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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  A great hatchback SUV - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Kelvin Leung - August 10 - 2:39 pm

  Had a Accura MDX for 10 years. Decided to switch to a car with better handling and better gas mileage. This is a great one. The Tangerine color is so eye catching! Everything is wondering from space, gas mileage, interior comfort. The only lack is the power train. But youll get used to it. I have for a year and its still running a champ!

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  Good Northeast Car - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By cmac - August 10 - 9:50 am

  Good car for the dollar. Handles very well and gets good mileage if driven smooth. The pickup is quick but will show it is a 4 cylinder with 4 people and cargo. The seats are not that comfortable and the engine idles rough. Just change the oil and bring it for regular checkups. Tires are good but expensive to change. Rotate them often with AWD.

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  PZEV - "My Inner Treehugger" - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By highmile - August 9 - 10:10 pm

  We had already decided to buy a 2008 2.5i Outback when I happened across an Outback on the dealer lot with a different badge on the back that said "PZEV - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle". I was curious as to what this was. Basically, it is the exact same car as your regular Outback, but with a more thorough burning of fuel and an emissions system on steroids. The emissions are as clean as a hybrid. My "Inner Treehugger" decided to splurge for the extra $200 for the PZEV option. We have been extremely happy with the vehicle. Unfortunately, I had to discover the PZEV since there seems to be little to no marketing for this "green" option.

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  3rd times a charm - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By boostmonkey - August 9 - 9:52 am

  This is my 3rd WRX after a 04 WRX & a 06 WRX STI. Its a great mix of comfort & performance. The STI rode like a gokart, but was lightning quick. The new WRX rides much better but still has that turbo power.

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  Awesome Car! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Pinnen - August 9 - 3:36 am

  I dont know what to say about this car that has not alreaady been said. Best bang for the buck, fun car on the market, period!

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  Just a great car. 175k miles and going strong. - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By BrewCar - August 9 - 1:42 am

  Owned for 10 years, now at 175k miles. It loves the rain and snow... this AWD beast is simply unstoppable no matter the weather. In the winter, I put on Blizzak WS-70s, and it just sticks to the road (snow/slush/ice, bring it!). Driver position on wet freeways is like Goldilocks, just right, and youre above the tire spray. Im now spoiled with having seat heaters, fog lamps, and wiper defrost. Power has always been fine - I didnt buy it to be a muscle car. Only problems have been occasional oil leaks - valve cover, then oil pan seal. The brakes need changing about every 15 months, but it only takes about 20 minutes per axle and is dirt simple (yay disc brakes!!!). A bit of wind noise at freeway speeds, but some window seal restorer helps. Ive now handed her off to a college bound kid without worry; Im certain this ride has at least another 125k miles in her. My only real complaint was that I stayed with the stock speakers for the first 5 years - what a difference aftermarket makes!

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  Cant You Hear Me Knocking.. - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By USMercury - August 9 - 1:06 am

  First thing I noticed was the knocking of the engine, which they say is typical due to engine design. The knocking was unbearable, which they ultimately fixed. Knocking started to come back, but I just sold it, so it will be taken care of next by someone other than me. As with most reviews, lots of wind noise. The wind noise is to the point where you have to turn the radio up. I went from a 6 cyl to this 4 cyl to save on gas, but to tell you the truth, it got awful gas mileage. Came with a broken 6 CD changer. Minimal acceleration in this vehicle. Started making another noise, like a rattle or shaking sound. But, it’s gone, so fortunately not my problem now.

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  Always wanted a Subaru and will never get anything else - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By emg2211 - August 9 - 12:14 am

  Love my crosstrek!! First Subaru ever and I should have got one years ago. Had a mazda3 loved it but horrible in the snow (nurses cant call out for snow storms) and horrible MPGs. So after 5 yrs of almost dying every snow storm in MA I made the choice to get my Subaru and I havent looked back. I love it. Its safe, great MPGs, awesome in the snow and enough room for friends and my giant dog. If you are looking for a crossover SUV look into it. I will say downsizing engines took a few wks to get used to, pick up isnt as good but it still gets around great. I have about 6500+miles on it.

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  1,000 mile report: Happy so far - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By fandango - August 8 - 9:27 am

  My initial impressions are good. The ride is quite a bit smoother and quieter than my 2007 Impreza. The handling is pretty good for a SUV. The power is quite adequate in the mountainous terrain where I live.

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  Too interactive - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Jimbo - August 8 - 7:04 am

  I love this vehicle, but I worry about the distraction of the touch screen. Yes it can be voice controlled, but I need a training program to figure out all the voice commands. I have only had the vehicle a few weeks but have had a couple occasions where I varied from my lane while trying to do something on the touch screen. To me that was scary. I love the camera screen on the 16. I traded a like 15 and that one was hard to see especially in sun light. This one is nice. I would like to be able to turn it on while moving to monitor a trailer. That would be nice. Overall, except for blind spot alerts, I love this car. My fourth Subaru.