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 - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By Sue - June 29 - 1:30 am

  Love this car. Trouble free miles. Smooth handling, quiet and good visibility. No major problems. Outside temp sensor failed and was replaced quickly under warranty. Handles fantastic in the snow and ice.

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  Great at some things, good at everything - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By MichaelB - June 28 - 8:56 pm

  Meets all of the following: AWD, good gas mileage (for an AWD), reliability, safety, and price below $20K. I studied (e.g., Consumers Reports, JD Powers, Edmunds.com, etc.) and found no rivals...mostly because Versa, Fit, Yaris, Mazda 3 do not offer all the above. There are better stereos, acceleration and MPG out there, but nothing that rates at least a "good" at everything. Most new owners are excited with their cars, so only time will tell the truth. However, my 3 months/5,0000 miles experience support the claims of other professional reviews and the positive history of this car model.

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  Number Three - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By John - June 28 - 6:26 pm

  We bought two 2005 Outbacks for our children as used cars. We wanted safe reliable cars with all wheel drive for the New England winters. My wife and I were so pleased with these cars that we decided to add a third Outback this month. We purchased a 2010 Outback Premium model in Sky Blue. I am the daily driver and just love the car. It is an extraordinary value when compared with the new Audi A4 wagon which I drove with a price of $42,000 plus. The new Outback design is spacious and very comfortable and fun to drive. Prior to owning this Outback we have owned two BMWs and two Hondas. Frankly, Subaru was not a car we considered before this. Now we have three in the family.

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  My 2017 Outback Limited with pizzaz! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Karen Taylor - June 27 - 1:01 pm

  Love the mileage after only 1000 mi. The ride is quiet and comfortable. Climate control is great. The only improvements I could recommend at this point is the angle of the screen and the side vents. When the sun sets, the light glare on the screen is awful! I made a cover for those times. Also the metal surrounding the side air vents also reflects the sun and affects the vision in the side mirror. It is spacious, comfortable, and easy to maneuver. The navigation isnt as good as I would like. My google maps is better, but perhaps I havent learned the correct use. Prior to this I had limited technology, and now have Eyesight, so I am still learning a lot. I made a lot of comparisons before purchasing this car. I would recommend darkening the front side windows a bit to cut the glare from rear headlights. The CVT causes a bit of noteworthy spurts at times. Starting cold causes engine drag until it runs a few minutes. The overlap of roof at the rear makes cleaning the rear window difficult. Overall I am happy with the car.

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  Love the car HATE the Nav and Entertainment system - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Jeff Z - June 27 - 12:33 pm

  I love my Outback. Ive got the eyesight and navigation system. The eyesight is incredible and one of the reasons I purchased the vehicle. I frequently travel the midwest for my job and wanted a safer car. The eyesight with auto adjust cruise control is probably the best feature of a car Ive ever owned and makes long trips much easier to handle. The front drivers seat is also SUPER comfortable especially when the butt warmer is on! The thing about the car that is absolute garbage are: 1) The navigation system is awful and at time unusable. It frequently has me getting on and off the highway for no freaking reason and says there are traffic jams ahead when there are none so how can you trust it. It completely freezes up on me when I am driving in Chicago and almost got me into an accident while I was trying to get it to work. 2) The entertainment system integration with your phone frustrates me to no end. The apps for the vehicle are an absolute joke and Subaru should be ashamed of what they are putting out compared to other car companies. The buttons on the steering wheel are not the best choices for me to have on the wheel and the voice system is utterly USELESS. 3) Gas mileage is nowhere close to what they advertise - I usually dont even get close to what they advertise for the city mpg when Im driving highway miles so that is very disappointing. Even with these items I would still buy the vehicle, although I wish that I could have turned down the navigation upgrade as for me it is barely usable.

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  Not quite a station wagon - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Subaru owner - June 27 - 12:13 pm

  Ive had many station wagons, but the Outback is much more. Higher ground clearance and a bit more room. Handles like a wagon, but acts like an SUV. Very happy with my purchase.

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  Simple Yet Satisfying - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By Rodeoflipper1818 - June 27 - 8:50 am

  I love this car very much. Its effortless to drive and its a champ through any weather or road conditions. I never have any second thought of taking it off the pavement to have a little fun. The whole package is great too. You get performance with serious versatility. More than a few times Ive had to throw a ton of cargo in the back (over 30 large soccer bags or two bmx bicycles) and to my surprise there was still room to spare. Though it is not quite as inspiring as its more powerful brethren nor as fast, you will still feel just as confident. If youre looking for a car thats not too overwhelming but will still give you a thrill this will certainly do the trick

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  A smart alternative to the Camry/Accord - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Chris A - June 26 - 11:23 pm

  My wife and I shopped all of the competition in this segment before we landed at the Subaru dealership. Our primary requirements were comfortable and durable interior, respectable gas mileage, roomy interior and excellent safety ratings. This new Legacy delivered these in spades and the price was very competitive given its feature set. We were initially impressed with the styling, which we feel stands out nicely, but really fell in love with the roomy interior, well thought out use of space, split third row and very nice trunk (with no goose neck hinges). Given the price ($22K out the door for our 2.5i "Premium" model), we felt it was best in class - even after driving the new Sonata.

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  Great car for the money - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By T Jenks - June 26 - 2:13 pm

  My other car is a newer Cadillac, and I have only driven it once since I got my Tribeca 8 weeks ago. If you dont want a speeding ticket, you need to use the cruise control. This is a very well engineered car, that you know as soon as you close the door and take it for a test drive. I was looking at the Outback just for winter driving and skiing. Test drove the Tribeca, and was sold immediately. Test drove the Murano, and RX330, and I believe the Tribeca has much more bang for the buck.

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  My First Subaru - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By transylvan - June 26 - 4:56 am

  I planned two years ago that my next car will be a white Toyota Highlander. It took two minutes to change that decision after seeing the new Outback 2010 in front of Costco one weekend last November. Styling is a personal matter, but for me this was the only car in a long while for which I couldnt find an obvious flaw or exaggeration. It was love at first sight. I purchased mine, a white 2.5i CVT last month and absolutely love it (the only white on the lot and ... didnt want to wait). I have 1200 miles on it so far and averaging 25mpg in the city and 30mpg hwy. The CVT is a blast, same as comfort, quietness and AWT performance.