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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  Excellent handling on snow and wet surfaces! - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Lorraine Morgan - December 26 - 1:25 am

  This car handled great during a heavy rain storm. The headlights are excellent and I love the mirrors deflect headlight blind from behind. The stereo system is great and the controls work fine. The controls on the steering wheel are easy to operate and I love the mute button for the stereo. The drivers seat adjust up,down,lumbar and the steering wheel adjust,its perfect.

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  Ecstatic!!! - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PPZ,II - December 25 - 10:43 pm

  As a first time Subaru customer, I purchased this Forester on 6/30/08, after reading all of the reviews here, as well as on other websites. My wife and I traveled from Columbus, OH to Cleveland, OH (140 miles), with luggage and the A/C on, this past weekend, and averaged 29.1 mpg! We picked up my in-laws and their luggage and drove to Rome, NY, (an additional 370 miles) again with the A/C on, and for that portion of the trip, as well as the return trip, we averaged 28.2 mpgs! Now you know why Im ecstatic - this Forester isnt even broken in, and its getting excellent fuel efficiency. By the way, our Subaru is a PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle).

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  bet the farm - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By farmboi - December 25 - 12:30 am

  Has all of the features I wanted. Plenty of power for my needs. Great mileage to boot: 28-30 or better MPG - better than the EPA rating. It was between this or a Prius. Really wanted to try a Subaru once. I may be hooked. Very few Subarus around here. Gets a lot of admiring looks and interested questions. I dont regret this purchase at all.

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  Excellent vehicle - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Tim Johnston - December 24 - 7:52 am

  We owned a 1998 Legacy Wagon for 17 years, putting about 125,000 miles on it. It was a great car -- very reliable, comfortable, and capacious. When we decided to replace it last summer, we immediately went to Subaru again. Weve only had our 2016 Outback for a couple of months but are very pleased with its performance and versatility. Weve never owned an automatic before (!) and at first we were a bit hesitant because the Outback does not come with a manual option, but we find the AVT very smooth and the manual paddle shifts on the steering wheel are a great way to lock in a gear when you need it. (We frequently drive to a place we own in the Blue Ridge Mountains and being able to set a gear while driving up a very steep and windy highway is a convenient.) We didnt get the EyeSight option, as I didnt like the idea of all that electronic intrusion into my driving -- I was pretty sure Id end up turning it off, so why buy it in the first place. We did get the optional cargo area and rear bumper protectors, which I recommend if you are going to use the car to carry cargo other than groceries and suitcases. We move a lot of gardening supplies but I think theyd also be good for dogs or sports and camping equipment. There are levers to remotely fold down the rear seats from the back of the car -- a big convenience. The climate controls are not very intuitive and the clock is small and poorly placed amid several temperature readouts. The backup camera display is large and clear -- much better than on our 2013 Toyota Tacoma. As the Edmunds review says, acceleration is not spectacular, but its certainly adequate and quite safe for merging on to freeways or passing on 2-lane roads. If you are in the market for a station-wagon style SUV, the Outback is worth a close look.

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  Most fun car Ive ever driven! - 2003 Subaru Impreza
  By allanak - December 23 - 10:00 am

  If youre looking for an sporty sedan, look no further.Awesome performance for under 25k. It seats 4 people comfortably with even the fifth "real seatbelt," not just the lap one. Just make sure you buy it stick shift so you can really make use of that turbocharged engine. Once you get a feel for it, take it in the canyons and when you hit the turns in 2nd or 3rd gear HOLD the gas pedal! Now youll know why you bought this car.

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  Disappointed with my first Subaru - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By ndw - December 22 - 4:45 pm

  Ive actually had an entirely different experience with my Crosstrek Hybrid, other than I can agree with another users problems with the navigation. There are so many rattles, all over the car. The worst is with the plastic covering the speedometer and tachometer displays. People who ride in my car say things like, "Doesnt that noise drive you crazy?" Mine was delivered in November, so I wonder if its early off the manufacturing line and those problems have been worked out. Subaru has been most unhelpful in resolving my issues - this will be my last Subaru.

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  My 2006 Tribeca - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Stephanie Allen - December 22 - 12:30 pm

  After a month of ownership I have found the Tribecas performance to be excellent. Its ride comfort is excellent with outside road noise at an acceptable level. The acceleration both from a start up condition as well as passing is better than average. Steering response is excellent and breaking is very smooth with minimum fade. Head room and leg room are is generous. MPG is as advertised. The ride is acceptionally smooth and subtle.

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  Great driving SUV replacement - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By ivankong - December 22 - 12:14 pm

  Ive owned my 04 legacy 35th anniv wagon with 5spd manual since 2007. I bought it with 33K and it now has 58K miles. I had a Jeep Cherokee before this and it was not a good driving vehicle, nor was it good in the snow (surprisingly). I bought the legacy wagon because I wanted awd and some room in the back like an SUV, but I also know that 95% of the driving I do is on the road and I wanted a car that drives like a sports car. This car does that. I have a separate set of wheels with studded snows for the winter and when I have to drive in really bad conditions (I live in CO) I have no worries at all. Awd with manual trans and studded snows all around are great.

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  Fast and FUN - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By wrxstiguy - December 22 - 2:30 am

  I am a 22 year old male that loves this car. In February i picked up an 05 Sentra Spec V and that was fun ... for the first month. Then I wanted a turbo so I started looking and wasnt sure if I wanted a EVO MR or the STi. Glad I picked the STi; I have no regrets.

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  Great Car - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By chrismr - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Bought new in June 06 and has 84,000 miles. Could not be more happy with this car. Its a blast to drive and great in snow. It rides and handles like the day I drove it off the lot. Excellent fit and finish. No problems with the car ever.