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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  Nothing but trouble - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By sstteevvee - February 25 - 8:26 pm

  I have owned a number of cars in my life, unfortunately this is easily the worst. Before 85,000 miles, this Outback has had the classic blown head gasket($2000+), catalytic converter gone bad($1000+), velocity joint boot/control arm/strut problem that ruined four tires. The car is just poorly designed. Its noisy, has uncomfortable seats(poor thigh support outside of drivers seat) and a terrible design of the cargo roof rails that doesnt allow for a secure attachment of crossbars or a wide spread of the cross bars.

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  True sport wagon - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Charlie Jenkins - February 25 - 7:50 pm

  Had the car for 5 weeks now. No problems yet. Very powerful. Fun to drive. Has a great feel to it. Only getting around 18 mpg around town, but thats because its hard not to put your foot in it and feel that turbo rush. Very quiet and smooth ride. Handles very well and has a comfortable ride. Build quality is very nice, especially on the inside.

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  could be a mistake - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By puglover - February 25 - 10:33 am

  The transmission on my 05 sedan failed at 7,700 miles. A bushing failed causing the seal to burst and then catastrophic failure, high and low clutch burnout, etc. Im concerned now about the quality of my Subaru.

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  Best no compromise automobile - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By rootsmanuva82 - February 24 - 9:49 pm

  The Subaru Forester XT is quite possibly the best no compromise automobile you can buy. The XT combines WRX power, refined and responsive rally-bred handling and grip, smooth ride, comfort, safety and AWD versatility. Build quality is excellent and interior is very "bright" and airy with huge windows and a massive sunroof. Everything you touch is high quality. The XT builds speed with ease and goes down the highway like butter. The only con I can think of is so-so fuel economy. But with the performance you get, its expected.

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  So far So Good - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By triumphdriver - February 23 - 9:52 pm

  For the most part this is a great car. It has nearly the same amount of room as my previous Izuzu Axiom that got only 22MPG at best. Mechanically, seems very good after 2 months and 2900 miles and the overall design is excellent. Why go away from soft cloth seat material. (dont like leather) Designed for wear not comfort? Theyre scratchy like burlap. The better half loves support they provide but she puts plush towel down first. Stereo amazingly poor- and audio levels differ by mode. Ride is great on tarmac but teeth rattling on concrete above 45 mph. It just cant adjust fast enough to slight bumps- big bumps are fine though. Its tiring on long trips.

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  2.5 RS - 2001 Subaru Impreza
  By Amy - February 23 - 8:16 am

  Ive owned this car since the fall of 2000. I preferred the "Old School" style and wasnt really interested in waiting for the new WRX to come out. I was a previous owner of an Outback Sport (98) and loved that. The RS with the leather interior that I upgraded to made me love the Impreza even more. I use it as my daily driver, drop my toddler off to preschool (the 4 doors are a bonus for this over the coupe). The trunk is large enough to fit a full size hockey bag-but one drawback of the 01 is that the seats dont fold down. Never had an issue with anything mechanical. Now with 97,-000 miles on it, its still going strong. Excellent in the snow. I would highly recommend this car.

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  Worst car I have ever owned! - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By hatemysubaru - February 22 - 2:22 am

  This was my first Subaru and it will be my last. I have owned all types of cars in my lifetime and this has been the worst. I have 94k highway miles on this car and now I have to replace the catalytic converter for $1,400, sensors, recalls, just replaced the muffler guard for $500 and the list keeps going. This car is severly underpowered and uncomfortable to drive and worse for passengers. I bought it because of the reputation but that was a mistake. To top it off the mileage is only 25 MPG on the highway. I have a family of 5 drivers and everyone hates this car. Dont waste your money on a Sabaru!

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  worth every penny! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By G-pong - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive had so much fun with this vehicle- my previous car was an 2001 Integra Type-R. Although I did love my Type-R, the WRX has the same fun factor and I can take my friends along. I have been driving it hard over the past year and Im still giddy every time I go for a drive.

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  Belongs in the junkyard!!! - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By eva - February 19 - 1:30 pm

  My wife was talked into this car when she bought it. We wanted a safe and affordable wagon, but that doesnt mean subaru is a great car either!!! The exterior is disgusting, and wind noise is terrible. I can barely hear people talking! It accelerates like a donkey. Dont buy this car.

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  Good, but not Great - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By havertownrider - February 19 - 11:49 am

  We bought this car used in 2008. I negotiated the full warranty for a new car, 6 yrs and 100,000 miles, it expired in in october 2010 and soon after our transmission fluid and oil covers both leaked. Cost $500 to fix. It has been solid, but not what we expected. It is our first subaru and we are hoping to get 150K miles out of it. We bought with 45K and now have 75K. A few other nuiances are breaking down too but nothing major. I hope this last repair shop visit will last.