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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  Burns Lots of Oil and Gas - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By Kirk Kraemer - September 20 - 9:52 am

  Lawsuit has been settled and Subaru finally agreed that maybe I should not have to add a quart of $8 oil every 2200 miles. Car has about 118,000 miles and has burned oil excessively the entire time (dealer: "its normal oil burn to go through a quart in as little as 1200 miles). Class action settlement extends warranty for 1 year for cars that are already in excess of 100,000 miles. Specifically traded in my previous Subaru to get the 2012 because of the 37mpg highway on the sticker. I NEVER EVER got over 31 mpg and I drive mostly flat highway with constant speeds. Total BS on the 37mpg.

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  NO CONS! - 2018 Subaru WRX
  By Kevin - September 20 - 2:53 am

  I came from a 2017 VW GTI, which was totaled recently. While i loved that car.. the 2018 WRX is in a whole different league. The handling is magnificent on turns and curves. The acceleration is fun and solid. Yes, the road noise is *slightly* louder than other vehicles, but I doubt anyone interested in buying an AWD, 270HP car that isnt a luxury brand is extremely interested in a purely silent cabin. Im sensitive to noise and its fine for me. Love this car and finally do not have any buyers remorse or looking longingly at other cars. Go take it for a test drive and push it!

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  Love this car! - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By legacylover - September 19 - 7:00 pm

  My new Legacy 2.5i SE is our 6th Subaru and arguably the best. The car is the smoothest riding and shifting car Ive ever owned. At the end of a long day there is nothing like my commute home in it (1/2 hour, city and country driving) to make me forget my day. Better still the fuel mileage is way better than I was expecting (about 29 MPG mixed driving conditions). The seats are really comfortable and the stereo is pretty awesome too. Even though the interior is a little smaller than comparable models, it fits around you giving you a nice blend of sport and luxury. Now I cant wait for wintertime driving and its AWD / traction control. Our other Subaru is 14 years old and we still love it.

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  Great car, but... - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By St.Paul - September 19 - 4:46 pm

  The 2009 Forester is a re-design. Bought Topaz Gold (hides the dirt) and love the huge moonroof. No one told me that the premium package had been seriously downgraded since the previous model year. So, do your research on this car, things have changed. Drives nice, steering is a little light at low speeds, basic cloth seats are cheap w/no lumbar support, tons of road noise with this model, could use a little more power, moonroof not tinted, reclining rear seats are a joke. Go top of the line and get turbo and power leather - youll be happy.

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  Disappointed - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By ib76 - September 19 - 11:53 am

  I was very excited about my new car, but only for 2 weeks. I purchased used car with 12,000 miles. Then problems started- rattles and transmission. My new car didnt accelerate well, made strange noises, took it to the dealer, reflushed transmission and after 3 weeks the same problem came back. Extremely disappointed. Suppose to be fun car to drive but turned out to be a complete disaster. After 3 months I traded in my Tribeca, of course lost a lot of money : (.

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  Drivers seat is uncomfortable - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By jannys - September 19 - 10:00 am

  We have the 35th Anniv Edition-L model. The dual sunroofs are great. I love the car..so far, so good for me. The problem is that my husband finds the front drivers seat very uncomfortable during a long ride. Weve tried different cushions, now were trying it without the cushions. There should be lumbar support. He has wide shoulders, and the bolstered seat is snug on him.Hes only 58" and the seat bothers his legs also. After driving larger cars (like Ford Taurus) the driving area does seem compact. People advise him that over time hell get used to it..well see. So in the meantime, I can do the driving and enjoy it!

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  M3 and C AMG Destroyer - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Analic - September 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a dream come true for all boys older enough to own a licsence. Power, speed, accelleration and oh baby looks that could take a thousand breaths away. This is an experience that can not be described in any words. So get down to a dealer and testdrive a wrx sti and experience life like never before

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  More fun than expected - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By tulsa tom - September 19 - 9:46 am

  This thing handles like a sports car, rides very nice and has quiet interior. I get 26-27 avg mpg using 87 reg. Theres plenty of room to haul camping and fishing gear.

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  My 2000 S - 2000 Subaru Forester
  By declansdad - September 18 - 3:43 pm

  Great vehicle for small/new families.

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  What a great vehicle! - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Irish Mist - September 17 - 7:56 pm

  This vehicle has been outstanding in every way so far. Stylish, responsive, quiet, safe and the balanced design makes it a pleasure to drive. This is our first import and our first 4 cylinder so we researched quite a few vehicles. Once we settled on Subaru, we looked hard at the 2.5 GT turbo. That said, we have no regrets about the decision to go with the standard 2.5i. Plenty of power.