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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  Big Bang for my Buck - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By Craig - May 21 - 6:33 pm

  I really dont know what is basic about my BASIC WAGON because its got all I need and more. This 2007 is a great deal. So far, with routine driving I am getting a solid 24 MPG! I am 5-9" with plenty of room for me and my family of 4. Easy hook-ups for my 2 year olds carseat, and my 15 year old daughter loves it, even though it a wagon. I am so happy with this buy. Safe, fun, loaded by my standards. I have the auto and love that sport shift for the curves. Good stereo for a basic feature too. Its early in the game, but I really think this car is a GREAT deal for the money. With rebate I paid $21,787. The steel 16" wheels are fine by me. Car feels and runs solid like my Toyota always did!

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  Great Car - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Yunqiang - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Driving for half year and it is great.

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  Best. Episode. Ever. - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By rallyfan - May 21 - 10:00 am

  If youre researching this vehicle, you dont need my opinion on it, right? Well, Ill give it to you anyway. 100% fun. Great seating position. The layout of the redesigned dashboard is great. All the trick gadgets are mostly on the drivers side so your passengers wont futz with much while youre trying to drive. This car has incredible power and wonderful driving dynamics. The shifting is crisp yet smooth and theres more torque than you know what to do with. Gas mileage isnt the best, but when youre having this much fun, who cares?!

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  Three months into this near-perfect sports sedan: - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By JayJayJay - May 20 - 6:08 am

  Sure, there are a few minor ways this car could be improved. But first the good stuff (and theres a lot of good stuff). Here is what I love about my 2016 WRX Limited (manual). CORNERING: You havent lived till youve taken this perfectly balanced, sport-suspension-having all-wheel-drive monster on a windy mountain road. The WRX grips the road astonishingly well in sharp turns, and handles gracefully ... and it really rockets out of the curves if you hit the accelerator in those moments ..... You will have immediate confidence in this car on twisty asphalt, and it will always put a grin on your face.... This is a 268-horsepower smile machine. ACCELERATION: While first gear has plenty of turbo-charged thrust and really catapults you off the line (especially if you drop the clutch in at high revs), doing that regularly feels a bit excessive .... and first gear kind of "ends" a tad shorter than I want it to, if you know what I mean. The sweetest gears on this six-speed are second and third. Wow! You will NEVER tire of the smooth acceleration you get in second from about 3K to 6K rpm. It will make you want to weave through traffic. RIDE: Personally, I LIKE the sometimes "rough" ride the WRXs stiff chassis and tight shocks give you on a less-than-smooth road. Driving a Rex,you are really in touch with the topography, so to speak. The car communicates road info to you. However, I will say that driving four adults in this car on rough pavement is NOT fun. You will feel emotional pain for your WRX if you hit a pothole when its loaded down in this manner (but it will probably come through it okay)..... The stiff suspension means cracks or holes in the pavement are to be avoided at all costs. LOOKS: From many angles, I find the car to be great looking, with sharp, smart-looking "eyes" (especially if you get the LED headlights that are currently only available in the top trim). But occasionally, from some angles, the WRX kind of looks to me like an odd-looking Impreza; a sedan with hopped-up Impreza body. I think theres a room for improvement on the sheet metal on this WRX. (The 2015 concept was spectacular from every angle—hopefully Subaru can give us something similarly special in the next iteration.) C-LIGHTS: These lights look great in shape—aesthetically very pleasing to the eye—but they are significantly "dimmer" than those on Audi or or Dodge sedans, or mustangs, or even even some economy cars. Why are they dimmer than all other cars that have similar lights??! And they dont really run by themselves in the daytime, as they do on competing cars. Why not?! The WRX daytime C-lights should have the same magical brightness as all those other modes. I feel the WRX lags behind the competition in the "C-Lights department." COMMUNITY: This is a true perk of owning this car—if you have this car, you are in an exclusive club; you understand the WRXs rally-care heritage, and you, like all other Rex owners, are in love with its on-road superpowers, which means you will have an immediate bond with any other WRX driver you meet. Other WRX drivers will usually give you a nice nod or thumbs-up when they see you on the road.... Theyll probably be happy to "talk WRX" with you at a stoplight, etc. AWD: The all-wheel-drive on this car is not subtle; you will love how it grips the road, and you will, in some situations, really "feel" each wheel gripping. One thing though: Sometimes, when Im pulling into a rather steep curb cut (i.e. driveway) from an angle very slowly (so as to avoid scraping the low-hanging air foil in front), a weird phenomenon happens with the WRXs all wheel drive, where theres this unpleasant sound and sensation of one of the wheels grinding or skipping. I imagine its something to do with the inside wheel not being able to go slow enough as I turn sharply into the angled driveway. TECHNOLOGY: The Harmon/Kardon stereo upgrade sounds great (ten times better than the stock stereo)..... Backup camera is great; cross-traffic warning beep helpful—even reacts to pedestrians, skateboarders, dogs. COOL. Voice command may be functional, but, honestly, its very slow and feels like it has very small vocabulary of words and phrase it understands, so I havent been using it at all. Blind spot detection is excellent, but I still have a hard time putting all my faith in these little reactor lights in the side mirrors. Im probably too old-school. I still "look over my shoulder" when changing lanes. POWER SEATS: Love the Drivers power seat...... Wish one was available for the passenger, too. I am 61, and lowering it half an inch or so is great. Tall/normal sized adult passengers riding shotgun cant really do that, though, and when I fly over a little dip in the road at a quick speed, my passengers sometimes will hit their heads a tiny bit on the ceiling..... No biggie, but I wish Passengers could could lower their seats on the limited, too....

