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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  Excellent Car! - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Charles - November 5 - 9:10 am

  This car is a 10 all round. It may seem strange that I gave all 10s but this is purely in consideration of the type of car it is. For performance for example, some may say that it is slow, especially for 165 hp. However, in any conditions with poor traction, it is absolutely essential for good performance (ie not sliding off the road) that power delivery isnt snappy and immediate. Handling is surprisingly good for the type of car it is and this must in part be due to the low center of gravity of the boxer engine.

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  Great car...they think of everything!! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By 1happycamper - November 4 - 12:06 pm

  This is my second Subaru. I had a 2009 Subaru forrester but found it to be kind of an ambling vehicle (not very responsive or sporty). After40k miles, I traded in my Forrester for a 2011 Outback. The Outback is very sporty and is fun to drive...very peppy. Very reasonably priced for the features provided. Ive been getting 30 mpg and love the vehicle. This is the perfect vehicle for an active individual. It hauls my road bikes on the hitch rack, the kayak on the roof, and my therapy dog to the nursing home. Then it cleans up nicely to haul five people comfortably to dinner and a concert. Truly a great deal!!

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  Love this Car! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Jo - November 4 - 2:43 am

  This car has been wonderful for me! Since the date of purchase I have not had any mechanical or other problems at all. I love driving it around, the car always gets a few looks. This car is not WRX but it still has a lot of punch to it, its very fun to drive. The only downside is that the mileage is not the greatest, however keep in mind that you are getting excellent AWD performance at all times. On a 60 litre tank of gas, i average about 600km per tank.

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  Great car - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By AM - November 3 - 8:18 pm

  The car is great performance/reliability/safety wise. Only complaint: airbag recall that took too long to get fixed.

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  Controls - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Gary Caron - November 3 - 2:16 pm

  Everything within easy reach from drivers seat, very logically designed, intuitive,

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  Hello Safe Drivers: Get the LEGACY - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By anne - November 3 - 1:20 pm

  Race-car drivers can ignore this. Smart, safe drivers should get the Legacy. My Buick skid on a wet road and crashed badly. Wanted Subaru Legacy for AWD and safety features, but decided to save money and get Impreza. AWD is great. No one regrets buying Legacy. Gas mileage is better in small car, but Legacy is the better car.

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  If I needed one car to do everything.... - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Chad Cummins - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is the Champ at doing everything well. Sports car feel with small SUV cargo and sedan milage. Price is very good for what you get.

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  try it, youll want to buy it - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By DONNA jb - October 31 - 4:38 am

  the climate feature is wonderful never knew how much I was fiddling with it to be comfortable, visibility very good, drives and rides really really nice,

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  Great Subaru Cant Go Wrong - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By barufan - October 31 - 12:32 am

  This car has been rock solid. Over 150,000 miles and counting. The review that talks about the shifting, just drop into 3rd on the automatic in-town; the 4th gear is overdrive for the highway...read the manual! The head gaskets have been an issue, but there is a replacement gasket that permanently fixes the problem. I did mine as a preventative and it is still cheaper to own than many other car brands that I wont mention. I think this is a great car and will buy Subarus forever. Cant wait for the diesel model to hit the US.

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  Excellent car so far - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Alex - October 30 - 12:40 pm

  First Subaru in my household and whole family loves it. No bad things so far.