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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  RAV4 wouldve been a HUGE mistake! - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By coastie463 - September 25 - 10:46 pm

  I was either looking into buying the Forester or the RAV4, and Im very glad I went with this car. I drove a RAV4 4CYL as a rental car for a long duration. It had a comfortable ride, got great gas mileage for a small SUV, was well equipped, had good front and rear leg room, and the performance was surprisingly good for a 4CYL engine. Sounds like a great car until you come to the driving dynamics: its boring. And lets not forget the rear horizontally opening door with the exterior mounted spare tire. I feel like I might accidentally swing the door in to my childs face if Im not careful. The Forester is everything the RAV4 is plus monumentally better driving dynamics and overall value.

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  Puts a smile on my face! - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By James - September 25 - 5:53 am

  After having this car for a little over a month, I can honestly say I enjoy driving again. After 8 years in a 4x4 truck and an SUV, I was looking for something, faster, safer and more fun to drive plus better mpg. My highest mileage so far was 25mpg during break-in which is an improvement but negated a bit by the required premium fuel. MPG drops if you get into the boost much but you will be grinning when you do. Auto transmission shifts very fast. Dont miss the manual. Car looks and handles great. Love the interior. Doors feel very solid. Whole car feels very well engineered. Really no competition at the price point. A grown up WRX.

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  Totally awesome - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By OSHVEGAS - September 25 - 4:43 am

  I bought the last STI LTD avaialble. I had to fly out to Oregon and drive this beast back. It was one incredible trip. This last month I tried it out in the winter with new winter tires. Grip is incredible. No problem in the winter. Many compliments on its looks and performance. This is my third new all wheel drive car and they keep getting better. Eagle Talon Tsi and two Subies.

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  2010 Legacy - It could have been great! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By John - September 24 - 11:50 pm

  This could have been a wonderful car. They had everything going for it except: It steers very poorly at interstate speeds. It tends to wander from side to side and never really has a tendency to just drive straight down the road. You have to constantly make small corrections in order to keep in your lane. And it is much worse in crosswinds. I have had it into the local dealer and of course they can find no fault with the car. It was out of alignment from the factory which they fixed. This is the first year Subaru has had drive by wire and they have not gotten it right. I have an 09 Forester which drives great, so I know they can make a good driving vehicle. Just not the 2010 Legacy.

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  TRULY A MONSTER - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By MR. POTTS - September 24 - 6:40 pm

  Simply a well built machine. From its initial design, structural stability, solid stance, and car-like maneuverability ... this machine is a monster. My only peeve is that the premium sound system needs a real wake up call. My 2005 Outback premium sound blows the B9 sound package out of the water. Otherwise ... A+

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  2017 Subaru Outback Touring 3.6R - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Dave - September 24 - 12:27 pm

  I bought this for my wife and wanted her to have all the best technology when it comes to safety. We identified the car we wanted and then did a factory order through a dealer for the exact color, accessories we wanted. The Eye Sight system is amazing and in my opinion worth every penny. We compared this car against the Audi Q5 and Acura RDX, based on everything that was important to us the Outback was just a much better value. One thing I learned early on in my research is all AWD systems are not the same. Subaru really has a great story to tell regarding their symmetrical AWD system. Acuras new AWD system falls a little short and Audis AWD is in my opinion the only one that can truly go toe to toe with Subaru on this point. I am very happy with selecting the 3.6R over the base engine as the one constant complaint I seen from hundreds of reviews was related to the base engine being underpowered. I can tell you the 3.6R offers plenty of acceleration, smoother and quieter engine operation and a more satisfying experience. Yes you take a little hit on gas mileage, but if that was my primary consideration I would have bought a small compact hybrid. The touring interior is on par with the Acura RDX and close but a little short of the Audi Q5. The safety technology on this car was much better then the the Audi Q5 and a little better then the RDX. Outward visibility is terrific in this car and ranks among the best of any car we have ever owned. The heated back seats with recline is a nice touch for passenger comfort, wish they would have included seat ventilation also for those days when our temps are in the triple digits. Like other reviewers stated the handling for a SUV/SUW is very good and you feel confidant and in control even when coming into a tighter then expected corner at a faster then desired speed. We have owned many luxury and non luxury cars over the years. While the Subaru brand does not communicate the prestige of some of the German or Luxury Japanese brands. The practicality, safety, resale, reliability and price of the Subaru far out ways any need for pretentiousness on our part. So in summary if you are looking for a near luxury car for over ten thousand less then comparable vehicles and dont care about the badge on the front, or are looking for a very nice car with the latest and best safety features and technology the 2017 Subaru Outback Touring/Limited should be on your shortlist.

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  Nice Car but burns oil-expensive service - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Daniel - September 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Subaru. I have already put 30,000 miles on it in 7 months. It actually surprised me with averaging 28-30 mpg on the highway. Negative is the service-burns about a quart and a half of oil every 4000 miles, dealer said it is normal to burn up to 1 quart per 1K miles. Book says you can change oil every 7000 miles, but you will be out of it. Free service for first 24,000 miles, but only according to book, so I had to pay for the extra oil changes. Service intervals actually are more expensive than the Acura I traded for it. Overall, I like it, but it is costing a lot more money to run than the dealer led me to think when I bought it. I probably wont buy another.

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  Fantastic car - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By Chris G. - September 24 - 10:00 am

  Our old 02 Forester had too many issues suddenly, so my wife and I decided to go find a new car for her. We settled on the Legacy and couldnt be more pleased. Extremely comfortable, fun to drive, excellent mileage (sometimes well into the 30s on the highway), and tons of room inside. The CVT transmission is surprisingly very nice given some of the reviews I have read.

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  2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By joker75 - September 24 - 2:53 am

  I just purchased this car yesterday. I have already put 100 miles on it, and have been very impressed. The VDC has kept me going straight even on very snowy and icy roads. I originally wanted a 5 speed manual, but the throttle response was terrible. with the car in gear it took about a full second to even feel the engine try to accelerate after pressing the gas pedal. However, the throttle response on my auto is immediate.

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  Outback in Beast Mode in the Snow - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By subetraum - September 23 - 2:00 pm

  After two years of research on which cross-over vehicle to buy I am proud to say I chose the Subaru Outback. I have the limited 2.5 edition. For a guy with back problems I am very pleased w/ the comfort of the seats. I find the layout of the controls very easy to use and the bluetooth handless free phone system works great. I got to test the Subaru in this years blizzard the day after Christmas and the Subaru dominated. Able to drive safely and comforably at 40-45 mph in blizzard conditions w/out slipping. Its my first subaru and it wont be my last.