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:

• 

  I love my car - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By i can has car - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I have only had my Subaru for about 2 months but I have fallen in love with it. Im only 16 years old, and it isnt exactly the coolest looking car, but it is fun to drive, pretty fast, and the double sunroofs are great. It has been the most reliable car I have ever experienced. The AWD has saved me a few times. But I mostly use it to go around turns way too fast.

• 

  Great vehicle for tall people - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By sprivasky - April 24 - 9:18 pm

  This is my first time owning a Subaru and I am very pleased. I am 68" tall and could not be happier in this vehicle. The leg room and head room are fantastic, the ride is very comfortable, and the AWD feature is great. The exterior design is sharp and the interior design is simple. There is plenty of cargo room and the sun roof does not reduce the amount of headroom I have. The driver seat is very comfortable for long road trips and my passengers have commented on their comfortable seats. The Touring edition provides several key features that make it worth the extra money when compared to the Limited. Ive only driven it 2,000 plus miles, but absolutely love this vehicle.

• 

  Fun car, turns heads - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Thomas - April 23 - 2:50 am

  For a young single homeowner living in Minnesota, there isnt a better car in the world! It turns heads, it hauls lumber home and most furniture, and it seats four confortably. Rear passengers will complain about leg room. All wheel drive makes the car a lot of fun to drive on dry pavement, and easy to handle on ice and snow. Everything inthe truck feels solid - the doors, the tailgate, interior parts. However, I docked my truck a few points for reliability because I am having problems with clutch judder. Would like more power but with a stick its acceptable.

• 

  gas miliage - 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
  By davebclawson - April 21 - 11:10 am

  This car gets 36 to 40 mpg at 55 miles per hour At 60 miles per hour it gets 33.3 to 37 mpg. At 75 miles per hour it only gets 26 to 29 mpg.

• 

  160K Trade In becomes my value buy - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Bob - April 21 - 6:13 am

  I observed this car in a driveway with a for sale sign. It was red and looked new. I was surprised when I found out it had 160,000 miles on it and had been left at a local dealer with blown head gaskets. The person selling it bought it from the dealer and had new head gaskets put in. I used to work on cars and I could tell it had been done. The car had a big sunroof and all wheel drive. At $4500 what could I lose? The car also had to have a new windshield put in to pass inspection. Since purchasing the car Ive driven it on two long distance drives of 1,000 miles round trip. The gas mileage is excellent and everything works great. The AC is outstanding. A bargain!

• 

  Subaru WRX STi - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By WRX OWNER - April 20 - 6:43 pm

  I bought the WRX STi a few weeks ago and I can tell you that this car certainly lives up to its name. I have had absolutely no problems with it. I live in the mountains of southern California where there are a lot of windy and hilly roads, which make this car all the more fun to have. It never has a problem climbing any hill. It accelerates from 0-60 in about 5 seconds and the handling ability is unbelievable. The hood scoop and spoiler never rattle around as I had read in some reviews, and also the turbo lag isnt that bad; in fact the low end torque on the STi is better than my dads Porsche 911 Turbo which has 355hp. The 6 disc in-dash CD changer is of excellent quality.

• 

  Subaru Impreza RS - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By L.H.N. - April 20 - 10:00 am

  So far Ive had this car for a week, and I love it! Its so smooth and handles the roads very well. I cant get enough of its cute and sporty look.

• 

  Wheres the manuals? - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Charlie - April 17 - 5:40 pm

  Got my Outback a couple weeks ago. It had been on order for four weeks. Apparently SOA will not be manufacturing/shipping manual transmissions unless there has been a high demand in an area. Only found one dealer located 300 miles away willing to order vehicle. Would have liked to have gotten the bigger engine, but not offered with manual. This is my fourth Outback. It is a BIG car. Handles great. Quiet on hgwy. Mileage around 25. Rear hatch difficult to close. Hidden radio antenna, which causes poor reception. Clock/temp readouts recessed near windshield. Hard to read. MPG gauge worthless. Even with its quirks, great vehicle.

• 

  Great AWD Hatch - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Extremistno9 - April 17 - 4:50 am

  So far the car has been great. Drove it in a bad snow storm (10-14") and it handled great. I had to push really hard in order for the stability control to kick in. When did, the car straighened out beautifuily. The Outback sport has a slightly raised suspension over the stnd impreza allow it to be taken light offroading plus that allows the snow to not build up as much when driving. The radio is ok, but comes alive when using the aux for a MP3 player. Cargo space is great, seats are comfortable and heated. Dash and conrols are layed out very nice. Gas mileage is decent for a new AWD car. Avg 24 w/mainly city driving. Love the MPG gauge too! Makes you more aware of how you dirve.

• 

  tdi trade in people, get one! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By chris christo - April 16 - 8:47 pm