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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  Cant find a downside to this vehicle - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By subarublue77 - June 6 - 4:08 am

  Did not know SUV existed until I read Consumer Reports. They rated this #1 in small SUV category. I test drove also small SUV Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota and the Forester out classed them all. I bought it used from the Subaru dealership (Jax, FL) and they had the Carfax. Took it to my mechanic and he said everything looked great! Wanted something that seats 4 & back seats go down so I can carry wood for my woodworking projects. Took it on a couple of long drives already and nice smooth ride. Car accelerates well given it is a 4 cylinder. I bought the SUV because of its reliability history and price. I read all the reviews on Edmunds.com and almost everyone liked their Subaru.

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  Saab Owner becomes Subie Owner - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Kenny Steinberg - June 5 - 11:53 pm

  I bought this as a safe city car for my wife and teenage daughter to share. We are very happy with our purchase. I have read here about the imploding turbo engines on these. I have discussed this with my service manager. He said that early VIN versions did indeed have that problem, but that this has been worked out. Hope so! This is a perfect size for us, and fits four people very comfortably, with five in a pinch.

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  Love at first sight! Dare to be Different! - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Kek - June 4 - 11:41 am

  When I first saw my 2017 white Legacy Sport on the Subaru lot, I knew I was going to purchase it. The look of the sport model is fresher than the other Legacy models. After looking at dozens of Camrys and Accords, I just didnt want to be another person trying to get into someone elses car in a large parking lot because their Accord looked exactly like mine. This Legacy is what you get if you want to be unique, and not just another Camry/Accord driver. The safety features (Eyesight, high beam assist, etc) are excellent for a car in this price range and its no wonder all the other midsize cars have scrambled to catch up. The complaints I have are that the AUDIO system is horrible. Had I listened closer during my test drive, I would not have purchased the car because I am a music lover and music sounds horrible in the Legacy. There are no settings you can choose to help it other than balance all the sound onto the back speakers. If youre looking at a Legacy and like a nice AUDIO system, be sure to get the upgraded Harmon Kardon system. Also, the heating system seems to take too long to put out heat. I blame the 4 cylinder engine for this lack of heating power. On very cold days, the car seems to accelerate very sluggishly until it gets warmed up. Again another disadvantage I blame on the 4 cylinder engine. Everything else about the Legacy is great. The price, AWD, safety features and roomy interior are all hard to beat.

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  3.0R around 1k miles initial review - 2009 Subaru Legacy
  By Eui - June 1 - 10:40 am

  This car suit my needs well. 4DR sedan with AWD, enough power, comfortable ride. It has all the features that I need, plus a moon roof that I did not really need (standard on 3.0R). All that for around $25k price tag was acceptable. I dont make much use of SI drive. I leave it on Sport mode, and take it easy on the throttle instead of making the computer do it for me. That way, I get fuel economy and throttle response also when needed. The MPG gauge does not show much of a difference unless I use low gear acceleration with Sport mode. Score of 6 for fuel economy is fair. Any worse then 17 city and 24 highway then I would not have considered this car, and the estimate seems accurate.

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  Not quite the dream car I thought - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Tom - May 30 - 10:06 pm

  The concept of an affordable, reliable, highly rated, economical, AWD, almost SUV that can tow 2400# made this a dream car. But after 5000 miles Im somewhat disappointed. The hillholder on the manual transmission is a PITA. It holds when you dont want it to and I feel like a drag racer winding up the engine and dumping the clutch to release it. If youre an experienced MT driver have them disconnect it before delivery. Otherwise, its $40 to do it later. My other big disappointment is the cruise control, which slows/speeds up on ANY hill. The dealer says its not supposed to work on hills but all my other cars have. They did a software fix today for the low speed lurching. Well see.

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  A blast to drive! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By emonkeyman - May 30 - 8:03 am

  I have owned my 02 WRX for a little over a year now and it is still a blast to drive. It is my daily driver and is comfortable enough to fit the bill. The car never lets me down. If I need to merge, it merges, if I need to stop, it stops, if I need to blaze a dirt road at 60mph, well guess what, It does! I dont foresee parting with this vehicle, even when she turns 100k. I havent noticed any loss in quality or driveability of my car at all. Well, things cant be all good, my only complaint is the gas mileage. I average about 18mpg, and having to use premium fuel 93 octane at $2.70 per gallon; it usually runs me about $40 to fill her up. But then again I didnt buy it for the fuel economy.

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  500 miles and counting - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By coneycone - May 26 - 12:43 am

  So far so good! Moved into the SUBI world from a pontiac grand prix gtp. I love the AWD, the overall looks, internal and external! Could use a wee bit more power, but all in all, you really cant beat the price for a brand new 4 door sedan! I bought a 2008 Pearl White Legacy 2.5i se. Sharp car, rides awesome, could use some better gas mileage, but i give this car a 8.5 outta 10!!

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  Solid car--not splashy - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By slydog39 - May 25 - 1:28 am

  I bought this Forester used several months ago. I have driven 8500 miles. Here are a few observations: It is obvious the car is well built and, if maintained, will be around a long time. The mileage is fair. Hwy is 26.2 City is 21.5 The all wheel drive gives a nice feel in tight turns and in wet weather. The engine has some pep, but I do not use it as a sports car. The interior is somewhat spartan or utilitarian. It will not be mistaken for a luxury car. It is all functional. The seats are comfortable, but not for extremenly long travels.

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  Fun and practical - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By lamtrc - May 23 - 11:00 pm

  200hp+ cars nowadays are a dime for a dozen, but not many get it all in one package. The WRX Wagon is compact enough for city dwellers, yet it can swallow a couple extra pieces of luggage or that big-screen tv. Please try that with the new Civic Si. AWD for extra traction in rain or light snow. Roof-rack for a kayak or ski trip. It is no M5 or Corvette, but performance and handling are superb for the price. Cant find anything else like that for $25,000. Unless you are into brands, forget about that 325xi wagon and get the WRX. Then, put the money that you just save in a mutual fund account. One big drawback for young buyers is high insurance costs.

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  2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Stephan - May 23 - 8:46 am

  I bought this car brand-new in September 2008 to replace my 2005 Impreza RS wagon. I love the looks of the new car versus the old - it was long due for a ground-up remodel and they (IMHO) got it right. Upgrading to the outback sport was a no-brainer considering what the package gives you; roof-rack, larger 17" alloy wheels, a far better stereo, 4 wheel disc brakes, upgraded suspension and the very slick VDC. Oh, and you get to say Outback even though its also an Impreza. :) So Subaru calls it a wagon. Why? It doesnt look or smell or taste like a wagon. With the seats up & even with a mild trip to the market, it cant even stuff like a wagon. Call it what it is. A great little 5 door!