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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  Im a walking Subaru advertisement - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By Single mom - October 30 - 12:13 am

  Purchased new 2002. Not a single days problem. No recalls, reasonable insurance premium, great gas mileage, normal maintenance. Handles like a car. Quick response, great power when needed. Comfortable, roomy, reliable, lots of standard features. I still own it and feel safe with my teenagers driving it, esp. in winter snow and rain. Excellent safety rating. Far exceeded my expectations for a compact SUV. Cargo room with seats down is a blessing! Its going to take a lot to get me away from purchasing a new model. Over 35 years, this has been the BEST car I have ever owned. Cup holder placement has been improved.

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  2004 WRX STI Review - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By KS - October 29 - 4:26 pm

  Love this car to death! Its very very fast, reliable, good looking and fun to drive. Its worth the money, 100%. I get so many other people waving at me and giving me a "thumbs up" when I drive by that I feel like Im a celebrity. Flat out best car on the market, bar none. Porsche-like speed with 4 doors, rail like handling ... you just cant beat it.

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  Great Car for the Price - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By HLC - October 29 - 2:46 am

  This is a great car for the price (under $20K). It is fun to drive and it handles corners very well. The storage capacity is very reasonable for its small size. I love the AWD, but it does take getting used to if youve never had it before. Fuel economy is just ok (about 22-25 mpg), but it runs on regular gas which is a huge plus. I spent slightly more on my last new car (1995 Infiniti G20) and this one has nearly as many features. I looked at a lot of cars (Hondas, Toyotas, and luxury preowned) and the Forester is by far the best car for the price.

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  Its like a cockroach - its almost indestructible - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By sherry32 - October 28 - 9:14 am

  My 2006 Outback Wagon has over 132,000 miles on it, and has been completely trouble free for 7 years. It drives no differently than it did when it was new. Id actually kind of like a new car, but its hard to justify the expense when this one is paid for and is so reliable.

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  See my last review "I want to love this car, but..." - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By deserthillsman - October 28 - 4:38 am

  Since April of this year, I have to downgrade my opinion of this car. On a recent trip (1200 miles), I found the drivers seat to be so uncomfortable that my lower back and legs were wrecked for several days afterwards. There is no lumbar adjustment which is a big negative. Gas mileage on the trip was a mediocre 26. My overall mpg for the life of the car is 21.3. I drive fairly conservatively, smooth starts and braking. This car has absolutely no power when the A/C is on which is a requirement here in the summer. Transmission is rough. The silver paint used on the interior is cheap and has flaked off. The center console is absurd. Its the bottomless pit.

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  Excellent for it intended buyer - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By tvtruong - October 27 - 1:17 am

  We bought this for for the following reason and so far it has been great at it. - Traction in the snow - Fuel economy - Cargo space - Safety rating - Reliability A lot of people seem to have reliability with the car, so far Ive had no problem, I hope it will stay that way. It prowess in the snow even exceeded my expectation. With a set of Michelin winter tires, it feel like driving in the summer.

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  great car except for the tires - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Johnny - October 26 - 7:56 am

  In the 5 short months that I have owned this car I have had 4 flats and totally destroyed one tire. I was told that the size of the tires is the problem by one person and other things by others. The service manager told me that it was my problem and that there was nothing that he was going to do. I would buy this car again, it is a great car in the snow and it is fun to drive.

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  Stiff Ride negates positives. - 2014 Subaru Legacy
  By bsr52 - October 25 - 2:17 pm

  I have driven this 2014 Legacy Sport for three months. The reliability of Subaru, all wheel drive and heated seats are all positives that are negated by the poor ride quality. I feel every dip, bump and tar strip in the road and will be trading this after a year. A younger driver might not care about the ride because the car looks sharp and handles well. I owned a 2001 Subaru Outback station wagon for 6 years and it was reliable and a comfortable ride with reasonable handling in not too large of a vehicle. If they built that vehicle today with an improved transmission I think they wood sell a lot of them. I appreciate any comments and criticism.

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  Great car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Mary Remington - October 25 - 11:22 am

  Stepped outside the box on this vehicle and bought the top of the line. Absolutely love this car. I is very comfortable with 10 point driver seat adjustments. Wish I could raise the passenger seat but only moves back and forth. The safety features of the EyeSight are really great, so glad we opted to get this. The dash is well designed. Only downside is on rare occasion there is a glare from the screen but only on rare occasion. Four cylinder has really has good pickup.

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  best thing I ever own - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By the physicist - October 24 - 11:26 am

  6 yrs old, 147000 miles, 27 mpg with premium gas, brakes replaced at 90000 and 100000 miles! What have been replaced: a small rubber hose, 1 supporting leg of the transmission, oxygen apparatus for total $1500 last yr..Otherwise, the car handles like new.. I could drive any car under $150000, and I did selected the best one..