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 Car For 22K - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Julian - August 7 - 10:10 am

  This car is fast, very reliable, very tunable though fast from the factory. Getting it over 300 hp is very simple. It drives perfect in whatever terrain you put it in. For the money I dont feel any car comes close, Cobalt SS or Evo ($30G is too much). Running 13.86 stock into the low 13s now. Great car for the money, they will be coming out with a new model in two years but with the 2.5 motor, great seats, and endless possibilities with the aftermarket, this car is a go.

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  Its fun to drive again! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By sierra - August 6 - 12:00 pm

  This car reminded me a car should be fun to drive! If you want to see what this car is about, include a drive on a windy country road.

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  no regrets - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By dswiss - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for one week and already put on 900 miles. I love this car. Its very quiet and solid, and feels like the Mercedes I used to have. I have the 4 cyl stick shift and find it fun to drive. Enough power and a silhy smooth transmission.

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  A Superior All Around Car - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By dorado - August 6 - 3:33 am

  No complaints whatsoever about this car. Superior performance, handles great, fit and finish on the car is on the mark. An outstanding car.

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  So far so good - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Rene - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I have had my OB since March 09 and so far its been great. Took a road trip to Sedona and averaged over 30 MPG. The 2011 has the folding mirrors which would be nice and the fuel efficiency gauge has got to go. My only real complaints have been that it idles very high in the morning and on cold starts and the passenger side airbag sometimes does not show activated when a 120 lb woman is sitting in the seat.

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  Great Car - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Mifflin Mary - August 5 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had it a short time. Im looking forward to taking a trip with it. I had an Impala before and had it for 8 years. I really liked it. But not as much as I like my outback. I compared and test drove a lot of other cars before I bought our outback. I read al lot of reviews and none compared. I always came back to this one.

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  Great car - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Bill - August 4 - 10:56 am

  Ive had my Outback a little over a year. I run my cars to death and they never set for long periods of time. I do newspaper delivery in this car. So you know the car has to be good. It gets driven anywhere from 60 miles to 150 miles everyday. The only problems Ive had with it is the water pump went out, nothing new had a 97 legacy gt with the same problem. Recently the CV boot tore in half and threw grease all over the catalytic converter. Not a big deal. The water pump was bad for almost two weeks before I took it into the shop. Car has never really left me down. Now I have had some performance parts put on it to compensate. Overall a great car would buy again.

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  Overall Excellent Vehicle - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By mkrman - August 3 - 7:16 am

  Overall a great car. Just the right size, handles wonderfully, and great on gas (if you are easy on the accelerator). Dark grey color is beautiful - get compliments constantly. AWD works great, even with stock tires. Back seat can be tight for larger adults. Build quality is good, other than one minor trim piece was misaligned. Overall, ride is good, but the low profile 17" wheels add some disruption to the ride. My major gripe is no radio controls on steering wheel - ridiculous for a 26K vehicle. The car will be too small for some, but its the perfect size for me & my needs. Acceleration is OK - there is enough power for most, but the power-hungry should go for the turbo.

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  Charles Atlas - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By The Rush - August 3 - 12:00 am

  This is the Charles Atlas of Automobiles There are few automobiles that can outperform this small car. And I have as yet to find one. Everyone should try this one before they spend more money for a name.

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  Subaru 2.5i - great car - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Al - August 2 - 9:10 am

  This car is a lot of fun to drive, very responsive, great handling. It is built like a tank, no funny noises anywhere so far (Ive had the car for 4 months). Suspension is awesome, you can pass a speed hump at 30 mph and you wont feel it. Great brakes, had no problem stopping on wet roads. I am waiting for winter to see how the AWD behaves. Overall is the best car I could find, a lot of value for the price.