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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  world rally xperiment - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By vishnu stage 0 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  this car is awesome, i can feel like 90% cars around is SLOW. can beat any car stock! and dont forget about the beauty of AWD. great at cornering, bad weather and SNOW! its a fun car to drive. dont say you dont like it until you drive it. dare to try to turbo? and by the way, there is a morron saying that WRX eats too gasoline for such a small engine, and i would say .... "duhhh!!!! this is a turbocharged engine you dumb dumb."

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  First impressions-great - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By George Alexanian - August 14 - 6:46 pm

  Read 195 reviews for 2020 model before baying. Just got 2011 3.6R limited a few days ago. During test drive on freeway, had to slam on brakes. Stopped great, no swerving. Did not notice problem with passenger seat, or difficulty of closing hatchback as others reported in 10 model. V6 engine only way to go. No special financing or rebates-too new. Will write more after winter and drive in snow.

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  Loving this little car! - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By campanozzi - August 14 - 7:25 am

  I have upgraded from a 2002 forester auto to a 2011 impreza LIMITED (canada & autralia only) with leather and wrx seats, i love the sound of the little boxer engine, good steering to! Fuel consumption is OK, in the city and pretty good on the highway! Its in my opinion the last true drivers N/A subaru! It feels planted I trust my car, i have the premium sound system ans i have to say its a bit disappointing! Good styling with the sport package to! Last , cargo space is not really good since it has a big bump in the trunk (sedan)

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  Love it - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Beth - August 13 - 10:16 pm

  I really love my car, sharp looking, great in the snow, 31 mpg. Lots of room to haul stuff (hay, riding gear, etc). What is dont like is acceleration from a stop but the engine is not really that big for all wheel drive. Dont like the seat heaters. They dont work well, they run off ambient temperature which is annoying. I wish I had a beeper warning with the back up camera. Other than those things Im very pleased with the car. I would definitely buy another one. I had to buy new tires, I got Coopers. Disappointed that Ive lost 4 mpg, but if they last longer than the factory tires Ill be happy. Still very happy with my car after 26 months. Cooper tires were a big waste of hundreds of dollars. I’ve had them 14 months. Totally useless to in snow, no traction.

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  20,000 miles, 8 month review - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By occking - August 13 - 7:36 pm

  So far very pleased with the vehicle. Gas mileage has steadily improved since new. I do mostly highway driving, going from near Providence RI to Montreal every few weeks; on those trips average (actual) 26.5 to 28 mpg. Trip computer always indicated 1 to 1.5 mpg higher than actual. The front windows seem to fog up very easily however, and I havent figured out a way yet with the heating system how to eliminate that from happening. Took quite some time to get used the the very low center armrest in the vehicle. Have an excellent place to put my XM Commander unit (satellite radio) right on the center console.

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  Outstanding SUV - 2009 Subaru Tribeca
  By Mike - August 12 - 6:56 pm

  This is by far the best SUV I drove when trying to decide what to purchase. I didnt know a vehicle could handle this well in the snow. Performance is excellent and the vehicle is definitely comfortable.

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  Wins the competition but Id like better - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By dusanmal - August 11 - 11:13 am

  As the title implies we got the car simply because no one does better in this category. Not because we are completely happy with it. We have had long and good experience with 2002 model. Quality apparently still holds. Gas mileage is somewhat better than sticker EPA estimate. Performance is appropriate for the purpose. Comfort is good and slightly better vs. 2002. Design is clean and appropriate for the CAR Wagon, what it should be (Subaru, please remove it from the SUV ranks). Minor ergonomic design errors (location of handbrake and pedals). Major utility design errors (wheels, cargo space).

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  Horrible Seat Comfort and Goofy Nav System - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By cincy3 - August 11 - 8:59 am

  I now own my first Subaru Outback for just a week and already want to get rid of it. One huge factor... the seat headrests are horrible. Have now, after purchasing the car, found several blogs citing the same problem. The headrests lean too far forward making my neck ache - and I cannnot find a comfortable position. I now need to find someone to fix it or i will be getting rid of it after just a week of ownership. Also - a minor complaint - the Nav system is goofy. Takes different disks for different parts of the country instead of one simple system like Garmin. So, living on the edge of their regions - I have to keep switching disks. goofy.

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  Different Point of View - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By molder - August 11 - 2:38 am

  I have always been a GM person. A couple years back I went to work for a supplier to Subaru. It was time to buy a new car and after being involved as a supplier I found just how quality minded Subaru is. Its my job to over see the plastic molding for the doors and dashboards for the 2015 Outback and Legacy. We scrap any molding that has the smallest imprafection. We make 925 car units a day and after multi inspections they are ready to head for the assembly line at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana. In October I took delivery of a 2015 Outback and its just a very nice car to drive. I have a 16 ft travel trailer weighting 2400 lbs and this car pulls it very well.

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  Baja is Brava! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By OnlineJimK - August 11 - 2:00 am

  A great car/truck! Very good mileage + utility + car comfort. If you need more truck than car, try the Nissan Frontier, but if you need some truck, but more car, than this is the vehicle for you! Also, the Baja rules on New Englands ice and snow covered roads. 5 stars!