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 overall value! - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By subiracer11 - July 14 - 11:41 pm

  Bought new and now have currently about 28k miles. Overall great car, suspension is very forgiving but a little to soft for my opinion-that is my only gripe. MPG I average 28-30 on hwy and about 23-25 city. A lot of the wrx components can be switched to the 2.5i such as suspension or brakes. The 2.5i brakes compared to the wrx brakes are pretty stupid IMO; both have same caliper but different size rotors-I upgraded to wrx rotors using wrx caliper bracket and braking is much better now. Handles great in snow, the only thing that limits it is the crappy oem tires. Overall a great car for someone looking for a AWD vehicle at a great price. Do not overlook this car, you will not regret it!

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  Really enjoy driving it - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By The Craw - July 14 - 8:11 pm

  I moved from a 2014 Crosstrek Hybrid to this car. The MPG is comparable, but it is much roomier. The head unit and audio is way way better in this model than in my previous Subaru, and the cabin is pretty quiet. I do have a couple of small complaints: 1. You cannot mute the audio in the NAV system, and it breaks into the music versus talking over the music. For me, this makes the NAV system too annoying to be used, and I end up using Google Maps instead. According to Subaru customer service, this is not something that they are planning on fixing. 2. The Bluetooth microphone seems to pickup a lot of noise, especially during highway driving. People on the other end say it is quite annoying to listen to. I have tried adjusting the mic volume, and it doesnt seem to help much. 3. The EyeSight cameras remove the area where you can store sunglasses, and make the rear view mirror a little challenging to adjust. They also should have blind spot available in this like it is in the Outback/Legacy. This is our 4th Subaru, and the reliability of the prior 3 has been exceptional. I expect this will be the same. All in all, I would definitely recommend this car. It is our 4th Subaru, and

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  Nice car for money - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By malelee21 - July 13 - 10:00 am

  I have added several modifications to my car: BPM GT Turboback exhaust system which replaces two restrictive catalytic coverter with one and with a bigger diameter pipes. Results is about 15-20 hp gain w/ ~30 ft-lb torque. Also, I added lowered springs and 17" OZ P1 rims for much improved performance In my opinion, this car seems to be detuned and has tons of mod. potential. Spend about $5000 on mod and this car is capable of competing with most of sports cars.

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  First time Subaru owner - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Martin - July 12 - 10:40 pm

  I switched from a Volvo V70 front wheel drive because I wanted the the advantages of AWD in snow and icy conditions. I had previously owned a Volkswagen Passat with AWD (same system at the time as Audi Quattro) and I considered getting an Audi Quattro station wagon, but the ground clearance was a limitation in deep snow. So far, after 11 000 km. very happy with this car. BUT: I live in Europe, bought the car with the new Boxer Diesel: 147 hp. 256 ft./lb. torque, 6 speed manual tranny and, absolutely no kidding: 43 mpg. highway mileage. Why dont you guys in the States demand to get in on the real action with this car?

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  Great cat so far - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Josiane Stickels - July 12 - 10:28 am

  I have only had this car for about a week, and the only thing I dont like is that the driver seat headrest is too far forward. Ive had to tilt my seat back so that I can get my head back far enough to be comfortable. If I put my seat back upright like Im used to the headrest pushes my head way too far forward not in line with my spine. Uncomfortable. Otherwise great car.

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  1st Subaru, and I am glad I bought it. - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By jim_t - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Outback Sport on 6/1/04, and have loved every minute of driving. Im still under the break-in period (only 150 miles left) so Im keeping it (barely) under 4k RPM. Even keeping my Sport under 4k RPM, I still have enough power to freely move around at freeway speeds. I took my Sport and my fiancee on a nice long drive up Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Ventura the weekend after we bought it, and we were thrilled with the handling, power, and comfort. This is truly the perfect car for me. Plenty of room for the rugrats (when they come) and for Future Dog (when he is adopted).

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  Great little wagon! - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Tom Thumb - July 10 - 10:00 am

  After flipping cars every 6 mos for the past 2 years, I think Ive finally found the right balance of everything! Has plenty of room (like my old 4Runner), handles great (close enough to my A4), gets great gas mileage (MUCH better than my V6 Accord)...This car has handling, convenience and character to spare! The boxer engine is just a gem - likes to rev, rock and roll! The 2.5L engine has PLENTY of power and torque, gets better gas mileage than the 2.0L blown version, and costs about HALF to insure. Skip the WRX, skip the 9.2X and check this one out - you wont be disappointed.

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  review - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By getty45 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Great Amazing Car! Couldnt be happier. Great handling and power.

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  Excellent car, but VIN problems - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By subi2006 - July 10 - 7:43 am

  Great car for the money. This is my second Legacy. Comparing to 2001 the 2006 model feels more sporty due to more powerful engine, sport mode transmission and low profile tires. The only drawback is that 2006 Special and Limited Editions share the first 7 digits in the VIN which are used by everyone to ID the car. As the result a 22K SE comes up as 25.3K Limited and the owner pays higher insurance premiums, property taxes, registration fees, etc. Ask me how I know.

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  Maybe the best all around car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Subie4life - July 10 - 4:10 am

  I just got back from the dealer for a recall. Yep, after 96,000 miles this is the first time I took it to the dealer. What a great car. Ive totally abused this thing (from landscaping materials to my 4-60 lb dogs) and it begs for more. Ive only done routine maintenance (tires at 50k, oil every 3k) and its as strong as ever. It thrives in bad weather (torrential downpours here in Miami and trips to the snow in NC). I get not great, but definitely good gas mileage (21-22 city, 26-27 hwy) and it has plenty of room for just about anything I need. Yes...you should buy one. I expect to keep mine for well over 5 more years and 100k miles.