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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  Another Subaru Winner - 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By comiskeybum - October 10 - 3:00 am

  My wife went from a Chevy Equinox to this vehicle. We have only had the car for a week but will just leave some quick thoughts. -Easy to see everything around you and the backup camera is very nice. -Drives like a nimble and agile car with the height of an SUV. The turning radius is impressive. -Wife loves the easy to load kids and grocery heigh of the vehicle. -Plenty of cargo room and you can fold the seats flat for a lot lot more. -Vehicle does not have good 40-70 acceleration but that is to be expected with a CVT only being supplied with 148 horses. That being said the acceleration from a dead stop is impressive. -Build quality is top notch. -Back seat big enough for a 280 pound

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  like the turbo for passing... - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By csflint - October 10 - 12:20 am

  ive had my used 09 Forester XT (~57k miles) for about 2 months now. Took it cross country (+10k miles) completely loaded inside, on top with car top carrier and behind with hitch carriage. Gas mileage so-so (23-24 mpg). my previous cars 6 cyl engine did better with gas, but had nothing on this Forester when it comes to needing a little get-up-and-go on highway and in mountains. 2 problems: front head rest and noise. Turned front head rest around to reduce neck fatigue. Noise - my dog used to be an awesome road tripper, until we got this car. She is unable to relax as long as the car is in motion. Its so bad, im considering selling just for her well-being.

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  Life is good in the fast lane - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Outback lover - October 9 - 11:56 pm

  I told the sales guy I need a family car that will satisfy this middle age mans need for speed and style. This car is amazing - if I could custom design a car from the ground up, it wouldnt be much different than the Outback. The European manufacturers arent my style. This car is very styling without flaunting it. Sound system is decent.

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  More fun than my 2000 BMW 328i - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Havoc - October 8 - 10:00 am

  What a great car! I got the 2004 Impreza WRX Wagon for my fiance, and now Im sad ...coz Id rather drive it than my loaded Beemer 328i! The Subaru isnt luxurious, but its built like a tank and the performance is awesome. The only downside to this car is throttle response, due to the fact we got the auto tranny (Mrs. cant drive stick) and the engine is a turbo afterall. But once the RPMs get over 4000 it goes like a rocket, power builds nicely and youre soon going too fast with a big grin. Cant wait to get out the WRX on some twisties this weekend!

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  So far, very good - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By new to Subaru - October 7 - 11:53 pm

  My pregnant wife and I bought a new Forester 2 months ago. Shes been eyeing Foresters for a while, but I always thought they werent "tough enough" for a big guy like me. She finally talked me into it, and Im glad she did. We just had our first big snow of the year and the Forester was awesome! We felt safe, comfortable, and confident that the Subaru would get us around safely. So far, Ive been impressed by the sportiness, handling, engineering, reliability, and fuel economy. Were getting about 24 mpg. After two months, Im considering buying my own for my next car too, something I thought I would never say. We feel like we made a very smart decision and we highly recommend it.

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  Luv this car! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By justsomeguy - October 7 - 10:23 pm

  This is my first Subaru. Love it! CVT transmission takes some getting used to. Car is bank vault quiet on the highway. Excellent on slick roads. Put just under 4000 miles on it on a trip to Texas in April. Twice during the trip got 500 miles on a tank of gas and that was with 3 adults and all our luggage and a large cooler. Can hardly wait to take it to Vegas this fall! I like that the car sets up a little higher than a sedan, makes it alot easier to get in and out. The only thing I have a complaint about is the drivers seat. It could be a little wider. The bolstering on the seat bottom and the back is a little tight. All in all very happy and I hope to be driving this car for many years.

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  Extremely well balanced car - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Phil - October 6 - 10:53 pm

  Bought a 2016 Hyundai Tucson and had to get rid of it because of dangerous engineering defect of the DCT transmissions. Bought the Outback and wished I had done this in the beginning. We took our first trip and got 30+ MPG. Extremely comfortable ride, takes a n enormous amount of cargo, actually more then the Tucson, feels like a much sturdier car. I was worried about the 4 cylinder engine ,but we were able to keep up with traffic and enter highways with no problems. The GPS worked great as well as the adaptive cruise control. Can not say enough about this car.

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  Nice Subaru - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Sean - October 6 - 10:13 am

  Great little SUV, Very useful in everyday life. It just got back from its first road trip of 700 miles of mixed driving, and got 30.3 mpg!

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  Best vehicle I have ever had! - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Wade - October 5 - 6:56 pm

  This is my first Subaru and not my last after this experience. I have had GM, Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, and Jeep in the past and this blows all of them away without a glimpse in the rear view mirror!

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  Better than I could imagine - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Laura - October 5 - 1:16 am

  Im loving the car. It is proving to be even better than I imagined. Handles great on freeway. Love the EyeSight Assist system. Great when trying to back out of parking lot spaces.