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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  Snow slaying machine with a pathetic interior - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By Jesse Nicola - June 7 - 5:34 am

  This is my first Subaru, and quite possibly my last. The issues have been plentiful. The interior rattles to high hell. I had to go to two dealers as the first tried to bamboozle me like it wasnt an issue. Internal fan was failing and the bearing was making more noise than a duck on meth, which the dealer claimed was normal. Seat heaters stop working, dealer claims thats a safety feature... my butt. Sensors in seat to detect if a passenger is in there FAIL when exposed to water. YOU SOLD THE CAR IN THE PACIFIC NORTWHEST WHERE IT RAINS YOU DUMB *&%$#! Not only does it fail... but it fails with the AIRBAG OFF! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! Power? Gutless. Takes off from a stop like a two stroke dirtbike, abuse the clutch or dont get going at all. Uphill stop and go traffic? Burn baby burn... WHY ISNT THEREA A SIXTH GEAR! Spins 3000 rpm at highways speeds. Ive not once hit the combined MPG. I drove it across the country, and even in the flattest parts of the country, with NO ROOF RACKS OR ACCESSORIES, car already warmed up, driving a full tank on cruise control... 31mpg. &#$#% Subaru. I wish some one else made a solid AWD car or Id never sell this off, even at a loss, and never look back.

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  Really Disappointed in MPG - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By seattlexv - June 6 - 7:18 pm

  This is my first Subaru. I was very excited about the Crosstrek as it had all of the great features of the Outback with better gas mileage and a bit smaller. Perfect I thought. I am pleased with the car except for the gas mileage. I purchased this car over the Honda CRV because of the mpg ratings. At first the gas mileage was about 28mgg which is advertised. But since then and with 8,000 miles on the car, I am getting 23mpg and it continues to drop with each tank of gas. I took it to the dealer and they cant find anything wrong with it and said to contact Subaru America which has been frustrating. Have others experienced this type of problem? tks

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  I was very impressed BUT NOW ... - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Eduardo - June 5 - 2:50 am

  I am checking back again with new news about my 2010 legacy and Im a little disappointed. I love my car but a metal part (bracket) in the engine is rusting and I dont know why? I have put only 8,200 miles on it. I am devastated is anyone having same problem? Please let me know. The bracket will be replaced under warranty soon but I am a little worried something else may come up! I hope it ends here because I love my Subaru I really love its dynamic and secured handling plus the 30 mpg I m getting on the high way.

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  Totally Different Forester - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By I am not Crunchy - June 5 - 2:00 am

  We liked our 2001 Forester for its utility and reliability but thats all it was, utilitarian and reliable. The 2004 XT is a totally different car. Beyond trimming the 0-60 time nearly in half compared to our 2001, the car feels much more solid and confident in all driving conditions. And the size of the moonroof is just plain cool.

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  Good visibility - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Andy lam - June 3 - 9:20 pm

  With the tall window glass and front door triangle glass the visibility is unlimited. No more blind spot compare with other competitor feel safer when driving down the road

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  Love my new Outback! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Chuck C. - June 2 - 11:22 am

  You can get the specs on this car anywhere, so theres no need to belabor them: from a capability versus cost (both upfront price and long-term costs like gas, maintenance, and depreciation), you cant go wrong with this car! Really, its closest competitor is its sibling, the Subaru Forrester. We seriously considered the Toyota RAV4 hybrid which is the gas mileage king of the AWD vehicles in this basic size class. The RAV4 hybrid was fun to drive but its gas mileage advantage over the Outback was only 5 MPG (EPA combined) while it was much more cramped than the Outback in both the back seat area and the passenger front seat. This tradeoff ultimately led us to choose the Outback which actual cornered better than the RAV4 hybrid and was almost as quiet.

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  excellen value - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By vamoose - June 1 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Subaru that is not only practical and well built but fun to drive! The 2.5L engine is big enough to make the car reasonably quick but still cheap to run (26 MPG mixed driving). A WRX was tempting but with a HP to displacement ratio of about 2:1, that engine is not going to go the 200,000 miles that I plan to run this 2.5L! I am having a little problem with the San Remo red paint, it seems to chip quite easy. In fact, at six months, Im going to need to paint my hood soon. Anyone else have this problem? jjbrady219@aol.com

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  Worst Car Ive Ever Purchased - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By emanpa68 - June 1 - 2:26 am

  Words cannot explain how bad my Subaru Impreza has been. The dealership sold me the car with a dirty interior, and damage to paint on the doors. I was told this was to be fixed by a painter, but even he agreed that the paint was too far beyond repair for a minor touch-up. Needless to say Im going to have to sue the dealership and have them investigated for fraud if this isnt fixed. Thanks for Subaru for not standing behind your cars at all. I feel bad for anyone who is going through the same problems with this company since there is a known paint problem with the 2008 Imprezas.

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  My outback - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Barb Dunaway - May 31 - 5:05 pm

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  Underrated Car - 2018 Subaru Legacy
  By Aldo - May 31 - 4:07 pm

  I think the knock others give any Legacy with the 2.5 engine needs to be challenged. I have found that I have plenty of power and cant understand why there are those reviews that call for more. It simply makes no sense. I have all the get up and go Id ever want. The car is comfortable, quiet, and loaded with technology. The EyeSight system works flawlessly in every way and the interior is nicely appointed, giving the impression of a much higher priced luxury car. In fact, within the last couple of months, we rented a so-called "luxury" car while on a trip to the west coast. Our Subaru is a far better car in every way. I love the steering responsive LED headlights, and I love their auto dimming/brightening capability as well. The Harmon-Kardon sound system makes listening to media a total joy. The only knock is not having an extra inch to take the front seat back. Im a big guy (64) and could use just a tad extra, but still, compared to competitors cars, I can get in and out with much greater ease. The ride is quiet, braking is solid, yet not abrupt, and the AWD gives it superior handling characteristics.