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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  They dont build them like they used to! - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By l43 - March 30 - 10:00 am

  The new Subbie has some nice features (heated mirrors and wipers, built in CD changer), but the quality of my new Outback Limited is not up to the level of previous Subarus. The car is very noisy (wind & road noise) and has less power on hills than my old 92 which still runs like a champ. Also the body cladding is becoming a very high maintenance item. While paint quality has never been a Subaru high point, the cladding on the Outback is a real pain. Rather that using a color impregnated plastic, Subaru paints the plastic body panels with a paint (water color?) which is not at all durable.

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  Transmission lacks proper low gears - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By spiffmaster - March 30 - 3:04 am

  This is our fourth Forester. The 2015 version is typical in ride and noise levels. The x-mode is a notable addition for low speed difficult conditions. However, for descending in dry, wet or reasonable snowy conditions the transmission is very poorly designed. The L shift is not adequate for good control and there is no L2. Excessive use of the brakes is required for control. The x-mode is not useful in these conditions because it cuts out over 25mph and it is necessary to slow to 12mph to restart it. If you live in a hilly or mountainous area this vehicle may not be suitable for you. We are disappointed and will trade it in for another manufacturer.

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  Avoid Sand and Gravel - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Unhappy Customer - March 12 - 3:10 pm

  Dont drive this car on roads with sand or on gravel roads. The back door running board gets etched from the sprayed sand/gravel. The mud flaps do not help. Less than 20k and I have to repaint. Poor Design. My first and last Subaru. Ill go back to Honda.

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  Never Another Subaru - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By Tom - March 7 - 10:13 am

  This car has been a money pit. Head gasket blew at 58k, fortunately covered under warranty, but now at 125K am told that it needs another head gasket ($1700). According to many internet sites this has been a problem but one Subaru refuses to acknowledge. Both front wheel bearings went out to a tune of $550 each. When brakes needed to be replaced, everything had to be replaced $850. Check engine light comes on on a regular basis the same sensor has been replaced 3 times, $550. The last time check engine light came, technician said code indicated possible bad catalytic converter, $1600 to replace if needed.

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  Blind spot and poor sight lines are a deal killer - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By fyb - March 6 - 2:34 pm

  Ive had this car on lease for over two years, it will be going back to the dealer. Its okay for around town driving at moderate speeds. On the highway I find the car exhausting to drive on trips longer than 30 min. The sightlines make me feel as though I am hurling through space. CVT delay is significant and the blind spots take away my confidence so I stay in the slow lane and rarely go over 65mph, which is not my normal style of driving. I live in the NYC area and am accustomed to aggressive driving and drivers. My boyfriend hates driving this car too, and being a passenger is no better. The design/windshield angle makes the passenger feel as though we are going to crash at any moment.

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  Problems - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Forester 04 - March 3 - 12:40 pm

  My 04 Sabaru is noisy, had to replace rear tire ball bearings, had accident because of a sticky throttle 4 days after a mechanic check, lacked sufficient room for passengers.

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  Never Again - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Keith - March 1 - 4:50 pm

  I dislike this Subaru more than any car I have ever owned. I avoid driving this car rather than deal with the cars quirky and dangerous characteristics. Examples: Climbing a hill at highway speeds the car shifts between 4th & 5th gears every 4 seconds on average. The car responds to quick acceleration maneuvers with a 2-3 second delay before accelerating; not a good thing on busy Southern California freeways. The car has only 8K miles. After nine months as a Subaru owner I am ready to visit my Toyota dealer and eat the trade-in costs. I hate this car!

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  Too much glass not enough tint or AC - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Cheryl - February 26 - 10:23 pm

  The NAV system is virtually useless. It has so many safeties that your copilot cannot operate or change the settings unless you pull over and stop the car. The audible directions are horrible. You will be getting on and off Interstates until you cut it off. Requires way too much setup. Google Maps and Nav are much more efficient and trustworthy. Your copilot can recalibrate your smartphone nav while underway. Not so this machine. High level map and GPS coordinates are the only useful items. I do not have the oil issue that others have mentioned as of yet and hopefully wont but it is obvious that this machine is a rolling greenhouse. The glass and there is lots of it for optimum visibility is more than the AC can handle. Especially if you have a moonroof. You can feel the heat coming off the overhead with the blind shut. Not sure I would buy it again, we were not happy with the local dealership either.

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  Not What Its Cracked Up to Be - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By pf - February 8 - 5:20 am

  The 2005 Outback is a fine car from the point of view of performance, but after driving it for more than a month, I still cant get comfortable in it. Both I as the driver and my wife as the passenger are pretty cramped after driving for a long distance. The seats are very uncomfortable. Also, there is inadequate room in the back seat. The sloping hood is a detriment, since it makes it difficult to judge ones distance from another car or other object being approached. As a long-time Subaru driver, I am disappointed in this edition.

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  Hum......Not this one - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By A.C - January 21 - 2:06 pm

  I personally do not recommand this car to anyone. Reasons: 1) the interior material does not match what I expect and what it should be in this class. 2) I prefer the pervious generation looks. 3) THe turbo is strong, but after 4th gear, it is getting weak in high speed. 4) It does not have STI version. 5) Seats sucks. Need at least Sparco package. 6) The paint is not well done. Tiny scratch could be seen under summer time.