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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  Excellent vehicle - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Tim Johnston - December 24 - 7:52 am

  We owned a 1998 Legacy Wagon for 17 years, putting about 125,000 miles on it. It was a great car -- very reliable, comfortable, and capacious. When we decided to replace it last summer, we immediately went to Subaru again. Weve only had our 2016 Outback for a couple of months but are very pleased with its performance and versatility. Weve never owned an automatic before (!) and at first we were a bit hesitant because the Outback does not come with a manual option, but we find the AVT very smooth and the manual paddle shifts on the steering wheel are a great way to lock in a gear when you need it. (We frequently drive to a place we own in the Blue Ridge Mountains and being able to set a gear while driving up a very steep and windy highway is a convenient.) We didnt get the EyeSight option, as I didnt like the idea of all that electronic intrusion into my driving -- I was pretty sure Id end up turning it off, so why buy it in the first place. We did get the optional cargo area and rear bumper protectors, which I recommend if you are going to use the car to carry cargo other than groceries and suitcases. We move a lot of gardening supplies but I think theyd also be good for dogs or sports and camping equipment. There are levers to remotely fold down the rear seats from the back of the car -- a big convenience. The climate controls are not very intuitive and the clock is small and poorly placed amid several temperature readouts. The backup camera display is large and clear -- much better than on our 2013 Toyota Tacoma. As the Edmunds review says, acceleration is not spectacular, but its certainly adequate and quite safe for merging on to freeways or passing on 2-lane roads. If you are in the market for a station-wagon style SUV, the Outback is worth a close look.

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  My 2006 Tribeca - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Stephanie Allen - December 22 - 12:30 pm

  After a month of ownership I have found the Tribecas performance to be excellent. Its ride comfort is excellent with outside road noise at an acceptable level. The acceleration both from a start up condition as well as passing is better than average. Steering response is excellent and breaking is very smooth with minimum fade. Head room and leg room are is generous. MPG is as advertised. The ride is acceptionally smooth and subtle.

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  Great driving SUV replacement - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By ivankong - December 22 - 12:14 pm

  Ive owned my 04 legacy 35th anniv wagon with 5spd manual since 2007. I bought it with 33K and it now has 58K miles. I had a Jeep Cherokee before this and it was not a good driving vehicle, nor was it good in the snow (surprisingly). I bought the legacy wagon because I wanted awd and some room in the back like an SUV, but I also know that 95% of the driving I do is on the road and I wanted a car that drives like a sports car. This car does that. I have a separate set of wheels with studded snows for the winter and when I have to drive in really bad conditions (I live in CO) I have no worries at all. Awd with manual trans and studded snows all around are great.

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  Fast and FUN - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By wrxstiguy - December 22 - 2:30 am

  I am a 22 year old male that loves this car. In February i picked up an 05 Sentra Spec V and that was fun ... for the first month. Then I wanted a turbo so I started looking and wasnt sure if I wanted a EVO MR or the STi. Glad I picked the STi; I have no regrets.

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  Great Car - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By chrismr - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Bought new in June 06 and has 84,000 miles. Could not be more happy with this car. Its a blast to drive and great in snow. It rides and handles like the day I drove it off the lot. Excellent fit and finish. No problems with the car ever.

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  I Just Like It - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Reasonable - December 20 - 4:40 pm

  Traded a 1997 Ford Explorer for this 2.5i Outback Limited. Had owned a new 1980 Subaru hatchback and thought of Subarus as small cars. Surprise! Overall the 2010 Outback is as big as the 97 Explorer. Some dimensions are bigger, some smaller, but overall its about the same size. Its very comfortable, quiet, and a pleasure to drive. Took a 350 mile round trip last Saturday, through very hilly country, and averaged 31.5 mpg. Yes I drove conservatively, 55 to 60 mph mostly (hit 70 only once). I am more enthusiastic about this car than any car Ive bought since my Mercur XR4TI. Subaru, you really got it right with this one.

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  I sold my Prius for this? - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Victor Doucette - December 20 - 10:56 am

