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:

• 

  Dependable But Boring - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Tom - October 21 - 3:03 pm

  This is my first Subaru, coming after a Volvo 740 wagon. It was a sensible, practical, safe, and affordable option as compared to the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4. No mechanical problems thus far with the vehicle. The front seats are very uncomfortable for long distances due to the lack of thigh and lumbar support and passenger seat does not push back far enough. The engine is simply underpowered when merging onto the highway and even more so when the car is fully loaded. The backseat leg room is poor. Plenty of cargo space. The fulltime AWD reduces the gas mileage to around 20-22 mpg in mixed driving, but the drivetrain does inspire confidence in wet conditions.

• 

  Sure-footed, but incredibly unreliable - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By kbourdeau - October 13 - 9:12 am

  My 06 2.5i Ltd. (118,000 mi.) blew its head gaskets for the second time in less than 3 yrs. today. Replaced all 4 sets of wheel bearings at least once, broken front axle, wiring harness on back hatch, door handle, console cover broke off completely years ago, rear defrost never did work properly, etc. Never had a car in the shop as much as this one. Loved the traction - absolutely hated the total lack of quality in this vehicle. Not feeling the love... If you insist on a Subaru, but a model from 08 or newer - they are supposedly much more reliable.

• 

  MPG not as advertised - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By qphenic - October 8 - 12:29 am

  Outback 2.5i Limited rides and handles fine. Overall utility of the car is good. And the interior satisfies in most respects, including nav and sound. But the car often feels as if it is fighting headwinds, even on gradual descents. I attribute this to the CVT, or perhaps a lack of power. There is also a noticeable vibration which travels up the seatback at idle. But the biggest disappointment by far: I am averaging 21-22 MPG with this car (60/40 city/hwy, non-aggressive driver). EPA combined is listed at 26, so I am not happy.

• 

  Youd be surprised... - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By vtdriver - September 30 - 10:00 am

  how many trips I had to make to the service department. Issues during the warranty period were numerous. 2 that linger are chatter when engaging the clutch in cold weather, and softness of the brake pedal, which improves if you come of the brake and then get back on it again. The dealer claims that these flaws do not exist. Legacy does a nice job cruising through the Vermont winter. Mileage isnt bad for all wheel drive. Were reliability better, I would gladly recommend it. Unlike my old Loyale, this is no longer a car that can rack up hundreds of thousands of miles without racking up a big maintenance bill.

• 

  Dumbest design - headlights - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Dave - September 14 - 5:41 pm

  I like my outback, except that the design for headlight replacement is probably the poorest engineering design I have ever witnessed in my life. You need to remove multiple fasteners to push back the fenders in order to access the headlight assembly, then fit your arm in the tightest area to remove the assembly cover, access the bulb, and do the whole thing in reverse. Absolutely the dumbest design ever. Subaru touts itself as an outdoor, adventure type vehicle, appealing to the "outback" kinda explorer...yet, headlights are not for show but for safety, and thus should be easily accessible if ever the Indiana Jones in you is out and about after dark and needs to repair a blown bulb....just like changing tires, adding fuel or changing a belt...all these things should be doable by the driver ( alone in the wild) not by the dealer.....bad juju all around!

• 

  Do not purchase this car! - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By webbie304 - August 31 - 10:18 pm

  I bought this car for my wife new in 2008. We test drove the car and liked it. It is a good driving car, and thats all. We have had back to the dealer several times. Everything from the struts, sway bar bushings. Had to replace the brakes a little over a year of driving it. We live in an area with alot of snow, and the AWD is not very good. Only two wheels will spin at a time, one front and one opposite rear. There is no traction control what so ever. Save your money!

• 

  Unintended acceleration - Beware. Test for it before buying - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By petertpetert - August 15 - 12:27 pm

  After the purchase, I discovered that the car has an unintended acceleration problem in 2 situations: 1. At very low speed, eg inching the car with foot on the brake while parking, turning the steering wheel 15 degrees can make the RPM go up from 700 to 1000. This results in the car surging forward. 2. Again at low speed, just when you let the foot off the brake, the car inches forward at about RPM of 650. After 1-2 tire revolution, the RPM pops up to about 900. The car is still moving slowly, but at a higher speed. This is a particular problem in tight parking situation or stop and go traffic jam. This is at least a big annoyance, but can potentially cause property damage or injur

• 

  Sold after 9months - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By carolinaken69 - August 11 - 10:25 am

  Traded in a Mustang GT for a WRX with CVT. What a mistake. The cars electronics (radio/Bluetooth/seat heaters) are out of the early 90s. The radio has poor reception and sound quality was awful. The Bluetooth would randomly disconnect, whether using my iPhone or Android phone. The car developed a bunch of rattles. The ride was harsh and the road noise was unbearable. The front paint was flaking off. Most of the issues were well documented in service bulletins but no fixes identified. The AWD was not that good in snow. The back end would over drive and cause the back end to slide out. Traded in on another Mustang. What a mistake.

• 

  Watch Out!! $$ - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Mike - August 1 - 2:56 pm

  Own 1998 and 2001, both bought new. 1998 clock above mirror went out as apparently with most of these cars. The center differential pack went out at 60K to the tune of $1200. The head gaskets and transmission failed at 86k. Cost for these two items is almost double the value of the car. The transmission on the 2001 car went out at a little over 100,000. Cost to replace was given as $3500 or about the value of the car when sold to Carmax.

• 

  not user friendly - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By jarb - July 28 - 5:04 am

  seats are small,and hard as a rock. taki g a long trip is painful.The instrumentation on the steering wheel is obstructed by the plus and minus paddles. The knobs for the radio are very small,and not lit.Also a long reach to operate.the wipers are both defective,one is smearing brown grease, the other not wiping water away.the hub caps are all sticky with unsightly spots everywhere. The heater takes awhile,and the floor mode blows cold air. this is my second outback. this model is nothing like the first one.this is my last outback .the pabel for the time and temperature are hard to find