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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  Underpowered car, slow, ok design - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By bob_b - December 7 - 8:50 am

  I have purchased the car and have put 2000 miles on it so far. My initial thoughts: This is underpowered and a slow car. I am not expecting 0-60 in 3 sec but 11 seconds is too slow especially when merging on the highway. I wish all exterior colors would come with dark interior but no, only few (not my type). Also some rattling noise is coming out of the dashboard, not a big thing but can be annoying. The factory roof rack is very flimsy, bad design. On the positive side. The car is roomy on the inside. Seats are very comfortable. All the interior features are functional and placed correctly. Not sure if I had to do all over again if I would buy the same car. Look at other options as well.

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  Return of the rough rider - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By rivernsnow - December 6 - 10:17 pm

  3 or 4 stars, but am giving it the benefit of the doubt. Only had it a couple weeks. The engine has plenty of zip. The CVT noise is only noticable if you floor it, which isnt needed to get quick acceloration. Corners and holds the road really well. Getting 26 MPG all around which is low for my 40 mile RT city/hwy commute. Ill wait till its broken to see if it gets the advertised 28 MPG all around. Styling inside and out is nice. Front seats are quite comfy. The back seats not so much which accent the abrupt or jerky ride. Thats my biggest issue. Annoying even over modestly rough surfaces. Rougher than most of the other small/ midsize SUVs I drove. Subaru needs to work on this .

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  Great Experience - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By tpbco - December 6 - 12:47 pm

  Purchasing my second Subaru has been a great experience. I wanted a car that I could be confident in winter weather. The entire staff at Roberts Subaru in Downingtown PA were outstanding and went out of their way to make sure that I was completely satisfied. The salesman even went to another dealership out of state to get me the car I wanted. I would recommend both Roberts and Subaru to anyone who wants service and reliability.

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  Great Car - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By MDM - December 6 - 12:06 pm

  I bought this to replace the Impreza WRX because I needed the extra cargo space. I have not been disappointed. The fuel economy is reasonable. I have a little over 4000 miles on it and get about 26 MPG for every day driving and it takes regular fuel instead of premium which saves some money. I fill up about evert 330 miles. Drives through snow very well. I drove through 8 inches of wet snow with no issue.

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  Big Improvement over My Honda! - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By 1stSubaru - December 6 - 1:50 am

  I love this car! I looked at many cars over several weeks and decided that the Subaru Legacy was the best value for performance, safety, and comfort. The car is quiet, smooth, and so elegant inside. I have so much fun driving the car. It has the handling of a European sedan and the reliability of a Japanese car. I recently drove the car during heavy rain and flooding - it maintained its stability like a tank. Im very happy with my decision. If you are considering an Accord or Camry, dont make a decision until you try the Legacy. Youll be shocked by the difference!

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  she gave us 130K trouble-free miles - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By kat2015 - December 5 - 12:42 am

  We bought our 2002 Legacy Wagon brand new in 2001. We have put almost 135K miles on her, and now shes burning/leaking about 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Mechanic tells us she has a cracked head gasket and unlike older Subarus, where you could simply put a new engine in the thing for about $1500, these models dont work like that and will require repair for about $2000. So we are shopping for a new car. Most likely another (our 3rd) Subaru, as we are addicted to AWD in the unpredictable northwest winters.

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  From a New Car owner - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Dalen Chiang - December 4 - 11:03 am

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  A lot of car for the price! - 2014 Subaru Impreza
  By rswaim - December 4 - 6:27 am

  Ive had my base model Impreza sedan for about six months now, and I have already put over 12000 miles on it. This car was a fantastic value! I live in MN, so an AWD is essential. Its no WRX, but the 2.0 with a five speed manual gets up to highway speed with ease. I am averaging 34mpg with mixed driving. Gets around 40 on the highway if you know how to drive properly. Im a fairly tall man, 65 and this thing has tons of head and leg room. I check the oil with every fill-up, and it has not used a drop of oil. I have the oil changed every 3500-4000 miles, even though im sure it would make it to 5k with no issues. This is my first Subaru and it wont be my last!

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  Fun, solid car - 2017 Subaru Impreza
  By JMW - December 4 - 6:02 am

  My wife and I were both civic owners for 13+ years each. She got a Crosstrek a few years back, which has been really good to us so far. So when my civic started overstaying its welcome I decided to include subaru in my search. Also test drove a honda civic and toyota corolla. While the Subaru doest exactly have the most potent acceleration- slowest of this group - it is the most fun to drive, in my opinion. The sport trim has a differently-tuned suspension and a tighter steering ratio. Combine these features with the all wheel drive and what you get is a car that you just want to drive. Subaru also got their act together with the interior. The visibility on the subaru is great (corolla is good too). However, the civics rear visibility was lacking because of the cars aggressively sloped rear end. Plus, the subaru just feels way more solidly built than the corolla or civic.

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  Fantastic Car! Buy it if you can! - 2008 Subaru Forester
  By luvmycar7 - December 2 - 12:55 pm

  This is a fabulous car! I have owned my 2008 Subaru Forester for about 2 and a half years now. It has been without a single problem the entire time. One of the things I love most about my Subaru is its versatility. It gets good gas mileage, but I have also used it for hauling huge items of furniture, kayaks, pontoon rafts, 5 people, all the luggage of a long trip for me and my entire family, and building supplies for my house. It is such as safe car as well. My wife was rear ended while in our in our 1998 Subaru Forester by a Ford F250 going fast when she was at a stop. The car completely absorbed the impact and saved her life. After that, we had to get another Subaru Forester.