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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  A Vehicle That Fits - 2014 Subaru Outback
  By lambanlaa1 - October 10 - 12:28 am

  This vehicle fits my lifestyle right now. We sometimes take long trips, and the interior comfort of this vehicle is excellent. It is also handy for those occasional do-it-yourself projects that require a large hatch/trunk area. Mostly, though, the vehicle (car/wagon/baby SUV?) is fun to drive. I feel sorry when I have to turn the engine off. I especially enjoy the EyeSight features, including adaptive cruise control. This is my first Subaru and I hope to be able to gift the vehicle to my child at high school graduation in five years.

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  A great little car - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By jackiea25 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving my car and look for reasons to drive it. My complaints are it is a but rough and loud, but you definitly have controll and it is great going over mountain passes.

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  A Car to Care for You - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By SubaruSue - October 9 - 10:00 am

  My 2003 Outback Limited is the fourth Subaru Ive owned. Built to last, they handle superbly in any weather. The ride is smooth and comfortable, overall fit/finish superior. Subarus dealerships have improved in customer service significantly in the last five years; Im now more satifisfied with my Subaru dealer than with the local BMW dealer Ive dealt with.

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  Hate my Impreza!! - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By Mehmet - October 9 - 8:10 am

  I bought this 2007 Subaru Impreza in summer. I did not have any problems back then. However, as the winter came, I started to have problems with my car. It was getting more difficult to get the engine started. The Subaru service is very kind in Turkey. They even traveled many miles to get my home and tried to fix my car two times in front of my home. (They also tried two times at their service department with the same result.) But the car is the same if it is not getting worse. This is my second winter with this car and the words are not enough to describe my experiences. I have to get up at 12:30 am and drive this car about 15 minutes so that it works in the winter mornings easier.

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  great all around vehicle - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By mcbrunl - October 8 - 8:46 am

  This is our first AWD vehicle. We did a lot of research via web/word of mouth and were led to the Subaru Forester. We were not disappointed, it has performed in a very admirable manner since we got it. The ride is very comfortable, the gas mileage is very decent (around 24mpg). the handling is exceptional. We did have a couple of body discrepancies that came with the car, but dealership rectified them promptly. We are totally content with this vehicle at this time.

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  So Far, A Great Car - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By salacious - October 8 - 7:57 am

  The Crosstrek is no Ferrari, but it IS very quick off the mark (i.e., zero to 30-40mph). That said, it also loses its *rate* of acceleration in the mid-speed range prior to reaching 60-70 mph. If you need to keep up a decent (but not great) rate of acceleration, you will need to push down quite a bit further on the gas pedal. Nonetheless, acceleration is easily adequate to merge into freeway traffic. Ignore the reviewers who say otherwise. For the vast majority of gas-mileage-conscious customers looking for a smallish SUV-style of vehicle with a great AWD system, this car is very hard to beat. If you don’t care about gas mileage or AWD or want a boat-like SUV, look elsewhere.

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  Heating issue - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Arnab - October 8 - 6:13 am

  Got a 2.5i Premium model. Its nice but the engine heat stays long after the drive (30 miles). It was hot under the engine cover for 3-4hrs. Coolant level was OK.

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  Love it! - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By AG - October 8 - 3:23 am

  I had 2002 Forester X for four years and I really liked it. But then traded it for 2006 XT and thats the huge difference! I love that car. I love the acceleration, and not only from the stop, but it feels like it always has more power and can jump forward. What a surprise for BMW drivers! Nice cornering, good braking. Drove in February on snowy and icy freeway between Detroit and Chicago - no problem with traction or anything else. When my lease expires in two years I will have another Forester, or maybe even keep this one. Money well spent!

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  Midsize WannaB - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By RoadRunner47 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought the larger Outback vs my 1998 Forrester. The interior is NOT midsized. Travel strains my legs. The power seats on the Outback helps some. The brakes on the Outback squeaks and have warped, an unexpected extra expense. I like the dark green, but lack of insulation makes the air conditioner ineffective. The great sound system is muffled by road noise. The 4 cylinder engine is far superior than any US made 4 cylinder, but I would prefer an US AWD 3.8L V6. I swear by AWD, many times avoiding other drivers mistakes. The plasic appearance is a far cry from the interior appointments of US made cars 20-30 years ago. 200,000 mile throw- away car.

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  Solid and Fun - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By subie - October 7 - 10:00 am

  After 5 months of ownership the car already has 12500 miles. Love it. The car is quick to heat up on the cold mornings and faster to cool on the hot sunny days. I thought the MPG would be less than 27 highway, 21 city, but the 3.0 engine is definitely the way to go. Test drove everything from sedans to minivans and found the LL Bean to be the right choice for space, power, safety and fun. I know the reviews talk about the wind noise, but between the Passet, Camery, Sienna, Odessy, Saturn Vue and L series and BMW 3 series, I feel the Subura Outback LL Bean is the quietest on and off the road.