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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  What a grrrreat CAR!!!!! - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By steve - December 8 - 1:33 pm

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  xv crosstrex - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By cory fouts - December 8 - 6:35 am

  Id buy another one. Recommend buying if looking.

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  Outback review - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By rw - December 8 - 4:12 am

  I compared the Outback with six other brands and found it to have the best features for my use.

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  Forester after One Year - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By FrannyForester - December 7 - 6:10 am

  I have had my Forester for more than one year now. This is my first AT after 40 years on the road. It has been very dependable and is fun to drive. I have an aging mother who needs a walker, and the Forester accommodates it easily. Also, it is easier for her to enter than my previous car. I have had to drive in some severe weather, and the AT has proved easier to handle than I expected.

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  Not perfect, but getting close... - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By LaFamigliaGonzalez - December 6 - 10:00 am

  So far so good, and with Michigan winter coming, well really know for sure. This car replaces our Jeep Wrangler - seems light-years different, I know - but not really! The Outback Sport has WAY MORE luggage and passenger space, is vastly more comfortable on long trips, and uses a LOT LESS fuel. But we never took the Jeep on anything worse than reasonably smooth dirt roads (lots of camping), and the Subaru tromps over those even more comfortably. But I wish it were just a little roomier in the very back. The "styled" hatch really cuts into cargo space.

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  New Subaru - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By misslou - December 5 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a new 2017 legacy. I love the leather seats. Very Comfortable. I like the way it handles on the road. Very smooth ride. I am very pleased with my new car.

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  Great car! Fun to drive. Great performer - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By 2008XT - December 4 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the best cars I have ever driven. The performance of a sports car in a functional everyday vehicle. We need to purchase another vehicle which will be another Outback, but I am not happy that Subaru stopped making the XT model. If you own one and would like be able to buy another one, call Subaru and complain. If enough of us do, maybe they will bring the XT back. In the meantime I guess Im stuck with the 6 cyl.

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  A pretty gas guzzler! - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By SK4417 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I got this vehicle based on the Subaru reputation for safety and reliability. Its safe, alright, but it has been a money pit for me maintenance and fuel- wise. I commute 90 miles a day, and I average 23-25 MPH on the highway. And, hope you never have to replace a tire-- due to the AWD youll need to replace all four. It looks pretty standing, but is a gas guzzler! I wont buy another one or recommend it.

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  2016 WRX base model w/ Short Shifter & Mirror pkg - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Mark Leestma - December 4 - 3:10 am

  Actual Gas Mileage ranges from 27 -33 mpg. Best value for the money. Great styling. Torque can beat with a Lexus GS300 F-Sport @ 306 HP off the line. Handling feels better than a BMW especially on turns.

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  Great AWD car! - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By scheper30 - December 3 - 9:54 pm

  Ive had my 04 Impreza TS wagon for about a year and it has been awesome. I live in Illinois and bought the car in New Jersey, my parents picked up the car and drove it the next day a 1000 miles to me with no trouble. I then drove the car to NJ and back (2000 miles) a month again with no trouble. For a non-tubo model it still has a kick to it from a stop and no trouble passing at highway speeds. My car has 160,000 + miles and runs like new. The cargo area is big enough for what I need, although narrows at the top. All in all I love this car and would highly recomend it. I will definitely buy another Subaru.