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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  Hello Safe Drivers: Get the LEGACY - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By anne - November 3 - 1:20 pm

  Race-car drivers can ignore this. Smart, safe drivers should get the Legacy. My Buick skid on a wet road and crashed badly. Wanted Subaru Legacy for AWD and safety features, but decided to save money and get Impreza. AWD is great. No one regrets buying Legacy. Gas mileage is better in small car, but Legacy is the better car.

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  2010 Subaru Forester - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By RC - November 2 - 5:33 am

  We have had this car about 3-months. It is a little rough around the edges. It has a lot of power in a 4-cylinder engine though a little noisy when first started. It is comfortable and easy to drive, but my wife complains the rear hatch is heavy and hard to close. The car has the all-weather package which is excellent. Windshield and mirrors are easy to clear of snow/sleet/fog. I am disappointed in features it is missing. Homelink is extra. Bluetooth is extra. Backup camera is extra. The radio sounds flat and CDs sound like something is missing.

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  If I needed one car to do everything.... - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Chad Cummins - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is the Champ at doing everything well. Sports car feel with small SUV cargo and sedan milage. Price is very good for what you get.

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  try it, youll want to buy it - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By DONNA jb - October 31 - 4:38 am

  the climate feature is wonderful never knew how much I was fiddling with it to be comfortable, visibility very good, drives and rides really really nice,

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  Great Subaru Cant Go Wrong - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By barufan - October 31 - 12:32 am

  This car has been rock solid. Over 150,000 miles and counting. The review that talks about the shifting, just drop into 3rd on the automatic in-town; the 4th gear is overdrive for the highway...read the manual! The head gaskets have been an issue, but there is a replacement gasket that permanently fixes the problem. I did mine as a preventative and it is still cheaper to own than many other car brands that I wont mention. I think this is a great car and will buy Subarus forever. Cant wait for the diesel model to hit the US.

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  Excellent car so far - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Alex - October 30 - 12:40 pm

  First Subaru in my household and whole family loves it. No bad things so far.

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  Fast and balanced - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By W.C. - October 29 - 5:53 pm

  Bought the car a month ago and love every minute driving the WRX. My 2nd Subaru (2005 OBS) and WRX higher quality materials, cluster, seats. Much faster too. Extraordinarily spacious with 5 door, able to fit a whole patio furniture set no problem. Living in NYC, wanted AWD and looked at Audis but the 5 door WRX balances driving fun with practicality of everyday living for a little less money. I have grey metallic and its beautiful, thought the OBS was bland w/o the scoop. Look forward to each moment behind the wheel.

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  First Subaru - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Derek - October 29 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 2004 Lancer Ralliart before this with alot of mods, but got into a non-fault collision. I then settled for a Subaru because it was either Mitsu or Subi. I absolutely love this vehicle. Its not as fast as my Lancer was, but i also had more stuff in it than the Impreza. Things i dont like about this car is that aftermarket parts are extremely limited. Aside from aftermarket parts, this car is absolutely fantastic to drive. Hauls big time, and looks sleek and sexy. Interior is a great design, and my favorite feature is the shape of the headlights and front end. Its too bad they didnt have a clutch that can take a beating.

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  Awesome Ride - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Sean - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Traded in my 2004 Impreza RS for a 2010 XT Limited. This thing handles like a dream. The ride is great, very smooth, great pick up. The stock turbo isnt too bad, would be nice to have WRX type power though. I like the interior and the cargo room, its great for the kids aka dogs. It would be nice to have a better stock stereo, (like the Harmon Kardon in the Outback LTD) I did purchase a Limited edition after all. iPod interface would be nice as well as opposed to just AUX jack. I love the monster sized moon roof, the

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  What a Find - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Landshark - October 28 - 3:46 pm

  I am not your "typical" import buyer. I only owned one other import make in my life and that was a Honda Civic I purchased new. That was built in Ohio, and this car is built in Indiana - an excellent selling point for me. My son crashed my Saturn Aura so I was put into the used car market, and my wife and I settled on looking for a good buy on a Subaru since we did not really want to have 2 trucks or SUVs. This little machine is great. I dont live where I can do the things I really like very often(boat, fish, swim, jet ski) but what we do have is some excellent twisty, hilly roads that those in coastal locals often dont have. With the Subaru,I get to have fun on my way home from work! Get1!