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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  Love my 99 Forester S - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By MaineBob - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought mine off the dealer lot the day after I moved to Maine. It has been humming along now for nearly 5 years with no repairs of any significance whatsoever and 126,000 miles. A few minor annoyances -- the led for the Cruise Control switch went out 2 years ago and I was told the entire switch needed replacing (for about $60). Also, the led for the clock near the ceiling, above the rear view mirror also went out this year. Here in Maine, I am fearless. I have never had the slightest problem navigating in heavy snow, ice, slush, and rain.

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  Great vehicle - needs more room - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Hiker - February 8 - 11:50 pm

  I like my 2001 LL Bean edition very much. I could do w/o all the extras but I did not like the four cylinder. I do not miss my old, bouncy, poor riding/handling, gas guzzling SUV. However, at 6-02 in height, I could use one to two more inches of legroom and a telescoping steering wheel.

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  Great Machine! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Eddie Cat - February 8 - 6:06 am

  I have to highly recommend this car to anyone thinking of buying one. I never drove the WRX, but I love this STI! If you live in a cold weather climate with snow, this is the ultimate performance car for you. Plus you can pass it off as being "practical". 300 HP & Torque is awesome. Shake off all the Fast and Furious wannabees with ease. One of the fastest cars I have driven ... drive one, you will buy one!

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  The best car - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Sam - February 7 - 10:50 am

  I love my new car

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  Formula 1 Station Wagon?!? - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By DukeTrout - February 4 - 3:06 pm

  My wife and I tested three models of the Outback: 2.5i in manual and automatic and the 2.5 turbo in automatic. I was pretty impressed with the performance of all three, but the acceleration didnt match my 250 hp Dodge sedan. We ended up buying the 2.5 Turbo with a manual. Surprise! This car accelerates like crazy. It pushes you to shift and keep up with the turbo. On top of the fun factor, the interior and exterior are built to perfection. The design is amazing, from the big items like the beefy, high-riding suspension to the tiny details, like grocery-bag hooks that will lock closed with plastic bag straps in place so that you dont spill your Chinese take-out all over the cargo tray.

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  Subaru once, Subaru always....... - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By artquiltsbymeiny - February 4 - 10:00 am

  We used to own a 1992 Subary Loyale wagon which was recently totalled in a crash. The driver and passengers survived thanks to the sturdy Subaru body. The car is very quiet, with a very smooth ride, excellent aircondition and I love the showing of the direction the car is heading. The main reason for buying another Subaru though is our great experience with the service personal at the dealership; no haggling over repairs, mostly scheduled service appointments.

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  the STI - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By pope907 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  This car is amazing in every asspect. The car comes fast right off of the assembly line yet there are so many things that you can do to it to make it faster if thats what you choose to do.

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  Everything you want, no games - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Al - February 4 - 4:43 am

  $65K Range technology, luxury, safety for $38K.

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  Great car, some nitpicks - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By piredon - February 3 - 12:56 pm

  Bought the car in March 06. Got the manual GT wagon after hearing complaints about the automatic. Awesome acceleration, balanced handling and quick, accurate steering make the car great on the back roads or on long trips. Holds a ton of stuff, especially with the seats folded flat. Currently 8600 miles on the odometer with 24.6 mpg average so far. Have managed over 28 mpg on long trips. Only problems have been tires with severe flat spots (dealer replaced with no hassle) and slight engine hesitation / stuttering at 2500-3500 rpm under hard acceleration (have read about this problem on the message boards, no fix so far and Subaru claims this is normal).

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  B-E-A-utiful! - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By DynaSTi - February 2 - 6:26 pm

  I absolutely Love the Car. Had a little hesitation until I did a Cobb tuning Stage 2 with a protune. Now The car is Super quick, Reliable, fun to drive, and Sexy. I will never own another kind of car. They are great for summer and the winter handling is Top notch!