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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  Engineering Problem - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By Phillip - December 21 - 10:00 am

  After reading multiple consumer reviews complaining about drifting and steering wheel vibration in the 2010 Subaru, I waited for the 2011 model. I asked the dealer about it and they said the new model corrected the problem. I drove it about 15 miles as a test and it seemed fine, but above sixty miles per hour on the way home the steering wheel started to shake visibly. Subaru appears to have the same engineering problem with the 2011 model. The steering dynamics are also really bad. I will upgrade with Continental tires in a few days and have someone else check the front end. If that doesnt fix it, I will become a major critic of this car company. Very disappointed.

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  I Just Like It - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Reasonable - December 20 - 4:40 pm

  Traded a 1997 Ford Explorer for this 2.5i Outback Limited. Had owned a new 1980 Subaru hatchback and thought of Subarus as small cars. Surprise! Overall the 2010 Outback is as big as the 97 Explorer. Some dimensions are bigger, some smaller, but overall its about the same size. Its very comfortable, quiet, and a pleasure to drive. Took a 350 mile round trip last Saturday, through very hilly country, and averaged 31.5 mpg. Yes I drove conservatively, 55 to 60 mph mostly (hit 70 only once). I am more enthusiastic about this car than any car Ive bought since my Mercur XR4TI. Subaru, you really got it right with this one.

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  My 2.5RS w/ sport package - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By JEFF CHEN - December 20 - 4:16 pm

  I bought my white 2.5RS in March 2005. I love it. I drive it everyday. It is a practical car. Im still breaking in my engine and shift up before 4k rpm. The engine sounds great even under 4k RPM, the ride is smooth, and the handling is responsive. However, the launch from zero of this car seems to be soft ( I guess it is due to AWD torque distribution), and the braking is soft too. The braking is acceptable but NO where near impressive. I may upgrade the brake in the future. You dont get WRX or STI from this one, but you got an Impreza, too. Id proudly recommend this great car.

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  Dislikes - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Robert Evens - December 20 - 1:36 pm

  Road noise isnt as bad as previous vehicle but still leaves a lot to be desired. At thruway speeds you really have to turn up the radio to be able to hear it. Steering responsive fog lights are a joke as they dont really light up that much when making a turn. Would much prefer a set of good driving lights / fog lights that illuminate the road on low beam.

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  I sold my Prius for this? - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Victor Doucette - December 20 - 10:56 am

  Yes ... and Im glad I did. As much as I love the Prius for what its good at, it was getting harder for my gimpy, old body to get in and out of it, and I would never have called it comfortable. My Outback has the easiest ingress/egress of the eight cars I have owned and the five cars Ive shared with my wife. Its also the most comfortable of those vehicles. Im getting 30 mpg in mixed driving, and can approach 40 mpg over long distances at a steady 60 mph. As always, YMMV. Some folks complain about the acceleration, but theres enough there for me. I have had no issues with the CVT. Visibility is excellent. The EyeSight features took some getting used to, but I am glad I have them. The automated braking has made it less fatiguing to driver in heavy traffic; the blind spot monitoring has helped keep me from changing lanes at the wrong time; and the adaptive cruise control makes freeway travel pleasant. The lane departure warning is too sensitive for my tastes. Ride quality is generally excellent, but I am on the conservative side behind the wheel and havent really "pushed" the car the way some folks do. I cant yet assess how it handles in slippery conditions, but I dont anticipate any problems come winter. The entertainment system would be better if you could switch back from the map to the radio in one step, but it takes two steps. You can run a split screen with the two functions, but there isnt enough detail when you do that to suit me. Its a little cumbersome to enter addresses into the navigation system, but the system seems to work well once I get it programmed. Bluetooth pairing was easy. I wish that the compartment that holds the USB ports was a little bigger; it isnt large enough to allow me to shut its door when my cellphone is in there. The A/C is really cold -- I need to run it at about 77 degrees or I get chilly -- in mid-July. I did have to bring it back to the dealer after 1,000 miles to have the trim piece under the drivers side of the dashboard reattached. The service adviser said the retaining clips holding it on had broken, and that it wasnt the first time he had seen that. An Outback owners forum suggested that this might have been caused by the dealer installation of a remote-start system (which works, but I can happily live without it). Another minor complaint -- the interior loses power immediately when you turn off the ignition. You need to remember to close the windows, sunroof, etc., before you shut the car off. All in all, I am a happy Outback owner. After 6 months and about 6,500 miles, heres an update. The electronics in the car have been a constant source of frustration. At various intermittent times the navigation system has stopped working altogether or doesnt work properly, not announcing the first four or five steps in a route before suddenly coming to life. Sometimes it wont read a USB drive that I have properly inserted. Sometimes the clock will show the wrong time, the correct minute but incorrect hours. The clock then magically resets with a couple of minutes and the problems disappear -- until they come back again a few days later. I dropped by the dealer and they suggested a reflash of the system -- whatever that is -- but I havent had the opportunity to get in just yet. Another issue is that the standard battery (group 25, IIRC) has an anemic 356 CCA. We went through a bad cold spell a few weeks ago and the vehicle had a little trouble turning over, even though it had been stored in a garage. I checked online forums and discovered that this was a common problem with the vehicle. I preemptively replaced the battery with a larger Group 34 battery (it will fit nicely, though you will have to discard the "cozy" that surrounds the original battery) that has 1,000 CCA. No starting problems since. The car has had excellent traction through our snowy winter. Its still comfortable and a pleasure to drive and ride in. I still like the car very much. I just hope that my next visit to the dealer can clear up these pesky electronic problems.

