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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  Love the Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Glenn n Tom - August 8 - 4:36 am

  We fell in love with the car/truck the 1st time we saw it @ the Philly flower show 2001.The yellow paint sticks out every where we go, yellow was our 1st choice. We love its styling, its comfortable, its certainly not a car you see very often...like the RAV4. The vehicle is on the louder side with the frameless windows and AWD tires. Versatility...great for Home Depot during the day and dinning @ night. We seem to do about 28 hwy/24 city non turbo. Rearward visibility could be better; the c pillars generate a huge blind spot, as well as the rear headrests are non-movable.

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  Best Car that I have ever had - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Townsend - August 8 - 4:03 am

  Rides just like a luxury car...and the color, style, looks are beautiful - the Technology is state of the Art.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By fast4 - August 7 - 10:10 pm

  Bought this car used with 18K miles on it. The only mechanical fault that I ever experienced was a "Clutch Shudder" problem that was fixed under warranty at 20K miles. The ride is solid, responsive and communicative.

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  Still glad I sold it - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By huskerfan_1 - August 7 - 9:11 pm

  I had this car for exactly one year. Special ordered and purchase in Nov. 2009 and sold Nov. 2010. I am still seeing reviews noting the same deficiancies I left in my March 2010. review. I went on to purchase a 2011 Honda CRV. Still not the best, but it doesnt have ANY handling issues and comes with same crappy Continental tires. It has a better throttle response and the car is secure when entering and exiting tight exit ramps. The sound system is a trillion times better than the Harmon Kardon. I see many of these on the road and wonder if the owner has regretted their purchase.

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  Good Buy - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Mukund - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Subara Forester X earlier this month. So far I am well pleased. I bought one with a beige color interior and a red exterior. It looks superb. And I find the drive quite comfortable. Just two little minor caveats: The ride seems to be bumpier than I would have expected. Dont get me wrong, its very nice but definitely bumpier than my other car, the VW Jetta. The backseat leg room is small. I am 5 ft., 10" and I push the front seat all the way back when I am sitting. Some one of my height would find it difficult to sit right behind me. Overall, it feels and drives just like a car and I am very happy with my decision.

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  Great alternative to SUV - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By mgraze - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a new 2002 Outback Sport but the 2003 and 2002 are identical. I really love this car so far. I only have 600 miles on it but enjoy the ride quality, handling, interior layout and the power of the extremely smooth flat 4 engine. I was actually shopping it against the Honda CR-V LX. While the Honda is a fantastic vehicle (much better and less expensive than the Forester) I got such a great deal on last years model OBS that I couldnt pass it up. The only things I gave up were rear disk brakes and some interior room.

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  Whats not to like - 2013 Subaru BRZ
  By jmk651 - August 6 - 1:04 am

  It really is a fun car to drive, and you dont need to be going fast. It looks great, I like the inside a lot. The seats are really comfortable (Im 64"), and theres plenty of room. The value is amazing, HIDs, spoiler, the keyless access is cool, Its pretty much fully loaded. So far its been 10 months, and I havent had any problems. Ive driven it in winter, and the traction control is awesome, it really keeps the car in line. I didnt really have much problems in the snow/ice.

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  Its okay, but it lags far behind my Mazda6 - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By jjdawson - August 6 - 12:33 am

  Its got ho-hum styling inside and out. Its been rattling/squeaking since about a week old. It gets slightly better gas mileage on the freeway than advertised. Its comfortable. It has lots of room inside, even for tall people; more head room than every other mid-sized sedan that I tested. It has plenty of power at almost any speed. Its a little noisy at freeway speeds. The blue tooth works well, but I would change it. The CVT is a little weird since I cant tell what speed Im going by the sound of the engine. The 6 gears are a plus for fuel economy. The paddle shifters are cool, but automatic works great without them. However, I like my 2004 Mazda6 better in almost every way!

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  The best value in a 4WD SUV - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Tim - August 4 - 10:34 pm

  After hearing friends rave about their Subarus we decided to replace our aging 4Runner(over 340k miles) with a 2016 Outback Premium 4 cylinder. Initial impressions are: great build quality, plenty of room & storage, entry/exit very easy, great sight lines, wonderful mileage, great handling and traction, * Steering feels well centered, tracks great and provides just enough feedback to make long drives comfortable. * Ride is well controlled and handles the pot holed northern Ohio roads with grace. * Very quiet interior at speed. * CVT transition also feels like it’s not a CVT, provides the common shift breaks and always seems in tune with what’s needed. * Acceleration of the boxer 4 cylinder is what you should expect, I never feel under powered and unable to pass or keep up with traffic. But never feel like there is a big reserve to pull from when needed. * Gas mileage is fantastic for an 4WD SUV with this much room, this is where the boxer 4 come in. * An intangible as it may sounds - it feels like a well-engineered vehicle. From the packaging of the engine and 4WD drive system, to the details that include underside paneling, engine bay access for maintenance, cross bar and roof latches, ties downs in the rear for cargo, triple door seals, safety systems that include a hefty rear door impact beam, etc. We shopped around and even considered an Acura RDX, we own several other Acura’s and also considered Mazda(CX6 and CX9) and Ford(Escape and Edge) entries. While the Acura was a much better vehicle in every category(expect MPG) it was also another $11k. I love the look of the Mazda’s but they felt cheap with lots of wind and engine noise, poor CVT shifting and a tin feel to everything about them. The Fords were the biggest disappointment, horrible shifting, poor ergonomics and over-priced. Both felt cheap in comparison. I don’t understand how Subaru is able to build this car for this price when I compared it to similar entries from Mazda and Ford. The Outback was leaps and bounds a better car and value.

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  Wow! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Greg - August 4 - 10:00 pm

  Just traded a 2009 Jeep Liberty for the Subaru. The build quality is superb and the gas mileage is FANTASTIC. What a fun car to drive (its my daughters car so I will not see it that much).