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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  ok with one major flaw - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By jack frost - February 1 - 8:20 pm

  I rented this car for a week and it was ok, but it has one major flaw. When I got the car from the rental place it was sunny and then I went driving in a wooded area that had shaded areas and I looked down at the speedometer and I could not tell what speed I was at because the speedometer and tach numbers are made with a muted washed out color, I had to take off my sun glasses and still had a hard time seeing the speedometer numbers. I turned on the lights to try and get some back lighting and it did not help much, and this was on a full sunny day. The speedometer and tach are positioned down into the dash board and the numbers are a weird muted washed out light color which are hard to read, and the small lcd screen between the speedometer and tach looks like something from 1970. I took pictures of this and plan to send them to subaru because it is a safety issue. Overal the car was good, but I could never buy one because I need to be able to see what speed I am at.

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  More Uncomfortable Seats of any car - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By usererrr - January 26 - 2:33 am

  We were so excited about getting the Forester - great headroom, legroom. We purchased it yesterday and went for our first day trip today. THE SEATS ARE SO SO SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I stopped at one point to lay out on a picnic table at a park along the road. Zero lumbar support...goofy headrest pointed the wrong way, and knees higher than your rump - all the pressure goes to your low back. I am absolutely so so sad Im stuck with such miserable seats in what seems to be a nice (otherwise) car. Im young, not overweight, and in good health - and these seats are absolutely awful.

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  Bought New and Traded-In after 13 Months - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By 94accordwagon - January 25 - 5:09 pm

  I bought the 2011 Subaru Forester X Premium brand new in December of 2010. I only drove it for a very short local road test which was a mistake. I had the car for a few months and wasnt happy with the bumpy ride, the wheel base is too short. My wife who is my main passenger couldnt stand the passenger seat which is mounted so low with no height adjustment. The heat doesnt blow down on your feet so you take forever to get warm. Gas mileage, particularly with the outdated 4-speed automatic transmission is terrible. I couldnt take it anymore and traded it in in February 2012. I bought 2012 Outback, a softer ride has a longer wheelbase while the car is only 9 inches longer.

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  I may have been unlucky but this thing was hardly reliable - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By jamespeaut - January 13 - 5:49 pm

  Bought car used at 140k (as such this could reflect the previous owners handling of it.) Week 1: Head Gasket, Oxygen filter, timing belt, Radiator leak Week 4: New Tires, New brakes, CV Joints, Bent Axis joint, oil leak Current: Week 8: Headlight electrical system failure. Paid: 4,500 for car. Repair bill: 5000 I may have bought a bum car but Im really not impressed with the outback--Its hardly been reliable or cost effective. Even as a temporary commuter car (I bicycle for most of my work) its cost me a chunk of change. I really wish I had stuck with my old Honda CRV Cons: Gas mileage in cities loud noise from exterior Bumpy ride From what Ive experienced, unreliable

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  Not happy - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By unhappy owner - January 8 - 10:00 am

  First day-blue smoke came out of the tailpipe on startup. Salesman said it should disappear after few hundred mi. After 1 wk it was in service w/ 400 mi with the same problem. Subaru service MGR said "the blue smoke is normal and part of breaking in." Service changed oil & filter for an OC test. This brand new car still blows blue smoke everyday on cold start and even if its been sitting for few hrs. Been going to service once, twice, & even 3x/wk and service MGR keeps telling my that my car is "normal and its part of breaking in." I lose a lot of oil within a wk (1qt+) & still waiting for Subaru to do something. Service refuse to fix the car. 1st time buying new car & not happy with Subaru.