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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  Subaru WRX STi - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By WRX OWNER - April 20 - 6:43 pm

  I bought the WRX STi a few weeks ago and I can tell you that this car certainly lives up to its name. I have had absolutely no problems with it. I live in the mountains of southern California where there are a lot of windy and hilly roads, which make this car all the more fun to have. It never has a problem climbing any hill. It accelerates from 0-60 in about 5 seconds and the handling ability is unbelievable. The hood scoop and spoiler never rattle around as I had read in some reviews, and also the turbo lag isnt that bad; in fact the low end torque on the STi is better than my dads Porsche 911 Turbo which has 355hp. The 6 disc in-dash CD changer is of excellent quality.

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  great first adult car - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By mufasa1023 - April 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car with 60,000 miles from a graduating med student and so got an amazing price. Its a great car and a nice change from my old ford ranger. AWD is amazing the engine is peppy unless the a/c is on then in drags a bit and has to be punched up a bit to accelerate. Has no glaring problems. Windshield does whistle a bit with crosswinds and it has a strange rattle noise during low end acceleration sometimes but still runs perfectly. It corners like its on rails .

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  Subaru Impreza RS - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By L.H.N. - April 20 - 10:00 am

  So far Ive had this car for a week, and I love it! Its so smooth and handles the roads very well. I cant get enough of its cute and sporty look.

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  12k Update - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By BEACHDOOD - April 20 - 2:40 am

  Having logged over 12000 miles and driving thru various terrains and road conditions, I am still very satisfied with my Forester. The CVT does take time to get used to its power band. If you live in an area with hills and 2 lane roads, suggest you get the turbo. For most driving conditions, the non turbo model works fine. I have noticed gas mileage will dramatically change with terrain and driving habits but overall mileage as expected. I had no issues driving in snow. X mode worked as advertised. I suspect other reviews that complained about performance in snow were probably driving on ice and no vehicle is safe on ice. I have found this vehicle safe, economical and very functional.

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  All good except the seats are a pain - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By roaddogs70 - April 19 - 9:03 am

  Except for the intolerable seats...I like my Subaru and everything else about this car. Economical, reliable, easy to see out of it. Good size trunk. Good in the snow and rough roads. Feels somewhat primitive and mechanical, but well connected. Good build quality. It makes me unhappy to report how uncomfortable this car is on longer trips. My wife and I cant wait to get to a rest stop...just to get out and stretch our backs and behinds. We have taken our Legacy cross country for a 5,000 mile trip...no problems with the car...big problems for us sitting in it. It is really unfortunate these seats feel so uncomfortable.

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  From a Newbie Owner - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Ellie Richardson - April 18 - 6:27 pm

  This rating is based upon two weeks with this vehicle. I cant really respond to some of the questions, i.e. value, reliability or traction.

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  Wheres the manuals? - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Charlie - April 17 - 5:40 pm

  Got my Outback a couple weeks ago. It had been on order for four weeks. Apparently SOA will not be manufacturing/shipping manual transmissions unless there has been a high demand in an area. Only found one dealer located 300 miles away willing to order vehicle. Would have liked to have gotten the bigger engine, but not offered with manual. This is my fourth Outback. It is a BIG car. Handles great. Quiet on hgwy. Mileage around 25. Rear hatch difficult to close. Hidden radio antenna, which causes poor reception. Clock/temp readouts recessed near windshield. Hard to read. MPG gauge worthless. Even with its quirks, great vehicle.

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  Great AWD Hatch - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Extremistno9 - April 17 - 4:50 am

  So far the car has been great. Drove it in a bad snow storm (10-14") and it handled great. I had to push really hard in order for the stability control to kick in. When did, the car straighened out beautifuily. The Outback sport has a slightly raised suspension over the stnd impreza allow it to be taken light offroading plus that allows the snow to not build up as much when driving. The radio is ok, but comes alive when using the aux for a MP3 player. Cargo space is great, seats are comfortable and heated. Dash and conrols are layed out very nice. Gas mileage is decent for a new AWD car. Avg 24 w/mainly city driving. Love the MPG gauge too! Makes you more aware of how you dirve.

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  tdi trade in people, get one! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By chris christo - April 16 - 8:47 pm

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  My favorite car - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By kim - April 16 - 3:03 pm

  A truck doesnt compare. A car doesnt compare. This is the best of both worlds. You have the versatility and payload of a truck, the four wheel capability of a truck, the acceleration of a low end performance car, and the comfort of a low end luxury car.