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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  Reliability and Value - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By gooddesign - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Nice amount of space offsets abundance of plastic parts in the cabin. Plenty of nooks and crannies. Great value with all-wheel drive.

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  Reliable?? - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By chickentoaster - March 17 - 6:56 pm

  The first 4 years car was alright, just dont expect much in the way of gas mileage. Had to replace rear wheel bearings under the special extended warrentee. Car was so loud that I could not hear the people in the back seat at over 25 mph. Have kept all the service intervals. Dealer says the head gasket is shot and needs to be replaced, estimate $2000.00. Only 71,000 mile on the car. Ive had cars with 150K+ miles with fewer major problems. Headlights burn out about 2 months. Car has a higher than average cost of ownership, intervals for regular service items seem more frequent than other manufacturers. I dont think Ill be getting another Subaru. Not the quality I expected.

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  AMAZING - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Lou - March 17 - 12:30 pm

  Perfect blend of speed and functionality. Absolutely beautiful car, very hard to improve upon.

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  Wanted to love it; absolutely hate it - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By kal13 - March 16 - 10:23 am

  This is my wifes car but I drive it more than her because she cannot stand the road noise, brake noise, lackluster A/C and other querks that cannot be fixed. My wife had wanted a subaru for a while so we traded in her truck for a forester to get better MPG and handling while keeping AWD for winter safety. It has been disappointing from the start. There is horrible wind noise above 35mph that gets exopentially louder with increased speed. Dealer and independent mechanics say it is window/door design and cannot be fixed. brakes squeel embarassingly loud regardless of pad type. It is mediocre at best in the snow - on par with most FWD cars. Head gasket went at 100K mi - $2,000 repair.

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  B9 BINGO! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Anthony - March 14 - 11:10 pm

  This vehicle is awesome! I feel like Im driving a $55,000 vehicle for close to $20,000 less.

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  Awesome - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By STIHawk - March 13 - 9:40 am

  I have had the car for a a month and a half and it has been everything it is advertised as being. Awesome acceleration and handling. I have just over 2000 miles on it because I cant stop driving it. I highly recommend this vehicle ... cant wait for the summer.

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  Love it - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Ken - March 13 - 6:06 am

  I have had the car for three months and like it better than when I bought it.

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  Subaru WRX wagon... - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By babb1 - March 12 - 10:00 am

  It rocks! This car is FUN to drive! And, being a wagon, itll not only haull ass, itll haul stuff!

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  Moving up to the 2016 Outback Limited - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By S D Miller - March 11 - 5:51 pm

  I looked at several other vehicles including the Forester, Hyundai Sport, Volvo X60, VW Tiguan and the Audi Q5. In the end the Outback seemed a much more logical choice for the money. The Outback rode a little better than the Forester and Tiguan, but the Audi Q5 was indeed a nicer vehicle, but at a much greater cost. The Subaru Outback Limited was a loaded vehicle and really liked the latest safety equipment provided. We immediately drove the vehicle from Houston to KC and hit some of the worst rainstorms wed ever been in. There were even tornados. The vehicle handled marvelously and was always sure-footed. The front and back seats were both very comfortable for four adults and handled all of our luggage. The HID lighting was not available, but I will get after-market which is a nice option when driving on old blacktop roads. The only other item not available was a front passenger seat memory & height adjustment. It can be difficult for over 6 ft people when the seat cant be lowered. The engine is very smooth with the transmission, but definitely could use a few more ponies under the hood. However, the trade-off with the 6 cylinder didnt really work for us. There wasnt a big difference in power in the lower range and the mileage dropped quite a bit - as do most larger engines. The Turbo 4 cylinder as in the Forester would be a welcomed option indeed. We did end up getting an extended warranty due to all the electronic equipment on this model. (not shown in total price)

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  luv my subie - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Doug McLeod - March 11 - 8:53 am

  incredibly reliable