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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  2014 Forester - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By shafferbcs - September 19 - 7:13 am

  First week - The truck seems excellent.

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  Legacy L Wagon - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Astro - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Overall a wonderful vehicle in our experience. No problems whatsoever. Drives well and the AWD is great (thought slight delay with the automatic transmission). Fit and finish is nice. Seats firm and comfortable. Cupholder design is better than older Subaru models but still poor. Sound system is so-so. Interior is a bit small for my taste and drivers space is somewhat cramped. (And Im only 510) That said, my wife (59) is perfectly happy.

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  2009 Subaru Impreza - Poor in Heavy Snow - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By djarvinen - September 14 - 10:10 am

  The 2009 Subaru Impreza we purchased has for the most part been a very good car. It handles well, has plenty of power, controls are well placed, is spacious and has very nice styling. The big problem is handling in heavy snow! The car has a design flaw that allows snow to build up above the front axle which causes heavy vibrations above 45 mph. At 60 mph the vibrations become violent. We were told by the dealership that we would need to use a high pressure hose to clear the snow out (pretty hard to do in inclement weather/conditions).

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  08 Outback LTD - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By cptplt - September 14 - 5:43 am

  2800 miles and I was concerned about the higher height and handling compared to my previous 98 Legacy GT but this Outback can take the corners as well as the Legacy did and has a softer ride. Having a WRX as well, this car handles surprisingly well for something with more ground clearance than an Explorer! Getting 24mpg in suburban roads. Front seats are incredibly confortable but coudl do with a memory function. Radio/HVAC controls need to be easier to use, you need to really look down at the controls whgen using them. The stock Potenza RE92s I have never liked (had them on 3 previous cars).

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  OK but still room for improvement - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By bobo - September 12 - 6:56 am

  The Forester replaced a 2003 Honda CR-V. The Forester has acceleration equal to the Honda, but I expected the Forester to be better since it has more horsepower and less weight. The Forester has much better handling on mountain roads (where I mostly drive). The Honda had disc brakes on all wheels, but Subaru saved a few bucks by providing drum brakes at the rear. The Honda had much more interior room and miscellaneous storage spaces. The Forester has some annoying buzzes and rattles in the dash area on rough roads. Even at 75,000 miles, the Honda had none. The controls on the Forester lack the silky smoothness of the Honda. The Honda (EX model) had a better sound system.

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  my first subie! - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By kabukigirl83 - September 11 - 7:48 am

  its hard for me to tell at this point the reliability since ive only had it for a couple days but so far so great! i was contemplating between the new vw beetle and golf, both test driven but when it came down to it, i went with the impreza and im so happy i did. although the interior is not as aesthetic and lacks some of the bells and whistles that vw has, i still was able to get everything i wanted and more, such as heated seats, leather, moon roof, bluetooth, upgraded sound system (crazy good for coming from the factory, not stock), etc. i feel like for what i paid, i got the best bang for my buck. i feel like subarus reputation for reliability and safety was really what got me.

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  ...it gets better - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By HappyOwner - September 10 - 1:53 pm

  This is my 4th Subaru. With my previous one being the 98 Legacy GT, I can honestly say this is a whole different experience from the traditional Subaru owning experience. I loved my 98, but always wanted a bit more...well the 2005 gives it. Add a few hundred more and it gets better...just add K&N stock replacement air filter and Cobb Tuning AccessPort (you will feel the difference, without getting your hands dirty). Subaru has really stepped up to offer its loyal owners something to brag about other than reliability and AWD.

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  2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Review - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Max - September 10 - 5:36 am

  My first Subaru. Fun ride. Comfortable as it can get. Strong body. Streamlined design. Bad fuel efficiency.

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  Can you adapt to a Subaru - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Dee M - September 9 - 1:14 pm

  If you have long legs, the drivers seat will stay back a lot. An Adult might not be comfortable sitting behind you. There is a downward dip when you get into the car, so when you go to get out you have to remind yourself to lift up your leg or youll trip when getting out. Sometimes the Bluetooth wont work like it should, the steering wheel will stick a little after making a hard turn and it has a limit to how high it will tilt up. I am still adapting to all the different controls. Only the drivers window will go all the way up at the touch of the button. You have to hold the button for the other 3 windows to make them go all the way up or down. The usb port and a second car adapter plug in site are hidden in the storage box located between the front seats. I had to downsize my cargo holder. Banks still love the resale value of a Subaru, so getting a loan was a little easier. Since I am still adapting to this Subaru, I honestly cant rate everything about it yet. I will say the Subaru service center is Great! Since I brought the Subaru from a Ford dealership, they did an inspection to look for any issues that would need to be addressed.

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  Lots of room - 2012 Subaru Forester
  By azrebel51 - September 7 - 1:32 pm

  I checked out some other choices before I decided on this car. I am 52, I have bought 11 new vehicles so far in my life.This is great my best so far. Very little road noise, very smooth ride. Doors are solid. Great visibility. Basic stereo sounds very good. The clearance is terrific, great for exploring in rural Arizona, where 4 x 4 is not needed but added clearance is. Seriously this is the most happy I have ever been with a vehicle in my life. My first Subaru, my first Japanese vehicle.