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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  My New Little "Lurch" - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Susan - November 16 - 3:08 pm

  Weve always owned Honda...for the majority of our marriage. The Subaru was a new purchase, we dont lease, now that we are done with totting kids around and dont need the Mother van. Ive found most features disappointing or annoying on the 2016 Forester. The Accelerator pedal is so small, it makes my 52"frame tired after driving 45 minutes. The carpet is so cheap, the blonde hair in our family makes the black carpet look forever dirty. The "fuel release" lever is on the floor vs. the vertical floor board near the break pedal, so its always dirty. I hate the "LURCH in the accelerator. I hate the beeping of the seat belt warning @ 3 miles an hour, so you cant move your car from one spot in your garage to another with buckling up. I hate the change box, you cant plug in your phone with spilling the change. I hate theres no place for a womans purse...and if you throw it onto the passengers seat, you have to "buckle it in" because 3-5 pounds sets off the alarm to buckle. I regret NOT BUYING a HONDA even though I got the Subaru because I did not want all the silly bells and whistles the CR-V offered.

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  Premature wheel bearing failure - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By pinging_ej25 - November 16 - 2:03 pm

  I bought the car new and liked it with respect to driving and its AWD feature. What owners should be aware of is that this is a high maintenance vehicle. Parts like the wheel bearing fail prematurely (<60,000 miles) and can go on undetected for months and years and mistaken as just tire noise. Repair cost is >$450 per wheel.

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  Frustrated - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Steph - November 16 - 10:19 am

  I have 70,000 on my 2013 cross trek, I have had both front axels replaced due to both failing, Ive never gone off road or done anything but normal everyday driving. It took arguing and having to call Suburu directly but they did cover the cost of both. Now my car will not go out of park, apparently another malfunction this car is known for, being repaired tomorrow. Ive driven a lot of cars over the years and this is by far the worse car Ive ever had, I dont trust it. Shame on Suburu.

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  Swiss Army Knife of vehicles - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By D J Smith - November 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Baja for about 5 months, so far it has been perfect, no problems at all. I have the non-Turbo four cylinder which I am very happy with. The gas mileage is better than I expected, acceleration is fine. The best feature of the Baja is its versatility. True, it doesnt have a full-size pick-up bed but with the extender I havent missed that. I really like the fact that I can move my kids home from college, have the bed packed full, and still have room for 4 people. Intially I didnt like the two-tone color scheme (red and silver) but now that I have had it for awhile I love it.

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  Sporty and overall great car! - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Trevor - November 15 - 12:10 am

  The car is fairly new, But I love it so far. I looked at almost every sedan in the price range as the Legacy, and overall the design left an impression on me so i test drove it. The car has a smooth ride, and when warmed up has great mobility for highway driving. I have been driving in nothing but snow, and i have never had a car which has handled so well in the snow.

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  Best kept secret - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By AWDinMN - November 14 - 6:20 pm

  1000 miles so far. Overall this is a quality car. I traded a Mazda 3. I thought I would miss the zoom-zoom factor, but there is adequate acceleration and I think the Legacy actually responses better when passing others on the freeway. Plenty of room on the inside. Clean, straightforward dash layout. Only problem I had was deciding on the Limited or GT.

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  2.5i is great! - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By TurboWill81 - November 13 - 6:50 am

  I just bought a 2009 legacy 2.5i special edition. I love the car a lot. Its a lot of fun to drive. The best feature on the car is the AWD. In poor weather you feel safe and steady on the road. I love the feel of the interior space. The car comes with a lot of features stock that other companies would charge extra for.

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  Solid Car - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By matt - November 13 - 12:36 am

  This is my first Subaru. It has a very solid feel to it, which I like. The interior is comfortable, and the sunroof is a thing of beauty. I love to bounce it around on rutted old roads while going fishing, and love how it handles in the snow and ice. Ive always owned slightly larger cars, so it takes a bit of getting used to the size. The transmission is the only blemish I can mention. Going uphill it tends to never find its groove, keeps shifting up and down and up and down. Also it seems it takes the tranny a bit to warm up on cool mornings, it might try a clumsy double shift while accelerating out of the driveway.

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  AWD - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By New York - November 11 - 2:16 pm

  Just got my 2010 Forester 2.5x Premium and I can say I dont hear any rattles. For the price I think that this is a great car. Yes, I agree about the plastic on the dash but it is simple and clean. At 64" I find the drivers sit very comfortable and plenty of room in the back seat. I like at the sport grill but I like the grill that it came with better so no need to spend money replacing it.

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  Fun Car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By carramrod - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Purchased an 05 WRX, absolutely love it. The all wheel drive definately sets it apart from other cars in its class. If you want a fun and comfortable car to drive i would recommend looking into a WRX.