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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  Great driving Outback - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By b duffy - February 25 - 2:48 pm

  Take a serious look at the 3.6L outback

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  Snow King Subaru - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Denny - February 24 - 5:46 am

  Took this Subaru hunting season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I live; the 2nd day our tent nearly collapsed due to 14" of heavy wet snow that fell while we were sleeping. We were 1/4 mile off the main road, had to cut trees off the road to clear the way. Drove the Subaru out breaking trail through 14" of heavy wet greasy snow and it never faltered or had any traction problems ... used to 4 wheel drive trucks and this was a wonderful surprise to me. Traction was great in a worst case scenario.

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  Spiderman, Spiderman - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By rioria - February 23 - 5:16 pm

  I traded in my 2003 Legacy Outback Limited for the Tribeca as soon as it came off the production line. It is so much fun to drive. It is also my very first automatic! I wasnt sure I would like an automatic, so I decided to lease it. Well, here it is almost three years later, and I am still smitten. I was so disappointed when they changed the front in the 2008 model. That is what made it so unique. And, that is why I will most likely purchase this at lease end. I am going to check out the new Forester, and then make my final decision. I am looking for a car to own for the next 10 years. Every time we have to climb a steep hill in the snow, we sing the Spiderman theme.

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  great car - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By chris - February 22 - 9:40 pm

  My wife and I love this car! We have the base 2.5 x and it has all of the basic features plus many safety features we wanted and is surprisingly quick. Performs really well. Only regret not getting a sunroof and the clutch is a little rough but overall a really solid, good looking SUV that is easy on the wallet.

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  Proven again and again! - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Spanked TypeR - February 21 - 10:00 am

  Pre-WRX, just add the goods and you will find the awd power slide. Grips like the true champ in WRC. Only the ones that know, buy it! Either 4dr or 2dr, no biggie there.

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  the best subie?? ( WRX !! ) - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By douglas dubois - February 21 - 10:00 am

  Subarus luxury car. have done over 22,000 miles and it has not missed a beat. Mobil 1 every 7500 miles, gas and rotate the tires.....thats all it needs. Its fast when you want it and cruises effortlessly all day at highway speeds and more if you dont use the cruise. Heated seats are great, handles snow (what snow!!) and stereo is one of the best. It does need a 5 spd auto box to take better advantage of the 6.

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  Forester XT - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Tate - February 18 - 10:00 am

  The Forester XT is a fantastically fun vehicle. It shares many components with the 300 hp WRX STI, and it shows. With the 2.5 turbo, the turbo lag is minimal- -a fantastic engine and suspension. Some components feel a bit cheap, like the seats and the doors, but they evidently are better than they feel given the crash test ratings. Up at the higher elevations in Colorado, power is still plentiful, and the auto transmission is well matched, allowing for easy kickdowns and running the engine to redline when needed. Overall, its great fun to drive with good reliability so far--a real sleeper in station wagon guise.

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  Best looking Impreza ever brought 2 USA - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Jay Olson - February 17 - 6:46 pm

  Very sharp, attractive car draws attention from everyone. A blast to drive. Very easy to control, with a little bit of understear. Great low end torque allows it to hang with cars such as the Eclipse GST and GSX from a stand still. Holds its value very well. People that own it dont want to sell it. If you are looking for more horsepower, there are many easy bolt on upgrades available, or you can always do a motor swap. Auto transmission is good, but not recommended if you are thinking about adding a lot of power to it. I purchased my Impreza RS brand new, and now Subarus are just about all I will drive. Oh, and the AWD is great on a track, street, or in the dirt.

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  Legacy a great value, different and fun - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Robert Vance - February 15 - 2:50 pm

  Subaru Legacy is a great value. The interior is roomy and the trunk is sized for most everyday things. Big rear seats fold flat for longer items. The power driver seat has a ton of settings… I am still working on dialing in that perfect seat setting for me. The paddle shifters for the CVT are fun to use. The flat-four engine revs nicely and the lower center of gravity helps keep the car balanced in corner. Mechanically it sounds good too. Subaru Legacy has the best features of many of the others but with the advantage of standard ALL Wheel Drive...it’s a great mix of economy, comfort, and everyday drive-ability. Plus it had above average resell value & economical insurance.

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  Beautiful little SUV with room - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
  By Stephen Salisbury - February 15 - 1:42 pm

  I am a swap driver for Hyundai and Nissan. Although they both make a great product, they can not compare to the crosstrek in mpg and AWD system.