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! - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Alexandra Gomez - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I live in Southern Manitoba, where the winters are very cold. I have used my car for every day driving and never felt afraid of the weather or road conditions. I also like the fact that is a wagon, but it doesnt look like an old mamas wagon at all. I recommend this car to my friends all the time. When the time comes to get a new vehicle, Im sure it will be a Subaru.

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  2008 Suburu Nightmare - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By seriously5 - April 9 - 7:23 am

  I was impressed that this SUV had everything my Acura MDX had before it died. I got it used 5 mos. ago with 75K miles on it. The a/c died 3 weeks after buying it. The pocket behind my drivers seat ripped in 4 weeks following that. Neither was covered by the extended warranty I bought. Fuel door wouldnt open yesterday, and my gas light was on. Scheduled to get it fixed this Sat. Now my passenger door wont open with the remote or the button inside. Great. Gas mileage range is 17-21, but I havent seen above 19.

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  2011 Subaru Forester Limited - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By downsouth1 - April 9 - 6:50 am

  Recently purchased the 2011 Subaru Forester Limited. All Wheel Drive was a compelling feature for me and the fact that it is highly rated in Consumers Report. Number one small SUV. Some things I would like to see improved upon: Interior fit and finish and quality of interior materials. Limited Edition should have features such as auto lights, auto locking doors, Satelite Radio instead of Satelite Ready (which cost you another $500 to buy the parts to have the radio function as a satelite radio), Gas Lid release should be on the drivers door instead of the floor of the car (making it easier to reach), transmission should updated to a CVT transmission or more than 4 gears.

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  Until you can afford your toy - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By drjeff - April 8 - 12:43 pm

  For a reasonable price, the Legacy GT is fast enough to be fun, agile enough to be safe, comfortable enough to be a family cruiser, and economical, reliable, and durable enough to be a daily commuter. This cars performance will surprise a lot of sports car owners, but its appearance doesnt attract speeding tickets or thieves. And if all that isnt enough, this car is more stable in bad weather than any SUV Ive ever been in. Unless you can count on dry roads, consider all wheel drive; Subarus AWD system incorporates superior engineering. See for yourself.

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  Best car ive ever owned - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By luckyzsquirrel - April 8 - 2:03 am

  Ive had this car a couple years and plan to keep it for a long time. Handles great, comfortable, lots of features, solid, great visibility and performs! It may have "only" 170 Hp, but a very broad power band. This car flies up the Colorado mountain passes. I could easily do 20 over even the steepest grades here, while many cars struggle to hold the speed limit. AWD is extraordinary in the winter, in all but true off road and deep snow(say over a foot) this car does better than my truck. Its economy is rated at 19-22, but Ive NEVER been close to that low. I consistently get just under 30 mpg combined driving. Ive had it in the mid 30s on the highway.

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  Excellent Visibility - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Larry - April 7 - 3:30 am

  Researched this car for over a year and balanced it against the CRV, RAV 4 and Escape. Excellent visibility at all corners, fun to drive factor, AWD, vibration free 4cylinder engine and Subarus reputation for quality won. Getting 24 to 24.5 mpg with 50/50 city/hiway mix.

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  My Rex! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Slinky - April 6 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. From the handling to the speed. I have put this car through alot of road testing, both on and off, and have been completely satisfied. One recent trips included Colorado where we drove it to the top of Pikes Peak. It performed like a dream. The turbo handled the high altitude like a charm. I have the 5 speed manual, and with that comes the initial lag at start off. But in a matter of miliseconds that turbo kicks in and you are gone!

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  Not Too Impressed - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By John - April 4 - 5:06 pm

  After extensive research on the Internet I decided on this Outback 2.5i base model. Car looks very nice, is comfortable to drive and has nice handling and performance. Feels as safe as a tank to drive. However, the interior trim material is extremely poor. It has developed all sorts of intermittent squeaking and rattling (have to turn up the radio just to cover it up when driving). The dealer says all those noises are normal for this car. Also the engine is extremely loud at ignition, sounds like it is going to breakdown. I was expecting a great car when buying but ended up with just a good car. Also very poor gas mileage of 22 MPG on mixed driving. Car didnt meet my expectations.

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  Disappointing - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Ollie - April 4 - 4:56 pm

  Just a huge disappointment. Its slow (watch as a BMW 3-series can almost out-run you, and a 135i actually can), it has more body roll than an average taxi (watch as everyone almost falls out of their seat when you go around a freeway on-ramp), it has more road noise than an eighteen wheeler, and theres more rattles than youll find in an average day care center. Buy a WRX and save 10k. I completely regret buying my STI.

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  Great car - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Travis - April 4 - 3:00 am

  First thing that I noticed when i bought my used WRX was how great of shape the interior was. It was not worn out at all, besides the drivers seat. Mileage does not seem to effect Subarus much. It runs perfect.