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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  Almost perfect - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By newyorker - January 8 - 2:46 pm

  Almost a year and a half and zero problems. Fast and fun. My second subie, my first turbo. This is not your typical wagon, thats for sure. Handles great, even in winter months. The Bridgestone re92 stock tires are all right - nothing great yet decent all around. Rarely have anyone in back seats so cannot comment on leg room. Dash layout is great and good looking. Tons of room. Can put just about anything in this car. The ride can be a little rough for someone with a bad back on longer trips but its a GT and is supposed to have a stiff suspension so you cannot complain about things like that. All around A++.

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  Car Lover - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Blake - January 7 - 2:53 pm

  I bought my STi in November and I love it! Where can you get a car that goes 0-60 in 4.5 secs for less than $30,000. I traded a 06 Eclipse since it wasnt fast enough and didnt have AWD. The STi is the best car I have had and I have been through 3 in the last 3 years. I think the STi has the potential to be one of the fastest cars on the road if tuned and hooked up properly. I want at least 500hp and 475lbs of torque when all sudden done. The STi is a lean mean killing machine when it comes to acceleration and performance. Would not trade it in for nothing, oh and ah the EVO rode to shift and where else can you get a 6 spoke clutch from a stock car! Sorry EVO lovers but STI rules!

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  Very nice! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Daniel - January 6 - 8:00 pm

  All I can say is this thing is great. We had a lot of rain here in Hawaii over the past few weeks and I never felt safer, and after the rain stopped I took it to the dealer to get washed they told me how people flocked in for a little AWD safety.

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  Awesome so far... - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By joesweetsox - January 6 - 12:37 am

  Recently became disenchanted with Honda over a seemingly endless string of mechanical failures on two cars I bought in 06. I traded the Civic in on a Legacy 2.5 Limited mostly because Ive never heard anything bad about Subaru, and the 2.5 Limited appeared to get slightly less mileage than the Civic. Now comparing a Civic to a Legacy isnt exactly fair, as they are different classes of car, but the build quality seems to be similar, the CV transmission is a little odd at first but given its goal is to find the optimum engine rev, not necessarily the quickest its just something to get used to. Ive put about 40 miles on it, and the fuel gauge has yet to budge.

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  Traded a Forester for an Outback - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By danwatson - January 6 - 12:33 am

  I bought a Forester 15 months ago when I moved to 8000 feet elevation. The Forester performed flawlessly through 55 feet of snow in a record winter. But, its four cylinder engine and four speed transmission struggled at this elevation, especially in hilly terrain. And, it was just a bit too small. Since we were otherwise very satisfied, we traded it on an Outback with the 3.6 engine and 5 speed automatic. After 18,000 miles, we traded it for $2500 less than we paid for it and still got a good discount on the Outback. What a difference. The Outback has plenty of power and leg room. The Limited has very nice features. Its a good value compared to similar crossover vehicles.

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  This ride rocks - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By unknowncomic - January 5 - 2:00 am

  I chose the forester over many other SUVs because of performance and incentives.(I got mine at 1.9% at invoice) This has it all! Since I had to get a family car I wanted something fun to drive. My wife hated it at first, but she took it yesterday morning and has been hooked ever since. Also even though its not much competition at least I can hang with my brothers STI. Only thing I dont like is the rear seatbelts are hard to get to if there is a car seat in the back!

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  My Subaru - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Marsha - January 4 - 3:46 pm

  I love this car. I bought it in Nashville, TN prior to a move to Tucson, AZ. Comfort, style, handling...it has it all. I love the way it looks, and people stop me all the time to ask about it. Great ground clearance and headroom. Expansive cargo space and incredible comfort inside. Ill never own anything else.

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  stealth dad - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By subie-daddy - January 3 - 10:00 am

  My kids enjoy it as much as i do. The two boys have the knack of closing the door with just enough force to get that solid german door sound (they are 3 and 4 yrs old)interior design appealing and comfortable, engine healthy (the engine growls nicely), sound sys. nice n clear, handles nimbly at reasonable speeds, more than sufficient power for a 4 cyl, after 2K miles i still walk around my forester the "long way" and drool

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  The best in its class - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By lyon - January 2 - 9:00 pm

  This is without any doubt the best car in its class. Sure you can have an Altima, Camry, or Accord but they just dont offer much when all is said and done. My Subaru Legacy Special Edition offers more then the competition. Just looking at the car you can tell its a drivers car. Every morning I cant wait to drive it. The engine feels like a V6 and with the trasmission in sport mode you can dust anyone off the line if you want to. The all wheel drive really makes a big difference. If you want to get on the car, it handles hard turns with ease. The level of perfomance cant be beat. A must-drive if you are in the market for a sedan at this pricepoint.

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  great car/truck - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By icrackdr - January 2 - 5:20 pm

  Great car. I wouldnt trade for any other car.