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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  I love Subaru Outback - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By research - January 16 - 12:46 pm

  I just purchase this vehicle for couple months and made 2000 miles on this car with a trip to Tahoe. Kind of lack of power when up the hill on the Tahoe but thats 4cyl car design. The only thing I dont like and realized after the trip is the armrest too low, I have no place to rest my arm. So far this is the first Subaru car I bought and its fun to drive.

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  Good so far - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Subi Driver - January 15 - 6:50 pm

  Ive had my Forester for a few weeks and its been a pleasant experience thus far. Looks nice, rides well and has enough power for my use. The premium trim with the all weather package gives me all the options I need for the Michigan winters I drive in. I cant wait to see how it handles in the snow. Gas mileage is decent for this type of vehicle. Im averaging 24-25 mpg combined. My only complaint is that there is an annoying rattle in the passenger side front door panel. Not a huge deal, but I thought a $25k Japanese vehicle wouldnt have such an issue.

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  New Subaru Owner - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By ICW - January 15 - 5:00 pm

  Just got an automatic 2005 XT turbo Forester last week. Took it on a trip to New York city for Memorial Day weekend from PA (approximately 350 mile round trip). We love everything about this car so far! We were looking for a car with more cargo space than our two compact sedans, but were not interested in a large SUV or minivan. We have a 1 1/2 year old baby and what initially attracted us to Forester was its high safety rating by Consumer Report. We also are looking for a AWD or 4WD for the winter. After looking at various small SUV and wagons (Honda CRV, Toyota RAV 4, etc) we decided to go with Subaru based on many positive reviews. I personally love the extra power turbo provides.

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  Great overall car for the money. - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By ahowell - January 15 - 3:36 pm

  Ive driven a lot of cars, this particular one has me hooked on Subarus. In general it has a lot of torque and it puts you in your seat very well. The overall build and design is not bad, other than no forethought on where to put aftermarket gauges (boost, wide band,..) The paint takes a lot of TLC to keep it looking new, not too much but more than most. The suspension is wonderful for normal day to day driving but taking a turn it could be a little better.

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  2012 Impreza 2.0i Premium CVT - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By hardcheck2704 - January 15 - 2:45 pm

  I have had the vehicle for 4 months and love the gas mileage. It is way above the rated 27 city / 36 highway. i am averaging 34.8 city and 45.4 highway. The back seat is roomier than the 2008 outback we have. Really enjoy the iPod hook-up, no need for CDs anymore, I have all music, Pod cast and books at my fingertips. The only really negative I could find for the short time I have had the vehicle, is the truck space.

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  Couldnt Be Happier - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By FirstTimeSubaruOwner - January 13 - 6:16 pm

  I owned my last car for over 10 years and I bought this with the intention of owning it just as long. This car has the best combination of utility, good mileage, low emissions, and safety (my priorities) that I could find...only the Forester came close. I was fully aware that to maximize these qualities I had give up a bit of power (Im not passing many cars when driving up to the mountains), but this was a trade-off I was more than happy to make. I went for the comforts of the Limited because I plan to have the car a long time - the sunroof and leather together made that decision worthwhile. Everything about the car exudes solidness and smart design. I couldnt be happier!

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  1998 Subaru Forester - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By smokeymedic81 - January 13 - 11:04 am

  I bought this car uses so I cant say what the previous owner put it through. It had only 110,000 miles on it when I purchased it 6 months ago. Had my mechanic do a full inspection on it before I bought it. was able to drive it for 3 months, put a whole 3000 miles on it then the head gasket blew. The car is junk now because the cost to replace the head gasket is outragous. Will never buy a subaru again.

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  A little slow, a little ugly, but safe - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Dmitry - January 13 - 9:23 am

  I suppose I could talk about how slow the car feels, the so-so ride quality, the hard seats, and the subpar audio system (although it does read MP3 discs); but thats been said. Id like to talk about how this car saved my life. While driving in the winter in Minnesota, doing about 55 mph, the road suddenly changed from plowed to about 9 inches of snow. As the car begins to slide out of control, I give it full left but the steering is unresponsive, as are the brakes. As Im about to hit a parked car doing 55, I remember than in an AWD vehicle you must gently apply gas to recover. Voila. AWD saved me from what would have been a horrendous accident. Slow? Who cares.

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  Review for Rural Mail Carriers - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By oldgoatrr1 - January 12 - 7:23 pm

  Ride and seat comfort is comfortable, neither too hard nor too soft. Interior room is huge for its size. Drivers seat very adjustable. If you are tall, leaning over console armrest is no problem. If you are short, your seat back will be in front of the armrest so you can slide over the cupholders to reach boxes on the right side. Side windows are large and go up/down quicker than most. Outside mirrors are good size and are more tall than wide, so pulling up to boxes is easy. All windows seem very large as well, visibility is the best of any vehicle I have driven. Lots of room all through the Forester for tubs/trays and can be stacked as high as you dare.

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  not as good as expected - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By vbollenbacher - January 12 - 12:53 pm

  While I love the AWD, and the best gas mileage around for an AWD, I have not been extremely happy with the quality of this car. There seem to be a number of items like head gasket seal problems and cold weather fuel leaks that the dealer/Subaru will not cover, even though though they are design flaws. The interior ergonomics are not very good either. However, after 100K is still drives extremely smooth. Id give this car average to above average marks, but I had hoped it would age better with repair issues than it has.