronic, including odometer. Gas hog.

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  Poor craftsmanship - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By minevem - November 17 - 2:47 pm

  We bought our car new 3 years ago. Although not a head turner, it looked sturdy and had better gas mileage than a SUV. Some standard features a plus. Steady on the road and safe in snow/rain. Poor built quality... Cheap cabin materials. The engine went out at 38000 miles and it took 2 weeks to repair shorted cable in the engine block... I was very disappointed with it this week - took it to the dealer to have the heat shield repaired - not covered by warranty, although the dealer said every Outback gets this problem at our mileage (49000). Door handle broke - not covered. The handle actually fell out...

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  More Cons than Pros - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Roger - November 12 - 4:20 am

  Updated 10k mile review Pros 1. Great storage space 2. Incredible visibility 3. Sound system really rocks Cons 1. Handling especially in high winds 2. Gas mileage expected it to be 26-28 and its 24-24 highway 3. Headlights are great but the bright lights only turn on when the ambient light is low. 4. Incredibly loud in a rain storm. 5. Resetting the clock even the dealer cant do it. 6. General ergonomics do not fit a person over 6 foot the door rest is too low and the window sill is too high.