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 car, horrible gas mileage - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By jchoi - April 8 - 6:23 pm

  This is my first AWD vehicle. It was great this winter where we had over 85" of snow in New England. Unstoppable. Fun to drive, great interior, great utility, and good looking vehicle. Gas mileage from mixed city/highway is about 17mpg. With a rather small gas tank, cruising range is only about 270 miles before you have to fill up again. My wife is the primary driver of the car and drives very conservatively so its not like shes always in boost. My friends 340hp S6 wagon gets about the same mileage. The XT is great but it is by no means an S6.

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  Oh So fun! - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By STIHUNY - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I love my STI. The best performance for your money!

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  Glad we decided to test drive - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Michael - April 8 - 2:23 am

  My wife and I love our Subaru Limited. We have had it for 3 months and no buyers remorse here. Handling - no comparison with other models in its class. Steering and overall comfort is wonderful. Test drove Altima, Accord and Sonata. Though the others each had their perks and overall better gas mileage, the AWD and wonderful drive sold it for us. 3-4 MPG less was not an issue with so many other nice features. The vehicle turns on a dime and handles great in the rain. I cant wait to see how it handles under winter conditions. The HK sound system is great too but was not a reason to buy. The car sold itself for us.

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  This car is OUTSTANDING - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By twincities25 - April 6 - 11:16 am

  No problems. Great MPG. I have the special edition L series which includes a fantastic sunroof and upgraded wheels. I bought the 5 speed for better acceleration and good MPG. The best MPG I have gotten was 30 (highway). I baby this car and always have the routine maintenance done. I live in a snowy/icy area so the All wheel drive is definitely appreciated. I have never driven a more reliable car. I still get compliments on the car even though it is more than five years old now.

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  Amazing for the cheap price of $30G - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Tieger plumbing - April 5 - 4:03 am

  This car took one heck of a hit by a truck and I walked away This car is really great.

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  Test drove 17 SUVs and bought the B9 - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By RWP - April 4 - 8:20 pm

  This vehicle was purchased for my wife. She wanted an SUV that wasnt too big, wasnt too small, wasnt the same as everyone else, and had lots of features. We test drove everything (17 in total) from $25K to over $70K. We liked the Porsche Cayenne S, but didnt feel like spending that much. We also liked the Lexus RX350, but everyone has one. The Subaru B9 Tribeca was the last one we tested and we only tried it because the Porsche and Audi dealer also sold Subaru. We liked it so much, and the dealer gave us a very good deal on a just off the truck 2007 model, that we bought it that day. We have taken it on two long road trips and love it.

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  Legacy GT LTD - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By ken - April 4 - 2:43 pm

  Awesome car. Theres no car better than this car for the price in terms of performance and luxury for under 30 grand.

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  9" of snow and ice in first 4 days - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Dave - April 4 - 10:53 am

  I have boon looking for the right car for 6 months. I bought that car last Friday. We had 9" of snow Sunday, and packed snow/ice since then. 700 miles this weekend, including passing semis on fresh snow. No other vehicles would give me the ability to that safely while getting over 30mpg at this price. The rest of the features/flaws lack relevance when 2wd vehicles become essentially un-driveable. I cant wait to drive it on dry pavement. Until then I will simply amuse myself laughing at those sliding backward on 7-8 degree iced roads, while carefully driving around them. I made sure to test drive this car at 65- 75, no vibration at all.

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  Gets all the looks!!! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By wrx fan - April 4 - 2:00 am

  definitely a great investment. i just bought a blue 2003 wrx sedan. havent tested the theory that it can beat most all stock cars within its price range, but ill take their word for it :) and it is also said to even beat boxters. what fun!!!

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  Nice Car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By GRaj - April 2 - 6:57 pm

  Test drove Mazda CX3, CX5, Honda-HRV and decided on this model. Driven it for a month. Both my wife and my son love this car. Lots of safety features. Loved the adaptive cruise control, lane assist etc etc. Smooth driving. Lacks power but I am OK with it. Smooth driving. Good handling in snow. I agree with one comment about reversing on a slope. The car can run down the slope when you reverse if you dont hit the brakes. But I have seen this with my Infiniti FX35 as well. Overall very happy with it. I hope I will remain happy in months/years to come...