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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  My First Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Todd - April 29 - 7:43 am

  I purchased a Subaru Impreza WRX 5pd about six months ago. I must say it has been one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. Acceleration is good with the exception of a little turbo lag and the handling is great. The AWD take a bit getting use to being that you need to use a little more clutch than a FWD or RWD vehicle. I can wait to see how it does in the snow this winter. This is my first Subaru, but certainly not the last.

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  A car with the shakes - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Peter - April 28 - 11:13 am

  Car shakes over 60 mph, never felt anything like this in any car. So far disappointing they do not have a fix because they do not know the problem. This is BS, i thinks its the design and they dont want to spend the money to make their customers happy. Too bad without this problem it would be a better car than Honda or Toyota but ultimately it seems like Subaru has failed and will lose market share if they do not correct this problem

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  Great so far - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Teddy - April 28 - 12:40 am

  I purchased the car with my work discount, plus end of the year 0.0% financing, so it turned out to be a great deal. I wasnt sure that I was going to like the car at first, because I switched over from a SUV. But I realized quick that I made a good decision. Comparing to my old truck, mpg is not bad, mainly city driving I get almost 25 average. Being 62 the car is pretty comfortable with the help of the adjusting seat. I definitely recommend the 5spd instead of the automatic, which is kinda sluggish.

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  uses more gas than advertised - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By geo - April 27 - 6:40 pm

  Generally an OK car except it barely gets over 20 MPG and there is a noticeable boxer engine vibration noticeable through the gas pedal from the opposed cylinders. Fairly rough on tire wear.

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  WARNING, DO NOT BUY CROSSTREK - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Steve - April 26 - 1:08 pm

  WARNING, DO NOT buy a Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid or a Crosstrek due to VERY POOR QUALITY. Subaru IS NOT building Hybrid models any longer because the hybrid system is faulty after 2016. What does this mean? Repair costs will be high. Parts will be expensive. Long wait times since technicians no longer need to be certified so there will be less technicians available to fix your car. There is a critical fault in the hybrid motor that will cost you $1,000s and these issues will persist Our car only has 56k miles and its been in the shop for 2 months. They also replaced the drivers seat because the metal frame was sticking thru the leather? Poor quality. We bought a new 2014 Crosstrek hybrid for $31k, 2.7 years ago. Today, 5 Dec 2016, Subaru offered $12,500 for the trade-in? This car depreciates fast. YOU WILL LOSE $12,000 if you buy new after the first year and $19,000 after (2) years. Meanwhile, they get rich. Subaru is not the Subaru we once knew. They are making cheap products that break more often and the car no longer holds the value it once did. PLEASE MAKE A SMART DECISION. Its your money. And they dont care about it.

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  1st time Subie owner - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By LuvMySubie - April 25 - 8:30 pm

  I bought one of the first 2009 Foresters off the boat. This is my 1st time owning a Subaru. So far (2 weeks, 500 miles) I love the car! Good looks (topaz gold), adequate power (5 speed manual shifts tight & smooth), quiet in the cabin, and great MPG (28+). The moonroof is huge. The build quality (espcly for a new model) is flawless. The IPOD i/f is great. And having AWD with the VDC feature is great in snow. Safety features are lengthy & very impressive. Price was competitive. And resale should be great down the road. My only complaints so far are that the HVAC blower is a little noisier than it should be, and the [variable assist] steering feels a bit too light when driving slow.

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  Good and bad - 2001 Subaru Forester
  By CB-Bothell, WA. - April 25 - 4:40 pm

  Bought it new. It is an S with Premium package which only comes with an auto transmission. For a small car it is generally quiet, smooth engine, drives well and is fun to drive and returns reasonable gas mileage (I average 23 - 25 mpg). Driving position is very good, seats are good (a bit too hard), storage space very good, very good stereo. Back seat is fair (insufficient leg room) and cup holders poor. First three years were reliable. Since turning 38,000 miles have replaced alternator at 38,612 miles and at 42,271 miles knock sensor failed. Both on my tab. Repair costs are high for this auto. I like my Subaru, it has a lot going for it, but I will not purchase another, due to reliability issues.

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  2008 LGT 5M Dark Grey Metallic - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By Matt - April 25 - 11:46 am

  Purchased an 08 LGT 5m about a month ago. So far the car has been great. I give it good mpg ratings as my current truck gets about 11 mpg. I was really surprised to get ~26.8 mpg on a 360 mile trip on country roads driving somewhat spirited, this was before the motor has even broken in. I really like the solid quiet interior. The perforated leather seats are great and supportive. Clutch feel is solid thus far and is very easy to drive.

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  1st Subaru - Nice Car!!! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By AJC-Chicago - April 25 - 4:10 am

  Bought today, 50 miles so far. This was my choice over Camry, Accord, Altima since they all had comparable features for the price EXCEPT for AWD. Car runs very smooth and feels solid on the road: The feeling of AWD pushing the vehicle rather than that "pull" feel from front wheel drivers. CVT trans is wowing me as there is no shifting and it cruises quietly: 70mph at about 2100RPM. Engine is very responsive and unless you really need to race, I dont see a need for the Flat-6. Base radio is also very good and cant justify spending the extra 1k for the HK Stereo option. I would recommend test driving this car if youre in the mid-size sedan market. Good luck haggling on a brand new car!

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  Difficult to start at high altitudes - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Jeff - April 24 - 8:00 pm

  All perspective owners should be aware that this vehicle has a known and systemic issue at high altitudes. Specifically, the car is very difficult to start. I live in the Denver area (5200 feet) and took it up to Breckenridge (9200 feet) for the weekend. When we wanted to leave in the morning to go to the slopes I had a very difficult time starting it. This happened again after skiing all day. According to Dealer, this problem is well known by Subaru and they are working on a fix but dont have one yet. I am extremely frustrated (not surprised) that this known issue was not communicated to me by the dealer. I am writing this review to warn other potential buyers of this issue.