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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  GREAT VALUE AND QUALITY - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By ScienceChick - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Needed to retire my Mustang convertible from daily driver and wanted a practical vehicle that could actually go in bad weather. Generally dont like SUVs, but co-worker has a 2001 S that has been excellent. My car is totally stripped down, yet it still has so many basic features like power windows, doors, and cruise control. Standard cloth seats, A/C and CD player are good enough for me, but 6-CD, leather, moonroof, and climate control are available on higher models. No other smaller hatchback (Ford Focus ZX5, Mazda Protege5, Toyota Matrix)had anywhere near the cargo room.

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  Great Transpo - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By mac/s - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Drive many many highway miles in this delightful vehicle...always comfortable and has never let me down. Snow, rain, fog, heat--always feel safe and secure. Toots right down the road with passing power when I need it. This is my second Subaru, wont be my last.

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  Impreza sti - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By timstein - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Car was great, until a month ago. The car is only 5 months old and I had to have it tuned up 3 times- oil leak, problematic fuses and a faulty odometer! This car is a 2004! , I am disappointed. I regret buying this car.

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  Transmission Problems - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Smitty - May 12 - 6:43 am

  I had less than 8,000 miles on my forester, and had noticed a whining noise. Took it to dealership and they tore down diff. and replaced bearings. Still made the noise. Took it back and they tore diff down again, and replaced pinion bearing. Still made noise. They FINALLY put new transmission in. Hopefully this is just an isolated incident. First Subaru Ive ever owned and feeling nervous if this is whats to come later after warrantee expires. I didnt lease this vehicle either. Other than this problem, Ive no problem with its handling and performance. While forester was in the shop (approx 4 weeks total between repairs) I had an Outback for a loaner and fell in love with that too.

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  Nice vehicle for the price - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Scott - May 11 - 10:34 am

  My 1st Outback-2017 3.6R Limited; Cons: No folding mirrors, No LED fog lights, No auto locks; Digital speedometer is poorly placed-difficult to see w/ steering lowered; Heated steering wheel should be standard, Should be able to see mpg w/o having to toggle all the time; Remote start should not require another fob-annoying, Pros: Accelerates well, smooth ride, comfortable seats, foldable roof rack;

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  its worth a look - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By jagsubaru - May 11 - 4:10 am

  Just picked up the new subaru. Hard to find six cylinder ltd, but in my opinion the six cylinder is the way to go for highway driving. Drove both the 4 cyl and 6 cylinder and the 6 had a lot less road noise and seemed more solid. Drive both before you buy and you will see what I mean, and you can decide if the extra cost of the 6 is worth it. The interior is very comfortable. It would help if the passenger seat had a height adjustment like the drivers seat. It may be cramped for taller passengers if the sunroof option is added. Looked at a lot of suvs and the subaru seemed like a great value for what you get. Try one

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  Fun and Great! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By Jeremiah - May 10 - 10:46 pm

  This car is amazing in some things and ok in others.Starting out with amazing things: great, AWD handles EXCELLENT in rain/snow/mud, great exterior style, drives very smoothly and takes corners very well, 26 MPG. Some of the things I dont like: jerky @ very low speeds in 1st/2nd gear not so much 2nd, inconsistent low fuel light and one rattle Ive noticed under the steering wheel. This car has good pick up speed. The interior is pretty nice, but the seats could be a little more comfortable. Carpet in the car seems a little cheap, hard to get pine needles, dirt etc out of it.This was fixed by buying rubber floor mats I cut to customize fit. Overall a great buy, money well spent VERY safe and a blast.

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  55,000 Mile Review - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By TD - May 10 - 9:32 pm

  Anemic engine, poor gas mileage. Paint cracks and chips easily. Had hood repainted at less than one year, and two years later full of chips and cracks. Noisy interior, horrible acoustics. Navigation horrible. Speakers horrible. Leather is cheap and tears easily. Poor visibility due to high side door panels and hood. Dashboard acts as heat reflector, very uncomfortable in summer. No spare tire due to hybrid battery. At 47,000 miles, hybrid controller glitch activated multiple trouble lights. Took over a week to diagnose and flash update even though it was a recall issue. Auxiliary battery and ISG failed at 49,000 miles "while driving". Very dangerous. Both are part of hybrid system, and although warranty states hybrid system covered to 80,000 miles, was informed by dealer neither item covered. Contacted headquarters and got most of it covered. I baby my car. I maintain the exterior and interior by hand frequently . I installed bug deflector on hood. I drive conservatively, use 91 octane, and have it serviced every 5000 miles. BTW, must use synthetic oil that cost 3 times regular oil, but, unlike other vehicles on synthetic oil, still must replace at normal intervals, i.e., 5000 miles. Hybrid only 13 hp, mileage and power still poor, and is weak link in reliability and requires going only to a dealer for repair.

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  Last Subaru Ill own - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Enough - May 10 - 11:13 am

  This is my 3rd Subaru. I bought it because the first 2 were bulletproof -- no problems. We are at 77k miles now. The head gasket had to be replaced at 72k. Yes it was covered since the car had the coolant treatment. Asking around after it happened, this is now a common problem with the 2.5 engine. Now, the transmission needs to be rebuilt. According to a local transmission shop (not the dealership) 77k on this transmission is good! He often sees them with less. Often? Somewhere Subaru lost the reliability that kept me coming back. The company has refused requests to repair the vehicle. Theyve offered token gestures like a rebate on a new car purchase. Im done with Subaru.

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  buying a preowned Legacy GT - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By darrrel - May 10 - 9:09 am

  i was in the market for a fun to drive sedan. i poured over online reviews, Consumer Reports and generally obsessed over this for about a year. I test drove new BMW 325, Civic Si, Legacy GT, Saab 93, Infinity G, Mazda Speed3, Mitsu Lancer etc...just about everything. At the local Subie dealership they had a preowned 2008 GT. It was love at first drive. So i did a bunch of research and bought it --$20K with 30K miles. I thought it was a great deal...0 buyers remorse. Every time I drive this car I absolutely looooove it...it handles great...is super fast in S# mode, and a dream in the rain. i love the 3 engine modes -- I, S and S#. Subaru certified it - got 100k bumper to bumper for $800.