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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  My $38K Mistake - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By szampa - January 20 - 9:44 am

  Without a doubt, the STI was one of the WORST cars I have ever owned. Horrible build quality. Dealer could never get the hatch to close right. The hoodscoop and headlights rattled and vibrated at highway speeds. The dash developed rattles and squeaks and made the interior sound like it was falling apart. Horrible gearbox. Syncros never seemed to mesh, clutch was inconsistent and shifter would always hang-up between gears. GPS was old, outdated, cumbersome and inaccurate. Radio was grossly underpowered. Had to be run at full volume to overcome highway noise. Performance is underwhelming - all hype. Sorry Subaru, not feeling the "love"! Didnt last 5K miles with me. VERY disappointed.

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  I have traded in 2 Mercedes for Subarus - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Tiegerplumbing - January 20 - 2:43 am

  These cars are unstoppable in the winter. The new 2005 I bought is fast, fun to drive and kicks from a dead stop to 60 MPH. One of the safest, cheapest toys I have driven in years. It put my $43,000 Mercedes to shame in cornering and take off and stopping. Every two years I buy cars and the 2005 Turbo is a keeper. Tight, sport tuned, fun to drive, easy on a budget, this car corners like it is on tracks holding in the tightest turns. Cant wait to fiddle with the micro chip to get more HP out of this amazing car.

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  Better than expected MPG - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Granby - January 19 - 3:20 pm

  I just traded in my 01 Maxima SE for a 08 Legacy SE and I have no regrets. I find the passenger cabin to be slightly smaller than the average sized American might like it to be, but otherwise I have no complaints. I managed to get over 29 MPG on my first two tanks of gas with mixed driving. Ive been pushing it a little harder lately and Im still getting over 26 MPG! It usually sticks to the road like glue, but I managed to get it to hydroplane in heavy rain. I attribute this to a combination of driving conditions and slightly overinflated low profile tires. I havent driven it in the snow yet, but I took it down a muddy dirt road and was very impressed with the AWD system.

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  The 2004 Baja has arrived - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By BajaBhoy - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Picked up the new 2004 Baja today. The turbo option makes it surprisingly fun to drive, with all the stability of my wifes Forrester. This is not a luxury car, but more of a lads car -- the small pickup bed is going to be useful when the snow melts and the weather improves. Gets a lot of attention, unusual on the streets of NYC. Silver color, looks quite sharp. For the money, an attention-grabbing, outdoors lifestyle-facilitating break from the mundane.

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  Killer Value - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By ljnymd - January 17 - 9:29 pm

  There are a few key changes for the OB in 2013 that were important, so I was willing to wait for that model. These include the Eyesight safety system, the strengthened chassis, and the improved 4 cylinder engine. These were worth waiting for, as this car now offers killer value in terms of a package that is off road capable, very quiet, good gas mileage, and really comfortable.

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  Great Car Great Price - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By NRS - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car and at a great price. I already have 55000 miles on the car and it runs better then the day I bought it. The AWD works great in snow and is very nice to have in Alaska. It does however get rather poor gas mileage I was expecting 30 miles to the gallon but it gets around 25 max. The 2.5L engine works great and gives the car an adequate amount of power.

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  Finally, a 6 cylinder! - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Auzzieboy10 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Just got my Outback 6 Cyl. Wagon two weeks ago and so far I really love this car. Had a Sedan 20 years ago and really liked it, but I needed a SUV and wasnt going to settle for a 4 cyl. Found out the Outback had a 6 cyl. on Friday and bought it on Saturday:) However, at 212hp is only adequate in my opinion, but good handling and braking make up for continued lack of power.

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  Love the 2010 outback...so far - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By 1st-sub754Xwagon - January 17 - 6:50 am

  Initial impression is great. Loving the comfort of the leather seats and legroom. agree with other comments about rear and rear-backside visibility. Feels like a car in the corners, and a truck going over bumps and ruts. Kind of amazing that it has such a complient, yet sporty suspension set up. Spoil yourself with the limited, luxury interior touches, booming stereo, heated seats, sunroof, especially all that, 29 mpg on the highway, less than a stripped down, used highlander.Paddle shifters are a hoot. Total control and very fun. You can squeeze a little fun out of that 170 hp motor. Do miss a real temp gauge/ oil pressure gauge. Also, really need a backup camera in mirror, not NAV sys only.

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  A trifecta! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Susan Boesch - January 17 - 3:09 am

  This is the 3rd Subaru wagon Ive owned since 1980. I had forgotten what an awesome vehicle the Subaru is. When I decided to move on from my mid-size Ford SUV, I searched diligently for a replacement and finally decided on the Outback. I had forgotten what a wonderful vehicle the Subaru is. Safety is at the forefront of the design & the "Eye sight" option is a definite winner. The all wheel drive & its ability to take a little tougher terrain than a paved road are excellent-one of Subarus legendary qualities. In addition to safety, the interior has been highly upgraded. The leather package in the Premium level is second to none. The leather is plush and has a soft, buttery feeling to the touch, not hard like my Ford. I would like to have a little more user friendly system for the voice commands but only Ford has the Microsoft Sync system which is the best. But I did not buy my Outback for the voice command system. All things considered, the 2016 Subaru Outback is a winner and I anticipate getting well over 100,000 miles out of it with only routine upkeep & maintenance!! GO SUBIE!!!!!

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  We love our outback and so do our dogs! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By blackbird69 - January 16 - 6:31 pm

  We picked up our Outback on 12/1/10, the day we had the first "real" snow of the 10-11 winter. The Outback was put to the test right away and was great all winter. It performed really well in snow and on icy roads. Gas mileage is great too. We were looking for a vehicle to haul our four dogs. The Outback has plenty of space for them. The ride, seating, and handling are as good or better than anything else weve owned. Were up to 10,000 miles and the more I drive this car the more I love it.