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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  Take a deep breath! - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Bill.Tarkulich - October 13 - 3:25 pm

  It would be nice if reviewers stated what kind of driver they are and what expectations they had going into this. For these purposes, Im a fairly laid back driver. I drive about 5mph over the speed limit, under limit when conditions are poor, and just like to enjoy the ride. Im short (56"). Im not a road warrior, dont weave in and out and use my directional. In terms of expectations its how I get from one place to another. No expectations about style or performance. Im an advocate from a "keep it simple stupid" school. I do expect to be able to drive capably and safely on the highways, about 80% of the time. I need it to be my "go to" car for my passions , hiking and skiing. It must be competent on forest roads, logging roads, unmaintained roads, generally what I call "soft roading". It must be capable of handling deep snow, icy, slushy and cruddy roads in the depths of the winter. It must be capable of hauling all my trail maintenance tools (I volunteer with the US Forest Service). It must be capable of jamming my skis and gear into it. It must be comfortable to drive in the depth of the winter colds. That means heated seats and a good defroster. It must be able to navigate through heavy snow, which means fog lights. It must be able to drive through 8" of mud on dirt roads in the spring. It must have enough drivers visibility to peer over the heights of land on old forest roads. It must be "maximum man, minimum machine". It means being close to nature, with great visibility and terrific sun roof, all year. It means great fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. It means the longevity of 200K miles or 10 years. I came from an Audi Quattro with far too many gadgets and features. Very capable in the winter, with AWD and snow tires. Problem is, something is always breaking and each repair is costly. Problem is too low a ground clearance, too great fuel (and oil) consumption. My first and last Subaru was a 1981 GL with real 4WD, up/low. Ive taken the Forester down the forest roads, used the Xmode and been quite pleased with how it handles the steeps. I love being able to put the seat up as high as I can and seeing great distances. This is very helpful not just on dirt roads, but in seeing wildlife and anticipating the terrain ahead. Im no longer fearful of road construction portrudences. Im quite fine with CVT. Its worked quite well under all conditions. I cant wait to get it in the snow in three months. Its a car I dont mind getting dirty. Im an empty nester, usually hauling only myself around with my gear. Sometimes one other person. I would not consider this as a family car. Id be looking at an Outback or something else. While I love Jeeps, I have no need for a larger engine or towing capacity or lower reliability. Didnt care for the RAV4, CR5 or other competitors for one reason or another. For me, the non negotiables were sun roof, heated seats. I dont understand the whining about the rubber mats is all about. I put dirt-laden picks, axes, saws and other tools in back. Im always tracking gravel, dirt, mud and snow into the car. They are just fine. If you want a city car with lots of luxury, there are plenty of choices for you. Just go for the LandRover if thats your style. I could care less about passenger seat adjustments or a lighted vanity mirror. What dont Iike? Mostly small things like more storage compartments, a better stereo (I wil change that out some day), more trunk lighting (I can fix that myself) and a full size spare tire.) Im glad it has the roof racks for hauling things like a canoe. I like the rear spoiler, but it makes putting a bike rack on the back near impossible. I love the ground clearance. I love that its pretty narrow, which makes city driving and parking a breeze. BTW , I disabled all those beeps and light flashes when the car is locked and unlocked. No need to draw attention to myself. Ive noticed that trying to stream music via bluetooth in the car results in poor audio fidelity. Connecting it by wire give much better sound. For the record, I get 34mpg on trips if I keep it at 60mph. At 70mph, the mileage gets down to 28, which is about my city driving average. Ive got my snow tires and am ready to rock. Until then, Ill be on forest roads and highways.

