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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  Awesome Car! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Thomas - July 27 - 6:13 pm

  Great car! I had an 02 WRX before picking up the STi. What a difference. Everything about the car is amazing. A must have!

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  The next big thing available today - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Artemus - July 27 - 5:03 pm

  Sports Wagons are the thinking mans or womens SUV as they are roomy, environmentally friendly and much more fuel efficient. The new Subaru Outback is tomorrows car, today; at an affordable price point , with lots of comfort, value, high quality fit & finish. The ride is smooth over bumps and New York being the pothole capital of the world, the Outback makes driving a relaxing and less jarring event. The fuel economy is decent, not the 30mpg we want,still the v6 engine is quiet and powerful. The car has surprisingly fast pickup conquers steep hills with a full trunk with ease, fits in any environment, from long islands gold coast, to uptown Manhattan, without causing undue attention.

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  Value buy! What do you compare the WRX against? - 2018 Subaru WRX
  By Dominic - July 26 - 11:08 am

  All the comparisons are against 2 wheel drive cars, and many are front wheel drive. If you want all wheel drive, great handling, and good engine performance..look around. You are now comparing against Audi, BMW, and a couple of domestic models, and they will be much more money to get the same feature set. Better quality interior materials? yes. But for a great driving experience this is a great car, and an even better one for the price!

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  Amazing All-Around Vehicle - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Andrew Milham - July 24 - 12:33 pm

  This vehicle has been excellent. I could not be happier with my choice. Its fun to drive, it has an upscale look and feel to it, a comfortable interior, excellent Subaru reliability (rated #1 by Consumer Reports several times), and a friendly and helpful enthusiast following. And perhaps most importantly, it has received the highest marks possible for vehicle safety from the IIHS.

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  EXACTLY What I Wanted... - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Paul Boehm - July 23 - 10:43 pm

  The best thing about this car is its performance. Two hundred and fifty foot- pounds of torque accelerate the car very easily. And its at a relatively low 3600 RPM. At 55 mph in fourth gear, and 70 mph in fifth gear, you are right at 3000 rpm; it is just begging you to hammer the throttle. So you are always on the lookout for a Maxima or G35. The brakes are smooth and precise. But best of all is the cornering power. Turn in just under the front tires limit and you get very mild understeer. Squeeze the throttle and feel the rear tires slip angles increase. Start unwinding the steering wheel as you pass the apex and straighten it as you pass the trackout point under full song. AWESOME BALANCE!

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  2016 2.5i Premier SUBARU FORESTER - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Kent Peterson - July 21 - 4:22 pm

  I am very pleased so far with my 2016 Forester with eyesight, leather, moonroof, navigation and bluetooth. The price was great at $20500 before taxes and fees. The car is comfortable. It takes awhile to get use to lane departure and eyesight braking warnings, as well as the controlled cruise control. The overall car is great. A technological marvel. I expect it to last me 10 years or more.

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  Great purchase - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By nolabeck - July 21 - 10:11 am

  Have been looking at smaller SUV for the past two years. This one has one of the highest ratings, so it was the first one I went to test drive. After driving the Forester I didnt even bother to go test drive the CRV or the RAV4. It drove well, very comfortable, and bottom line it was love at first drive! Looking forward to driving my Forester for many years.

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  in a ditch - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By crashsti - July 20 - 10:00 am

  i bought this car as soon as i heard about it. the best part was i had never really done any driving in a car with a manual transmission. once i got the hang of the clutch and the short throw shifter it has been nothing but sheer pleasure to drive. although some might say that the STi offers a harsh ride i feel firmly connected to the road. seriously the best car i could have bought for my dollar and performance oriented preferences.

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  Awesome power and nice touches of comfrt - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By John. - July 20 - 10:00 am

  So far this has been the most fun and exciting vehicle I have ever driven. The power has yet to let me down and feeling of control over the vehicle is second to none! I read a review and it said you drive this car not vise versa and that sums this machine up. The car is equipped w/ power options and A/C also the optional auto-dimming/Compass rear view mirror adds some class along w/ the outside temp. There is no denying this car was meant for the performance minded driver, but the subtle touches make it an awesome all around daily driver.

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  Review update after 2500 miles - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By comiskeybum - July 19 - 12:40 am

  This is an update review after driving the car 2500 miles. I will keep it short and sweet. - I have noticed that it is somewhat hard to achieve the advertised city MPG but I attribute that to the fact that I am not a grandma driver. I actually use the gas pedal. - Highway MPG is great, even at 75MPH you can get 28-29 MPG. Keep in mind that the 32MPG advertised is achieved at 55-60 MPH. The drag coefficient goes way up once you pass 65 MPH. - I have had no problems and I am overall in love with my vehicle and the AWD system.