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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  New Purchase Satisfaction - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By worldcitizen - March 30 - 9:40 pm

  I purchased an Outback for my older son eleven years go and he is still driving it with 180,000+ miles and a growing family so I decided I would do the same for our younger son. I recently purchased an Outback 2.5i Limited and I am very impressed. The quality of the car is excellent and we are averaging 27 mpg in combined driving during the break-in period. I am expecting the same reliability we had with our previous Subaru and anticipate a similar ownership experience.

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  Okay small hatchback, too little road clearance - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By Fred Fly - March 30 - 2:26 pm

  This is an okay car for the money. I wish it had a longer warranty like Kia or Hyundai, but I wont know whether thats going to be an issue for a couple of more years. The only thing wrong with it is that it is way too low to the ground. It bottoms out when I back out of my driveway, and is not happy with rutted dirt roads, which I sometimes need to drive on. In that regard, the Crosstrek is a better bet, although its a lot more money: about $1500 per inch of clearance.

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  Safe vehicle for your family and confident in less then desirable weather! - 2014 Subaru Impreza
  By wx4gps - March 30 - 11:34 am

  This is my 2nd Subaru, with owning a fuel efficient Prius C in between so I has been spoiled by AWD and high fuel efficiency in the past, so I wanted to find something that combined the best of both worlds. When I came looking back at Subaru they said this was the highest MPH AWD vehicle, but I was kinda burned by the head gasket issues of my Earlier 2002 Forester at 90K. However with this being a smaller redesigned engine, and reviewing comments on earlier years of this generation. my only concern was oil consumption some had experienced. I gently broke my vehicle in, and I have had no problems in this department! and if you keep it on open roads at 55-65 mph cruise you will do 36+mpg

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  Ultimate Compromise - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By jackmanjac - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Great compromise. Fits in my garage. Better to commute 30 miles one-way in than a truck. Carries 99.9% of everything that I need. Handles great, and rides great too. It is a little low on power at low RPMs, but the 5- speed makes it liveable. It is also geared a little short. 85 MPH is almost 4000 RPMs.

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  They dont build them like they used to! - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By l43 - March 30 - 10:00 am

  The new Subbie has some nice features (heated mirrors and wipers, built in CD changer), but the quality of my new Outback Limited is not up to the level of previous Subarus. The car is very noisy (wind & road noise) and has less power on hills than my old 92 which still runs like a champ. Also the body cladding is becoming a very high maintenance item. While paint quality has never been a Subaru high point, the cladding on the Outback is a real pain. Rather that using a color impregnated plastic, Subaru paints the plastic body panels with a paint (water color?) which is not at all durable.

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  Transmission lacks proper low gears - 2015 Subaru Forester
  By spiffmaster - March 30 - 3:04 am

  This is our fourth Forester. The 2015 version is typical in ride and noise levels. The x-mode is a notable addition for low speed difficult conditions. However, for descending in dry, wet or reasonable snowy conditions the transmission is very poorly designed. The L shift is not adequate for good control and there is no L2. Excessive use of the brakes is required for control. The x-mode is not useful in these conditions because it cuts out over 25mph and it is necessary to slow to 12mph to restart it. If you live in a hilly or mountainous area this vehicle may not be suitable for you. We are disappointed and will trade it in for another manufacturer.

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  Sure is Pretty - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Sure is Pretty - March 27 - 4:43 am

  I have owned my Forester for 1 week now. This is my 4th Subaru and my 2nd Forester (1998). It might be too soon to pass judgment but so far I really enjoy my new car. The fact that I could mix and match all the accessories was a nice plus. Reading your comments for the 2009 Forester prior to purchase was very helpful.

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  Enjoy the Ride - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By CJ - March 27 - 3:10 am

  Overall Im happy with it. Decent MPG for an all wheel drive SUV without sacrificing to much in the power department. Grips the road (dirt and pavement) well! I cant wait to test her out in the snow this winter.

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  Great Car - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By LilB - March 27 - 2:33 am

  What a great car. My wife and I have been looking for a car for her for quite some time. We tested MB C Class, BMW 3s and Audi A4s. The Subaru by far out classed them on the roadways. Its handling in our opinion matched or outperformed the others. Its comfort is amazing and the power is wonderful. The 243 HP feels strong and you never need more. The car handles superbly at highway speeds and is even better in the curves. What a great car and I would recommend it to anyone. My next car will definitely be a Subaru.

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  1st Time Subaru Owner - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By D - March 27 - 1:03 am

  I was looking for an AWD car with CVT and the legacy was the perfect choice. I love the new Subaru..I agree with one of the reviewers that maybe 30hp increase would work very well. Its fun to drive and hugs the road very well. I am looking forward to driving it this winter.