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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  Replacement for 100K WRX with 300 WHP - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By jd - February 2 - 4:06 am

  An affordable daily driver for all conditions with decent gas mileage and good performance. The factory ECU map is bad, so I had it Protuned with a Cobb downpipe, Walbro fuel pump, and Prodrive boost control solenoid. (Now theres 295 WHP and 340 WTQ.) I bought some used stock rims for serious snow tires and am ready for anything.

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  Fun and Comfortable - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Sam - February 2 - 12:33 am

  I have just over 1,600 miles on this car and I have grown to love it. The performance levels are so high that you have to get used to them before you can start enjoying the car as a drivers car. It is a wonderful car to drive around town and smooth and quiet on the highway. The suspension is communicative without being harsh. You get the information you need through the wheel and your seat, but it isnt in the sharp way of some performance cars. The gear change can be notchy, but the engine is a torque monster with plenty of power from 2,500 RPM. The sound system is nice, although it could use a subwoofer as standard and not an option. I am getting around 26 MPG mostly country driving.

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  Blam. - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Josh - February 1 - 4:13 pm

  I drove a Mazdaspeed6, and hands down there is no comparison. Always on AWD, it shifts power to the wheels that grip almost in anticipation of your next move. It is the soul of the WRX with the body of an executive. I added a blow-off valve. and turbo gauge so I knew what was going on under the hood, and 12-15psi at full throttle is what awaited. I get no lag with the new valve and even an extra couple miles per gallon. I may add sway bars to improve cornering, though a strut tower bar is almost out of the question given the arrangement of the intake.

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  Sweet ride - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By DT - February 1 - 2:20 pm

  I never really thought of getting a WRX. I looked into getting a Mazdaspeed 6 and a Lancer Evo but when the price got out of hand I started looking into it. For the money its an awesome car. Not only is it fun to drive, the handling is awesome.

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  Awesome! - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Vicki - February 1 - 1:23 pm

  I purchased the car in the midst of a bad snowstorm and the road conditions were terrible. Every car on the road was slipping... my brand new Subaru was perfect there! It was so good on that icy and snowy road... I love this car! I love the style and all of the added features! It is so cool! I am so in love with the white pearl color too... so pretty!

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  New is Nice BUT I Loved My Old Forester! - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Dzintra Barbosa - February 1 - 8:32 am

  If you are not into all the new technology that is in cars now you may not be as happy as you thought you would be in a new car. Personally, I enjoyed having things simple and reliable. Turn a knob or flip a switch and it always works the same way. Not so with wi-fi and bluetooth. This "new stuff" is not what I wanted, but since I wanted a Forester I had to settle for all their so-called improvements. I guess if keep this one for at least 12 years also Ill get use to these new-fangled features, eventually!

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  Great Car - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By Ryan Reynolds - February 1 - 2:00 am

  How to put it in words? I needed to find a car for my wife that would be great in the Snow, sporty, and comfortable, and around $20,000. And I found it, This car is so much fun to drive. I looked around for about 8 months before buying, I looked at Dodge, Ford, and Honda, But no one made an All-Wheel Drive that compared. I purchased the 35th anniversary edition which came with power windows and lokcks, Sun roof, A/C, AWD, CD player. Everything I wanted and more. Any douts, Look at Consumer Reports reviews A+.

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  This is a fabulous car - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By FTCBN - February 1 - 2:00 am

  This is a fabulous car. Excellent steering, traction, road feel and mileage. Super reliable.

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  Subrau 6 cyl. - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Jim B. - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I really like this car, especially the 6 cyl. I have owned a 1997 Outback with the 2.5 engine. The new engine is much more refined and fun to drive. In fact, compared to my previous Acura coupe, it is close in handling and comfort and is just wonderful in the snow and other tough conditions. Yea, I would buy another one. Would like just a little bit more room however.

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  Best New Car Purchase Decision Ive Ever Made - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By jjmdr - January 31 - 11:30 am

  This is the fifth new car I have bought for my family or myself, and I am very happy with my decision. I am consistently getter better than predicted gas mileage for my daily commute. My kids love the back seat room (I have 3 so all the seats are full when the family travels). They always want to take "Daddys Car" instead of the minivan! The features for the money paid are an excellent value (I have the 2.5i Premium with MT, which comes standard with the All Weather Package). Although I am currently leasing the car, I am very seriously considering converting to a purchase, since I dont think Ill want to give the car up when my lease is over.