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  transmission failed at 113,000 - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Todd - October 12 - 2:13 pm

  dont buy this car. Bought it new and transmission failed. I did all the preventive maintenance. Should have learned from my 1st Subaru that died on me at 110,000 miles. I will be buying a rav4 now because I have lost thousands of dollars. The cost to fix the transmission would be 3 grand. no way jose

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  Dud - 2000 Subaru Outback
  By nredant1 - October 12 - 10:26 am

  It hurts to write this review because I am a huge fan of Subaru. The 4 cylinder engine is just way too underpowered. It was life/death trying to merge onto highways. Also, the cars mechanics were a disaster. The check engine light was on non-stop after about 10,000 miles. After about 50K mikes, the engine ignition coil failed 3 times over a 36 month period. For those who dont know, when your engine coil fails, your cylinders stop firing. Not a fun proposition when driving on major Philly highways, but at least it was still under warranty. Ultimately, the experience wasnt too bad as the manufacturer helped me locate a new Subaru and offered me $1K off. They were very helpful

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  2005 STIBABY - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Gouy - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Is the most fun car Ive ever owned. I tread my 03 350Z Track and 04 BMW M3 in for this car.

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  WRX Sti Is a Serious Performer - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By George Pulido - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Over the years I have owned and driven a few cars. The WRX STi rates the highest in its class. The power in this car comes on smoothly and the handling and brakes are superb. The exterior styling is subtle yet agressive enough to give it a race car look. The interior feels and looks like a true sports vehicle. The seats are confortable and the controls are well laid out for proper reading and operation. Before purchasing my STi, I researched it for a year and compared it to the EVO, RX-8 and Nissan 350Z. All these cars were truly amazing in their own right but the STi just seemed to have better quality finish and construction with higher grade interior materials. This is a fun car.

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  We love SUBARU - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By RUDY - October 11 - 4:49 pm

  If you are looking for peppy acceleration and quite cabin interior... Then, you need to look elsewhere. We love Subaru for its functionality and peace of mind it give us knowing that the car will take care of us through our journey - pavement jungle or the real jungle. This is our 5th Subaru.

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  Small and big enough.... - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By kurtataltos - October 11 - 1:47 am

  Debated between an Outlook and a 4Runner. In the end the Outlook just made more sense. Debated between the 4 and 6 cylinder. Went with the 6 as I make frequent trips to the mountains and snow. The 6 is smoooooth... much more than my daughters 4 cylinder Forester... and I still get decent mileage, currently averaging around 30. If you need more power than this 6 then you are at a race track. There is plenty of room in the car. Nothing negative to say after 7500 miles except... for the StarLink/entertainment system. The voice/map interface is worthless and the voice recognition is horrible. The overall user interface must have been written by a 5 year old. Very poorly done. Subaru needs to offer current owners a refreshed and updated user interface. Overall, still very satisfied with the only exception being the radio/entertainment/Sirius XM system. Would I buy this vehicle again.... absolutely.

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  Just bought 1 after a long search - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By warden - October 10 - 9:33 pm

  I just bought one after a long search for a new long distance commuting vehicle that can double as a hauler on the weekends. I selected this over a variety of small SUVs and cars. The Subaru stood out for its room, performance, MPG and price. I drive about 3000 miles a month on the highway and am 6 3" so many small vehicles didnt fit me. This one does and gets the mpg I need. It also gives me the AWD for bad weather and getting out to the highway over country roads.

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  Is Subaru slipping? - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By ipa_girl - October 10 - 5:13 pm

  This is my 4th Forester, the first one used, the rest bought new. Ive had it 12 months and have about 18K miles on it. Overall, the car is fine but Ive had problems with little plastic parts falling off left and right. The inside gas lever, the pegs that are supposed to hold the cargo net (fixed 3x), and on and on. This never happened with any of my older models. They just replaced a recalled part of the childs seatbelt that retracts into the ceiling. Not twenty minutes after driving off the lot, a piece of plastic fell out of it.

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  SUBARU TRIBECA LET DOWN BY SUBARU - 2012 Subaru Tribeca
  By laurenceray - October 10 - 6:45 am

  My 4th Subaru and first Tribeca. I live in Australia and vehicle specs different to USA and Europe. Issues are, no fold back mirrors, not reversing sensors, no digital speed, no auto on/off headlights, no rear fog light/s, steering wheel not adjustiable for in and out, unable to program Sat Nav to show vehicle speed roadway speed and set over speed warning or other warnings. Also only able to install whereis GPS software which cost AU$295 for a one year map. Subaru and Kenwood refused to re-program or show me how to re-program unit. No alarm system and not pre-wired as advertised and then went back on deal to pay for alarm if I paid for fitting. Subaru lied and no after sales support.