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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  Got Mud? - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Nicole - February 14 - 12:53 pm

  I love this little truck. It is fun to drive. I live off of a dirt road and this truck handles great on the dirt and in the snow. I love that it is enough of a truck that I can haul gardening equipment. The CD player is also better than I expected. In my last Subaru the CD player skipped all the time and the new one I have to hit something pretty hard to get it to skip. It is an overall fun truck.

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  Real wagon review - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By jase - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Reasearched for months,test drove 4x before buying.And am I pleased AWD,acceleration,cornering,and ride are fantastic for a wagon.Great seats,driver position.Good gas milage of 20 to high 20s depending on how driven.Excellent safety rating.Have been in 6 in. of snow and ice leaving all behind.Gear box notchy at first,but smoothes out nicely.Handles canyon twisties,elavation gains like sports cars.Ride is firm and steering is very responsive.Best car I have owned!Love my Subie!!!!

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  A great practical wagon - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By eds - February 12 - 8:53 pm

  Read all the car tests and test drove15 different cars. The Outback 2.5xt with manual shift just made the most sense. Very classy functional exterior design. Instrumentation better than my Audi. Im 61 - this wagon was designed for adults but with the turbo its fun to drive-easily better than a Honda CRV.

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  IT ROCKS! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By MadMax511 - February 11 - 12:10 am

  I previously owned a 2002 WRX and so I was very aware of the ability of the boxer engine and performance. But it still floored me! This car has the power to take on cars twice the price and more. And all wheel drive allows me to drive anytime a year and just about anywhere. The handling is greatly improved. ITS ALL GOOD!

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  5k Miles and Loving It - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By th3F0Z - February 10 - 8:21 pm

  Ive had the 17 Forester XT Touring for around 5 months and averaged 1k miles for each of those months--mostly commuting to/from work, but Ive also taken the Forester on a road trip through the Appalachian mountains. The twin turbo in the XT adds a lot of pep and the suspension and AWD handle corners with confidence. As far as complaints go, the thicker glass and increased insulation around the doors helps cut down on road/wind noise that many complained about in prior year models, but its still somewhat noticeable on the highway. Not a major issue for me, especially not with the radio on. All-in-all the car has been comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive.

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  Not Bad - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By sbddmd1 - February 9 - 9:46 pm

  Very nice wagon, 250hp. I put a K&G air filter on it, which made it get up and go a little faster. Very spacious interior, my wife like driving the B9 more than her own SUV.

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  My first Subaru - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By bktoy97 - February 9 - 9:53 am

  This is my first Subaru; Ive always driven GMCs but this time, for the gas mileage, we went with this. So far there has been no real disappointments.

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  We Love our "Black Beauty" - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By J. P. Kidwell - February 8 - 5:43 pm

  After months of testing in the mid-size class, we now have a stout and luxurious Legacy 2.5i Limited w/VDC that we really like. To get here, weve driven and kid-tested the back seats of the Accord EX-L, Camry XLE w/ Leather and Aura XR. Were getting 27 mpg, and all four of us are comfortable. Now, I confess that I am 54" and my wife is 5, so we fit well. But this cars price, safety, fit, finish, and driving characteristics made it our winner.

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  Subaru Forester XS premium w/leather - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By merliech/merliech - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car a couple of months ago and have so far put on about 1200 miles so far. I love this car! It handles great, the view of the road is excellent, it drives great in the snow and I love the sunroof! I would highly recommend this car.

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  This Legacy is a great choice - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Craig in Seattle - February 8 - 9:56 am

  We traded in our B9 Tribeca for this car, due to the Tribecas low mpg and need for premium gas. So far, I am not missing the SUV. This Legacy is nimble, fun to drive, and relatively quiet. I was totally surprised at the power and responsiveness of the engine. The CVT makes it feel like it has 25-30 more horses under the hood. I have driven previous generation Legacies with the base engine, and would not buy one because of the low power. This engine/tranny combo is great. The car is very stable, even when cornering at high speeds. We took it on a trip to the ocean recently and had a total blast on the curvey highway route we took. I would buy this car again without hesitation