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 2008 Wagon Impreza - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Trinibwoy - January 5 - 3:16 am

  I just absolutely love this car. I have had previous Imprezas in my family before but this one is truly unique. I like the body design of the wagon as well as the increased cargo space and the rear spoiler.

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  Best Decision I ever made! - 2016 Subaru Impreza
  By RomulanWolf - January 4 - 10:43 pm

  Traded my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited for the 2016 Sport Premium. What an upgrade! So quiet inside on the country roads and interstate. I got an extended warranty for cheap from the dealership and great service. This feels like driving a Bmw but better with the AWD.

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  1999 Subaru - 1999 Subaru Forester
  By ed - January 4 - 7:03 am

  Bought this as second forester for our family with teenagers starting to drive. Excellent reliability, not tippy like other SUV’s. Only complaint is lack of attractive exterior appearance. Doesn’t bother me. About 20mpg city/25 highway with automatic transmission. Looking to get another used forester as my other teens start driving.

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  Too many problems - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By StrictlyMediocre - January 4 - 4:13 am

  I have 122,000 on the car. I plan to keep it until 250,000 if it will last. I am on my 4th set of replacement head gaskets (5 sets total). After the dealer did the first 4 HG jobs, I found a mechanic who says "use the turbo head gasket, it will never leak again." Question: why doesnt the dealer do that? Also replaced the pistons at 122K because originals had seized rings and were so noisy I couldnt hear myself think on a cold day. Now using 3rd party pistons as well. Car handles great. Reset the "learning" engine computer for better performance. Wind noise in driver/pass. window can be fixed by squeezing molding together where side mirror is mounted. This will probably be my last Subie.

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  Finding Forester - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By ksub - January 3 - 9:10 am

  In looking for a smaller SUV for my wife, the search really came down to a CR-V or Forester. The key decision points were full-time AWD, top safety scores, and price. Little things like heated seats, 6-disc CD, and auto climate were nice too. Also, and more subjective, this vehicle handles much more carlike - very nimble with good visibility. This vehicle also creates confidence with its great traction - on road or off. I really think this is a well-engineered and well-built vehicle.

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  Year of Fun - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By CHurc - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for a year now and love it. I have added a couple performance items and can stay with anything on the road. The car is very solid and extremely fun to drive.

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  Great car, poor lumbar support - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Cy Martin - January 3 - 12:56 am

  If youre looking for a fun-to-drive car thats inexpensive, yet fast "out of the box" -- look no further. Yes, an Evo is faster, but you can get a dealership down to $23/24K with research and careful choice of options. Also, I wonder if Mitsu Co. will be around in a decade. For anyone who has a long commute, I would heartily recommend buying lumbar support. Otherwise, after the 1K break-in period, this all-wheel drive turbo fun machine will have you grinning at every driving opportunity. That is, if you can drive a manual transmission. Im 6 foot with a 32 inch inseam, and have no problem fitting into the drivers seat. The pedals are set for heel-toe driving, so get tapered shoes.

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  NIGHTMARE of a Car - 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By gldylox - January 2 - 11:55 am

  I bought this car with 62K miles which is low for a subaru. Let me preface this saying I have owned 2 subuarus before. I have owned this car less than a year and have the following issues... The car loses power when driving randomly. It stalls, lurches, and loses power. It has been in the dealership for 7 weeks off and on to solve this problem. Well at first they couldnt find anything wrong. Four check engine lights later and 5 visits to the dealership, 2 oxygen sensors, 1 catalytic converter and an oil leak later the car is still not fixed. This really has become a safety issue as the problem happens once the car has been driven over 100 miles. Wont buy a subaru again

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  After 9 months review - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By rivernsnow - January 1 - 7:18 am

  Nice Little SUV. Cool looking! Sufficiant power, but not a sports car. Steady pedal application versus jamming it down, eliminates most of the comments about droning or response. Very comfortable front seats, Great road hugging performance! Rides rougher than expected. Its small so with two adults and a toddler on a road trip its really packed to the max. Like Edmunds review said, does not get advertised mileage. Expect 25.5- 26 MPG average Using 89 octane brings it up to 27- 28 Bad - cant power or remote entry lock without arming alarm. If you use a sub key/non remote entry key, alarm wakes neighbors at 5 AM. Manual locking not available on rear hatch!!! No air vents for rear passengers

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  Excellent - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By Souliman - December 30 - 9:56 am

  Very happy. Quality is solid - interior and exterior design is perfect for family of four. We fit two car seats and small adult in second row without a problem. Third row is really for children or small adults - somewhat difficult to access. Acceleration is excellent in upper gears. Some engine whine in lowest gear. Seamless shifting otherwise. Handles more like a car than SUV. Ride quality is excellent, smooth. Compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee with AWD (Rocky Mountain Ed.), the handling is more reliable on wet surfaces. It will be hard to beat the Jeep in deeper snow though - well see. Larger adults will feel somewhat awkward driving due to short steering column and seat position.