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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  turbo lag, too much, cant stand it - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By jase - September 8 - 8:21 am

  this is my first sti, Turbo lag, cant stand it. worst than the mini jcw I own couple years back. its powerful as far as 4 cylinders goes, but makes me feel like driving one of those Honda civic si, high rpm all the time but a lot faster. I bought it cause its a all season car and Im in NYC. STI in japan has more power, s207. I hate Japanese products including cars now. They keep their best products in their domestic markets like their phones and Walkman in the 90s. trade it in for a m2 recently, the dash of a M2 is hideous, worst than the STI. But no more turbo lag.

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  Great little car - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Lc - September 8 - 2:46 am

  In/out easy hip height seats

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  Sticks to the road with an attitude.... - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Montana Man - September 7 - 4:50 pm

  Another great Subie. I have an 08 Outback and a 09 WRX. Fast?....oh yea! Handles like a rally car and goes in the snow. The best of both worlds, along with Subarus legendary reliability. Getting on the freeway is always exciting, 0 to 100 in a flash...Im in my sixties now and am loving the exhilaration of having a race bred rocket, with the drive- ability for all weather conditions. A great value from the folks at Subaru. Gas mileage? If thats a concern, buy a Prius. Purchased with the SPT Cat Back exhaust, Short Throw Shifter and Turbo Gauge.Interior Foot-well Lights are a very cool touch.

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  Air Flow and Media Hub problems? - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By legacy66 - September 6 - 11:15 pm

  This is my first subaru - shortly after I had made my decisions to purchase an Acura, I stumbles across a Subaru dealership and was totally sold on the Legacy. I do have 2 concerns/problems Im wondering if anyone else is having...? The heater/ac airflow on the floor only setting pushes out way more air from the dash/windshield defroster. This is particularly irritating on a cold, sunny day. The upper part of the car becomes too hot, and the lower part where your feet are is too cold. I also had a media hub installed for my IPod and it makes a clicking noise whenever I play it in the car. Ive had the car serviced and they tell me both issues "are working as designed". ???

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  Will Buy Another One! - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By offroad001 - September 6 - 11:50 am

  I bought my 2K9 Outback on July 5th 2008. It was the first 2K9 on the lot. Got it at the July 4th Sale. I have 168,000+ miles on her. Great reliability and a great daily driver. I used to drive 100+ miles a day for work and it is a whole lot better than my Durango or Tahoe!! I keep my vehicles for a long time and this one is still holding up well. I did have the infamous head gasket leak and got that repaired at my mechanic around 133,000 miles. Just basic maintenance and she is good to go! This is my first Asian car. I am a truck man but this car has converted me. Still have my Tahoe but I let my wife drive it. $40.00 compared to $80.00 for a fillup between the two. Love this car!!!

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  My 5th Subaru--And Not My Last - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By ccarbone22 - September 5 - 10:33 pm

  I bought the Impreza in March 2008. This is my 5th Subaru, and Im a big fan. So far over 15,000 miles, not one single problem. The 2.5L engine is great, and the car handles quiet well. Lots of cargo room with the rear seats down, and the optional roof rails and cargo carrier are helpful too. AWD is great, and over the 15K miles, Ive gotten 26 MPG overall-- which I think is really good considering the AWD and larger 4-cyl engine. The wagon (yes, its a wagon, not a hatchback!) looks great-the sedan is kinda boring. Interior design is nice, and the materials are an improvement over past Imprezas. Looking forward to many years and miles with this car!

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  burns oil, engine needs replacing - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Chris Stark - September 5 - 8:22 pm

  I learned this is a common problem with Subarus. Burns oil. Oil light doesnt come on. Engine needs replacing. $7000

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  First new car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By edan - September 5 - 6:23 am

  Its a sharp looking car. Gets me a lot of complements. Not a lot of people know what it is which I like. I cant seem to find a comfortable spot to put the seat, and the clutch is the most unforgiving Ive ever used. Fuel economy is pretty good I get about 25 city and 32 highway but I really baby it. There is no use trying to strangle power out of this thing. The interior is super nice, I love the blue accent light next to the shifter to put your phone or whatever. Fit and finish are exellent, interior is beautiful! Overall though Im really impressed with the car.

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  Near Perfect. - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By JeysFXT - September 5 - 4:51 am

  Its a pretty great car if youre realistic. I traded my wife my C250 Mercedes for the new Forester XT (FXT), at first several things felt very cheap compared to the Benzo. After spending three months and 6k mi in it, I realized why the engineers did what they did and why this is a popular selling car. The car is comfortable and has great visibility, the Premium trim has everything you NEED plus some extras (i.e. pano roof and seat heaters). The turbo engine pulls strongly and the CVT transmission is not as obtrusive as many car enthusiasts say it is, I believe Subaru has very well executed their Lineartronic transmission for this application. The interior isnt as luxurious as a Benz but frankly, it shouldnt be... its a practical car. If youre realistic on what you want your Subaru to do and why youre buying it, it is pretty ideal. I wanted something to go off road on the weekends and commute to work during the week. The FXT serves its purpose well providing a very large back seat and great cargo room in the back. The turbo requires synthetic oil and premium fuel (as do most other modern turbocharged, direct injected engines) and there hasnt been any oil consumption or other engine issue to note. When cold starting, the engine shimmies just barely, but this is normal so ignore other peoples claims of a rough idle, theyre seriously over exaggerating it. The Subaru Starlink system is nice but pretty gimmicky, I do like the remote locking and tracking features but frankly could have done without. What I absolutely love about the vehicle is the go anywhere prowess.... I live in dry, Southern California where I go hunting for snow and dirt trails. Ive taken the FXT off roading in moderate and medium trails and have been very impressed with the capabilities with its AWD system (by the looks of the 4Runner and Jeep owners, they were too). I will say that on a moderate or medium trail, youre really pushing the car to its limits... in retrospect I dont know what I was thinking. Either way, its a great car and highly recommended.

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  Watch out...suddenly its gone - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By unhappyexsubaruowner - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Radiator gave out (after only 75,000 miles). Although I pulled over right away, the result was cracked heads, rings, etc...they wont know the extent of the damage until they start working on it, but at minimum the repair s more than the car is worth. Subarus service after the sale is pathetic. In my experience, the service department has bordered on incompetent. In this latest case, the dealer offered to "take the car off my hands" for nothing, so long as I bought another car off him. So their solution was to sell me another car without consideration for the fact that the other car they sold me died after only 75,000 miles. Thanks for nothing.