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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  Best Bang For Your Buck! - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By GF - February 15 - 10:26 am

  Needed a 4 door wagon due to the new addition to my family. So I test drove an Audi A4 Avant (2.0T and 3.2 versions) and the Subaru Outback 3.0R was on par with the Audi Avant 3.2. Went with Subaru and saved $14K over the Audi. Also, plan to do a lot of outdoor family stuff (biking, camping, etc) so the additional ride height with the Outback made sense. I still have yet to open it up cause its still in the break-in period, but this an excellent overall value. This car feels like Im still driving my BMW. Subaru got this Outback right. Cant go wrong with Japanese build quality and a German driving feel at a Japanese price tag.

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  Great New Car - Body Rust after 7 Months - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By cm236 - February 14 - 4:46 pm

  I purchased a new Impreza last November, this is the Canadian Sports Model (similar to the US sold "2.5i with Premium Package, VDC". A great car to drive, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a severe winter that had snow on the ground over a 6 month period - and this is definitely a fantastic car for these conditions. Only negative was when I noticed rust on the rear panel (around the license plate) in a number of spots in June. The dealer has been very helpful and concurred that yes, this is rust, and this should not happen.

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  Got Mud? - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Nicole - February 14 - 12:53 pm

  I love this little truck. It is fun to drive. I live off of a dirt road and this truck handles great on the dirt and in the snow. I love that it is enough of a truck that I can haul gardening equipment. The CD player is also better than I expected. In my last Subaru the CD player skipped all the time and the new one I have to hit something pretty hard to get it to skip. It is an overall fun truck.

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  Austin GT Limited Sedan - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Danny Kemp - February 14 - 1:00 am

  The only issue that I have had with this car is thaat the a headlight will burn out every six months or so. I am not too crazy about the gas mileage, but with the way it can zoom around, I overlooked it. Due to the fact that there arent that many Subarus around in comparison to the rest of the cars on the road, people always ask me, "What kinda car is that?" I answer, and they return a strange look. I guess some people have a bad view of subarus. All in all, a good car, solid ride, and decently comfortable.

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  Alaska Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By ObiJuanAK - February 13 - 9:56 am

  The Baja has everything I expected from this vehicle. As long as you dont expect a pickups hauling ability and volume, it meets my requirements (hauling, commuting and all weather capability) to a T. The frigid Interior Alaska winters have not uncovered any shortcomings, other than the silly thermometer that only records down to -22 ºF. Fuel economy could be better, but not bad for an AWD vehicle. Good long distance comfort, not so fun on tight and twisty roads. The precision of the gearbox leave a lot to be desired. A little tight for two people in full winter gear, but in the summer it is just right. Shame Subaru decided to discontinue the Baja.

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  Real wagon review - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By jase - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Reasearched for months,test drove 4x before buying.And am I pleased AWD,acceleration,cornering,and ride are fantastic for a wagon.Great seats,driver position.Good gas milage of 20 to high 20s depending on how driven.Excellent safety rating.Have been in 6 in. of snow and ice leaving all behind.Gear box notchy at first,but smoothes out nicely.Handles canyon twisties,elavation gains like sports cars.Ride is firm and steering is very responsive.Best car I have owned!Love my Subie!!!!

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  A great practical wagon - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By eds - February 12 - 8:53 pm

  Read all the car tests and test drove15 different cars. The Outback 2.5xt with manual shift just made the most sense. Very classy functional exterior design. Instrumentation better than my Audi. Im 61 - this wagon was designed for adults but with the turbo its fun to drive-easily better than a Honda CRV.

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  Expensive Major Repairs - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By jeff - February 12 - 6:50 pm

  Hidden recalls of clutch and head gaskets. (Done on warranty.) Second clutch and flywheel replacement after only another 30,000 miles. Independent mechanic thinks the clutch flywheel fittings and housing are not meant for this engine. Catalytic converter needed replacement. Oxygen sensor and idle needed replacement. Brake rotors needed work early on. Front bushing replacements. Maybe I just got a lemon.

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  Falls just short in almost every category - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By rallyguy - February 11 - 7:21 am

  Bought the car in September of 2013. I was looking at several but decided on this as I couldnt afford the gas bill for the premium fuel only WRX and this car still had the famous Subaru AWD but also boasted very good gas mileage. So far at 6000 miles with largely conservative highway driving I am getting worse mileage than my girlfriends 250hp BMW. Worse mileage. It feels under-powered even for a 148hp car (the dealer says "it will really open up at 10000mi" lol) and the AWD has not been as advertised. Ive gotten stuck and had to be pulled out three times on a dirt road that my old sports car did not have trouble with. This car is so close .. but fails.

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  IT ROCKS! - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By MadMax511 - February 11 - 12:10 am

  I previously owned a 2002 WRX and so I was very aware of the ability of the boxer engine and performance. But it still floored me! This car has the power to take on cars twice the price and more. And all wheel drive allows me to drive anytime a year and just about anywhere. The handling is greatly improved. ITS ALL GOOD!