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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  Mostly good - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Kathy - April 25 - 5:10 am

  The car is almost as good as I expected. I like everything except the cruise control. Mine wont work and I cant get Subaru to fix it. Ive been to the dealership twice and they say to wait until November when they "might" have a solution. Ive tried to contact the regional customer service but so far, no one has bothered to call me back. Its been three weeks since the problem was first reported.

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  Great vehicle for tall people - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By sprivasky - April 24 - 9:18 pm

  This is my first time owning a Subaru and I am very pleased. I am 68" tall and could not be happier in this vehicle. The leg room and head room are fantastic, the ride is very comfortable, and the AWD feature is great. The exterior design is sharp and the interior design is simple. There is plenty of cargo room and the sun roof does not reduce the amount of headroom I have. The driver seat is very comfortable for long road trips and my passengers have commented on their comfortable seats. The Touring edition provides several key features that make it worth the extra money when compared to the Limited. Ive only driven it 2,000 plus miles, but absolutely love this vehicle.

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  pleased - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By ozarks - April 24 - 1:12 pm

  After weeks of serious comparison and review, I settled on the Subaru Legacy as a new car purchase. The fit and finish is fine and the car is very comfortable and has excellent room for passengers. It is a mid-size vehicle. The car handles well and very little body roll in sharp transitions. The dash layout isnt as pretty as some competitors but the seats are excellent and the Harmon/Kardon optional sound system is good. Interface with iPhone was easy. My only disappointment at this stage is MPG, it isnt returning what I expected. The CVT is smooth but I didnt see anything close to 32 on the HWY on my first road trip. Im not a heavy foot driver and not a jackrabbit start or stop driver

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  2003 Subaru Forester X - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Joe C - April 24 - 10:00 am

  After researching small, safe SUVs for over a year, I narrowed my searched between the Subaru Forester and the Honda CRV. The cars were so close in every possible category it was a difficult decision. The final decision was based on safety. Government and insurance safety ratings for the 2002 Foresters were slightly ahead of the 2002 CRVs. So far, I love the car, and have not had any problems. Its safe and fun to drive.

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  WRX Lite - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By toolatecrew - April 24 - 10:00 am

  My Wife wanted the Outback and I wanted the WRX lead us to compromise on the RS. Other cars may generage more Gs on the skid pad but thow the bumps in and the supple suspension, stiff body and 4wd traction makes you faster around corners in the real world.Engine is tourqiest in class by far. The seats are the best feature of the interior.. The stereo is horrible and there is no excuse for it in a car at this price level.Exterior styling is "different" I like the WRX fender flares but the lack of std. fog lights is once again kinda cheap. Overall the car is great for somone who needs to drive in snow and on less than perfect roads.

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  Fun car, turns heads - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Thomas - April 23 - 2:50 am

  For a young single homeowner living in Minnesota, there isnt a better car in the world! It turns heads, it hauls lumber home and most furniture, and it seats four confortably. Rear passengers will complain about leg room. All wheel drive makes the car a lot of fun to drive on dry pavement, and easy to handle on ice and snow. Everything inthe truck feels solid - the doors, the tailgate, interior parts. However, I docked my truck a few points for reliability because I am having problems with clutch judder. Would like more power but with a stick its acceptable.

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  Great ideas, but rough around the edges - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By PCtechGUY - April 22 - 9:00 am

  Purchased this car about five months ago for the AWD. AWD is great, but does add extra weight to the car. This slows acceleration, but worst of all, you can feel the shifting in the tranny much more so than a FWD. Tranny is the worst part of this car. You hit overdrive at 35 mph, and if you coast at 35-40, it kicks in and out of overdrive constantly for hills, as well as everytime you have to bleed off speed for curves, which makes for a jerky ride. Under normal driving conditions, the car will do a lot of shifting, and the tranny is not the smoothest shifter. Interior quality is good, but could have been a little better. The knobs for the AC and heater feel a little cheap.

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  Traded in 1997 Outback, should have kept it! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By jpm2 - April 22 - 7:24 am

  I bought this 2010 in Dec 2009 and ready to trade it in for something other than Subaru. 1st, the old OB had a car chassis (great ) and now an SUV/Truck chassis (awful). 3 recalls, stalling with A/C on full, squeaky seats, under powered engine, cant find door unlock button at night, rocky and jolting ride (Truck chassis). This car is much bigger than the real station wagon Outback. I wish I knew at the time Subaru made these major, value destroying changes, to the Outback. We are very disappointed with this car and I wish I knew they made these

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  gas miliage - 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
  By davebclawson - April 21 - 11:10 am

  This car gets 36 to 40 mpg at 55 miles per hour At 60 miles per hour it gets 33.3 to 37 mpg. At 75 miles per hour it only gets 26 to 29 mpg.

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  160K Trade In becomes my value buy - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By Bob - April 21 - 6:13 am

  I observed this car in a driveway with a for sale sign. It was red and looked new. I was surprised when I found out it had 160,000 miles on it and had been left at a local dealer with blown head gaskets. The person selling it bought it from the dealer and had new head gaskets put in. I used to work on cars and I could tell it had been done. The car had a big sunroof and all wheel drive. At $4500 what could I lose? The car also had to have a new windshield put in to pass inspection. Since purchasing the car Ive driven it on two long distance drives of 1,000 miles round trip. The gas mileage is excellent and everything works great. The AC is outstanding. A bargain!