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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  The Car I almost Overlooked ! - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By diehard080 - February 9 - 7:38 am

  I had been shopping for a good week and I wanted something that would work for our family of three ( 9 year old boy ) and my wife . I didnt want to waste ridiculous time examining all the possibilities as it gets to the point where your life is consumed in details and these car sites and magazines , dealers , commercials all are the fuel for this confusion and frustration in that what ever car is :the best " or whatever spin they have that day . I wanted the every thing car but NOT an SUV , NOT a crossover but a Reasonably priced sedan that would be a errand runner , dinner limo , tahoe cruiser and more. Well It was Camry, Accord , Chevy Cruise , Ford Fusion . Then I am watching TV ...

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  no regrets - 2000 Subaru Impreza
  By Nick in Calgary - February 9 - 2:00 am

  Overall a versatile, reliable and fun to drive car. Ive had few problems except for noises from heat shields and rear hatch. Interior is cheap in places and frameless windows will let water in from car washes. On the plus side it has been cheap to maintain and no warranty fixes, and I have not babied this car. It goes through 8" of snow/mud and can pack lots of gear. It handles much better than any small SUV and is as quick as many "sports" cars with lots of low end torque. Manual transmission is notchy and gas mileage is not outstanding. Overall a great vehicle for hauling outdoor gear, camping and auction buys.

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  legacy 35th manual wagon - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By frog - February 7 - 10:00 am

  counter the counterspin- The power on this car, especially low down and especially in the 5-speed, is terrific. I am more than happy with the engines response, from in town to highway trips, and I like to keep the SPORT in driving. The handleing on these cars is telepathic. They grip from all four corners, stay flat and remain predictable. The braking gets some complaints, but I hve seen no issues in the first 6K. Interior is handsome, seats fit well after break- in, I recommend lifting them slightly up off their lower setting, and tilting the seat relatively far back to give it a more roomy feel.

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  the best - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By brandon taylor - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This is the best really car ever made!!!!!! "Know other car can win" "Mess with the best die like the rest!" this is my dream car since i have been watchind wrc 1996

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  Fun to drive do everthing vehicle - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By peter james - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt be more pleased with my Forester XT. Two features stand out for me. One, the cars performance exceeds my expectations every time I drive it. The acceleration is outstanding and it holds the road better than many sport sedans. The second feature is the build quality. This is a very solid car. Ive taken it off road twice now. The forester is very solid with no extraneous shaking and the all wheel drive tracks very well in loose dirt. Im actually looking forward to winter. The car also has nice features like the "no role back" breaking for hill starts. It isnt a beautiful car unless your into form following function.

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  Refined excellence exceeds expectations - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Katway - February 7 - 10:00 am

  The Outback 3.0R VDC is an absolutely terrific crossover. It handles like a BMW, takes rough roads like a Land Rover, and accelerates like a Volvo V70R. In my brief ownership, this vehicle has exceeded all expectations. Subaru is clearly making a forward push toward the luxury cars and the 3.0R VDC certainly delivers. I own a Volvo V70R that I like very much, but the Subaru is by far my favorite to drive. Its fun to drive in the city, on the highways, and in the country side. Im a very pleased owner and look forward to years of enjoyment in this vehicle.

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  A great little car! - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By hepsuba - February 6 - 6:13 pm

  This is my 7th Subaru. My oldest was a 1978 and my newest was a 2009, from little 4WD wagons to Outbacks. This is my second Impreza (previous one was a 98). I have to say, of all the Subarus Ive owned, this one may be my favorite. I love its simplicity and its great handling, power, and design. Its what I call very "point and shoot" -the car goes where you want it to when you want it to. Visibility and responsiveness are wonderful. The cabin is simple yet has everything you need. And as others have commented, its the last of the truly good looking Imprezas. The small size is great - park it wherever you want, squeeze into traffic, no problem. A great little car.

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  2005 LL Bean - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By groosejr - February 6 - 2:53 am

  This is the 7th Subaru that we have owned and is yielding the poorest miles per gallon of any. The perforated leather upholstery will now allow spilled items to penatrate the seating and prohibits easy wipe up. Still waiting for GPS to be available. Windows are not sufficiently tinted, requiring after market application. Transmission shift points allow engine to rev too high.

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  Very Happy - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By sekinko - February 5 - 6:21 pm

  we are very happy with the 2016 Outback. Ours is fully loaded with EyeSight. I love the adaptive cruise and use it on the highway all the time. Lane keep assist can be annoying sometimes, especially through construction zones while passing a truck, it wants me to stay in a lane and pushes me too close to the truck. Outback is very comfortable, super quiet, great seats, very impressed with overall luxury feel. lot of soft touch materials in the cabin, some plastics look a beat cheaper tho. Ride is nice, acceleration so so, but its SUV with a 4 cylinder, so thats expected. Gets a good gas mileage. i made 480 miles trip without a stop going 80-85. Very impressed.

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  Fourth Subaru in a row - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Steve - February 5 - 12:10 am

  Two Legacies-- a 1990 and a 1997 (still great at 140K miles) and this is my second Forester. Bigger than the 2004 Forester (especially rear seating) and the styling is much nicer. Looked at all the rest of the bunch but loved the four wheel drive and the Premium comes with the gigantic moonroof, heated seats and a bunch of other nice things for not all that much more than the Base model. Very happy overall with Subarus (my first replaced a Camry that was ready for the junk heap at 95K miles).