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:

• 

  Race Car with Factor Warrenty - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By mrth3p1ague - April 13 - 2:00 am

  This is my first 4cy. and I am very very impressed, this car drives like a V-8. The engineering behind this car is truly exhausting,not much was missed. This car can meet anyones driving style, the car can be mild manored if driven properly, if you let the revs get above 3000 your over the speed limit. This car has truly moved the bar for what a performace car should be. I will have to keep this car for a long time or I will be forced to pay 100k to find something that will compare to the overall performance found in this car.

• 

  My Big Red - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Bluesky821 - April 13 - 2:00 am

  Love this car. Only faults were two recalls and brakes had to be done before their time but half cost was covered by the warranty.

• 

  Not what I expected from a Subaru - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Eric - April 12 - 11:43 am

  30,000 miles replaced struts, sway bar bushing, head pipe cracked and replaced both headlights. The interior has developed rattles all over the place. Just sold it and driving my 14 year old E320 benz until I find something else. Maybe Im expecting too much.

• 

  After 3350 miles - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Marvinlee - April 12 - 11:13 am

  There is too much front-suspension tire road noise. The car is otherwise mostly quiet. The 3.6R engine vibrates noticeably at idle, smooths out in normal driving, then is harsh and noisy at high RPM. The auto transmission lacks a sixth gear. The center-section data display is too dim in bright daylight and the numbers are too small. Air conditioning is OK thus far, but noisy at high fan settings. The steering wheel should tilt down further, and telescope more. The radio is excellent but lacks the desirable speed-volume feature of the cheaper standard radio. The all wheel drive proved stable and safe on a very poor mountain road.

• 

  Rattle trap - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Dale - April 12 - 10:13 am

  Should have know better as my 06 Forester rattled from the day I drove it off the lot. Within a month the 2010 Forrester passenger side door started to rattle and then the drivers side door. Dealer cant find the source. Its now to the point where I feel like Im driving a popcorn popper. The vehicle gets good mileage, handles well, has great utility and is great in Vermont winters but the rattling takes the fun out of driving it. Im going to start a "Share the Hate Campaign" on You Tube! Id look at Honda or Toyota even though a little more costly than the Subaru. I contacted Subaru Corporate and their response was "Contact your dealer." No responsibility. They just build them!!

• 

  Understated good looks, safe, reliable - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By new legacy driver - April 11 - 8:30 pm

  Great bargains currently available on this car, $3K or so below sticker (use the internet to get a quote). Given that, and all the SE features (including AWD), I think this tops the midsized competition, including Hyundai. Plus, youre not one of the Camry/Accord, etc. masses. Hard to think of a car that gives you so much on safety (best possible crash scores) and reliability yet is also sufficiently stylish and fun to drive. Already took two long trips with wife and 2 kids and it was as comfortable as it could be for everyone.

• 

  03 Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By HKF - April 11 - 8:03 pm

  Red on silver clad with graphite cloth interior. Optional bed cover and hitch. Great car, sticks to the road like velcro. Upgraded with aftermarket audio to provide handsfree bluetooth, roadnoise inerferes. Transmission has a mind of its own, upshifts are unpredictable and downshifts let the engine revs hit the red line. The soft bed cover is more work than I expected but keeps the bed clean and mostly dry. Overall, fun to drive and really unique. Defies categorizing.

• 

  36,000 Mile Update - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By Fandango - April 9 - 9:06 pm

  This car keeps growing on me. After driving it every day for the past year and a half, I like it as much or more than the day I bought it. Its just so much fun to drive. Every time I drive a rental or use my daughters car and then come back to this one, I realize how much I enjoy driving it. I even find the seats comfortable now, though I didnt like them very much at first.

• 

  I love my REX - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By ollie18 - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This is one fantastic car. The handling is phenomenal, the acceleration is awesome - its a blast to drive. I feel so safe in the car. It responds incredibly well. I tested a lot of cars before I got the WRX, such as the Accord V6, Celica GT-S, Mazda6 S, (and others) and none of them compared to the WRXs performance. Its a monster AWD performerIts a great bang for the buck!!!!

• 

  2004 WRX - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Andie17 - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a wonderful car. Fun to drive, handling is fantastic and it is faasst. The WRX is a trend setter - notice how many new turbo cars are now being offered - and few are AWD. Its a great bang for the buck. I have the WRX with the premium package and the car was still very reasonable. If youre looking for a reliable, fast car with a lot of punch, and a car with a lot of character - the WRX is worth considering. The new look (non-bug eye) is more my taste than the 2002 and 2003 style. The only con to the car is that the interior can be made a bit more substantial looking, and that the sedan doesnt have 60/40 rear fold down seats.