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:

• 

  I Hate To Give It Up - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Laura - April 12 - 2:20 am

  Love my Tribeca, my lease is over and I am getting an Acura MDX the acceleration on the Subaru wasnt enough for me very safe vehicle and great paint, the car looks and drives like brand new after 3 yrs. of ownership. I wish they would build a bigger Subaru that was more roomy I have 2 boys and the 4 of us just grew out of this truck. If you travel a lot get the luggage rack because it is a tight squeeze in the back.

• 

  Avoid 2001 manual Foresters - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By disappointed subie - April 11 - 1:03 pm

  There must be something about 2001 manual Foresters. We had all sorts of trouble with our 2001 manual L model. Almost from the start, we had problems with shudder and gear grinding/engagement. Since 2001, weve gone through four new clutches, two TSB services and a total transmission replacement. They were all covered under warranty, but not without a lot of grief, letters to Subaru headquarters and, most recently, a month of the Forester being in the shop. When the transmission started grinding again (six weeks after the transmission replacement) we decided that was the last straw. We traded in the Forester for a new Honda Accord EX V6 coupe. Were keeping our Outback, tho.

• 

  Great Car! (except for the steering recall) - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Jan Carlson - April 11 - 11:03 am

  Had my Outback just two weeks when the vehicle was recalled for steering problems. My dealer (Troncalli Subaru, Cumming GA)) was very proactive in resolving this - called us the morning of the recall and gave us a nice rental car to keep until the car has been fixed. Bad problem, very nicely handled.

• 

  Good car with some flaws - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Peter - April 10 - 5:56 am

  I bought it because I wanted something practical (wagon), safe (AWD), fun to drive (manual, turbo), reliable (made in Japan) and reasonably priced (slightly over $21K). I have owned the car for almost 3 years (33K miles). Overall it has been a pleasant experience. Fuel economy is decent (on average about 26 mpg). The car is kind of sluggish off the line tough (turbo lag), and even once the turbo kicks in it does not appear to deliver advertised acceleration. My major gripes pertain to the gear box and paint quality. First I got grinding while shifting into the 5th gear. Now I am getting occasional grind while shifting into the 1st. Paint is very week - millions of chips on the hood and fenders.

• 

  Very Impressive! - 2018 Subaru Forester
  By DM - April 10 - 3:47 am

  I spent the better part of a year researching SUVs as Im also the owner of a 2004 Tacoma TRD Off-Road. Having spent 13 years in that truck, I was getting a little tired of the stiff ride and poor gas mileage, but I need something that can handle some off-road as well as poor driving conditions in the winter. I was thinking of trading my truck for either a new Tacoma or a 4Runner, but really didnt feel like Id get anything very different, especially from an MPG standpoint. Enter the Forester. My biggest concern was the available "get up and go" since I live at about 6100 ft in Colorado and frequently drive into the mountains where 10,000+ ft is common. The XT was an obvious consideration but the MPG of the Limited 2.5i was very enticing. After test driving the 2.5i up the local pass, I decided it would suffice. Ive got 2000 miles on the car and many of them are mountain driving. No power issues whatsoever! Ill admit Im not racer, but I usually go about 5mph over the speed limit and have really had no problem with acceleration or keeping the speed up at all with the 2.5i. If I could have gotten blind spot and RCTA on the XT without going all the way to a Touring model, Id have probably gone that route (although I much prefer regular gas to premium). Anyway, the Limited 2.5i has a very comfortable ride and Im averaging about 28mpg in town and 35mpg on the interstate...again, at real altitude! Also, I got to keep my truck! I couldnt be happier with my decision.

• 

  Lots of little problems. - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By deepsky - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Ive had lots of small problems with this vehicle. Oil leaks, transmission popping out of gear, piston slap noise from engine, all occuring immediately after the warranty expired at 50,000 miles. All of these things take away from the fact that this is a nice little SUV. It handles great in the snow and has a lot of nice little features, although the back seat is really too small for a rear-facing child seat.

• 

  2003 Baja rates tops - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By rmiam - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle. Weve had zero problems. Great gas milage for its size.

• 

  Sleeper Wagon, able and quick - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By P-band - April 10 - 2:00 am

  The engine, once in the power band, is raw power, serious, and breathless. The boxer flat-four gives a unique engine sound reminiscent of the traditional Porsche 911. With AWD, handling is phenomenal. Performance outperforms price and other cars in similar price range. In fact, the performance rivals that of cars priced far higher! Overall, for the price of such a playful, demonic little sport wagon, I am extremely happy with the purchase. Highly recommended for those wanting a genuinely high- performing sports car with the skill to do the tasks of small SUVs!

• 

  Brakes - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Vermont owner - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I do like my 2002 Outback Wagon. BUT there seems to be problems with the brakes on the Outbacks. I drive a 5- speed standard, mostly interstate driving of 100 miles at a time. I had new brakes at 14,000 miles and another set of brakes at 25,000 miles. There also seems to be problems with needing to replace the head gasket at anywhere between 40,000 and 60,000 miles. This is unheard of in vehicles as this problem doesnt unually occur until 100,000 miles. Id be interested to hear if other folks are seeing and having these problems.

• 

  WOW - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By WOW - April 10 - 1:53 am

  Im recently out of a 2002 Civic Ex and into an Impreza RS 2.5 auto. I was shocked to see how much my Subaru rode and handled like a VW. The Subaru is rock solid, has excellent handling and sticks to the road like glue. Made my old Civic EX feel like I was driving a wheelbarrow. Fit and finish are on par with the rest of Japan. This vehicle comes highly recommended