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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  If want one, buy one - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Henry - August 16 - 3:13 pm

  I bought legacy with 60,000 miles on it and it now has 90,000. It still has the original clutch. I keep outside through Pennsylvania winters and it starts up perfectly in the cold. We actually tried to sell the car back after our mechanic told us the car had been in a bad accident. We never did, and to our surprise the car has gone 30,000 more miles with absolutely no minor or major problems and is still going. The only thing wrong with the car is the cd player never worked under my ownership and we had two purchase a new pop out cup holder for $60. Overall, I am very satisfied!

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  New to Subary - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By mdoiron - August 15 - 1:16 am

  Just bought my new 2015 Subaru Forester. Price was good, inside room was great - head and leg room. Only had it 2 weeks, so still new to it but a few improvements / upgrades are needed

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  Great car! - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Mike - August 14 - 3:30 pm

  This is a great car. I have owned a Legacy and Outback Wagon, and the 2008 Impreza WRX is a different car - but still a Subaru in all respects. The WRX is fast, fun, and AWD. Pics do not do the new body style any justice. Lots of reviews slam Subaru for making the WRX more "mainstream" to appeal to a larger audience. So what. Its a blast to drive!

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  The Perfect Height - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Taft4 - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Because of our ages (mid 70s) and my wifes partial disability the height of a car for ease of entry and exit is paramount, along with leather seats that one can slide in on. The exterior dimensions for parking ease and city expressway driving are almost equally important and the Forester easily meets all those criteria. Add to that the excellent safety features and safety record, and I knew this was the car for us.

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  Great Car - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By BrysImpreza - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car, no complaints what-so- ever, the only thing that needed a change was the rear swaybar, so that was upgraded to a 20mm and its a station wagon that handles like its on rails

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  Fun!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Sportcarsforever - August 13 - 2:00 am

  I have driven the car three times. It was a fun experience as expected. Exxxxtremmmmmmeeeee power for a car in it class pluss all upgrades possible. The price is a little bit out thinking in what you can get three or four more grands.

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  Subarus are over rated - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By mr.z - August 12 - 1:23 pm

  I was very excited when I ordered my Subaru. That all ended after two weeks of ownership thats when the steering started going in and out. I never had a road noise issues it was the wind blowing through the window that never closed proper after two years that I had issue with. That was fixed four times it never lasted more than two weeks. At three years old the car started rusting (body and brake lines), the ABS was no longer working at this point. Maybe I expect to much when I pay $27k car. Last thing I had flat once and the jack broke. I sold this car with over 59k on it.

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  Good deal if you use Edmunds and shop around! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Jamie Diamond - August 11 - 7:27 pm

  I had been a faithful VW driver for a while, but decided to go with the Outback after my TDI Sportwagen was involved in the diesel buyback. Ive only owned the car 2 months, but weve had our share of snow and rain in that amount of time. Im thrilled with the handling of the Outback. The entertainment system takes some getting used to. Its not as intuitive as I would have expected, and it seems to be glitchy with the bluetooth - it inexplicably tries to sync with my phone and play from my Pandora app about half the time Im in the car, and I suspect this is eating away at my phone data usage. The headlights are also taking me some time to get used to. Theres a definite "horizon" - I can see a defined line right in the middle my field of vision where the headlights end, and I find that it makes the visibility really low when going up or down a hill. It bothers me the most at night on winding back roads, I cant really see if there are deer along the roadside any further than a few yards. I highly recommend using Edmunds TMV to find the best price. My most-local dealership was unwilling to negotiate price and was giving me a hard time about getting the Premium with the options package I wanted, so by using Edmunds, I found multiple other dealerships within reasonable distance who were willing to give me a great deal on those exact packages. Not only did I save over $3000 from what the first dealership quoted me, I got a better financing rate as well. Roberts Subaru in Downingtown, PA made this purchase very easy. It was the most haggle-free, laid back, simple car purchase Ive ever made.

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  Your own rollercoaster! - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By urownrollercoaster - August 11 - 6:40 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for less than a year and absolutely love it. To appreciate this vehicle you must be passionate about performance and less concerned about comfort, luxury or appearance. The sti is extremely quick right out of the box. I previously owned a 350z for 4 years and must admit it was a great car but the sti outperforms it in all areas except for 100+ mph (the 350z just seemed more hunkered down to the road and stable at high speed). The power in the sti is ferocious, coming on at 4000 rpms (which is when the turbo kicks in) and then its hold on for the ride. The power is such that Ive actually missed second gear because of being thrown back into the seat (hand slipping).

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  Short on detail - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Tom - August 11 - 12:23 pm

  This is my first Subaru, and I bought it based on its safety ratings, the recommendations of friends and on my own long-standing perception of Subaru as an Innovator. Nice car, nice looking, but Subaru is falling short on the details. The $2,000 plus 2007 navigation system is shipping with a 2- year old 2005 vintage map CD. The companion audio system doesnt display title/artist/station information from CD player or radio on that big color screen like other cars in its class. It is also loud in the passenger cabin.