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:

• 

  The engine can shut off while turning - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Delta - June 4 - 2:26 am

  I bought this after driving a 1999 Forester for 10 years. We also have a 2005 Outback in the family. I initially like that this Outback is bigger, but quickly found that it is clunkier to shift and does not have the pick-up or power I could feel in my old Forester. Also, the trunk/hatch door is unnecessarily heavy and a pain to open and close. There have been two recalls necessitating trips back to the dealer for fixes. Now, after having the engine just cut off during turns several times, I have learned from my dealership that theyve seen this with 2010 Outbacks. Engines can just shut off while driving! Seriously dangerous and the recall for this has not yet been written.

• 

  Too much buck, not enough bang - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By gurumichaelOG - May 27 - 10:00 am

  Owned mine for a year and it was a piece of crap. It had problems with everything from the suspension (5 times), ECU, exhaust, windows, interior falling apart, fan rattling. Got to a point where I was dealing with the regional representative on every visit. No mods, just a junk build. Major turbo lag and significant lack of low end power. Terrible experience. Some owners get mad when reading this, but I too drooled over the release of the WRX. If the quality isnt there, it just doesnt cut it. Run away from this purchase and shop for something else. Lost tremendous amount on it after only a year.

• 

  Test drive multiple times.... - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Luther Williams - May 24 - 8:00 am

  Great car if performance is main foucus. Plenty of low end torque for everyday driving. Drivability in everyday traffic is poor. Car really wants to be driven hard, when driven slow shifting is cumbersome. 1st gear has a rev hang that cause rough shift to 2nd. Sucks as an everyday driver, CVT maybe a better choice....

• 

  Wow, where do I start? - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By jillreyna - May 19 - 8:31 pm

  I have a 2003 H6 V3.0 with just 119,000 miles on it. It is hard to put this car and "reliable" together in the same sentence, not to mention that dealers in my area do not stock many parts for it. Averaging around $450+ per simple repair, after shopping around some. I would buy any other Subaru, but any reader who finds this a good car value is welcome to make me an offer. One-owner Arizona vehicle, driven by senior person. Maintained to point of exhaustion.

• 

  dissapointed - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By antlerking - May 6 - 8:03 am

  Choice of interiors, almost white or almost black. Two hardest colors to keep clean. My friend reached 16k and started using oil,{ring job]. Ive just reached 16k and used a qt. of oil in the last 800 miles. that will be a ring job also. Dash gauges that are of some real use. A voltmeter and temp. gauge to tell me about potential problems. What I do have is a gauge with a plus or minus to tell me about my fuel usage. It goes to minus when I go up hill and plus when I go down hill. This helps me in no way. The trans./engine combo is very noisy on acceleration. Stop talking and forget the radio, you cant hear anything. Its also a dog on acceleration, all noise and no go.

• 

  Eh... wont do again - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By thumbsabit down - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Liked it alot when I bought it -but wont do this model again. Many people I know LOVE their Subaru- but, IMHO- its too much $$ for the bang. Our plan was to buy a new car that we can drive for many years. Its cramped when 4 in the car- and worse if an avg size dog comes with us. Exterior paint stinks-chips easily. Too many blind spots to find during test-drive. (I didnt read the articles for testing- beforehand.) Thought gas would be better- 19-21 is best mileage yet.Dont fall for the brouha-ha... Im going with Honda or Toyota for my next car- asap.

• 

  My wish list for the Crosstrek - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By doraflood - April 23 - 11:17 am

  Bought Crosstrek Feb2013 --wish I had waited for the 2014 Forrester. While an initial test drive MIGHT convince you to buy the Crosstrek -- you get bored and frustrated will quickly as you drive around your neighborhood. While you might enjoy the 8.7" ground clearance-try wearing a baseball cap and putting the visor down. If the seat is forward or up, it cant be done. Same goes for tall people. Taking the head rest off the passenger side - even with an open moonroof, cant be done. They need to add 3" to height - which might also help with cooling the car: the angle of the windshield causes higher heat from sun buildup-making AC less efficient.

• 

  My first Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By RT - April 11 - 4:36 pm

  All the reviews about paint problems are true. I bought this car 9 months ago and cant believe how fragile the paint is. Ive only got 6,000 miles on the car and it looks like theres 4 years of abrasion on the rear qtr panels. Severe chips on the hood and front of the vehicle. Hopefully Subaru officials read these reviews and do something because theyre losing customers. This was my first and believe me last Subaru. Unless you want to pay for a total repaint every 3 years stay away from this car. Other Subaru models have the same problem. Oh and do something about the ridiculously low passenger seat and whats with the holes in the front bumper?? Not all states have front license plates!

• 

  Outbacks maiden voyage to Baja - 2014 Subaru Outback
  By bajapable - April 6 - 7:10 am

  Our 1998 Outback served us well so we went for the 2014. The test drive was a 3700 mi trip to southern Baja & back. It performed well, including on some pretty rough desert roads. Its not a luxury car, not a sports car, but so far it seems to be a solid mid-range car suited to a wide range of uses and conditions.

• 

  Love the 4X4 drive, not the rest - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By Rosalie Brunel - April 6 - 3:21 am

  the sellers repeated sales line was "This car loves winter, you will really feel the difference in winter" and I do... the driving is awesome... except: i now cannot refuel because the latch to open the tank is frozen in ice! I now had to drive the car to an indoor garage and pray that tonight it will work. Not so impressive for a car that "loves" winter. The windshield also cracked about a month after I got it... I never had a windshield crack and have always driven in the same conditions. Again, unimpressed. Little gadgets also started to give way inside the car. Already Ive been to the garage for oil leakage (the car had 2,000kms then)... My car is still under 6,000 kms!!