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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  Very happy three months in - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By lucasbear - June 22 - 7:06 am

  I got this Subaru almost on a whim since I wanted to dump my lemon of a Chevrolet Impala. So far I have been very happy with the car. For a 2.5 engine it has plenty of pep to climb hills and the interior is extremely comfortable. The stereo system rocks,and the controls are easy to reach. A little noisier than I anticipated, but the car feels like it is riding on rails no matter what the weather. Fun to drive, safe, and well-built. I would be happier if it got better gas mileage but so far am averaging about 26 MPH in a mix of city and highway, and I will trade that for the ride and security. The trunk could be a little bit bigger for vacation, but otherwise I am extremely happy.

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  Another excellent Subaru - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By IV - June 19 - 5:16 am

  Purchased after several years of careful research. I have a 2006 Subaru Impreza. The two cars feel quite different in spite of only 200 lb more. The Impreza (non-turbo) feels very light and agile. The Legacy is much more solid and "mature". After 20 years of driving a stick shift I cannot immediately adjust from one to another. The stick shift is the way to go and still one needs to work the gears a little more on the Legacy. Sound isolation is better. On a recent trip I got 35 mpg highway at 65 mph with a loaded car with 3 adults and luggage and 33 mpg measured at the pump at 75 mpg. City is 23 - 25 mpg. Outstanding for AWD and any midsize. Extremely stable in snowstorms. Very happy with it

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  Get this car - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By wesue4u - June 18 - 1:10 pm

  Owned high performance Audis (S6, S4), BMW (M3) and even a Mercedes or two but love getting into and driving this car as much if not more. The car is tight, quick and comfortable and looks very sporty with its 18 inch wheels.

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  A Swiss knife of car - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Bilbo Baggins - June 17 - 7:33 pm

  Versatile, reliable & reasonable in every respect. It will get you there in safety & comfort if not necessarily in style.

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  Built for all terrain! - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By 2nd Subaru - June 17 - 9:26 am

  This is my 2nd Subaru (other was 1998 Outback) and like it as much as the first. The interior is comfortable and exterior is sharp. I read other reviews about rattles and other annoyances and only have this to say: "If you want a quiet luxury car, spend $50,000 and shut up. If you want a very capable, fun to drive SUV that is an unbelievable value, give the Forester a shot". Firmness of the suspension lets you know that it is truly off-road capable. Engine has enough horses to get you to highway speed quickly. Sure a 5-speed transmission would be great for a little more mileage, but getting power from the engine to the wheels is more important to me than 2 to 3 miles per gallon.

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  Not your fathers Forester - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Ken Schory - June 15 - 6:48 pm

  I have long thought of the Forester as a rather frumpy-looking car with inferior interior materials and ergonomics (my basis for comparison is my beloved 2005 Outback 2.5 XT Limited with a manual transmission). But my 2017 2.0 XT Touring edition of the Forester (with EyeSight) blows away those perceptions. While the exterior design is more purposeful than elegant, it is not at all objectionable, and the interior is a pleasant, rewarding place to pass the miles. In fact, I opted for the Forester over the Outback 3.6R Touring because I prefer the Foresters interior design and ergonomics as well as its performance and handling, which are more responsive and lively (the Outback is nice, but its comparatively sedate). I find the build quality of the Forester to be excellent and its aesthetics appropriate to its go-anywhere character. Ingress and egress are excellent and outward visibility is superb, in contrast to competitive vehicles that have huge blind spots in the rear quarters. The Harmon Kardon audio system is very pleasing, and EyeSight does what its designed to do, very well. The front seats are comfortable, but I wish they had a little more lateral support (because the Forester handles so well) and I wish the passenger seat provided adjustability of height and lumbar support -- significant shortcomings in a vehicle of such overall quality. Also, the tailgate opens and closes rather slowly automatically, but its quick and easy to do so manually, which I usually do. Having owned vehicles with manual transmissions for most of my adult life, I had serious reservations about going to a CVT. Those reservations were confirmed when test-driving competitive vehicles, but Subaru has implemented this technology extremely well, and Im very happy with it, in conjunction with SI-Drive. I highly recommend this vehicle for anyone who values function and usability over style, and people of all ages (Im a "senior") who lead active lifestyles and appreciate a vehicle thats versatile, fun to drive, well built and safe. Yes, the price of this vehicle (loaded, with an extended warranty) approaches $40K, which might strike you as a lot to pay for a Forester, but forget your impressions of previous models; a lot of improvements were made for 2017 (sound deadening, torque vectoring, front-fascia design, steerable LED headlights, interior materials and appointments, etc.), and I consider the 2.0 XT Touring edition of the Forester to be a good value in comparison to competitive offerings. Note that I am still quite new to this car, but after some 1,500 miles, I am so enthusiastic about it that I couldnt wait to post a review. I plan to update this review at a later date if anything changes, although I believe these comments are pretty solid.

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  Mr. Dependable - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By David Schmidt - June 15 - 9:40 am

  Traded in a 2001 LL Bean Outback. Was very impressed with the overall design, roominess, and comfort level. Also looked at Honda CRVs. There is no comparison value wise. The Subaru comes with many features that the Honda lacks, ie: power drivers seat. My concern about power in the mountains was a non-issue when using the sport shifter. Gas mileage is 27-28 on regular gas.

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  Forester: Still learning - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Dale Prohaska - June 13 - 11:06 pm

  We had several car choices to tow behind our motorhome. We chose the Forester for quick handling, solid and quiet driving, power and interior room. We have 1000 miles on the vehicle now, still happy with the purchase.

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  AWSOME - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By JPINGY - June 13 - 10:00 am

  AWSOME CAR, AWSOME DEALERSHIP

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  Confidence to drive anywhere! - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By kaddison - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Our main reasons for our decision in the purchase of the Subaru were safety and reliability; we found both in the Outback. This car will give you the confidence to drive anywhere, even on rough terrain