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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  Best car to own for my type of needs - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By hsusieb - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Since I bought this car I have used it for highway,offroad, mountian, and city driving. The cars performance and comfort is second to none.

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  Fast, Tough, and Versatile - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By Nick - January 24 - 12:06 am

  With a little one on the way, we wanted something a little bigger with that still offered reasonable mileage. Went with the TURBO due to our high altitude (7200ft) and plethora of mountains. Very peppy with our AVG MPG of 22-24. On backpacking trips weve taken it on unmaintained roads that are difficult to walk much less drive over. Our Forester handles them amazingly well. No problems to report. We change the oil every 3K and wash it every couple of weeks, thats it. We bought a 15 cu.ft. Thule box for long road trips. Fits great on the factory roof rack. The ride is much quieter than the 05 CR-V and the climate control had no problem with 115+ heat of Death Valley. Were very happy with it!

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  Very good - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By timothy krause - January 23 - 12:33 pm

  Very good

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  Most Reliable Car I Have Owned! - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Kirk - January 22 - 2:36 pm

  I have owned my Forester for almost nine years and 90,500 miles. There have minimal maintenance issues, it is always reliable and gets respectable mileage on my way to work, about 25.5 mpg. This little SUV is very practical: the liberal hauling capacity is somewhat deceptive as I am frequently surprised over how much the cargo space holds. I have hauled some furniture items and building materials that other people were sure would never fit! We like this little SUV so much that we are considering buying a new Forester. Without a doubt, this has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Still great! - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By DavisJ - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my 2000 Impreza RS 4dr for a little over three years and its been incredibly reliable with no problems outside of routine maintenance. All Subarus are incredibly reliable. I plan on driving my Impreza to over 100K miles. I do lots of driving and my 2000 RS now has 64K miles. I recently replaced the stock tires which were great tires. I could have kept them for another 10K miles, but the winter is coming. The RE92s were a great V-rated tire. This has been just an overall great car to own and the AWD is just great in the snow and rain.

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  Sweet - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Thaddeus K - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Had it for two months, and it always cheers me up after work.

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  OUTBACK RULES!!! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By maegokid - January 20 - 10:00 am

  OVERWHEMINGLY PLEASED WITH THE CARS HANDLING & INTERIOR AMENITIES. AFTER CAR SHOPPING FOR A WHILE EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR A NEW CAR, I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING A SUBARU UNTIL I TEST DROVE THE 2005 OUTBACK & FELL HEAD OVER HEALS FOR ITS DESIGN (IN/OUT) & EXTRAORDINARY DRIVING CAPABILITIES ON PAVEMENT OR OUT. IT FEELS GREAT TO OWN A WELL BUILT, STURDY, GOOD LOOKING CAR THAT ALMOST NOBODY DRIVES, FEELS LIKE YOU KNOW SOMETHING THEY DONT. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO COMPLIANTS; ITS A PLEASURE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, HUGE MOONROOF OPEN & THE MUSIC WAY WAY UP.

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  This One Does it All! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Peter - January 19 - 10:30 pm

  After 8,000 miles with this car, I still get excited to take this car out every time I start the engine. The performance is great and acceleration is addicting, especially knowing that its a wagon. The standard features are adequate, but the 2006 version has much more, but at the cost of a questionable (borderline ugly) front design. Turbo lag is a real issue; the car is just a notch faster than sluggish below ~3,000 rpms. Unless youre launching at 5,000 rpms, expect a slow start until turbo spools up. You cant get a better car for the price. I would not hesitate to buy this one again.

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  Couldnt be more pleased - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By TJ - January 16 - 1:00 pm

  I used the Guaranteed Trade Program and swapped my 04 Forester 2.5X for a 07 2.5i Legacy Special Edition wagon. I loved the Forester dearly, but the Legacy is on another level -- crisper, tighter handling with a much smoother and more refined ride. And its also considerably peppier than the Forester, which I wasnt expecting. I buy Subarus for their safety features, for the AWD, and for the reliability. Anything beyond that is gravy, and this Legacy pours it on. Its a very striking, very comfortable, very functional vehicle. An enormous moonroof, comfortable seats with nice upholstery; simple, uncluttered instrumentation -- all in all, it feels a lot more expensive than it actually was.

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  No regrets - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By NiceBet - January 16 - 7:36 am

  I bought this vehicle 8 months ago with a healthy dose of skepticism about the Subaru brand. But after extensive review online and test driving it and my other top choices (CR-V and RAV4) I came to a decision that the Forester was the optimal choice to suit my needs. It provided everything I wanted in a SUV- reliability, fuel efficiency, AWD, reasonable cost and reasonable comfort level (leather seats and heating, 6 disc changer stereo system to mention a few). My vehicle has handled well in the sub- artic condition in which I drive it. I have slipped a few times this winter but my vehicle handled well (those experiences have reminded me that technology is no substitute for sensible driving)