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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  Lots of good things, but major flaws too - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By Ken - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Almost a great car, but seats could be improved and I found the headrest to be very uncomfortable. Certain bass notes even at normal volume cause the door panels to rattle like a cheap car from the 80s. They should not try to produce any bass in the door speakers and instead use a subwoofer towards the back of the car like youll find in any car with a nice sound system. I have the bass at -7 to stop the rattle, and may try a small aftermarket subwoofer in the back (good bye cargo space), not sure it will work. 4-speed trans needs an extra gear. Otherwise happy. Would recommend if they can fix these problems.

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  New Car Engine Vibration - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Mike 5150 - February 25 - 11:53 pm

  I am very concerned about the engine vibration at idle on this car. It is very disconcerting to be sitting in a car with just over 1,000 miles on it and feel the engine vibrate. I called Service and the guy said that the Boxer engines tend to do this due to the alignment of the pistons. A look at the Subaru website says that a characteristic of the Boxster engine is REDUCED engine vibration. I look forward to presenting the Service adviser with this information tomorrow morning. Reliability is a big selling point for Subaru, but I am extremely concerned about mine.

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  Not happy - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By gideon2 - February 19 - 6:06 am

  I hate this car. Traded Grand Cherokee for new Outback 2.5 Premium. Car is running like cement mixer at low speeds. Can not adjust driver seat to be comfortable. After 30 minutes of driving seat is cutting of circulation in my leg and that is everyday struggle. Engine is noisy on highway and AC in summer is not so good. Gas mileage is as posted in manual.I can’t wait to get rid of this car.

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  Falls just short in almost every category - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By rallyguy - February 11 - 7:21 am

  Bought the car in September of 2013. I was looking at several but decided on this as I couldnt afford the gas bill for the premium fuel only WRX and this car still had the famous Subaru AWD but also boasted very good gas mileage. So far at 6000 miles with largely conservative highway driving I am getting worse mileage than my girlfriends 250hp BMW. Worse mileage. It feels under-powered even for a 148hp car (the dealer says "it will really open up at 10000mi" lol) and the AWD has not been as advertised. Ive gotten stuck and had to be pulled out three times on a dirt road that my old sports car did not have trouble with. This car is so close .. but fails.

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  Clutch Problems - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By in NJ - February 2 - 10:23 pm

  In 3 years our only real complaint is the clutch. From day 1, when you try to shift into first gear when the car has not been run for a few hours, the entire car shudders and bucks like you are learning to drive a manual for the first time. There is another review in here that mentions the same problem. Make sure you drive this car cold before you purchase. Otherwise, we are pretty happy with the car.

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  My First Subaru, My Last Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Paul - January 29 - 9:12 pm

  As my title might indicate, I didnt have a very good Subaru experience. The WRX has good power and roadholding ability, however it doesnt have the Japanese car reliability that I was expecting. Ive owned Hondas, Mazdas, Fords, and even Chryslers all with manual transmissions. And this Subaru was the first car that Ive owned that needed a new transmission, at only 83k miles. Before needing a new transmission it was very hard to get into reverse, sometimes 1st, and even 2nd gear at times. After replacing the transmission, costing $4k, I have been able to get it into 1st and 2nd but reverse is still an experience. Other than that its had 5 safety recalls and has had a class-action lawsuit due to failure of the firewall spot welds. Im not a driver thats hard on vehicles, but I dont like vehicles that are hard on the drivers.

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  My First Subaru, My Last Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Paul - January 29 - 9:12 pm

  As my title might indicate, I didnt have a very good Subaru experience. The WRX has good power and roadholding ability, however it doesnt have the Japanese car reliability that I was expecting. Ive owned Hondas, Mazdas, Fords, and even Chryslers all with manual transmissions. And this Subaru was the first car that Ive owned that needed a new transmission, at only 83k miles. Before needing a new transmission it was very hard to get into reverse, sometimes 1st, and even 2nd gear at times. After replacing the transmission, costing $4k, I have been able to get it into 1st and 2nd but reverse is still an experience. Other than that its had 5 safety recalls and has had a class-action lawsuit due to failure of the firewall spot welds. Im not a driver thats hard on vehicles, but I dont like vehicles that are hard on the drivers.

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  Very disaponted - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Dispointed - January 27 - 10:00 am

  If you are considering this vehicle be very wary of the stock Bridgestone Potenza tires and interior trim quality. My vehicle began suffering fron bubling and craks in the door trim and centre arm rest. Also fit and finish is well below standard for a vehicle of this price. Watch for problems with leaky sunroofs as well. I was told by the dealer that they are common due to dirt accumulating in a drain tube in the sunroof assemly. Fun to drive but not worth the money!

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  Love the performance, hate the repairs - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By rgdave - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The winding, mountainous roads around me are a kick in my WRX, with power, pickup and handling. (Even Porsche and BMW driving friends LOVE driving it!) But gravel and rutted roads are tough on the tires (on my 2nd set), brakes (going in for its 2nd brake job at 27,000 mi.) and alignment (cant seem to hold it.) Could use a little more ground clearance. Doubt Id buy it again because of the brake and tire problems.

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  Dissatisfied - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Dissatisfied - January 26 - 9:43 pm

  This is the 7th Subaru that I have either owned or leased (5 owned and 2 leased) and this the worst experience I have had so far. The initial concept is good, but the end product definitely needs improvement. I drive 30,000 miles a year in MN. Poor windshield wiper design (front and back), build quality needs to be upgraded (had a water leak in the vent system and now I have major mildew problems. Poor placement of heated seat switches, auxiliary outlet plug, and IPOD plug. Heat is either off or on with poor modulation. Poor design on center storage/cup holders. Needs a five speed transmission; hunts for gears all the time. Buy an Outback. Forester missed the mark, at least for now.