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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  Great Value & Fun To Drive - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By hudsonvalleyny - December 8 - 6:09 pm

  The 5 speed Crosstrek rides smooth and handles well on rough roads. Its easy to maneuver, easy to park, has a very tight turning radius and zips around town handily. On the highway it feels solid and holds its own at high speeds. AWD is amazing in snow. Stated gas mileage is accurate, but I can do better: 26-30 in mixed, 32-34 hwy. Interior is comfortable but spartan.You have the basic features you need and theyre all standard. Acceleration is surprisingly quick especially if you wind out the gears. Hills need a downshift. Gas pedal is more responsive than the rubbery CVT pedal. Its not as solid and spacious as our 2014 Forester but gets way better gas mileage. Wheels get attention!

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  Great Car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By KenG - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car since June 2001 and its been a blask every day. Only minor downfalls (as you probably already know) are the turbo lag at low RPMs, and a not-so-luxurious interior. But, its comfortable, Ive had no problems, and its the most fun car Ive had the pleasure of driving. For the price its the best you can get.

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  pretty nice but a few interior problems - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By phuntley - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I like this car a lot overall, however, there are few problems with the interior design that I take issue with, especially the placement of the drink holder. The car drives well (handles really well on muddy roads), it holds a lot of cargo with the seats down, and the gas mileage is really good. Plus, all the compartments hidden throughout the car are really fun. I havent had any problems with the engine or anything functional, and Ive put 30,000 miles on it in little over a year.

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  rod knocking and spun a ring, at 34k miles - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By zwzachary87 - December 7 - 11:46 pm

  I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza sedan and it just did the same thing at 34k miles, I was getting on to the highway and my check engine light came on then traction control light and started knocking pulled over checked oil it was bone dry 3 QUARTS LOW, rod in motor started knocking car spun a ring. Subaru is warranting the motor which is a good thing but i am a little worried about how they are talking about fixing my motor eater they will replace the bad parts with new, or they will order a short block for my car and i have a problem with those options because of the fact of you are taking your heads off the motor that has been damaged and putting them on the new short block well i have a problem with this because what is to say the heads were not damaged from not being lubricated and foreign material from shavings in the motor. i have my oil changed every 7500 miles because i run fully synthetic oil and i only have the dealer work on my car. 0n 2/3/12/ car had 29800k miles on it when i had the oil changed and transmission serviced, on 3/15/12 car had 34000k miles on it when it chose to break down and i checked my oil 2 1/2 weeks ago and it was full car has not been tampered with at all please if this has happened to anyone i would really like to know

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  Poor fuel economy - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By postit1 - December 7 - 6:46 pm

  I would like this car very much were it not for the gas mileage. I would not recomend this car if fuel economy is at all important to you. I am a light footed driver who has always gotten near or even slightly above the rated mileage on vehicles owned. There are always a few drivers who will get poor mileage with any vehicle. Before buying I dismissed these at lead footed drivers. I should not have. Check around on the web and you will find poor mileage is a pretty common issue with the 2013 4 cyl. Outback. I am getting 22-23 mpg on 70-80% highway driving split between 50-60mph and 75 mph. Non highway driving is suburban areas. Am actively working to unload this vehicle.

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  2015 XT Touring - Day 1 - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By evanworld - December 5 - 3:14 pm

  Full disclosure: the cars been in my driveway for a day and these are first impressions with more to follow. I obsess on research before I buy and in this case started with a crush on an Acura AWD which quickly faded before I moved on to a BMW 3-Series Xdrive. The idea of a Forester came out of left field and became viable after a test drive. I fell in love with the excellent visibility, easy access and turbo engine (I owned an 05 Legacy wagon GT manual and it was a rocket). The hook - 20K less than a Bimmer and better AWD than its competitors.

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  Great car, worst Bluetooth possible - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By dylismith1 - December 3 - 9:09 pm

  I consider Bluetooth a safety feature. This Bluetooth does not synchronize with the phones contact list. You need to manually enter each contact. For each, you need to manually enter the phone number by scrolling a thumb wheel for each number, and then you say the name. When I said "Larry" it told me I had to have 2 syllables. When I said "Drywall John" it said it was too similar to "Larry Cell"! You cannot input the name, so for a list of phone numbers, you get numbers but no associated names. It would not recognize my wifes voice since it only knew my voice. When we renamed contacts using my wifes voice, it would no longer recognize my voice. This system is an embarrassment to Subaru.

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  Cheap, reliable AWD - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By jdl50cc - December 2 - 9:33 am

  Its hard to say anything negative about this car given the number of features that came for a pretty low price. Its amazingly reliable and seems to run on rails in the rain. Snow performance isnt bad, either. Wish fuel economy were a bit better, but the AWD takes a (worthwhile) toll. Could be quieter but, again, its an inexpensive vehicle.

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  Mostly satisfied - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By cboy219 - December 2 - 8:20 am

  After 1000 miles, pretty content. Comfy, good head room, fun2drive! Smooth pickup, good ride. The hum from the engine is AWESOME. Good sized trunk. Car is perfect for a single person - quick and fun, 4 door versatility, adaptable to add luggage racks. Sporty and stylish enough, but kinda flies under the police radar cuz it isnt TOO flashy. I did have a cooling hose issue (factory didnt tighten it), and it does rattle a bit which is scary considering I traded in a 1997 Ford Probe that didnt rattle at all, but overall a very great car in my opinion if it holds up over time. Other Subaru owners near me all are happy with theirs. I have high expectations for this car.

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  Still Breaking In - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By BooSTi - November 29 - 10:00 am

  This car has a lot of power. That is probably the selling point for all buyers. I only have 900 miles on it and Im currently getting around 16 miles per gallon which is still horrible. When the optional STi short shifter was brand new it was VERY notchy and hard to shift but its improving. The lock on my trunk doesnt always unlock itself when i use the alarm and this is becoming very anoying. Besides that the car is a overall good buy and Im satifyed. Im glad I chose this over RSX Type-S.