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:

• 

  2008 Outback Is Frustrating - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Bill R - August 6 - 8:33 pm

  We traded in a 2004 Outback for a 2008,and have been disappointed by poor mileage, need for premium gas, and the worst nav system logic ever invented (partly designed by lawyers, I assume!). The nav system wont even let the passenger set a new destination while underway, it has such inane logic. The seat heater controls require you to look down at the aft end of the center console, a major distraction.

• 

  From a Toyota to a Subaru - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By winter package - August 6 - 3:16 pm

  Im a first time buyer of a Subaru. Im very impressed with the Forester. I have always been a Toyota person. Til now. No problems with my Forester. So far, wonderful car

• 

  Should have got something else - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By nbabiarz - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Have 6k miles on the car, and am ready to get rid of it. The steering is terrible (wobbly, feels like Im in a boat being pushed back and forth across traffic) and my *new* car had rust on the door, plus several other defects. Ive been back to Subaru of Gwinnett 3 times to fix it, and they cant/wont. Ive been told "thats how all AWD vehicles drive" (I thought AWD was supposed to feel *more* stable than FWD?) and that I need to put air in the tires every week... Im very disappointed with the car, and with the lack of support from Subaru. I will not be being any more Subaru cars in the future.

• 

  Good Value - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Jeferty - August 6 - 10:00 am

  You get a lot for your money with this car. In my price range, with my height, I narrowed the search down to the Subaru and the Nissan Altima. The Forester won hands down with a more solid build, better features, and tons of cargo room.

• 

  from a newly made subaru fan - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By BZS - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This is a spectacular vehicle. This is the cheapest new car I ever bought: it is the most satisfying I ever had. It does everything so well: you wouldnt anticipate that from "a subaru". My previous "performance" cars were an Audi A6, then a Cadillac CTS (So, I know how owning a new car makes you feel and have high standard for comparison). This car is more responsive, just as comfortable, and arguably safer, more reliable and much cheaper than those. Actually, it even looks nice (well, maybe not as nice as the Audi) It may not have the aura of the luxury cars, but its down-to-earth design and "ready for everything" personality makes you feel GOOD every day

• 

  Very Subaru - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Bon Voyage - August 5 - 10:37 pm

  Ive owned my 16 Outback limited with eyesight for about three months/ 3000 miles. It is my second Outback (non consecutive). Overall, this is a great utilitarian family car, and if you have owned an Outback before, youll recognize its strengths and weaknesses. The car offers great utility, use of space, and overall function. Its not sporty by any means, but it is great at getting me and all my stuff (including a one year old and all his stuff) where I want to go comfortably and safely. Its a fantastic road trip car, with incredible back seat comfort. The adaptive cruise control included in the Eyesight package was worth every penny. I never used to use cruise control, but I use the adaptive cruise control on almost every trip. The gas mileage is also very good for the weight of the car. I have generally experienced 30 mpg average when driving 75 on the highway. There are downsides. First, dont buy this car if youre looking for sporty handling. This should immediately be clear from a test drive, but acceleration, road holding, and "feel" are not sporty. However, they are in line with reasonable expectations. The only surprise I have had from a handling perspective is how much the car jumps/skips when it hits a bump, especially when going around a curve. My 01 Outback did this a bit, but I was surprised to experience it in my 2016. The outback holds the road over imperfections far worse than other cars Ive driven in this price range. Secondly, the entertainment/nav is a massive point of frustration. It has a lot of functionality, but it is hard to navigate and overly complex. While the navigation is nicely integrated into the sound system and dashboard. However, Waze and Google Maps outperform the navigation so profoundly that I dont even use the integrated navigation. After running Waze in parallel with the Nav for a few months, the Subaru navigation has so consistently provided sub-optimal or confusing directions that I prefer to just use my phone. This leads me to my other complaint about the the system. It works pretty well over Bluetooth, but as soon as you plug the phone into the USB, the system wants to treat your phone as an iPod and the whole experience gets disrupted. Overall, the entertainment system is super clunky and hard to use. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to save preset stations (have not yet opened the giant manual) and the system is heavily integrated with Sirius, which really undermines the system if you dont buy a subscription. With all this said, Im very happy with the car.

• 

  Bummed about my Baja baby - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By ellen - August 5 - 10:46 am

  It was initially love @ 1st site but bloom soon faded. 1st issue, dash panels around A/C controls started peeling upon touch, never replaced. Bad experiences w/dealership caused me to go to another Subaru dlr serv. dept when brake problems began & driver window wouldnt close tightly. Was asked if car had been in accident because bolts were missing on one side @ brake apparatus. While under warranty, brakes were worked on @ least 3 times. No permanent resolution on brakes or ANY other issues I ever presented. Extended wrnty doesnt cover brakes & Im still having problems. Told my family to have car fully inspected if accident occurs due to brake issue - and sue the pants off of Subaru!

• 

  Good value and safety for utility reasons - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Alex Arnold - August 5 - 7:05 am

  Its a very good car for utility reasons. I mountain bike, ski, and carry lots of sporting gear all over the place. The acceleration is good for the HP and it drives very good for the price. I would recommend this car to others to consider highly because of the value and its safety. I rarely write reviews, but thought I would given the good experience I have had with this car. The bluebooth and noise in the car could be improved.

• 

  terrific value for this class - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By feralcat - August 5 - 2:54 am

  We bought an XT premium a few weeks ago and have taken a couple road trips that included highway grades and dirt roads. This vehicle absolutely wants to move and fast. I had to keep using the cruise as to not risk getting nabbed for going over 85mph and my foot was barely on the gas. I dislike CVTs but admit that this one is pretty decent probably because of the horsepower and torque so that the drone is nonexistent. Love the appearance ( we got foglights, fender guards, and some other accessories.) So far this appears to be a good value for the price. I would not pay extra for eyesight or nav both of which get negative reviews and in the vehicle we test drove (touring) were annoying

• 

  Disappointed - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Renee - August 4 - 3:46 pm

  I have been disappointed in this vehicle! The insulation in this vehicle is poor. The heater works wonderfully but just about freeze my legs on the driver side. The dealership installed an electronic start and I believe they have messed up the electrical system as nothings seems quite right. What about the mileage. I am seeing 15-18 and I now have 4000 miles on this vehicle and am NOT speeding. I left my keys in the car and turned OFF yet in less than 3 hours my car battery was totally DEAD. This certainly cant be a safety feature to have a battery lose charge this quickly. I agree about the noise!