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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  Disappointed. - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Dmitry - May 28 - 1:13 am

  Drivetrain: Rear suspension is too soft, (car goes up & down more than once after bump). 4-A transmission is the same slow as previous generation, but shift logic now is very stupid, kickdown is absolutely unacceptable. Interior: Well, finally they switched to better materials, but this is the only improvements - ergonomics is nightmare. At night the instrument panel and console look like Christmas tree! There are 5 different colors. Brightness of several things is not adjustable. Some controls are hard to reach, (eg. "horn button" is not reachable by thumb!) Exterior: Because they rounded down roof toward rear, visibility is affected. Headlights generate awful light distribution, high beam is useless.

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  Mixed review - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By paul - May 21 - 3:00 pm

  While this car is great in snow and rock solid in a driving rain it has been a maintenance nightmare. We think it was built late on a Friday afternoon. Within hours of taking delivery the car wouldnt start. Bad fuel injectors. Within two months, bad brake rotors. Drivers door has never closed correctly without slamming it. New clutch within 24K miles... told Subaru clutches dont last long (wife asked if we they could install a Honda clutch instead - our accord clutch lasted until 75K....). Another new clutch at 45K. Blown tranny at 102K and now blown head gasket at 105K. Were done with Subaru.

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  Total Failure of a Car - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Dan Barry - May 13 - 6:38 am

  The clutch on my 2.5i Subaru went out at 40k miles, the center armrest cracked, the side arm rests caved in, the trunk rattles and it burns oil like mad. Now the car is turning itself off intermittently while running, probably from a failed fuel pump. We are selling this car and getting a better vehicle. This has been the worst vehicle weve ever owned.

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  Engine leaks and crappy transmission - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Camelot - May 3 - 8:50 pm

  I bought my Forester L.L. Bean from the original owner and got a very good price on it, but for most people I think Foresters are over priced and over rated. Made an annoying high pitch whistle after I first got it, that went away after a few months. Recently the head gasket blew so its burning anti-freeze which smells awful but runs OK once warmed up. When its cold it makes a chugging sound. Also leaks oil. Im told this is common with old Subarus. The Boxer engine is expensive to repair. The whole thing needs to be pulled out of the car, and new gaskets put in. Not worth it to me. Ill just keep adding oil and anti-freeze. Automatic trans seems outdated and sometimes clunky. Has to down shift a lot because the engine doesnt make enough power.

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  Sounds like percussion section - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By JW in ETx - April 21 - 1:26 pm

  I bought this car after extensive research and what a thrill to have after almost 10 years. Everything was great for about 450 miles when back end started rattling. Dealer had it 5 days and couldn’t fix it or trade, Subaru wouldn’t cover it because it’s a “normal condition” of this vehicle but thanked me for bringing it to their attention so that "even though this is of no comfort to you," others may not have to experience the same defects. At 6K miles began rattling in back end, right front door, glove compartment, dashboard, in the roof. Mileage at 18/23 is also disappointing and at now having power steering problems. It’s now on the market, live and learn! Wipers work great

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  Oil Consumption - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By jeanette101 - April 19 - 7:55 am

  I have had this car since February almost a year. It is using oil and John Howard told me to bring it in every 1000 miles so they can check and add oil if it needs it and document it. My brother also has this car in the hatchback model and it is using oil too. He lives in PA and garage there told him to drive it in anytime it is low on oil so they can add it and document it. Please email me if anyone else is having this problem.

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  Not what I expected from a Subaru - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Eric - April 12 - 11:43 am

  30,000 miles replaced struts, sway bar bushing, head pipe cracked and replaced both headlights. The interior has developed rattles all over the place. Just sold it and driving my 14 year old E320 benz until I find something else. Maybe Im expecting too much.

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  Not Too Impressed - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By John - April 4 - 5:06 pm

  After extensive research on the Internet I decided on this Outback 2.5i base model. Car looks very nice, is comfortable to drive and has nice handling and performance. Feels as safe as a tank to drive. However, the interior trim material is extremely poor. It has developed all sorts of intermittent squeaking and rattling (have to turn up the radio just to cover it up when driving). The dealer says all those noises are normal for this car. Also the engine is extremely loud at ignition, sounds like it is going to breakdown. I was expecting a great car when buying but ended up with just a good car. Also very poor gas mileage of 22 MPG on mixed driving. Car didnt meet my expectations.

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  Disappointing - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Ollie - April 4 - 4:56 pm

  Just a huge disappointment. Its slow (watch as a BMW 3-series can almost out-run you, and a 135i actually can), it has more body roll than an average taxi (watch as everyone almost falls out of their seat when you go around a freeway on-ramp), it has more road noise than an eighteen wheeler, and theres more rattles than youll find in an average day care center. Buy a WRX and save 10k. I completely regret buying my STI.

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  Hate this car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By KC - March 19 - 7:46 am

  I got this car as an alternative to a "real" car because it was a practical alternative to a gas guzzling SUV or a more expensive Audi or BMW. I thought I needed the wagon for my lifestyle, but I wish Id bitten the bullet and just went for an Audi, got a bike rack and drove on down the road. This car is NOT fun to drive, although it sounded good on paper.