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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  New vs used - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By William hougesen - November 14 - 9:23 pm

  Consider a 2yr old luxury SUV for less money.

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  review - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Boris - November 14 - 8:23 pm

  Ive had it less than a month and i love it. pretty quick and decent handling. love the interior space and AWD is GREAT in the rain and snow. mpg is alright considering i drive pretty fast

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  true Road Commander - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Kevin - November 13 - 10:43 pm

  I live in the Lake Tahoe area of California. This car handles the turns and curves with grace and surefootedness like no other 4wd. Ive owned 4Runners,Cherokees etc. The manual shift option makes the transmission respond instantly to your input and Ive noticed that after each oil change and then the differential & transmission fluid change the car has broken in beautifully and does not even resemble the car I drove off the lot. Was very tight when new and needed breaking in. Noticed it about 15k miles .The VDC eats the snow and Ive passed so many suvs wiped out in the banks I cant even count em. The low center of gravity makes this pup tops.

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  What a Great little Truck! - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Sacttwndude - November 13 - 5:36 am

  Bought this crossover because I was tired of high gas prices and low mileage on my Toyota 4x4 Tacoma Crew Cab, and also the family SUV. However I was really addicted to the AWD on the Hyundai Santa Fe...which was also a wonderful car, but costly in gas and low mpg. Both truck and suv were new. So sold them both and got my first Subaru...a Baja. Definitely best choice, took it off road; no problems handled like a trooper, never got stuck. Took it on a cross country trip, perfect the whole distance, not a problem, and decent to good on the gas for a full time AWD vehicle. Definitely will consider another one, too bad Subaru will not be making them, maybe another manufacturer will start to make them.

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  Car Safety is First in its class - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By Ron - November 13 - 1:52 am

  Oil burner... at least one quart in between oil changes. Traded it in because of the oil consumption but did get a 2016 Legacy Limited and very happy with it since the changed some engine components and burns NO oil.

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  Great so far - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By pitstaff10 - November 12 - 10:33 pm

  Purchased this 2010 to replace my 2005 that was a love hate relationship. So far the mileage and ride have been great (31 MPG highway). Much better seats (leather) than the 2005. The new roof rail system is a joke and precludes using my existing Yakima racks. The solid side view mirrors are sure to get knocked off in the future, and the economy meter is a gimmick. Give us back a usable roof rail system and a temp meter. The hazard flasher switch is in a bad spot, always hitting it when going into Park. The heater system is taking some getting used to, comes on way hot even when set to 72 or less. Overall a good car but has some quirks.

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  Love my green machine - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By C caldwell - November 12 - 9:03 am

  Car is wonderful except for navigation. As long as you do regular maintenance, the car us a dream.

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  More Cons than Pros - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Roger - November 12 - 4:20 am

  Updated 10k mile review Pros 1. Great storage space 2. Incredible visibility 3. Sound system really rocks Cons 1. Handling especially in high winds 2. Gas mileage expected it to be 26-28 and its 24-24 highway 3. Headlights are great but the bright lights only turn on when the ambient light is low. 4. Incredibly loud in a rain storm. 5. Resetting the clock even the dealer cant do it. 6. General ergonomics do not fit a person over 6 foot the door rest is too low and the window sill is too high.

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  My Subaru - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Ron Scopa - November 12 - 2:13 am

  This is my second Subaru. Both were purchased new. I am reasonably pleased with the vehicle. I think, however, that a 4-cylinder engine such as the 2.5l in my car should be a bit better in fuel economy 24.5 mpg average. On the highway, the figure is approx. 27.5 mpg, at 60 mph. In city driving the economy is approx. 17 mpg. The car is fairly well built. The interior comfort is acceptable. The car is quiet, holds the road nicely at high speeds and runs smooth. The acceleration is not bad for a four-cylinder. Overall, one of the best cars I ever owned.

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  Picked a Winner - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Clint Knight - November 11 - 11:10 pm

  I spent almost six months reviewing and analyzing every small and mid size SUV. I purchased every automobile magazine that was available and read all the reviews on the internet. I finally determined that with the price of gas escalating, safety being very important,and quality and reliability being essential the Subaru Forester was the vehicle that made the most sense to me. I purchased it in May of 2004 and have 6,700 miles on it. We just had over a foot of snow yesterday in MA and this SUV treats the snow as if it wasnt there. Clearly, I picked a winner.