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 family car ever - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By rkymtnhi - November 7 - 5:32 pm

  We now have about 13,200 miles on our Outback. Mostly been used for toting the kids to school, events and all the other household chores. We took it on a trip from Colorado to Minnesota over the holidays. First opportunity to drive on icy and snowy roads. The car is great in these conditions. Regarding MPGs. We average 28-32 in normal highway and byway roads. On the highway to MN with a fully loaded car, we dropped to 24-25 MPG with a fully loaded car going mostly about 75MPH. On the way back, I added a Thule 1600 Ascent for extra cargo space and dropped about 1-2 MPG more. There was a lot of wind in Iowa and Nebraska so its hard to tell how bad the damage was from the cargo carrier.

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  First Subaru - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Ohio - November 6 - 3:56 am

  Best features for the money, seriously considered a VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI, however felt too small inside. If the Subaru had a diesel available it would have been much easier. In our first 3,300 miles averaging 27/28 mpg everyday driving and 31/32 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. These are actual numbers, not those on the dash computer which seems to run 1 1/2 mpg high. The more I drive it the more value for the money I feel we bought. Replaced an Audi A6 Quartto with 197k miles. AWD is the only way to go, not only for winter driving but also in heavy rain and even on dry surfaces. The CVT trans is super quiet, only at hard acceleration is it noticed. The paddle shifters are great.

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  First Subaru - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Aaron - November 2 - 8:46 am

  I have owned many cars in the past. My previous car was a Lexus ES300. I do have to comment that I do not miss my Lexus one bit. The Impreza 2.5i is fun to drive, responsive, sporty, and economical. I live in the midwest, where we get our fair share of ice and snow. I have owned my Subaru for 5 days now, and can safely go places I never could go before in my Lexus. For a base model, it has a great build quality, there are plenty of features, it is much quieter on the road than the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, and when you factor in the AWD it becomes a no brainer.

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  Best Outbak Yet! - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Dobes Rule! - November 2 - 3:00 am

  This car is great! I have owned 15 cars is the last 12 years. Including 7 Subarus. This new Outback is so similar to the Tribeca in terms of ride quality, feel, etc. that now Subaru is going to have to upgrade that vehicle to maintain its flagship status. Awesome ride quality. Great fit & finish. Love the CVT transmission. Stock stereo sound quality is the best Subaru has had yet. My in-laws liked the car well enough that they went & purchased one too. Now it looks like my parents will be trading in their Outback for this updated version. Great car Subaru! Keep up the good work!

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  What fun! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By martian - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This car has all the get up and go one could possibly need or want. Wet or dry, the car handles like a slot car. My only two complaints are that with the gauge package there is no clock in the car and with the stereo upgrade (6 disc in-dash) one cannot random play between discs. It has been a long time since I have had this much fun driving.

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  Alternative to Hondas and Toyotas - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By ronin - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This is a vehicle that should be considered when car shopping. If you want the reliability and performance of a Honda or Toyota but dont want to have the same car as your neighbor,this is your car. Im not big on 4 cylinder engines but this has impressed me. The AWD system is outstanding! Do yourself a favor and at least test drive one.

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  H6 LL bean outback review - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By FunkyAlien13 - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Excellent perfromer, The AWD is nice in the wintertime along with the heated mirrors, wipers, and seats. Put together very nicely with no big gaps in the paneling as you might see in a Ford or GM. The 80 watt sound system is excellent, and there is lots of cargo room, Subaru should have traded some of that for some more rear leg room though, bcause when the seats fold down there is lots of room anyways. The dual moonroofs are neat at night.

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  The perfect mix - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By TWBnMD - October 29 - 2:40 pm

  The LLBean edition Forester is the perfect mix of utility/performance/value! Its as roomy as a Pilot on the inside, but gets better overall numbers than the CR-V. Extremely comfortable interior, even for tall/large individuals - Im 63", 235 lbs.). Im already getting mpg in the 26-27 range, and its not even broken in good yet. This is an amazing vehicle that Im positive Ill enjoy for years to come. If youre looking at CR-Vs, stop looking, because Subaru delivers the ultimate SUV!

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  2.5X Limited - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Karla - October 28 - 11:13 am

  I have owned my 2010 Forester 2.5X Limited for almost a month now and so far I am extremely happy with it! The Forester handles great in the snowy ND weather and rides like a dream. I love the roomy interior for both front seat passengers as well as back seat passengers. I also added the following accessories: body side moldings, hood protector kit, moonroof deflector, splash guard kit, wheel moldings, luggage cover, trailer hitch, rear bumper cover, & wheel arch kit. Vehicle is sharp looking and versatile.

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  First Subaru purchase - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By Veronica - October 28 - 6:30 am

  I am so in love with this car! It handles so good, much better than any other car I test drove. I feel like I have gained an extra foot of viewing from the windshield, very well designed for the driver. My partner is 61" and has loads of headroom which is nice. Even the base model, which is what I went for, is loaded with feature like symmetrical AWD, power windows & locks, heated mirrors, and sport shift. It is a very safe car, I live in a climate with harsh winters and just days after I purchased it, we had a huge snowfall but my Impreza was a breeze to drive! Love this car, I will keep it for a very long time!