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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  disappointed. - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Ira Blackburn - March 11 - 2:19 pm

  We bought new 2013 Crosstrek knowing its limitations. We have 40,000 miles on the odometer and took it to the dealership to diagnose a noise in the front end. The Dealership diagnosed a broken front strut and a $700 repair. Ive never heard of a car breaking a strut at 40k that wasnt wrecked or abused. Weve gone from loving it to WTF? and hating it.

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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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  New 2016 Subaru Outback. DONT BUY ONE!!!!! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By TH - July 30 - 7:00 pm

  I ordered a new Subaru Outback 2016 fully loaded with everything! I have had it for two weeks and it has already been back into the dealership here in NW Montana several times. Here are my complaints. It is a VERY VERY VERY COLD car to drive in the winter! Heated seats are lukewarm even on full for hours. Cold air leaks through every crack it can find in the dash and door. My feet freeze as there is no heat in the floor vent if the floor and dash vents are on. And VERY little lukewarm heat if just the floor vents are on. The dealerships response and their service depts response after several trips in is that I have to drive this car 6000 miles before the heat and heated seats will work. Whaaattttt!!!! This is a bunch of crap! Also, the light colored leather seats look like they were done on a late Friday night in a drunken stupor! Lots of wrinkles and folds and gaps in the seams. Punctures too. Again, I was told that light leather was harder to work with and that it wouldnt be any different in any of the other Subarus. All our vehicles have had leather seats and I have never seen such poor workmanship before! On top of everything else, when I ordered the car we had reached a price. However, when the Subaru arrived hundreds and hundreds of dollars were added to the cost. I was told it was absolutely nonnegotiable. Theses hundreds of dollars that were added were to pay the dealerships secretaries. Again, unbelievable!!! Pay the dealerships secretaries??? The bottom line is that this brand new 2016 fully loaded Subaru Outback is the WORST car for this skier in NW MONTANA! It is one hell of a VERY COLD car!! I plan to sell it and take the loss. Ford and Chevy here I come!! Loved my well heated and fully loaded with leather seats Tahoe!!! NEVER WILL I EVER BUY A SUBARU AGAIN!

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  Overpriced piece of cheap plastic- lipstick on pig - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Alexander Nussbaum - July 13 - 4:13 pm

  Not only was I taken on the lease, I am shocked how cheaply this car made compared to previous 2006 Forester i owned. The interior is all cheap hard plastic, the car sides bend with pressure of one finger, like a cheap car i had in 1990’s not like previous Subaru. This one already has bad scratch on back because rear has no real bumper but cheap plastic, last one had hard rubber there which showed nothing after hitting garbage can. I got it with all the expensive “safety’ features, but it lacks the most important one, blind spot monitoring. Over all paid fortune, cheated by dealer, and wound up with car that exemplifies cliche of lipstick on pig

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  Not feeling the love - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Wally - May 28 - 4:59 pm

  Technology is outdated! Really sorry I didnt pay closer attention before buying. Voice commands have very spotty performance. Very hard to adjust heater/defroster controls while driving. Clock is barely noticeable and poorly located. Maps radio and other controls on Starlin/GPS control panel are useless when the sun reflects on the dash. The garage door opener/Home link is poorly designed. When I pull up to the garage at night there is no lighting on the mirror. So you need to grope around your mirror to locate the button to open the garage door. The Forester has a much better instrument panel /Starlink interface. The dealer misinformed me about the abilities of eyesight. I was initially told the car will stop on its own when an object is in front of the car and moving slowly. I have since found out that is not the case. Do yourself a favor stay away from this one!!! Unless something amazing happens this will be my first and last Subaru!!! Do not buy this car!!!!!1

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  Subaru reliability & longevity marketing is a joke - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By S. Saunders - May 12 - 6:58 am

  This is a very unreliable car. Our 07 Forester LL Bean edition has had one odd expensive repair after another. Our car has 118,000 miles on it, was bought new, and has had one driver. Six years after purchase the AC condensor "disintegrated" resulting in a $1,100 repair. Last month, the fuel tank valves and transmission cooler lines had to be replaced. Again, $1,200. Three weeks later, the alternator went bad, estimated cost around $1,000. In the past 6 months, weve had over $3,500 in repairs. We bought a Subura because it was supposed to be reliable and for its longevity. Thats not the case. Our car has been routinely maintained by the dealership and always had the recommended servicing based on mileage. My previous car was a Honda and only had routine repairs. We will never buy another Subaru.

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  SUBARU ROOARU ROCKS - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By ROOARU - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Just bought a H-6 sedan. Black/gold but painted it to Silvertone with the black. Looks much more sportier. The sound system great, More Bass~ Drives great. Went to Florida from Wisconsin and What a drive. I was amazed in the Tennessees Mtns;where they had 15% grade steep hills and it just drove like there were no hills at all. My freinds were very impress and is getting the WRX in June.

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  Lemon Law Quality - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By unhappy with subaru - January 16 - 10:00 am

  TERRIBLE car! HUGE mistake! From day 1, I had nothing but problems with my Outback. White smoke constantly poured from the exhaust, it stalled while driving(this is an auto trans-not a manual!), & countless other mechanical problems. In 3 mos it was at the dealership for repairs 6 times. Subaru claimed there were no problems with it, but they did replace several items to repair the problems they said did not exist. EXTREMELY overpriced compact car, TERRIBLE mpg, SMALL interior. Subarus Customer Service was deplorable. They didnt care to solve any of the problems I had with the car. I now have a 2002 Chevy Tahoe Z71 that I LOVE!

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  Dont Make the Same Mistake I Did - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By Yessir Arafat - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Subaru does not stand behind their product. The glass window on the passenger side front door exploded for no reason when my daughter opened the door one morning. She sustained injury to her eye - scratched cornea and cut under the eyelid. Subaru would not repair the car under warranty. I went so far as to contact the President of Subaru of America for help and got none. They were extremely rude, which added insult to injury. The next time I see them will be in court. Save yourself the hassle - buy a Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla.