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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  Go Elsewhere - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Michael - December 19 - 8:53 pm

  Ive had this car now for a little over a year and I can honestly say that it ranks quite high on the list of worst cars Ive ever driven. Horrible visibility, especially at night, you cant see anything because of the position of the pillars and the size of the mirrors. Painfully weak and horrendously thirsty engine, youll be lucky to get 22/23mpg on the highway, driving in cruise control at 65. Quality of materials inside is absolutely appalling, cheap plastics all around! Clutch pedal has no precision making it difficult to drive smoothly. The Navigation system is overpriced for what you get, and no built-in blue tooth. The seats though, make me cringe every time I have to drive.

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  Nothing ventured, everything gained. - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Shawn - December 19 - 7:23 pm

  One tends to assume that something will be forfeited when buying a high performance sedan. The only thing sacrificed when purchasing the STI is MPG, and thats only half true. In no other car can you get impeccable performance, perfect reliability, comfort, style, and the camaraderie that you get from owning an STI. Even with performance mods to put the car at >300 AWHP, gas mileage remains above 20 mpg. Consider how much higher it would be if I did not drive over 90, everywhere!! This intrepid little car has never let me down, not while sideways on dirt roads looking out the wrong window, or taking a 270^ on ramp under full acceleration. Add 5 star crash rating and the STI is hands down, #1.

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  Best Sedan - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Roy - December 19 - 11:36 am

  I love my Subaru Legacy GT. Ive had it a little over a year and its fun to drive handles like a dream 0-60 5.7 seconds and its not too bad on gas.

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  10 months - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By subisubi - December 19 - 9:26 am

  No real problems to date. The car handles really well in the snow. I live Mammoth lakes, CA, and we had over 600 inches of snow this past winter. Make sure there is extra weight when in winter conditions, because the car is pretty light. I got 31 mpg sometimes on roadtrips, and never less than 25 mpg.

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  Car Performance - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Carl Tordonato - December 19 - 3:16 am

  The engine is very sluggish, with slight acceleration of the gas pedal the engine hesitates then the transmission shifts down as if the engine loses power. I am very disappointed with the performance.

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  Traded 2011 Outback Sport (Lemon Law) for 2012 Sport Premium - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By tornado542 - December 18 - 6:16 pm

  My 2011 Impreza Outback Sport was bought back by Subaru due to 5 suspension issues in the first year of ownership. Subaru gave me all my money back and paid off my loan so I went and bought a 2012 Impreza Sport Premium. This is everything I loved about the OBS, but with a nicer interior, and better MPG!

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  Very Impressed - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Nittany Lion - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Just bought new 3.6r limited, very impressed. Wife has an 07 rav4 6 cylinderlimited, but I chose ob as need to climb our snow/ice mountain to home in north central pa. Slid down backwards in rav4 3 times last year. Computer shuts down power when wheels spin. Ob leather seats are the most comfortable Ive ever had, ride is unbelievable (a ride on a cloud) for a crossover. Toyota much stiffer and much louder inside- cannot talk front to rear on a trip. Mileage pretty good, acceleration great. Fit and finish good. Exterior lines cool, interior plush and techie. No steering shimmy and my dealership has never seen any. I am very happy with ob indeed.

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  Great Car - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By fearlessone - December 16 - 10:49 pm

  I travel a lot for work and I try pretty much every model in this segment. I was given the chance to drive the older model of the Impreza and I like the car capability but not the interior. At 62 the new version is way better then the old one. It more refine and controls are well position. I was looking for a fun car to drive that I could rely on for the winter (+ top safety pick). I did a test drive in a middle of a winter storm and it was impressive. The car visibility is great and the car stick to the road like glue even under very strong winds. Great car recommend it to everyone.

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  The Pillow - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Howard Larkin - December 16 - 7:46 pm

  My wife traded in her 2005 Volvo S40 for this 2017 Subaru Legacy 2.5i mostly because the Volvo was getting too expensive to keep repairing -- Volvo parts are ridiculously expensive and the thing is so complicated they had to take the grill off to recharge the air conditioner. So the nice roomy layout under the Legacys hood is a welcome switch, or so my mechanic tells me. You can actually see and reach the spark plugs without disassembling half the engine. This is actually our third Subaru, the previous two being a 1996 Outback and a 2012 Forester which we still have. The Legacy doesnt handle quite as well as the Volvo but they are such different cars it is not really fair to compare them. However, the Legacy does feel very planted on cloverleaf freeway entry ramps and it is easy to change and hold a line. I give credit to the symmetrical all-wheel-drive, which sounds like advertising but it really does eliminate torque steer. Physics, I guess.The Legacy is much better at absorbing the massive potholes and bumps all over the streets in Chicago and suburbs, which destroyed the Volvos front end twice in 100,000 miles. The Subaru is at least a match for the Volvo in the rain and I am sure it will be much better in the snow as well. The Volvo was pretty good in snow for a front-wheel-drive car, but our other two Subarus were and are practically snowmobiles. This is a big reason why my wife chose the Subaru. based on previous experience with continuously variable transmissions, I was a little leery of this feature. However, the Legacys CVT is very responsive and the car moves right out when you need it to. On my wifes 35 mile commute of about half highway and half streets the Legacy is getting about 29 mpg, which is about five or six better than the Volvo got on the same trip. We havent taken any long road trips yet, but the dash says it hits 35 mpg on the freeway right after a fill up, and so far the dash mpg report has been pretty accurate, within about two percent of miles divided by gallons when we fill it up. The Legacy is much bigger inside than the Volvo, with a very comfortable back seat, though the Volvo had better seats. The lumbar cushion on the base Legacy are not adjustable, and tend to push me out a little farther than ideal on the bottom cushion, though this isnt a hug problem. Much, much better visibility out of the Legacy and the back up camera helps avoid backing into the garage wall. The Legacy is very solid and quiet, much more so than our 2012 Forester. Based on the excellent durability and reliability of our other two Subarus -- no repairs needed at all in 55,000 miles on the 2012 Forester, not even brake pads -- I am hoping this one wont need much work over the next 10 years or so.

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  2008 Subaru Tribeca Review - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By Nor Cal - December 16 - 5:13 am

  I have had the Tribeca since April 2008 and put almost 6000 miles on it so far. The handling of the AWD Tribeca is darn near neutral and the turn in spot on. its fun to drive and comfortable on road trips or in town. The interior and exterior looks compliment each other. I use the transmission in sport mode all the time, either leaving it in drive or shifting up and down. the engine is a lot more responsive & mileage doesnt seem to suffer. One thing that bugs me is that the transmission shifting seems out of sync with the engine at times. The Tribeca doubles well as a tent and carries a lot of "stuff". I dont like the puddle lights though but thats a nil point IMO. Next thing is XM radio.