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 performance for a bargin bin price - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Neal Nachman - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I bouth this car about 4 months ago and i have had alot of fun with it. It accelerates/handles better than a great majority of the cars out there and alsohandles great when compared to the other cars i have driven. I happen to love the stereo system that came with the car (i got the premimum sound upgrade- sub , amp and better speakers)

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  Great AWD Vehicle - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By R. Aubuchon - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This car handles very well in the snow.

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  OMG, OMG OMG, love it love it love - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By kleeks - July 17 - 5:26 am

  third subaru and this is by far my favorite. Feels solid like luxury car..no it is a luxury car!!! Handling the snow and mud is unbelievable..we got the most snow ever...3 feet. I felt like my car had a snowplow attached in the front. The CVT is wonderful. I used my OB to make tracks in the road for other cars in the neighborhood!!! Drove up to a guy with a new Jeep who was stuck and offered to call a tow truck. (Im disabled and could not help.) Said his family was coming. I put my OB in reverse and drove on. Sorry, but I loved the look of chagrin on his face. Snow is melting and OB is covered with snow. Hate all the dirt, but I feel like Im in an OB commercial.

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  Good value and performance - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Gary Gleason - July 16 - 6:36 am

  First SUV (if you can call it that) I have owned; love the NAV system. The salesman showed us the dealership owners demo first that did not have the NAV system. What a mistake, we almost didnt buy one but went back and took a Limited for a test drive. So far combined mileage about 60% in town and 40% at 70+ mph is 19.8 and at 65 mph the NAV system says we are getting 24 miles per gallon, which is not bad for this size of car.

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  Great Price and Value, Love it - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Nate - July 16 - 1:16 am

  This has been a great car for the past year. Very clean look and feels great on the road.

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  Buy in 2008 - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By joann - July 15 - 7:53 pm

  Forester ownership has been my greatest driving experience in the last 50 years. I have owned 11 cars over those years, and this is the best!! My 2007 Forester is perfect, an SUV that is not too wide, not too long and not too far off the ground. What more could you ask for? It is easy to drive, to wash and to fit in our garage. Thank you for designing Forester.

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  Two weeks in... - 2018 Subaru WRX
  By Tommy Tunes - July 14 - 1:16 pm

  After reading reviews, I was hesitant about buying the WRX. I read things about "tinny" feeling when closing doors, painfully harsh ride, etc. But I test drove and bought the car anyway. Two weeks in and Im not a bit sorry. Its a stiff "sports car" ride...and thats great. Acceleration is good, even though Im still in the break-in period and not exceeding 4K rpm. I bought excellent quality snows (Michelin Alpin PA4) and the car rides great, feels solid on the road, and handles great, too. I previously owned a Honda Civic SI with the V-TEC engine. Loved that car but it was FWD only. The WRX is every bit as good, with 4WD.

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  First Forester - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Art Martz - July 13 - 1:30 pm

  This is the first Subaru that I have owned. I was looking for a small SUV and I had done a lot of research on them and I was impressed with the Forester. I have had the Forester for almost a month and her are of my observations: Ride: Smooth, quiet and stable; Acceleration: Quick, better than expected; Instrumentation: Excellent; Interior quality: Excellent; Visibility: Excellent with huge windshield and large windows all around; Sunroof: Largest Ive ever seen; Car quality: solid as a rock; Safety: There isnt a safer car on the road; Seating comfort and space: Excellent; Cargo capacity: Copious; Gas Mileage: I averaged 33MPG for the first 1000 miles. The Forester is not as swoopy looking as some of its competition but is still a handsome well built compact wagon like utility vehicle.

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  Fast but quiet Turbo Wagon - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Joe - July 12 - 9:36 pm

  Very happy with the turbo compared to the 2005. Also, this car is much quieter than the 2005 and has much better acceleration. Very comfortable seats for long distances. Harmon Kardon stereo is an improvement but there are rattles from the front doors probably from things in the storage areas. Prefer the multifunction display to be under the storage area instead of under the speedometer/tach. Also like the feature to adjust the throttle response and turbo to either sport for stronger acceleration or intelligent for better gas mileage. I just leave it on intelligent unless I want to pass and it really "shoots" around when you punch the gas.

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  My car - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By Diane - July 12 - 3:36 pm

  This is my third outback and it has 220,000 miles and runs great! I sell real estate and put many miles on and enjoy the quality and ride! My last one had less than 20,000 miles when I slid on black ice, T-boned a tractor trailer that was loaded and totaled the trailer and i walked away without a scratch.