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  love it but the bearing - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By loveitbut - May 19 - 10:00 am

  We just love our Forester. We did however have some problems with the rear bearings. After replacing them under warranty four times, Subaru gave us an extrended warranty and sealed bearing. It was lots of hassle to get this done but now we love it.

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  weak brakes - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By t.ed - May 19 - 10:00 am

  Just past the 1 year mark with my vdc. overall it is fun. the engine is great- very strong and quick. handling is also great especially in bad weather. stereo sounds great although the cd player skipped and was replaced. the only downside is the brakes. backing up and applying the brakes sounds like they are falling off. a shim kit has helped alittle. the rotors needed to be ground down because they were uneven. generally they are mushy and do not instill confidence.

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  All wheel drive, period - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Joe Barbano - May 15 - 2:09 pm

  We test drove a lot of cars and decided the best in this class for 2016 were Accord, Mazda6, Camry and Legacy. Mazda by far most fun to drive and best looking. Honda best overall package, other than all-wheel drive. Camry maybe best value but boring and least good looking. We live in upstate NY and get over 150 inches of snow per year, much of it sticky lake effect so its hard to discount the all wheel drive. Add to that heated outside mirrors, wipers and even rear seats and the Legacy is a car that seems to be designed just for our climate. Yes, its the slowest of the bunch, but the interior quality is excellent and the car looks great even if not as stylish as the 6 and the infotainment and gps seemed really good, although Apple Car Play would have been a nice option, which only the Accord offers in this group. It also has memory driver seat and a host of safety features. Hard to believe a large phablet size phone doesnt fully fit in the area with the usb and aux plug ins, and there is a bit of road noise on the highway, but those are minor complaints. We picked up our new Legacy yesterday and are hoping to love it. So far, so good.

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  Addicted to Outbacks. - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By PC - May 15 - 9:50 am

  Cant believe I just traded my 2011 for a 2017 - but all the new safety stuff got to me (see Suburu EyeSight system - it is better than anything else I researched). Am tired of backing into things. Drove some other stuff to do due diligence. Nothing even comes close. Drives like a real car almost but tons of space. My repair bills in 5 years consisted of oil changes, one set of new wipers, 2 screws in a loose heat shield. New brake pads too I think - but with just 42K miles never needed tires. AWD essential in New England. Never getting stuck in snow is a priority (never have). Cant imagine a better vehicle. Oh - forgot to mention that auto lift and closing gate thing in the back! Got tremendous value from the dealer on my 2011. 9/2017. No complaints. Same review as in 2016. Havent backed into anything!

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  Amazing family car - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By johnyoo - May 15 - 9:22 am

  Starting a new family, I had to give up my compact and this was the best choice for us. Great power, spacious interior (key for car seats), cargo room, AWD, and reasonable fuel economy. Primarily looked at a Murano which was more luxurious, but a bit smaller cargo-wise and you need to run it on premium so went with the Subaru. After about 3k miles Im glad we did. Its extremely comfortable on the roads and was a lifesaver in the recent snowstorms. It doesnt handle as well as the cars Im used to, but I didnt expect super crisp handling going into a larger vehicle. I wish some of the tech was more up to date, but its good enough for our needs and should serve us well.

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  Should have bought one sooner - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Mark Greene - May 14 - 12:28 pm

  We have owned our new Outback about 3 weeks now, and with over 2,000 miles on it already, are extremely pleased with it. We have averaged 30+ mpg over two 400-mile round trips. This car is quieter, rides better, and gets much better mileage than my 2012 Veracruz, and the traded in Mercedes convertible. I love the adaptive cruise control, it can control your speed/spacing distance down to 30mph if you need it to. The eyesight system is something all cars should have! The fit and finish are impressive, controls are pretty well placed overall, and operating the various systems is pretty intuitive. There is quite a learning curve to get all the various system options set the way you want, but once you do, life is good. The CVT is just a touch whiny if you hit the throttle hard from a stop, but the rest of the time, it feels like a standard 6-speed automatic transmission should. It is easy to get in and out of, the seats were comfortable for our one 5-hour drive, and visibility is very good. The roof rails are folded into the side rails until you need them, which makes the car quieter. The storage is equal to our Veracruz, with a smaller overall body, a higher road clearance, and a much lower roof rack access, which is a bonus for us. The sound system is one area my wife is disappointed with, but she is comparing it to her Mercedes sound system. As the title says, should have bought an Outback sooner.