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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  Great Value - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By Aaron - July 30 - 7:13 pm

  I have been driving the redesigned Outback for nearly two weeks. I have gotten approximately 23-25 mpg in the city and around 31 mpg on the highway. Power is not great but I can handle a little less power for the great gas mileage. This car has a huge amount of room for a family of four and looks good too. The comfortable seats are an added benefit. This is definitely a great value with AWD on top!

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  New 2016 Subaru Outback. DONT BUY ONE!!!!! - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By TH - July 30 - 7:00 pm

  I ordered a new Subaru Outback 2016 fully loaded with everything! I have had it for two weeks and it has already been back into the dealership here in NW Montana several times. Here are my complaints. It is a VERY VERY VERY COLD car to drive in the winter! Heated seats are lukewarm even on full for hours. Cold air leaks through every crack it can find in the dash and door. My feet freeze as there is no heat in the floor vent if the floor and dash vents are on. And VERY little lukewarm heat if just the floor vents are on. The dealerships response and their service depts response after several trips in is that I have to drive this car 6000 miles before the heat and heated seats will work. Whaaattttt!!!! This is a bunch of crap! Also, the light colored leather seats look like they were done on a late Friday night in a drunken stupor! Lots of wrinkles and folds and gaps in the seams. Punctures too. Again, I was told that light leather was harder to work with and that it wouldnt be any different in any of the other Subarus. All our vehicles have had leather seats and I have never seen such poor workmanship before! On top of everything else, when I ordered the car we had reached a price. However, when the Subaru arrived hundreds and hundreds of dollars were added to the cost. I was told it was absolutely nonnegotiable. Theses hundreds of dollars that were added were to pay the dealerships secretaries. Again, unbelievable!!! Pay the dealerships secretaries??? The bottom line is that this brand new 2016 fully loaded Subaru Outback is the WORST car for this skier in NW MONTANA! It is one hell of a VERY COLD car!! I plan to sell it and take the loss. Ford and Chevy here I come!! Loved my well heated and fully loaded with leather seats Tahoe!!! NEVER WILL I EVER BUY A SUBARU AGAIN!

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  First time Subaru owner - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Shirneen - July 30 - 1:36 am

  Wanted AW drive but didnt want to break the bank (again). Got the 5 speed and it is so much fun to drive. Really hugs the road in turns and is fabulous in the Maine Snowy winters!! Added XM, Subwoofer so the stereo is fine. Gas mileage is 30-33 in mixed driving. Traded in an 04 Murano AWD and the Impreza is much better in the snow.

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  2011 Outback First Impressions - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By hamuller - July 29 - 7:46 pm

  After my 2000 Forester my outback seems huge. It is a giant step forward in comfort. The CVT tranny is extremely smooth. As I have only had the car for two days I cant comment on the fuel economy yet. If it is as advertised I will be happy. I agree with the Edmunds test drive that the steering is a little "numb" compared to the Forester but overall Im extremely satisfied so far. My wife loves the smooth, comfortable ride. I will write a follow up after Ive had it a while.

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  Forester Review - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By Jon - July 28 - 12:10 am

  The Forester is an excellent vehicle. Handles like a dream and is the best value for the money. Its also the safest vehicle of its kind on the market. I love it

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  Good car, but not for what I bought it for (MPG) - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By jr981 - July 27 - 1:06 pm

  Overall the car is fine. I really like the interior and the way it handles on flat roads and downhill in the mountains. Its light and fun to drive in these conditions and feels very stable. Downside: Its more underpowered than I expected--even hilly neighborhoods have the engine revving high and loud. AC seems to increase the problem. The nav system is not intuitive--my cell phone app is more user friendly. Speakers are tinny and HD radio is not useful because it keeps fading out--unsure if the problem is the car or HD radio in general. Biggest problem is MPG--have yet to break 25 MPG with 60+% highway driving. Trip computer seems to overestimate actual by about 1.4 MPG.

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  Bad in snow - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By royboy - July 25 - 2:33 pm

  I am extremely disappointed with the incredibly cheap, flimsy plastic bumpers/fenders/fairings on my brand new Legacy. I live in Idaho where we have ice and snow on the ground all winter. My neighborhood remains icy and there are piles of snow at most of the corners. We have no through streets, lots of twists and turns. I always drive slowly in winter because of that. Yesterday I slid a little taking a left turn and the right front bumper hit a snowpile left by the city. I thought it was nothing to worry about but OMG the damage it did to that flimsy bumper was just way out of proportion to the impact. The Potenzas are awful on ice, and AWD/stability control did nothing to prevent the slide

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  best deal I have had - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By Macster - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Very comvertable ride. good pickup on inclines. good gas milage, I averaged 25.6 MPG over a one year period. I drive an average of 100 miles aday 7 days a week. I have had it for 16 months (480 days) I have 47,762 miles on it now. This was the first subaru I have owned , certianly not the last. There are two drawbacks that I have found 1)is that there is wind noise once you get up over 65 MPH. I have had the dealer deal with it on several visits, every time they fix it every time it comes back. 2) it is hard to see when you backing up.

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  2000 Limited GT Legacy - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Boogar - July 25 - 10:00 am

  This is my wifes car, but I love to drive it. For the longest time We had the only one in town. It has always been fun to drive it and has never let us down. I would recommend this car to everyone. Reliable, beautiful and truly a pleasure to drive. I cant say anything bad about this car.

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  A pickup with an auto ride - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By ptdulac - July 25 - 10:00 am

  The best thing is the manuverability. Considering the size it easily wheels around town without a problem. The worst is my choice to leave off the Turbo. If acceleration is not important to you, this truck will be perfect.