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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  Subaru legacy 2.5 limited - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By peyton - November 13 - 12:13 pm

  I have only one complaint about this car. No mp3 option. That is it. It rides nice, has lots of power and can take a pretty good hit with minimal damage. My wife was rear-ended by a neon traveling 70km/hr, black ice, wrote the neon off. We have only 2 small cracks in the rear bumper and a plastic plate benieth the car for damage, about $900 CAD. My wife had a sore neck for roughly 7 days, but is fine now. I will probably never own another make of car if this one has little to no maintenance issues. So far so good. Average milage to date, including city driving is about 19mpg. These miles were hard ones. It got roughly 25-29mpg on highway trips, averaging 125-140km/hr(75-85mph)

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  Go for the 3.6R Limited! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By rpr - November 13 - 6:30 am

  Our 2005 Forester was in an accident so we test drove the new Subarus and were thoroughly impressed with the 2010 Outbacks. The 4 cyl didnt have enough power for us, so we went w/ the 3.6. Didnt like the fabric on the seats on the Premium models, and we needed bluetooth, side view mirror defrost & auto climate control, so we went with the Limited. Outstanding redesign, plenty of power, good fuel economy, extremely comfortable interior, very quiet (much improved w/o the frameless windows). One thing to look out for, these 3.6 engines can have a fairly bad hesitation when accelerating from low speeds. Many may not notice it, but I trust/hope there will be a TSB fix from Subaru.

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  maytte says... - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Maytte - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Generally its a good car, its safe, comfortable and drives smooth. Its a nice size for me and handles and responds very well.

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  great in the snow - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By benoit léveillé - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Im from Québec province,close from Montréal and here the weather isnt particuliary great, especially during winter and thats why I purchased this car and so far Im convinced of my choice! This is the best affordable AWD, and a true one like the Audis, in his class, a lot better then the Matrix/Vibe. Only if this car have Mazda3 look...

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  First time Subaru owner and Very Happy - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Cheryl Laneve - November 12 - 11:05 am

  My first Subaru and have only had it for a week. I really like it. I have my first recall repair this coming week.

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  Completely Satisfied - almost - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By pnassmac - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Less than one week old (900 miles already) and very happy with my purchase. Were used to Accords - this Subaru feels the most similiar: firm seats with excellent bolstering, dead- on steering, wonderful ergonomics. Yet, the car is more responsive, smoother over the bumps and has a more solid feel. There are couple of flaws. We require a roof rack with 58 inch load bars. The standard (~39in) is too short and no replacements from Thule and Yakima exist for this vehicle - yet. This fact renders the car for our outdoor activities quite a bit less useful. Also, the stereos bass is too boomy even own lower but listenable setting.

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  Go Rally - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By SWRT - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Overall the car is excellent. Lots of modifications possible. Grabs other motorists attention for its good looks. Great in snow.

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  An awesome car for all times! - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By NeoGeo - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Every drive has been enjoyable. I have roughed a blizzard in 2000 with this car and the AWD just amazes me. Gas mileage averages around 25 MPG including spirited driving. The standard feature list is incredible and should be for the base price. The seats are comfy and gripy, the interior room is spacious, and the rear seat is somewhat spacious. I havent had any problems with the 2.5 RS, sans a passenger seat that did not kick up when the rear passengers wanted to exit, which Subaru fixed. Also, Subaru has been great to deal with during oil changes and their support of factory performance parts and accessories is on par with Toyotas TRD department.

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  AWD supercar! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Fernslinger - November 12 - 8:36 am

  This car is awesome. The handling and acceleration blows cars away at 2-3 times the price. The build quality is great and I love the way it looks. I really enjoy driving this car!

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  Perfect - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By ziptiecloud - November 10 - 9:00 pm

  I love this car. Period. Went from An Audi A4 and dont miss a thing; especially the repair bill! VERY smooth ride, great sound system, TONS of space, great power, awesome handling.. everything about this car is just fantastic.