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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  SUV with near WRX performance - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Brian - August 30 - 7:25 am

  Drove all of the competition and nothing performs as well as the Forester XT. We bought a Touring XT with the 2.0 Turbocharged engine. Great acceleration and handling. 30 mpg on the highway. Luxurious interior. Great handling. Priced right.

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  Great First Impression - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By NJP - August 30 - 5:00 am

  This is our first Subaru, and weve only had it for 3 days now (so take the Reliability rating with a grain of salt - but we hope it stays a 10). Other than a few minor interior fit & finish items that our dealer is taking care of, the 2011 Outback really seems to be a wonderful vehicle. Well thought-out and very comfortable. Great power to MPG compromise on the 4-cyl. We thought we were going out to get a small SUV (CR-V, Rav4, CX7, Sorento, etc.) and instead came home with an Outback. Only negatives so far are placement of A/C vent right by your right hand and very distinct top cutoff of low-beams. Thats really not a lot to complain about though. Great features/comfort for the price.

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  The real thing - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By teaz - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for its handling and power. For a car this powerful and inexpensive youd figure that servicing would be frequent and costly, this is not the case as the cars drivetrain and engine components are rock solid and can take a real beating. Had this been an other make, it probably would have some pistons dangling somewhere on the road side. I question the decision to use a 6 speed over a 5 speed as it has a wide powerband. This is a fun car, no regrets at all. Thanks subaru!

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  A great car! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By luck11 - August 28 - 6:20 pm

  This is my 2nd Outback. Love this car. Performance is amazing and it is a comfortable fit. Im 64" and like the fit, but with seats all way back, rear seat foot room is tight. Also, my arms are fully extended to hold 3 & 9 on the steering wheel. Hopefully Subaru will offer telescoping steering column in the future. Caution for those with big hips since the sports seats are narrow and may cause pain. My mother, who is not overweight but has mild arthritis, found that her hips were sore after a while. Still experiencing hesitation upon acceleration which seems to plague the manual turbo. All that said, it is a awesome car and a looker. I would definitely buy this car again.

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  Outback is out of this world! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By F. Brennan - August 28 - 9:00 am

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  Nice drive! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Albert Bender - August 28 - 12:46 am

  After 1000 miles behind the wheel, I continue to be very impressed with this car. I carefully considered other Japanese sedans (IS350, G37, Acura TSX V6) and selected the Subaru mostly for its total integration of performance, comfort, and excellent ergonomics. It was also less expensive. My only complaints are lack of a temperature gauge (MPG instead) and side mirrors that do not fold. I love everything else about this car. The instrumentation is outstanding; the engine responsive and loves to rev; the transmission with paddle shifters is the best I ever driven (both the Lexus and Acura had issues when transitioning into sport mode). And the navigation/audio system is great.

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  Brand New 2017 Forester - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Rick J - August 26 - 8:55 pm

  I have been in the market for a small SUV for a while now. I have driven all of the major players - CR-V, CX-5 and the Forester. I am a long-time Honda person. I liked the CX-5 but it was a bit more cramped inside and the visibility was not as good. The CR-V drove well and had the best CVT behavior but just left me a bit uninspired due to its bland nature. I drove the 2016 Forester and liked it - I have two other family members with Foresters who love them. I found out the 2017 model with a mild refresh was on its way so I waited until they took the first one off the truck at my local dealership (Cannon Subaru in Lakeland is great!). I test drove the 2017 back to back with a 2016 they still had on the lot and the difference was significant as far as solidity, smooth ride and much quieter ride. The new infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use with volume and tuning KNOBS along with a touch screen - compared to the the CR-Vs system (a disaster of confusing touch screen with no knob controls!) and the CX-5 which had the frustrating center toggle knob - the Subaru system is much better. The sound quality of the non-upgraded stereo is adequate - meets or exceeds the others in this category. The Forester drives very smoothly and has a solid, quality feel inside and out. The AWD system provides an extra level of stability to the handling. The only small issue is the CVT. Subaru has tweaked the CVT for the 2017 model to attempt to smooth its operation and it is better but still takes some adjustment - this is my first CVT equipped automobile - it is just a different feel and takes adjusting how you drive to a more easy application of the accelerator which gives smooth, linear acceleration (and surprisingly fast!) but driving aggressively with lots of slamming the pedal down - like I was used to doing with the normal automatic equipped small Honda engine automobiles - results in a much worse driving experience with the CVT - I am adjusting and think Ill enjoy the smoothness once I drive a while. If you have never owned a CVT vehicle, I suggest a good test drive to see if you like it - although, your choices are becoming slimmer as most of the major manufacturers are switching to the CVT for its MPG advantages as they attempt to meet the new government requirements. Overall, I would highly suggest you put the 2017 Subaru Forester on your list if you are looking for a solid, reliable, safe small SUV. ***UPDATE...been driving my Forester now for about 6 months...overall the car is good but one glaring thing has come to light....the powertrain is dismal after a while...the CVT shudders and hesitates at odd times and just is not smooth no matter what you do. I have not been able to adjust to it to drive smoothly....there is a surge when you begin acceleration and then the "fake" shift points kick in...they are not well timed. And the incredibly ANNOYING shudder that happens as if the CVT belt is slipping...it happens at different speeds and even when cruising on the highway. Ive mentioned it to my dealer and they say others have complained with the 2017 but not really any explanation. My advice, take this car on a long test drive and really pay attention to the CVT behavior - especially in low speed driving conditions - it will only get worse once you buy it and drive it....other than that, the car handles well and is comfortable and practical but if you are picky about smooth driving, skip this one.

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  WRX - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By Vince - August 26 - 7:53 pm

  I have owned many sports cars but this is the best car I have ever owned. You get much more vehicle for the money (as pertains to performance).

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  Great car with a few short comings - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Danimal - August 26 - 4:46 pm

  Ive had my car for almost 3 years now and have done a few modifications. It has a rear sway bar (Subaru), short shifter (Subaru), K&N filter, front strut tower, and Whiteline anti-lift kit. My goal was to keep it in warranty but have fun in the corners. Ive gotten rid of the excess body roll but need a little more power (like 15 hp). In the snow and rain it performs like a dream. I would recommend all of my upgrades to anybody that wanted a more sporty feel in handling.

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  The best vehicle - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By David - August 26 - 9:50 am

  I wanted a wagon with a comfortable seat and some power to replace my 2012 Prius V. I loved the Prius V but the seat was very uncomfortable. After driving CRV Touring AWD, Volvo XC70, Acura RDX AWD, Allroad and Outback, I was surprised to find myself really liking the Subaru Outback. I like its spacious interior, simple and logical layout of audio and navigation systems, and overall feel and looks of the interiors. The seat is extremely comfortable. There is no need to read the manual because everything is intuitive. It runs very quiet and acceleration is acceptable even with a 4 cylinder engine. I chose the 3.6 R Limited for for power and smoothness. The adaptable cruise control works very well. I also got the factory trailer hitch for my bikes. However, there is excessive wind turbulence with moonroof wide open. Other than that It is the most versatile, practical and fun to drive wagon. It has gotten 21 to 25 MPG.