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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  Best Decision I ever made! - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By RomulanWolf - January 4 - 10:43 pm

  Traded my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited for the 2016 Sport Premium. What an upgrade! So quiet inside on the country roads and interstate. I got an extended warranty for cheap from the dealership and great service. This feels like driving a Bmw but better with the AWD.

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  Year of Fun - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By CHurc - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for a year now and love it. I have added a couple performance items and can stay with anything on the road. The car is very solid and extremely fun to drive.

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  Excellent - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By Souliman - December 30 - 9:56 am

  Very happy. Quality is solid - interior and exterior design is perfect for family of four. We fit two car seats and small adult in second row without a problem. Third row is really for children or small adults - somewhat difficult to access. Acceleration is excellent in upper gears. Some engine whine in lowest gear. Seamless shifting otherwise. Handles more like a car than SUV. Ride quality is excellent, smooth. Compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee with AWD (Rocky Mountain Ed.), the handling is more reliable on wet surfaces. It will be hard to beat the Jeep in deeper snow though - well see. Larger adults will feel somewhat awkward driving due to short steering column and seat position.

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  SOLID PERFORMANCE - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By RSP - December 29 - 12:33 pm

  After two years, no problems. Runs great through the snow and bad weather.

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  Great fun for a family car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By MasterZeus - December 29 - 11:00 am

  This car is great fun if you have a family. The back seat is a little tight, but everything else about this car is awesome. It accelerates like crazy. It has great build quality and well designed layout.

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  Legacy -- all the way ! - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By legacy driver - December 28 - 7:33 pm

  Once I drove the Legacy, I completely fell in love with it. It takes away from all other cars, including Hondas, Mazdas, and Toyotas. This car is in its own class, you really cant compare it to any others (many people think the car looks way more expensive then it actually is). I get great gas mileage, better then they say! I average 28-29 MPG with 75% highway and 25% city. I cant go anywhere with out people asking me what kind of car I drive. The Legacy is so comfortable, and the handling is great! I would recommend this car to anyone. Before buying any other car, you must test drive the Subaru Legacy. I swear, you wont regret it!

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  Fun & Economical - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By pete141 - December 28 - 5:05 am

  Am new to the Subaru line - was intrigued by the looks of the Crosstrek. Didnt look like a station wagon or any of the other suv-ish crossovers out on the market today. Lots of pick-up when accelerating onto the highway & changing lanes-enough for my needs anyways. Highway ride is smooth. Have not had to fill the tank yet so cant comment on the gas mileage - although am hoping that it comes in around the advertised 25-28 range for mostly city driving. The AWD did well in the recent wintry mix of a few inches. Never lost traction and went up hills with no problems at all.

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  Excellent handling on snow and wet surfaces! - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Lorraine Morgan - December 26 - 1:25 am

  This car handled great during a heavy rain storm. The headlights are excellent and I love the mirrors deflect headlight blind from behind. The stereo system is great and the controls work fine. The controls on the steering wheel are easy to operate and I love the mute button for the stereo. The drivers seat adjust up,down,lumbar and the steering wheel adjust,its perfect.

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  Ecstatic!!! - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PPZ,II - December 25 - 10:43 pm

  As a first time Subaru customer, I purchased this Forester on 6/30/08, after reading all of the reviews here, as well as on other websites. My wife and I traveled from Columbus, OH to Cleveland, OH (140 miles), with luggage and the A/C on, this past weekend, and averaged 29.1 mpg! We picked up my in-laws and their luggage and drove to Rome, NY, (an additional 370 miles) again with the A/C on, and for that portion of the trip, as well as the return trip, we averaged 28.2 mpgs! Now you know why Im ecstatic - this Forester isnt even broken in, and its getting excellent fuel efficiency. By the way, our Subaru is a PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle).

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  bet the farm - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By farmboi - December 25 - 12:30 am

  Has all of the features I wanted. Plenty of power for my needs. Great mileage to boot: 28-30 or better MPG - better than the EPA rating. It was between this or a Prius. Really wanted to try a Subaru once. I may be hooked. Very few Subarus around here. Gets a lot of admiring looks and interested questions. I dont regret this purchase at all.