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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  WOW! Never Fails to Impress... - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Craig - March 16 - 8:56 am

  This car is amazing. From twisty back roads to highway cruising, it carves through miles and traffic like a hot knife through butter. Suspension is soft enough to not kill your back, but firm when it needs to be. Grip is good, but can be improved with 235/40 tires replacing the stock 225s. Power is fine, even low-end grunt is adequate, but the real treat happens after a very brief turbo spool-up...then holy cats! Basically, find the biggest, toughest guy you know and stick him in the passenger seat. Accelerate from a stop to 70mph getting on the highway and watch his face go white with terror and then start giggling like a schoolgirl...works every time.

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  First Subaru - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By outpost05 - March 15 - 5:26 pm

  I had planned on getting a 4Runner until gas hit $4 a gallon. I decided to downsize but wanted something I thought would be good in snow and occasional rough dirt roads. I have been getting 21-22 mpg in city driving and 31 mpg highway so far! Better that I had hoped. I think I made the right choice.

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  One good car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By msb175 - March 15 - 1:06 pm

  Ive had this car for over a month now and it has already been better than I expected. AWD is great as well as handling and performance.

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  Outstanding Outback! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By jwa741 - March 15 - 7:56 am

  Purchased my first Subaru about a week ago, an Outback 3.6R Limited. Traded my 2004 Lexus RX330 in on this jewel. The Outback is awesome on the road; quiet, smooth and comfortable - quieter than the RX. Got the Nav system, and I like it a lot. And for those who have complained about not being able to make Nav and Bluetooth selections while driving, get over yourself! Its a safety issue! This is the most fun-to-drive car I have ever owned, and the fact that it takes regular gas is great. I look forward to many adventures with "Alice" (as in Alice Springs, located in the Australian Outback). I even have a mascot for Alices back seat - a small stuffed Kangaroo, named "Subie-roo"

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By lamda - March 14 - 11:46 pm

  My wife and I originally searched for a new Jeep to replace the lease we had. We did our research and looked at the Tribeca and loved the interior among many other things. We ended up buying the 5 passenger SE. It definitely has more interior room than our 06 Jeep Commander. You cant find a comparable vehicle for the price, quality and reliability. The vehicle has great pick-up and drives very smooth. Save your time and go look at the Tribeca. You wont be disappointed.

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  Loved the Impreza RS!! - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By SportyChic - March 14 - 10:00 am

  This was my first car, and I absolutely loved it. Never failed me in the snow storms. Perfectly hugs the road and turns like youre in a high speed car chase! It was my baby, and now its going to my younger sister. If you love to drive fast and look good doing it, this is the car.

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  Total Package - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Brenda E. - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I like the way my WRX Wagon handles the corners, Iv only got it to drift on drit roads which was easy to controll. As far as power when I need to pass I hit the turbo at 4000 rpm and Im gone. It took a little while for me to get ajusted to the clutch and power band.The AC works well The kids feel it in the back right away, have"nt need heater yet.

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  So much better than a base WRX - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By StarBlazer - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I used to own a 2002 WRX and thought it was an awesome car. This one, however, has blown me away. It is truly an amazing vehicle.

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  Best car for the money - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Mary - March 12 - 10:55 pm

  I got a lot more car for my money with this Subaru than if I had bought a Lexus for $10,000 more. I have had no problems (knock on wood) with this car. Service has been great.

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  We love this car! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Dave - March 11 - 7:46 am

  To be fair I need to state that this Outback is my 6th Subaru. Its obvious that I like them and gravitate to them. We love Subaru AWD and dependability. Our previous car was a 2008 Legacy Ltd which we really liked and never had any trouble with it, but it was coming up on 9 years - time for something newer. We went to Quality Subaru - our nearest dealer - and were made to feel very comfortable. This time my wife wanted a higher ride height and better visibility than the Legacy. The obvious choice was the Outback. We test drove the Premium model and several Limited models. When we saw how well equipped the Limited was there was no turning back. We really liked all the safety features offered in the Limited model. The test drives of several Limiteds revealed a very quiet and very responsive car that felt absolutely solid. Driving this car gave one a feeling of confidence. So what started out as my wifes must have moon roof turned into us getting a very capable car with many cool safety and tech features. After 4 months of ownership we are still learning the full extent of all the cars features. Handling is excellent for a car with this much ground clearance. The ride quality is somewhat firm and still somewhat supple - a great balance. The transmission is a bit noisy under initial or hard acceleration. We feel the car has adequate power under acceleration and passing. Gas mileage has ranged from 22mpg around town to 31mpg on the highway. Road noise is minimal. The Harmon Kardon sound system is excellent. We also like the voice command capabilities. The information display provides way information than we could normally use, but it is nice to know it is available. We have not had opportunity to use the automatic distance control while set in cruise. We do not like the fact that you have stop the car to initially access the navigation system. We have not driven the car in much snow, but we expect it to perform well based on our past experiences. It took a while to get used to the keyless start and also how the key fob works, but now we like it. We are starting to use the back up camera more and more - it came in handy when I messed up my back and could not turn. Our passengers love the heated back seats. I love the comfort of the seats, the perforated leather will be nice in hot weather and we both like the seat position memory function. The headlights are awesome - very good visibility at night. Sometimes the cornering light is helpful too. Environment controls are easy to use and work well - even the voice commands. Another cool feature is that the oil filter is on top of the engine right near the dipstick - it will be easy changing it. I usually cant wait to drive this car - technically it is my wifes and she drives it the most. This is the first new car that we both actually love. The very few things we do not care for pale in comparison to all that we do like. Our dealer - Quality Subaru and our salesman - Mike - both treated us well. Mike was very thorough, patient, and knowledgeable.