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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  XT Premium - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By xtpremium - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Traded an 01 Outback for the 04 XT with the Premium package. The vehicle is very comfortable to drive in. The power is amazing. There is nothing I dont like about this car. It handles with precision in all elements, including ice and snow. No other SUV in this class came close to the offerings this has. I also very much like the safety rating based on crash test results. Excellent buy.

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  cant get any better than this - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By tekfoc - December 3 - 2:00 am

  if you want a car that can do it all this is the car for you.new to the u.s. but not new to the world.a car with real life combat exspieriance called world rally raceing.I strongly recomend that you have alot of driving time with performance cars.and please dont buy your kid this car,you will have lots of trouble.

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  My STI - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By mrkmndza - December 3 - 2:00 am

  With 300 HP and 300 Ft pounds of torque this beast goes up hills like nothing. You guyz did a great job on desinging this machine.

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  My Subaru, too - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By FreBra - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Needs more head room in front and more leg room in rear. Difficult to enter and exit the front seats due to the windshield post(s) incline. Definitely not a 5 passenger (adult) vehicle.

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  Great car for the snow areas. - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Myron Winchester - December 2 - 8:19 pm

  High ground clearance, but not a tall car. All-wheel drive has help me out so much these 8 years. With great traction for going or stopping, I can not praise it enough. Though, with all-wheel drive, the gas mileage suffers.

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  Great Car! - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Real but Anonymous - November 30 - 7:12 pm

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  Not just a WRX on steroids - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Ichiro - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven and owned a variety of Subaru cars for the last ten years. My previous car being a 2002 WRX which Ive had for over three years. So when I first got to test drive the STi, I just couldnt believe the difference in performance, especially in cornering speed and suspension dynamics. The 6MT transmission (with factory installed short shifter) is the best manual transmission Subaru has to offer by far. NVH? I call that communication with the road. Its funny, my 2005 STi has the EXACT same rattles as my 2002 WRX. I wouldnt have it any other way.

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  2005 Aspen White STI - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Jamie McMillin - November 29 - 10:00 am

  New for the 2005 STI: new Helical Front limited slip differential new power steering oil cooler new wider 8" wheel (replaces 7.5") new rear wheel arch flares, body colored (because the new 8" whl?) new Immobilizer key, 3 supplied. Needed to start car new climate control new air filtration new smoked headlight lens new re-designed keyless remote fob new seat cushion side bolster material new center console cupholders, replaces the one by the center vent new sam/fm/CD changer w/ bass, mid, treble adjustments, 6 spkrs new door armrest redesigned, now cloth, includes mirror controls new colors I love this car!!

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  Great All Around - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By james - November 27 - 9:46 am

  I was attracted to the Outback Limited 2.5 with the CVT because the design and engineering are very well integrated. The horizontally opposed 4 cylinder engine mated with the continuously variable transmission work harmoniously to give the symmetrical all wheel drive a stable grip on most surfaces. Paddle shifters are great. I got the Outback to travel between upstate NYs snows and New York City. I like to get out on some less than smooth back roads and a lot of NY city roads are as rough as back roads; the Outback takes it all and delivers a fine ride. I got the car loaded with everything except the moon roof and the GPS. The interior is luxurious without being over the top.

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  This Wagon Hauls More than Groceries... - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Adam - November 27 - 12:03 am

  Picked the car up in Dec. 05 as a new 05 model, The dealer was more than enthusiastic to unload the car (last years model) and now I am more than enthusiastic to drive the car like it was meant to be driven. Power from the turbo-4 is more seamless than any turbo Ive driven before. The engine is almost too quiet -- Ive stalled it a couple of times because I cant hear the engine. As for fuel economy concerns, they are simply a matter of right foot activity. Lay off the accelerator, and it will give you 30mpg plus in highway driving. But wheres the fun in that?