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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  So far so good - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By mark york,pa - July 18 - 10:00 am

  Bought car new in 2000. Have 203k miles Passed down to college daughter. We had an infrequent problem with intermittent stalling and CEL. This had been occurring since new but could not solve the issue. Codes indicated MAP Sensor and replaced with used one for $50. Did NOT solve problem. Did an ECM reprogram for $90 at dealership and fixed problem! We do regular maint and car has been great. Great value, pretty good gas mileage but most importantly safe and reliable. Desirable combination. Would recommend you find a well kept one and go buy it!

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  HAD TO TRADE - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By STEPHEN BREYETTE - July 18 - 3:07 am

  Had to trade my 2012 Impreza Limited with CVT as it already had 3 CVT transmissions installed in under 56,000 miles. I hope this 2016 Limited with CVT has a better reliability record.

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  We like it so far! - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Radar1 - July 14 - 7:03 am

  We needed a safer car for long distance touring with lots of cargo space, capable of towing our pop-up camper. The Outback fills the bill, and after 1100 miles we are impressed with the ride quality, handling, and gas mileage. On our first trip we averaged 28.2 MPG, which is just as good as our smaller 2.3 litre Ford Focus, but we had much more luggage space and comfort.

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  Forester Rocks - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Sam098731 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Brilliant car to drive. Perfect response to braking, steering and accelerating. Brilliant handling and road surety. A bit slugish in the 30- 50Mph range is only complaint.

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  Forester beats Noreaster Dec. 2003 - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By JRF - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I was able to get home when many others could not. It was very sure-footed in the deep snow. When other SUVs were stuck, I made it through. Im a believer! There is no substitue! I looked at the Audi A4 quattro 1.8T. The Subaru drove as well, 3 times the cargo, and $12,000 less...and no joke the Audi guy said "but this is an Audi".

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  Paper Towels and Doggie Mats Please - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By STiBoy - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Simply put. "Amazing!" Your first look is... "Cool someone put a GIGANTIC wing on the back of an impreza." Oh no my friends, this car is MUCH more than that. The moment you put this car in second gear you will find yourself gasping for air. 2 wheels pulling and 2 wheels pushing your car while you travel 0-60 in 4.5 seconds!!! You will find yourself pulling away from Z06s and 350Zs with ease. But this car not only picks up and goes! I knows how to turn with speed as well! Throw your differential all the way back and find yourself drifting in an S curve @ 95+ MPH. This car is for SERIOUS drivers only. Get 911 performance with a 1/4th the price.

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  The perfect daily driver - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Xavier Rodriguez - July 9 - 3:54 pm

  Ive owned this car for a few weeks now and Now onto the pros. The first thing would be the engine, its amazing! You have plenty of power down low in the rev band so getting the car up to speed is very easy. Also, there is plenty of torque so if you want to pass someone on the highway in 6th gear you can easily once boost kicks in. 0-60 times very close to the STi because you can get the 60 mph in 2nd gear. If youre into modifying your car, the FA20DIT engine takes mods on very well. If you look online you can see people with Stage 2 WRXs making very similar power to Stage 2 STis. ETS has over a 400 whp WRX with a stock block, fuel pump, and injectors (try that with the EJ257). The next pro is the AWD system which is amazing for all four seasons. You get the excellent traction you would expect out of a Subaru during the winter months but also get the excellent traction on the dry pavement as well. Once you know how to launch an AWD car properly, this thing takes off like a rocket ship with barely any wheel spin like a FWD/RWD car would have. The MPG is very good if you stay out of the turbo, you can easily get 30mpg+ just cruising on the highway. Subaru also definitely stepped up their game in terms of interior material quality. The interior has much more soft touch points than in previous iterations of the WRX. The Premium model comes with nice features such as fog lights, cold weather package (heated seats, side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer), and sunroof. Now onto the cons. I am not a huge fan of the stock 6-speed transmission. I didnt get the STi short throw shifter so I cant speak on that but the stock shifter has pretty long throws and its very notchy. Ive also sometimes had difficulty going from 2nd to 3rd gear when driving the car quickly. Ive grinded the gear before as well as sometimes accidentally go into 5th gear. Subaru has never been known for having great transmissions, but I wished they made this one a bit better. Another con is the stock sound system which is absolute garbage! I didnt get the H/K upgrade or the Kicker upgrade so I cant speak on those, but the stock speakers are just horrible. Very quiet with no bass. Definitely something I plan on upgrading as soon as possible. Another thing I dont like is that stock center armrest, I wish it was a bit higher. There is an extension you can get as well as a JDM center armest option you can buy online, but I wish they made it a bit taller from the factory. If you can deal with these cons which arent a huge deal, then this is the perfect daily driver for someone who likes to have a bit of fun on their commute to work and back. The car is quick, practical, safe and reliable which will be tough to beat. If you want to leave it stock, youll have fun. If you want to modify it, youll have even more fun! I look forward going to work each day because I know I get to drive this car.

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  After 30,000 Miles... - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By keithlb1 - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I still love driving this car, and I cant wait to drive it to work. I did install aftermarket speakers and XM radio. The car still needs a nice tint of the windows, and I bought some nice Michelins to replace the stock Potenzas. Reliability is fine. I have only had to replace a set of brake shoes. Car handles very well, but does need a little tweaking in extreme cornering. But what car that costs under 25000 dollars corners like a Subie WRX? Not many! All is well with the sport wagon WRX I even like the first design better than the new design, seems to have more personality than the refinesd version out now.

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  Absolutely Impressed - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
  By Tom Fischer - July 7 - 12:47 am

  Ive test-driven 15 vehicles over the last 8 months, needing something mainly for commuting into the city and ability to take my wife and daughter, or a friend and two bags of golf clubs. I live in Minnesota so AWD was important, but since its just me most of the time I wanted something sporty with great technology, stereo, and every safety feature possible as I tend to keep my vehicles a long time. The reviews mentioning the small engine scared me away at first, but after owning it for three weeks I have yet to feel like I need more power. The Harman Kardon stereo is excellent, the technology is intuitive with a very crisp display, and driving the vehicle is just plain fun. We got the fully loaded Limited trim and glad we did. I test-drove the Alltrack, Mazda CX-5, even some AWD Infinitis, Audis, Volvos and I feel like I got virtually everything I wanted in the Crosstrek that would have cost another $15-$20k in one of the luxury brands we were considering. Great vehicle, great buying experience, and already very attached to my Crosstrek!

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  Great All-Around Car For The Money - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By banker2 - July 4 - 10:23 am

  Bought a 2.5Limited w/moonroof...after about 1500 miles, Im pleased. I was skeptical about going to a 4-cylinder, but it seems to have plenty of power around town and on the hwy...it works well with the CVT, which is one of my favorite features-smooth acceleration. Interior is well laid out and very roomy - front and back. Seats are comfortable and the Harmon-Kardon sound system is great. Simple, clear ipod interface and bluetooth connection. Build quality is excellent.