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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  My first & last Subaru - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By davidmovahedi - February 17 - 12:00 pm

  I have owned at least 7 brand new cars in the past 15 years; Will not buy a Subaru again. My car is less than 2 years old & only has 8000 miles on it, the rattling noise while driving is very disturbing and annoying. I read the same feedback from another owner too. And when you fist turn on the engine, for the first 3 minutes, it sounds like a diesel truck! Is this because the engine is tilted 90 degrees and theres no oil around the pistons going side to side? Very disappointed, not to mention that there is hardly any room in the back! I will definitely stay away from Subarus. This was a worse experience than my last new car (Nissan Sentra 2.0).

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  For my money, best in class - 2018 Subaru Forester
  By MN - February 15 - 8:37 pm

  Review at 1000 miles: We spent the last six months researching and test driving for our first new purchase. We had a budget of $35k and the final three contenders were the BMW X1, Honda CR-V Touring and the Subaru Forester XT Touring. We live at altitude in the Pacific Northwest and are "outdoorsy" without needing extreme off road capability. We also take the highway up to fairly high altitudes for hiking and ski excursions. Coming from a fun & spirited but extremely noisy and uncomfortable Impreza, we were looking for a good blend of comfort and utility. Forester XT Touring satisfied these criteria with the added FUN factor that the CRV just didnt bring to the table. The Forester XT has *almost* all of the get-up-and-go of a WRX with off road capability and a far, far quieter ride. I find the CVT to be quite responsive, particularly in the Sport mode. Interior comfort is impressive; Im 64" and 220 lbs, and have so far taken three 2+ hour trips behind the wheel, on highway and Forest Service roads. The cabin is quiet, with excellent visibility on all sides. While not quite the same in terms of luxury, at this price point, to get the AWD on the X1, wed have been dropping closer to $40k. I just couldnt justify paying the premium for mostly a badge. Only qualms so far is the entertainment suite: Starlink is basically useless aside from Pandora. Navigation combined with Sirius XM traffic is quite useful. Eyesight suite is powerful, useful and intuitive and is what ultimately swayed our purchase. Considering our Impreza lasted reliable 275k miles with strict maintenance, I am confident that the Forester XT will be reliable for years to come and serve our needs well.

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  tribeca flat six - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By rdg - February 15 - 4:26 am

  I have been driving for 50 years and consider myself knowledgeable when it come to vehicles and this one is raising eyebrows where ever we go people ask me questions, the dash excites everyone also the engine when I explain flat six people say how come they have never heard about it, which is subarus poor advertising.Take my advice just go see for yourself

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  Wind noise - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By kbob - February 15 - 2:10 am

  Love the car, hate the wind noise on both the passenger side- whistle and the driver side continual. Also problems with the windshield wipers. Have had it to Dealership to resolve the wind noise problem(s) and is still not resolved to my satisfaction. We like the car I dont like the excessive wind noise. If I has noticed this in my test drive would not have purchased this vehicle- unfortunate because other than that it seems to be a great car.

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  Great car for long trips - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Anne - February 14 - 8:40 am

  Got it in Nov, 09. Now reported after long trip to New Orleans (360 miles each way). Very good long trip car. Easy to drive, stable handling in bad weather, roomy and seats are very comfortable. 30 mpg on freeway. Best is when hotel valet praised it over Lexus RX350 (Ha Ha, I traded my RX for the Suby)! So, if you are considering an Outback, dont wait!

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  Disappointed in Subaru - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By marianne7214 - February 14 - 6:59 am

  I like my Tribeca overall, however, I am extremely disappointed to find out that I need new bushings (like many other owners with a low mileage car). This would appear to be something that should be recalled, however, SOA has yet to do so. Dealer cost to replace bushings is over $1000. I was also disappointed to find out how hard it is to get/install anything for the car (windshield wipers, replace light bulb). Windshield wipers arent available at auto parts stores and light bulb took dealership mechanic over 30 mins to install.

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  Commuter Deluxe - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By Ed Schwarz - February 13 - 2:30 pm

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  Best Car - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By nasaalien - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Great car. Handles well.

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  Few Flaws - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Kyle Kaiser - February 13 - 10:00 am

  A much better choice for a daily driver than the Evo. The 2.5L powerplant was an excellent choice. Excellent buildy quality and looks. Gold rims are catchy, especially with my metallic black paint with golden fleck, matches perfectly. Looks xtra sharp. Only complaints, tight back seat, little sloppy feel on the tranny.

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  Love It - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By NevadaSubie - February 13 - 9:16 am

  After owning an Audi A4 then having 2 kids I felt the need to trade it in for an SUV. My requirements were AWD and comfort. I never even considered a Subaru, (I had not seen the 2010) and was very pleasantly surprised. Upon test driving the 3.6R it instantly took me back to my days of owning my Audi, but with more comfort and room. Exterior noise is quiet, but not as silent as the Audi. I sat in the backseat of both the A6 and Legacy with my 62" husband comfortably in the drivers seat and it was roomier and easier to get in and out of the Legacy. I LOVE IT!!!