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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  true - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By rarevos - December 16 - 4:43 am

  Thin sheetmetal, thin paint, notchy shifter, easily customized, fantastic performance, great utility. No other car comes close at this price; nice interior for class. Great seats. Wish the wagon had a sunroof.

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  Headlights are horrible - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Janice - December 15 - 8:10 pm

  I am having a horrible time with headlights. Very little light and hard to see about 12 to 15 feet in front of car. Had headlights adjusted multiple times. So frustrating. Anyone have this problem?

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  Gotta love my 2008 Outback - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Dr. Bob - December 15 - 4:03 pm

  I recently traded cars with my wife. She got the 2007 Lexus ES 350 and I got the 2008 Subaru Outback LL Bean--I won the trade. (OK, we both think we won.) My loves: I (a 6 guy) love the front seating and the views through the windows. I love the solid, absolutely confident feel that the car will go exactly where I point it. I really like the gas mileage. This is a 6 cylinder car, I average 26.1 miles and get 29.4 on the highway driving at a steady 72 mph. The seat fits me like a glove, I love this front seat. Lastly, I love the cargo capacity. You cannot possibly fill this car up. My wishes: I would love brighter headlights and a bigger back seat.

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  Very nice car - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Bill - December 15 - 10:53 am

  Has all the positive attributes of an SUV - AWD, roomy, ground clearance, smooth quiet ride - without the MPG penalty or awkward size. I am getting over 25 MPG in mostly in-town driving, so I expect around 30 on a road trip, which is way better than the EPA estimates and most of the competition. This is my second Subie - I put 142K on my first with few issues, so I anticipate great reliability.

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  2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By d_a_r - December 14 - 7:54 pm

  I bought the car (2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)) on July 2013 after a lot of research and I am overall pleased. Acceleration is great in "S" mode but uses a lot of gas - average is 22.5mpg after 10,700 miles. Exterior design and 18" powder coated wheels are standout in the crowd of small size SUVs.

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  loving my new crosstrek - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By tquigsmay - December 14 - 2:39 pm

  i really missed my saturn vue, but i wanted better gas mileage. i checked out kia sportage, hyunai tucson, honda crv, mazda cx-5, mitsubishi outlander, nissan rouge, ford escape, chevy equinox, and subaru forester. no 1 car had everything on my wish list. i didnt see this car til the last minute when i went to buy the forester. the crosstrek got my attention with the cool wheels and sleek design. this suv had everything on my list except auto headlights and navigational mirrow- direction in rear view mirror. my dealer was pretty cool. they agreed to trade out the mirrors. the way around the no auto headlights is to leave them on-they go off when you turn the car off. i love it so far.

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  Excellent Car. Still an excellent car. Still Great - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Rich Brown - December 14 - 7:45 am

  The 2007 Subaru Forester is a great car. Solid, reliable, roomy, trouble free. I will buy another one. My car was rear ended and sent off to the shop. The Subaru people did a great job making it look like new. They missed replacing a key part and it was very unstable. Subaru said it was fine, but an independent shop spotted the problem and fixed it . The car runs like its brand new! Smooth and comfortable. Im going for 250,000 miles before I even think of trading it in for another Subaru. My 2007 Subaru is still running great. No problems. Wish all cars were made this well.

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  Faster than the law allows - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By A. D. Goordman - December 14 - 7:00 am

  This vehicle should come with a bio-degradable operators licence. Although I have received only one speeding citation, it is because of a good radar-detctor and exceptional good fortune. The performance is breath-taking: in addition to unbelievable acceleration and braking, it corners as if it is on rails. It looks like economy sedan on steroids and if it has a single drawback it is the driver comfort that it lacks. The fuel economy is limited by the weight of ones right foot, but that means it is fair-to-poor milage for my driving style. The STis greatest asset is "Fun" which it has in abundance. It is addictive, so enjoy the abuse if you purchase one.

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  Dont do it! - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By g green - December 14 - 3:33 am

  Car is awful. Had to replace wheel bearing, 2 head gaskets, clutch at 55,000 and am told my transmission is going, emailed Subaru about concerns and was told that is normal and I could purchase an extended warrantee-- yeah that will help after the fact. I have the hill hugger feature that freezes up and wont let you move.

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  One of the bettter vehicles, but not perfect - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By nyken - December 14 - 1:54 am

  I purchased the Impreza Sport Premium two months ago and have put almost 2K miles on it . In general I am very pleased with the Impreza. The styling is far better than for past Impreza models. The interior is roomy and comfortable.Visability is excellent. It drives and handles very well, almost sport like. Gas mileage has been just about what is advertised. I am getting 30 MPG for a mix of highway and city driving. Now all that being said there are a few things about this vehicle that I am not that impressed with. First is the amount of road and tire noise. It is downright loud on some road surfaces. There is also a delay in shifting from reverse to drive.