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:

• 

  The Perfect Hybred - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By happy owner - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Great versatility & comfort. Perfect car for a Buffalo winter. I like driving a "pickup" in the winter and not worrying about getting there.

• 

  Its a Beast - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By JDT - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. There are few other cars on the road that have no difficulty in smoking Camaros with a full-assembled BBQ in the back. Having tried it in snow, I have never had a more sure-footed car that can perform at that level. This thing accelerates like it was kicked; even on ice. It stops like it is anchored; even on ice. It is extremely nimble and it mixes a huge fun-factor with reasonable practicality. Thank you Subaru.

• 

  Good vehicle - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By psteele - July 31 - 2:00 am

  AWD imparts an amazing sense of stability in the rain, and the very taut (but supple)suspension has a Mercedes/Volvo feel to it. Way above expectations for a $22,000 vehicle. Will never go back to a non-AWD vehicle. In 90 days/2,500 miles, zero problems. Flawless fit & finish & build quality, for mechanicals and trim. We dont drive that fast in town & the base 4 cylinder and auto goes plenty fast enough for us. Ours is the base model, but we appreciate Subaru making the AWD, ABS, 4 wheel disk brakes standard across the line. A Passat or V70 with the same equipment would be $10,000 more.

• 

  Swiss Army Knife on 4 wheels - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Aurora - July 30 - 6:53 pm

  Ive owned it for more than two years and Ive got about 42,000 miles on it. I STILL look forward to my commute! I also end up volunteering to drive my friends everywhere. I really cant think of a better car to have purchased. Its done everything from weekend joyrides to moving an impossible loads. The performance and handling have gotten me out of trouble on the road that I might not have otherwise avoided. Reliability has been spotless other than a few glitches with the lock/unlock beeper. Slipping the clutch at 3000RPM produces little lag. Keep the RPMs above 4000 on a twisty road, and you discover the genuine gran-tourismo character of this car.

• 

  Great car. - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By theairman - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Subaru I have puchased.The comment I find myself making to anyone who asks, is; I love the car, I just wish there was a little more leg room up front. If the drivers front seat track would slide back a least another inch or so, I would be completely satisfied. It is the only thing that comes up short for me. I am 61" and anyone that is any smaller than this will probably not be affected. In all other respects, I am a very satisfied owner. It holds a lot more cargo than you think with outstanding visibility all the way around for the driver. The auto transmission is smooth and predictable. The engine has great pickup and economical as well. I typically get 26- 27 MPG.

• 

  A diamond in the rough - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By TAS - July 30 - 9:33 am

  Traded in a late model Nissan and bought a year-old Tribeca with 9,000 miles on it. This vehicle is a "diamond in the rough". An unbelievable value for what I got. The Limited trim line with the mesh grille and big chrome wheels really set this vehicle apart from the rest of the pack. Overall fit and finish is sexy and superb. Excellent handling and responsive boxer 6 cyl engine give a sense of confidence. This is the first Subaru I have owned, but have family members whove owned several Outbacks and a Legacy GT and I can see why they rave about this often over- looked brand! I wonder what Subarus service dept is like -- hopefully better than Nissans!

• 

  Very Happy - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By J.W. - July 29 - 12:16 pm

  We have had our forester for one year now with 10,000 miles on it. Have not had any problems with it at all. Its every thing we expected and more. Getting good gas mileage, 23 to 24 in town, 27 to 29 highway. We love everything about it.

• 

  Awesome - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Roland - July 29 - 3:24 am

  I drove the 2017 WRX and the STI,and I have to tell you,the only reason I bougt the STI is because it sound better,if feels better,and performs better.that simple,my STI limited it has everything I want on a car.

• 

  Defective Steering/Chassis - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By nass2 - July 28 - 6:32 am

  We recently purchased a new 2014 XV Crosstek that we had to return to the Subarau dealership 2 days later for a full refund due to unrepairable steering and/or chassis problem. The car had strong steering pull to the RIGHT. The dealership attempted to fix the car, but was unable to do so. The service adviser and technician told us that they have been having steering problems with this car. They wanted to have a Subaru engineer come out, so I requested to the alignment specs. The alignment was intentionally set to cause the car to pull LEFT to "correct" the problem, but it still pulled RIGHT. The dealer offered us a different Crosstek, which had the same problem after test driving it.

• 

  not user friendly - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By jarb - July 28 - 5:04 am

  seats are small,and hard as a rock. taki g a long trip is painful.The instrumentation on the steering wheel is obstructed by the plus and minus paddles. The knobs for the radio are very small,and not lit.Also a long reach to operate.the wipers are both defective,one is smearing brown grease, the other not wiping water away.the hub caps are all sticky with unsightly spots everywhere. The heater takes awhile,and the floor mode blows cold air. this is my second outback. this model is nothing like the first one.this is my last outback .the pabel for the time and temperature are hard to find