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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  A winner for affordable compact SUV - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By taco2bme - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I was shopping around and a friend told me about her Forester. She was right! The Forester has an excellent safety rating, which was important to me, and living in the north, AWD is ideal. However, it rides like a car which is also a plus. Id recommend to anyone.

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  The Best in Snow - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By Dragan - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased this car and had an opportunity to drive it in fresh snow the same day. I could not beleive how easy and at the same time fun was to drive this incredible machine. It is so nice to push it in the controlled slide, press the accelerator and enjoy... the most fun to drive car I ever had.

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  Great All-Weather Sports Sedan - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By d__w__a - June 11 - 2:00 am

  This is a fantastic automobile. Ive had mine for almost two years and its been a great experience. I got one of the first ones and the only "problem" Ive had was an overly sensitive system control computer which displayed "check engine" warnings after prolonged high-rpm driving. The car was out of commission for a few days to have the unit re-programmed and I havent had a problem since. The car is roomy (for a compact), comfortable and. most importantly, a blast to drive.

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  A Nice Ride - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By Doc9x - June 11 - 2:00 am

  This is a very capable vehicle. I have used mine to haul LOTS of stuff on cross-California trips, sometimes traveling at speeds of 95 mph or more. It provides a very solid, comfortable ride. Its great on the highway. I have used the rack to transport items with no problems. There is some wind noise at times, particularly at speeds over 70 mph. I find that at 165 horsepower, there is plenty of power. I havent had any problems and Ive put on almost 9,000 miles in five months. Gas mileage isn’t bad for a car of this size (28 mpg highway @ 65-75 mph).

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  Excellent car - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By D.B. Cameron - June 11 - 12:40 am

  This is my third Subaru. The first (1985) lasted 10 years (in Ohio salt country); the second, 11 years (Ohio - > California); the third is just 1.5 years old and doing very well. Almost no post purchase fix ups. Very reliable. Decent fuel mileage (26-27), Really fine road handling (I used to have sports cars), great "mudder" (I live in the mountains and ski a fair amount). Good night road view. Only irritating problem is that, compared with my old Legacy, it is larger on the outside and smaller on the inside; strange engineering. So far, at least, it looks like another 10 or 12 year investment.

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  poor redesign of oil drain plug washer - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By bergerb2 - June 10 - 4:40 am

  first oil change - get oil on garage floor. think its carelss cleanup. several weaks later - still fresh oil. back to dealer - and its the crushable washer/gasket thatr was not seated correctly and/or overtorqued. told it needs to be replaced each time. seem to confirm on various web sites. design looks like the pull tab on a pop- top can. done to save money or enrich subaru dealers. either way it stinks.

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  WRX has No downsides - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By David - June 10 - 1:33 am

  I have a 05 WRX in World Rally Blue with 16 inch rims and this car has been so much fun. 13,000 miles on her now and no problems. All wheel drive really helped when a friend and I were caught in a snow blizzard. We never needed chains but I saw that mostly everyone else did; even those big full size and 1 ton trucks need chains on and in 4 wheel drive.

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  Reliable Car - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Blueimpreza - June 9 - 9:00 am

  I bought this impreza l coupe 3 months ago for my job. I have put 10k miles on it in 3 months and this car has been amazing inside and out. If you want a reliable motor the 2.2 is the way to go as long as you do your basic maintenance this car will go above 200k mark easy. This is my 2nd Subaru and i can say that for the price, this is the best investment ive made.

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  Happy after 2 weeks - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By chicagoblues - June 8 - 6:00 pm

  Ive had my 14 Forester in the Limited trim model and Ive been delighted. So many things people have already noted are true: the terrific visibility, the great mileage, the quality of the interior features, the quiet and stable ride. Ive noticed, too, that it has a nimble feel, with a very tight turning radius. Responsive steering, perfectly adequate acceleration with the CVT normally aspirated engine. Im happy with the sound system--I went for the tweeter upgrade--and I like the all weather package, power lift gate and leather which are standard on the Limited.

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  love it. - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Riley - June 7 - 3:20 pm

  I really like this car. The interior design is the perfect blend of sporty and classy. It feels upscale but still racy. I would love to see a boost gauge somewhere though. The AWD is great in snow and rain (and grips like crazy on dry pavement!). Only a couple gripes - 25mpg is poor for a midsize sedan, even though it is turbocharged with AWD. Also, the rear seats dont fold down, and its a little hard to use the power outlet in the dash (folds out). I also would have liked to see an aux audio jack for mp3 players. The car drives like a dream, blows anything else in its class out of the water, and looks great. The transmission really isnt half bad for an autobox.