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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  Lots-a-fun - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By lvnwntr - October 16 - 8:20 am

  This is my 7th Subaru. All except the 98 RS coupe got to 200k miles. VERY tossable. Now we have 30k on it and only a few mods. Silencer removal, Prodrive 17s with M3s, K&N, front and rear braces. Future mods on order include braided lines, Hawk HPS pads, front & rear skid-plates from Primitive Racing, and full synthetic Redline conversion. Went playing in 12" of unplowed wet snow for 1.5 hours. Took 4 hrs to get the snow off it. Worth the work! Buy it -Have fun.

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  A fun car to drive - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Dima - October 15 - 3:26 pm

  Having recently purchased an Outback, I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun this car is - sporty handling, nice balance, very good 5-speed shifter. It has much sportier character than one would expect from a wagon. Recently, I had spent some time driving on semi-paved country roads, and was impressed with the suspension that made driving over the potholes and washed- out portions of the road bearable. Although I do not get good mileage in the city, barely 20 mpg, it probably has more to do with my driving style. On the highway, I am consistently in the 26-28 mpg range.

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  Love These Cars - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By dozer54321 - October 15 - 7:36 am

  Ive liked Subarus (all of them) since I worked at a Subaru dealership. I bought mine after I left the dealership because none of my other vehicles could meet the performance. They handle better than any other car Ive been in, and although the ATi and Evo are faster, for the price and ease of the mods it is a good deal. Reliability is that of a Toyota and the performance of a sports car.

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  Ive got a new Subaru - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By chuck ferant - October 15 - 4:18 am

  I like everything about this car except that the drivers power seat does not have enough adjustments.

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  My new SUV - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By John Hammock - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Coming out of our SUV we looked at, and drove several cars. I passed on my chance forthe Infiniti G35x so my wife could have her wagon, so far we not been disapointed. And, the 2005 Outback seems to turn more heads than I would have thought possible.

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  Great Value - 2014 Subaru Impreza
  By billprange - October 13 - 12:54 am

  Ive owned my 2014 Impreza Limited for 6 months and 7K miles. I bought it fully loaded with 900 miles on it (repossessed) from the dealer for $22,500. Its a fun, tight drive with remarkable fuel efficiency. I get 45 mpg at 55 mph, 40 at 65, and 36 at 70 with fwy driving. Overall 36 fwy, 32 mixed and 28 city. Efficiency drops noticeably when using the paddle shifters on country roads! Absolutely no problems so far, just lots of fun.

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  Perfect For Me - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By PApassenger - October 12 - 5:43 pm

  I drove an Audi A6 so I was used to lots of amenities. I used edmunds.com to narrow my search to 5 medium SUVs. The trend in body styles seems to be lots of body in the back with a small window...looks good from the outside but feels claustrophobic inside and isnt helpful when youre trying to back up or merge onto a highway. That put the Rogue and Tucson lower on my list. I test drove the CR-V - nice. I left the RAV 4 till last - I expected to drive it home. But when I drove the Forester, I was impressed at how comfortable and spacious it was. The RAV 4 interior looks cheap by comparison. I bought the Subaru and drove it 2000 miles so far, including a trip to Canada. I still love it.

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  Sexy Foul Weather Gear - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Daniel M. in MD - October 8 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! I loaded it up with two bicycles, fishing gear,a dog and my wife and spent a wonderful vacation in the New River Valley in Virginias Blue Ridge Mountain range. Great power, surprising fuel economy, nice ergonomics and fun to drive. Engineered for safety at a price you can afford. Five star front and side impact ratings do not hurt.

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  Nice Wagon! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Alex - October 7 - 3:12 am

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  Love it - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Friendly Contributor - October 7 - 3:12 am