  Yes ... and Im glad I did. As much as I love the Prius for what its good at, it was getting harder for my gimpy, old body to get in and out of it, and I would never have called it comfortable. My Outback has the easiest ingress/egress of the eight cars I have owned and the five cars Ive shared with my wife. Its also the most comfortable of those vehicles. Im getting 30 mpg in mixed driving, and can approach 40 mpg over long distances at a steady 60 mph. As always, YMMV. Some folks complain about the acceleration, but theres enough there for me. I have had no issues with the CVT. Visibility is excellent. The EyeSight features took some getting used to, but I am glad I have them. The automated braking has made it less fatiguing to driver in heavy traffic; the blind spot monitoring has helped keep me from changing lanes at the wrong time; and the adaptive cruise control makes freeway travel pleasant. The lane departure warning is too sensitive for my tastes. Ride quality is generally excellent, but I am on the conservative side behind the wheel and havent really "pushed" the car the way some folks do. I cant yet assess how it handles in slippery conditions, but I dont anticipate any problems come winter. The entertainment system would be better if you could switch back from the map to the radio in one step, but it takes two steps. You can run a split screen with the two functions, but there isnt enough detail when you do that to suit me. Its a little cumbersome to enter addresses into the navigation system, but the system seems to work well once I get it programmed. Bluetooth pairing was easy. I wish that the compartment that holds the USB ports was a little bigger; it isnt large enough to allow me to shut its door when my cellphone is in there. The A/C is really cold -- I need to run it at about 77 degrees or I get chilly -- in mid-July. I did have to bring it back to the dealer after 1,000 miles to have the trim piece under the drivers side of the dashboard reattached. The service adviser said the retaining clips holding it on had broken, and that it wasnt the first time he had seen that. An Outback owners forum suggested that this might have been caused by the dealer installation of a remote-start system (which works, but I can happily live without it). Another minor complaint -- the interior loses power immediately when you turn off the ignition. You need to remember to close the windows, sunroof, etc., before you shut the car off. All in all, I am a happy Outback owner. After 6 months and about 6,500 miles, heres an update. The electronics in the car have been a constant source of frustration. At various intermittent times the navigation system has stopped working altogether or doesnt work properly, not announcing the first four or five steps in a route before suddenly coming to life. Sometimes it wont read a USB drive that I have properly inserted. Sometimes the clock will show the wrong time, the correct minute but incorrect hours. The clock then magically resets with a couple of minutes and the problems disappear -- until they come back again a few days later. I dropped by the dealer and they suggested a reflash of the system -- whatever that is -- but I havent had the opportunity to get in just yet. Another issue is that the standard battery (group 25, IIRC) has an anemic 356 CCA. We went through a bad cold spell a few weeks ago and the vehicle had a little trouble turning over, even though it had been stored in a garage. I checked online forums and discovered that this was a common problem with the vehicle. I preemptively replaced the battery with a larger Group 34 battery (it will fit nicely, though you will have to discard the "cozy" that surrounds the original battery) that has 1,000 CCA. No starting problems since. The car has had excellent traction through our snowy winter. Its still comfortable and a pleasure to drive and ride in. I still like the car very much. I just hope that my next visit to the dealer can clear up these pesky electronic problems.

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  My First Subaru - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PhoenixAir - December 19 - 9:16 pm

  This is a crossover? A station wagon? An SUV? How about just fun, economical, safe or FES! This 2009 Forester is far and above what is available out there dollar for dollar. After 2700 miles, with a average of 24 mpg combined (highest being 31 mpg on the highway) the only complaint I have is no coin holder. Drove the others, then test drove the Subaru all the way home. Kept it overnight, drove it back to the dealership and paid them for it. Power is available at request, auto tranny is fine but I like the sport shift and it drives knowing where you need to go before you do. Simple dash easy to use and with plenty of head room front and back seats. Nice job Subaru you got it right.

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  High quality - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By Tony - December 19 - 6:50 pm

  Know that this review, like all others, is very partial. The fact I bought a Subie implies I probably identify myself with it to a degree, and means Im highly unlikely to highlight its faults. Body roll/pitch is barely noticeable; engine runs smooth and beautifully; drives great in heavy rainy weather; beautifully designed with superb finish inside and out; perhaps the best safety package out there; great details such as mp3 player jack, sunroof, 17 in. alloys; That said heres the few faults I notice, all very minor: -faint high-pitch sound audible above 50mph, from AWD, -interior door handle cringing after a month of use, -center console smudges easily. Great insurance rates; I wouldnt reconsider!

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  Not suffering the Hyper Blues with this car - 2016 Subaru BRZ
  By Chuck - December 19 - 6:14 pm

  If you are 50 plus and carrying a few pounds, it may be harder to get in and out of this car, but once you are in seat, WOW, the fun begins. If I were prone to drifting, this car could do that. My 16 year old daughter said that starting from a stop light and going through the first four gears reminds her of the push back in seat feeling of jet take off. Great color, only 500 made for USA for 2016. Gets lots of looks. After decades of driving SUVs and minivans, I owed this car to myself and havent looked back since driving off the lot. Hugs the road really well with quick responsive steering and braking. Ditch to ditch low beam headlights that allow for up and down switch adjustment is great for avoiding deer. Recommended accessories are WeatherTech floor liners, Trunk Liner and the NEW 3M™ Scotchgard Paint Protection Film Pro Series. Invisible and 7 year coverage to protect against rock chips and dings as this is a low riding car. Saved on the cost by half by going to Tint shop for Protection Film instead of dealer. Have had the car for two and a half weeks at 348 miles now so still breaking in engine. Premium fuel only. Did buy the extended warranty to 7 year which added to initial cost. Tax in our Washington State County 8.8% My driving experience 27 years in police cars. Bought as commuter.