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 SUV overall, but why no automatic locking??? - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Jun Zhou - September 24 - 9:15 pm

  I purchased this car after having read all the reviews at Edmunds.com on compact to midsize SUVs and test driven quite a few of them (including Hondas and Toyotas). I have to agree with what most of the reviews have to say about Subaru Forester: its a nicely rounded family SUV with a huge attention paid on the practicality aspects. I enjoy the great outward visibility and the generous size of the sunroof. I like the ease-of-use electronics which offers easy Bluetooth connection with my iPhone, so I can have hands-free calls and enjoy mp3 music effortlessly. I love the gas mileage - my first 500+ miles during the frigid winter yielded 28 mpg, which perhaps is the best among this family of cars with AWD), and I do like all the features that the Limited trim level has to offer - However (!!!), to my big surprise, with the sophistication in technologies at this trim level, the car would NOT lock itself when you drive, you will have to remember to press the lock button yourself each time... in past 20 some years, I have driven tens of different cars with power locks, none of them require the drive to remember locking the doors before driving! One day on a highway my son, a very active 8-year-old boy, easily opened the back door when playing with the handle out of boredom/curiosity - thank God he immediately closed it after being yelled at :-) - but it buffles me why Subaru, a company touted safety for their products, would leave this manual which shouldnt be hard to get engineered as automatic. One of my friends told me that his Legacy and Outback dont have automatic lock either... why, Subaru??? Another thing I think is minor, which is the wind noise while driving, which definitely can be reduced a bit...

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  review - 2007 Subaru Outback
  By j henry - September 23 - 4:16 am

  This is my third Subaru wagon, not very sexy, maybe, but in my experience reliable.

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  Good Driving, Serious Flaws - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By desertsubaru - September 21 - 2:07 am

  Roomy interior - previous years couldnt fit a rear-facing infant carseat between drivers seat and second row - the 2012 can. Smooth ride. No engine temperature gauge. Just a "cold" and a "hot" light. Of course, by the time the "hot" light comes on youre screwed. A standard temperature gauge would give some warning as to gradually increasing engine temperature. Check engine light turns off traction control and emergency brake (and cruise control), so if you live on a hill and forget to tighten your gas cap...good luck parking. Turning off traction control is a major safety flaw.

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  Fuel Economy Only Drawback - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By Tony Wirz - September 16 - 6:33 pm

  Truck has been very dependable. Good cargo space without being a big hulk of a truck.

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  Noisy ski rack - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By jmiller - September 15 - 12:43 pm

  Really love the looks and handling of the 2008 Subaru Forester. The extra room is a plus. Not crazy about the plastic interior components. The trouble started with the ski rack. It creates a lot of noise and at 60 mph it sounds like I am in a wind tunnel. With actual skis on the car it is unbearable.

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  2011 2.5i Limited - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Chris K - September 15 - 7:36 am

  Heres an honest review- this car is not a 9.2 out of 10. Negatives: It handles like an SUV (slow, top heavy, and no where near nimble). The fit and finish are a little off (hard plastic dash, some spacing is a little off on dash parts, etc.), and the only desirable option (the v6) is WAY overpriced compared to other manufacturers. Positives: Comfort, ergonomics, storage, all wheel drive, safety. and gas mileage. Arguably styling as well, from my point of view the less "wagony" looking the better. Overall: you are not getting a BMW ride/performance, or Mercedes plush, what you are getting is a safe, dependable, sure footed, practical car for the modern family.

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  Our 2nd Baja - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By AWD Only - September 14 - 9:16 pm

  Yes it may be an odd looking vehicle to many people, but theres no denying the utility it provides. Add in the security of Subarus AWD system and reliability and you have a winning combination.

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  About time - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Glenn Wallace - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I feel like this car was built for me. The engine is a gem, and the transmission feels very solid. The SureTrac front diff requires a lot of getting used to. The DCCD is a seamless feature -- not noticed but it works. Brakes are excellent. Did I mention the engine is wonderful?

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  Lots of good, and a little bad - 2010 Subaru Impreza
  By mtbiker278 - September 14 - 3:20 am

  I bought this car to replace my overworked Honda Civic. This car has more than enough power and grip to satisfy most people. It makes driving fun again. Ive been netting 26MPG the first couple of tanks. The hatchback is very roomy, but the rear window does cut it down some. The interior has the feel of an igloo cooler, but when youre driving you tend to forget about it. Stereo isnt that great, but like others have said you buy this car to enjoy driving it. Getting into the upper RPM range sounds like youre taking off in a jet even without the optional exhaust. This car has made my daily driving errands enjoyable, and I cant wait to hop in it again.

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  Awesome Ride! Wont Let you down! - 2014 Subaru Impreza WRX
  By Jeremy Doss - September 10 - 4:13 am

  This car is pretty much awesome in every aspect, especially with Subarus awesome drive train and other warranties. Its super reliable and hell a fast! Not to mention its got a huge community for modding. The only drawbacks were the stereo head unit and some interior rattle. If that bugs you do what I did and get a new head unit and itll sound great!