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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  First of many roadtrips - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By TheFirstRule - December 18 - 5:43 pm

  Took the two week old Impreza on its first road trip. Nearly 1300 miles and pulled about 30 mpg the whole way. A/C worked great in 100+ degree heat. Clutch is still a little stiff, but that should loosen up after a while. I would highly recommend this car if you need an AWD. I live in Tahoe and cant wait to see how it does in the snow.

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  Fast but flawed - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By spinynorman - December 18 - 10:00 am

  Great performance but sketchy engineering limits owners enthusiasm. Turbo housing leakage needed 2 repairs. Door lock switch poorly positioned/ not illuminated. Radio/ heater display unreadable with sunglasses on. Automatic heat and defrost has mind of its own (nicknamed "HAL" by other owners). Roof rack has no tiedowns. Transmission whine @ 1-2 shift leaves dealer puzzled. Tires extend beyond wheelwhell, causing paint to chip off rocker panel when struck by sand put down on winter roads. (Subaru repainted vehicle and installed mudguards at no charge.)

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  Smile - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Kypho - December 18 - 10:00 am

  I havent stopped smiling since the day I picked it up. I ordered White w/ silver wheels so I could be inocuous yea right, with a superbird spoiler and a hood scoop the size of the Holland Tunnel. VERY fast, stops as good as it goes too. Excellent handling with tons of gawking factor. I get comments everywhere. Youd have to spend two or three times as much $ to achieve this level of automotive panache (Mitsu Evo excepted), and even then the STi would cause serious embarrassment for the "high rollers". This is the very serious car with extremely high limits that can get you out of trouble as easily as it got you into it. It invites serious driving and

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  2006 Spec B review - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Todd - December 18 - 1:00 am

  Definitely not worth the extra money for a specB. Subarus are designed by engineers, not by people who actually use the cars on a daily basis. Would I buy another one again? No, with emphasis! Too many annoying and poorly thought out features.

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  Great in Snow. Fun to Drive - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Tommy K - December 17 - 11:33 pm

  I bought mine in January and had 2 snow storms to deal with. It handled the snow better than my previous Mercedes ML350 did or my current Hummer H3. Great handling, safety ratings, comfortable for all. Tiptronic steering lets you accelerate very quickly when needed.

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  reminds me of my Audi - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By wienerfingers - December 17 - 12:13 pm

  Four days now with new OBXT LTD (silver). Lovely car. No chance to push it yet - supposed to wait til after 1,000 miles. Very comfortable, very stable. Tank-like even (this is a good thing on ice and snow). Excellent interior - simple and functional - and a very nice looking vehicle as well. I looked at everything in the <$35k range, and this was an easy pick. VDC might have been nice - I did demo the 6cyl. model - but it is not an option with the turbo.....and I did have to have the turbo. The 6 cyl. is a slug in comparison. No available MP3 on the XT either. But I suppose if Subaru had made both VDC and MP3 optional on the turbo, no-one would bother with the 6.

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  Subie Newbie & loving it - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Oakwise - December 16 - 6:33 am

  Requirements for my next car included versatility, build quality, mileage and a clean, responsible engine/transmission. I wanted something that didn’t suffer from “me too”, and it had to be comfortable for me (6’3”) and my wife (5’2”). The 2010 Subaru Outback does all of this and more. Even with me driving, there’s plenty of room in the back seat for another 6-footer. Coming from a V6 Highlander I was worried the Outback’s 4-cylinder would feel underpowered – but the 350lb lighter Subie scoots along just fine… with 20% better fuel economy. Looked at RAV4/CRV/Santa Fe and there was no comparison. The closest runner up was actually the Subaru Forrester.

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  Very Nice! - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Jason R. - December 15 - 8:06 pm

  I recently purchased this car, so I dont have many miles on it yet. My first impressions are it has a very nice build-quality, perfect for the family, and the (AWD) all-wheel-drive is spectacular! I previously owned a BMW 528 and going to a cross-over like the Tribeca was easy.

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  Wifes Car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Kevin - December 15 - 9:46 am

  I know what I have to say sounds a lot like nit picking. However If you are going to lay out 19k on a car you should know a few things. Over all it really is a good little car. However to make it a great car you are going to need to do some work.

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  Snow Angel - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Janice Marie - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Overall this is a reliable and fun car to own. It looks great on the road and drives even better! The Legacy has a clean and classy look that stands out against other automobiles.