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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  Midsize WannaB - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By RoadRunner47 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought the larger Outback vs my 1998 Forrester. The interior is NOT midsized. Travel strains my legs. The power seats on the Outback helps some. The brakes on the Outback squeaks and have warped, an unexpected extra expense. I like the dark green, but lack of insulation makes the air conditioner ineffective. The great sound system is muffled by road noise. The 4 cylinder engine is far superior than any US made 4 cylinder, but I would prefer an US AWD 3.8L V6. I swear by AWD, many times avoiding other drivers mistakes. The plasic appearance is a far cry from the interior appointments of US made cars 20-30 years ago. 200,000 mile throw- away car.

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  Good but not exciting - 2006 Subaru Forester
  By dereko - October 6 - 11:56 am

  I bought my 06 forester 3 years ago and after 46K miles I cant really complain. It always starts w/o hesitation and everything works like new. I have had the occasional engine hesitation; step on the gas slightly and it takes a second or two before it responds. I dont know if this is a electronic throttle or transmission bug. Needs more front shoulder and leg width. The center console will give your leg a mean cramp if you dont use the cruise control on drives over an hour. Backseat legroom is nil. Unfortunately, Im starting to get the usual squeaks in and around the dash. Its overall a good vehicle but after 3 years it just hasnt grow on me.

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  2.5X - 2004 Subaru Forester
  By Deacon Allan J. Frederiksen - October 4 - 6:08 pm

  This car served me well for 10 years 11 months and 174,000 miles. Reliable from start to "finish". Routine maintenance is a bit expensive. Only mechanical failure was a U joint in drive shaft at 153,000 miles. When timing belt was originally replaced at 82,500 miles also replaced head gaskets. Did not do so when timing belt was replaced at 165,000 miles and at 168,000 miles a very slight oil leakage began (to the tune of 1 quart per 3,000 miles.) Decided to trade in at 174,000 miles. This car went to 28 of our 50 states.

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  Great SUV for the money. - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By rob1261 - October 4 - 10:35 am

  Wow. I think I am glad I’m writing this after the previous review. I have only had it for one week. But felt enough time for an initial review. In response to the previous review (1 star), I have owned many cars/SUVs and I tested many before purchasing this. This SUV by far has the best visibility of any SUV I have seen. Subaru seems to be one of the few manufactures not obsessed with rounding off every car. The squareness of this SUV makes for excellent visibility in all directions and ease of entry and storage. And if you get with EyeSight package (highly recommended) you get blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alerts, auto cruise control, lane departure, lane assist and auto forward collision braking. To add this to the Premium is only around $1600 (also includes cold weather package). Really a bargain. I purchased the Premium 2.5i with EyeSight and auto mirror/compass/homelink for $26,500 with .9% for 63 months (MSRP of $29,400). I am coming from a BMW 328i xDrive so I was a little concerned how much I would like the car. So far I really like it. The handling and ride are better than expected. If has good power for this size engine and gets good gas milage and takes regular gas. I have found it very comfortable (6’, 220 lbs) and really like the great visibility and room. I also think it is a great looking SUV (Ice Silver). The EyeSight features are really impressive. The most surprising is the auto cruise control. This can be used in stop and go traffic as well as highway cruising. You set it up and choose max speed and distance from other vehicle (1-3 car lengths) and it maintains perfect speed and stops on its own and starts back up on it’s own. When stopped for about 5-10 seconds it will go into standby mode and can be easily restarted. If the car in front of you changes lanes or you change lanes you will see the car depart on the display and the Forester locks onto the next vehicle it sees. This is all displayed on the center and dashboard display. It is very close to an auto driver with this feature and lane assist on. The lane assist will actually turn you back into your lane if it senses your departing too far out of lane. I will update review after some more time with the car.

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  Its not perfect, but what car is? - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By gatorband - October 4 - 10:00 am

  1st Subaru & 60K mi. later, still tickled w/ it. Have had only 1 recall item & a handfull of warranty-covered issues, incl. one that was covered way after 3/36! PROS: EXCELLENT handling, esp. in bad weather (rain/storms) & on dirt/gravel roads; smooth & stable ride on pavement; ample cargo space; good visibility; overall reliability. CONS: sluggish pick-up from stop (4cyl/auto); poor cup holders; tight back seat knee- space. Take care of it & it will run forever! How many Subies do you see stranded?

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  Surprise on the Road - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By funshe - October 2 - 6:16 pm

  I was looking for a fun, manual transmission 4 door sedan, and had been ready to buy an Acura TL 6 speed. Read a review of all-wheel drive sport sedans, & the Spec B got a great review, so I checked it out. Ive owned the car almost 4 months, and it is a blast to drive. I would have liked to have a 6-speed, and I know that the 2007 Spec B will have it, but the 5-speed is responsive, and I blow away BMWs and hemi Chryslers - the all wheel drive and low profile tires really stick. Seating is comfortable, although not as nice and encompassing as my BMW 540. The car is comfortable on longer (2-4 hour) drives, and the sound system is very good (no satellite radio however - a big miss!).

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  First Subaru - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By taylor0274 - October 1 - 10:46 pm

  My wife was looking for an AWD sedan because we have a new born. She could not be happier with her purchase. We werent looking to purchase new but after the deal that was offered she ending up with 2010. I wasnt sure if the car was going to be big enough, but she has more than enough room for her and our 4 month old.

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  New Subaru Owner - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By 1gman - September 30 - 4:37 am

  I just purchased a 2012 OB Limited with the sunroof package. The car seems to be great so far, my wife loves it. I like the look and performance of it. She came out of a 98 Volvo wagon. She wanted a wagon again so that limited the choices. We narrowed it down between the Venza and the OB. Toyota was difficult to work with, would never call me back so I gave up on them and bought the OB. I will update in a month or two about how it is doing. I got the car for about $450 below invoice through the Costco auto program which made the process much easier.

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  08 WRX SEDAN - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By dScof - September 29 - 1:10 pm

  This is my second Subaru. I owned a 2005 WRX sedan before, which was a terrific little car. As for the 08, I initially didnt think that an extra half liter in engine size would make much difference, but I was wrong. This car revs so smooth and effortless, if youre not careful you can touch 100mph on the freeway without even realizing it. The handling in this car is superb, with some minor body roll, but its not noticeable in everyday driving. Fuel economy could probably be better, I used to average 20mpg on the stock tires (tires = awful), switched to lighter, performance tires and am getting 22-23mpg in mixed driving, up to 30mpg at non-freeway speeds if I set cruise and stay off turbo.

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  poor seats - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By john burton - September 27 - 10:36 am

  Overall I am pleased with my recent purchase. Seats are my biggest complaint. Poor support, and no padding for the tush. The car I purchased is having some transmission slippage. Have brought it back, and they said to keep an eye on it.