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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  Two4one - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Shad3d - May 8 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome mini-truck. You have both a quality sports car and the utility of a small pick up truck. It drives/handles like a european sports sedan with comfort and pep, and you have the open trunk space for those many or large items during shopping or moving.

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  best all around - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By tina fountain - May 8 - 10:00 am

  this car rocks its faster than i ever thought everywhere we go we get compliments by the tons total comfort great mpg for this car we got 29 mpg and that was after a pretty good run from oregon to washington and back i cant say enough about this car by far the best investment we made

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  Great Little Crossover - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By AJ - May 6 - 2:44 pm

  My wife and I bought this new in 2014 and have put about 38,000 miles on the car. Ive driven this car in the rain, snow and gravel roads and it has not let me down. We have the limited trim with leather seats which are comfortable. We have taken it on several road trips and have no gripes on comfort. Ours came with the six speakers sound system and the sound is great. Another plus is the cargo in the rear and theres lots of it with the seats down. MPG wise our Crosstrek has averaged around 27-28 MPG of mostly mixed driving. The car is very reliable, maintenance wise, costs are low and we have only taken it in for scheduled maintenance. The cons of this car would be the transmission and acceleration. The CVT is loud and noisy. The car feels slow and sounds like its struggling when accelerating on the on ramp but I realize that this is not a performance car and therefore it does not bother me as much. Another con would have to be the noisy interior. You can hear a lot of road noise in the car. Overall though I love the car. Especially in bad weather, it will never let you down.

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  Faithful Subaru Owner - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Rhode Island - May 6 - 10:36 am

  Pleasantly surprised on the fuel efficiency. So far Ive averaged more than 26 mpg on every tank of gas and that is for mixed highway & city driving. (Im still waiting for a hybrid or clean diesel from Subaru however). I was looking to purchase the new Outback Wagon, but decided on the new Forester because my husband actually fits comfortably (hes 64") and I liked the visibility. Overall Im excited about the new car & happy with my purchase! I would recommend the Forester to a friend!

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  2.5i 5M - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By zfk - May 5 - 12:10 pm

  Had the base Outback about a month, so far it is a good car. The rear hatch started rattling after only 600 miles took it back to the dealer who fixed it. Compared to other brands this one seems pretty solid. I like the ride, it has plenty of hp, mileage is average just under 28.

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  The answer to all problems: Outback - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By mike - May 5 - 4:50 am

  My 2006 outback is my 3rd vehicle. They say 3rd time is a charm. I am a former pickup truck lover that hated the gas mileage of trucks. I wanted AWD (better for dirt roads and bad weather), better fuel economy, better handling and reliability but also use for utility. The Outback covered all those grounds. 26-31 mpg on highway. Yes, folks I hit 31 mpg on highways of Montana and Maine. Excellent on dirt roads and deep snow. Handles better than my dads 04 Acura TL. Performance rocks... beats both my old 6 cylinder trucks. Not bad for a base 4 cyl. Only complaints is that the oil filter is surrounded by exhaust piping, so it is a pain to remove, and tranny upshifts to early.

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  No issues after a year of driving - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PharmD - May 5 - 2:50 am

  I bought the car shortly after it came out. I wanted to wait at least a year before I submitted a review. So far I love the forester and have no regrets. I test drove the Rav4 and the mazda CX7 and felt the forester was the better car. Fuel consumption has been a bit disappointing. I am getting an average of 18mpg in mostly city driving. I have not experienced the rattling that was mentioned before however, I find the location for the heated seats very inconvenient. With the limited you get 2 additional speakers to which I added the optional subwoofer. Even so the sound is mediocre at best. Overall, the forester is not perfect. However, you get a lot for the money.

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  Squeak/ Rattles Nightmare customer service - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By carhappy1 - May 2 - 3:21 pm

  We bought a Forester 2010 for my wife based on my prior good experience with a 1995 Legacy I had. This car is full of rattles and squeaks. Took it several times to several dealers to get it fixed, the rattles are so bad that we are now stuck with this nightmare. Customer service/ company rep have been great in stone walling the resolution of our problem and making us feeling stupid as if everything is fine despite the dealers agreeing to and working on the problem (though unsuccessfully) multiple times. For one who always told my friends what a great car Subaru makes, now I am so disgusted with the brand I will never own another one.

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  hella good - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By yotawheeler250 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  god i love this car. it is so sexy looking and it is so fast. it handles really good.

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  White Light - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By nancee - May 2 - 10:00 am

  My white STi is the most fun car Ive ever owned. It turns heads with the crowd in the know, and of course, looks like a sleeper that blows the doors off 95% of the other cars out there. But, its a practicle every day driver, and that is important to this woman whos on the go a lot. The car handles supremely, cornering like its part of the pavement. After owning a Durango, and constantly feeling like it was going to tip over, this is such a relief as to make me giggle when Im cornering on Colorado mountain roads. Getting to the speed limit in no time is also fun, but I have to admit, staying there is tough and I gotta break free now and then. Overall? The car is exceptional and fun!