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  My First Subaru - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By PhoenixAir - December 19 - 9:16 pm

  This is a crossover? A station wagon? An SUV? How about just fun, economical, safe or FES! This 2009 Forester is far and above what is available out there dollar for dollar. After 2700 miles, with a average of 24 mpg combined (highest being 31 mpg on the highway) the only complaint I have is no coin holder. Drove the others, then test drove the Subaru all the way home. Kept it overnight, drove it back to the dealership and paid them for it. Power is available at request, auto tranny is fine but I like the sport shift and it drives knowing where you need to go before you do. Simple dash easy to use and with plenty of head room front and back seats. Nice job Subaru you got it right.

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  2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i base model stinks - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By jayvee - December 19 - 7:20 pm

  Subaru has made some very good improvements from 2009 model for the Outback. I am really happy with most of the car functionality. I am extremely disappointed that the drivers seat is jerky and moves forward by ~ 1cm almost every time I apply brakes. When I contacted the dealership about it, they said it is a Subaru problem and does not have any fix. They tested this in all other cars they have with manual seats and experienced this problem. I do not understand how such a reputed company like Subaru that makes airplane engines cannot figure out making properly working driver seats? I have seen 15 year old cars that have manual seats that work correctly. Other than that its good.

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  High quality - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By Tony - December 19 - 6:50 pm

  Know that this review, like all others, is very partial. The fact I bought a Subie implies I probably identify myself with it to a degree, and means Im highly unlikely to highlight its faults. Body roll/pitch is barely noticeable; engine runs smooth and beautifully; drives great in heavy rainy weather; beautifully designed with superb finish inside and out; perhaps the best safety package out there; great details such as mp3 player jack, sunroof, 17 in. alloys; That said heres the few faults I notice, all very minor: -faint high-pitch sound audible above 50mph, from AWD, -interior door handle cringing after a month of use, -center console smudges easily. Great insurance rates; I wouldnt reconsider!

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  Not suffering the Hyper Blues with this car - 2016 Subaru BRZ
  By Chuck - December 19 - 6:14 pm

  If you are 50 plus and carrying a few pounds, it may be harder to get in and out of this car, but once you are in seat, WOW, the fun begins. If I were prone to drifting, this car could do that. My 16 year old daughter said that starting from a stop light and going through the first four gears reminds her of the push back in seat feeling of jet take off. Great color, only 500 made for USA for 2016. Gets lots of looks. After decades of driving SUVs and minivans, I owed this car to myself and havent looked back since driving off the lot. Hugs the road really well with quick responsive steering and braking. Ditch to ditch low beam headlights that allow for up and down switch adjustment is great for avoiding deer. Recommended accessories are WeatherTech floor liners, Trunk Liner and the NEW 3M™ Scotchgard Paint Protection Film Pro Series. Invisible and 7 year coverage to protect against rock chips and dings as this is a low riding car. Saved on the cost by half by going to Tint shop for Protection Film instead of dealer. Have had the car for two and a half weeks at 348 miles now so still breaking in engine. Premium fuel only. Did buy the extended warranty to 7 year which added to initial cost. Tax in our Washington State County 8.8% My driving experience 27 years in police cars. Bought as commuter.

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  nice performance wagon - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By sheesh-kebab - December 19 - 1:06 pm

  Just got this wagon, or maybe a truck, or whatever it is after spending 10 minutes test driving one - its very nice. I looked at 2006 Accord V6 (cheap interior, back seat folds down in 1 piece), Acura TL (back seat doesnt fold down, blind spots, snobby dealerships), Saab 95 (poor quality apparently) - this one beats those by a nice margin. Beautiful and very practical interior for a 63" skier with family, tight ride, decent acceleration (get turbo if you like to feel the engine), good MPG for AWD, tons of storage, not a single blind spot, pleasant buying experience, what else do you need?