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 car! very road worthy - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Joni Olson - March 20 - 9:42 pm

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  Transmission Problems - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By bigsuda - March 20 - 8:33 am

  I bought this car about six months ago with 47k miles on it. Pretty low for an 02. I was having problems with getting it into first gear and reverse so I took it in to the local dealership. They told me that there was a problem (I expected it to be the clutch), and was told that there is a problem with the synchronizers in the transmission! Seems a little low mileage, well maybe a lot low, to be having problems with a transmission. I havent added any aftermarket parts and take care of all my cars! Might be a lemon, but seems to be a ridiculous deal. $1500+ bill just to get started. Oh, and the warranty just expired 4 months ago due to an 01 delivery date. Wonderful!

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  2015 Subaru Outback Review - 2015 Subaru Outback
  By js_hiker - March 19 - 7:02 pm

  Just upgraded from a 2013 to 2015 Subaru Outback. They improved its handling in snow and the electronic steering and cvt are smoother. I rated the 2015 low due to quality of the fit and finish of the body panels – especially my hood. My 2013 and other manufactures have nice consistent gaps between body panels. I even found an online video where someone was showing issues with their hood.

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  So far So Good - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By cel20012 - March 19 - 5:58 am

  Nice little vehicle so far. Decided to downsize for better gas mileage but only getting a combined 25 so far. That is with about 50/50 driving with lots of traffic thrown in and tons of hills. Hope it gets a little better as the engine breaks in. I have seen allot about it being under powered but really havent noticed it yet and I am coming from a V6 little truck and a Civic Si. No its not fast but plenty of power to get you where you are going.

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  Legacy - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Manley Mincer - March 19 - 3:55 am

  Great value for the money Only issue seems to be a lag in the transmission when going from reverse to drive. Service team said its normal CVT. I dont believe it

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  New Subarau believer - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By gearhead71 - March 18 - 3:32 pm

  I test drove 30 awds out there and due to a family balance disorder, the ride requirement was the following: Highway smoothness, near zero body roll, zero cabin pressure (Suv must be vented properly) unlike VW tiguan, and no road vibration through the steering and seats. The 2014 was a clear and easy winner. I have owned the forester for 2 months in the NE winter and this thing proves itself every day of my 70 minute tristate commute. Coming from a BMW x5 I thought I would be unhappy - but this SUV is really a swiss army knife. Insane in the snow/ice - great comfort, a kickin stereo system. Computer readout of everything + X-Drive! + 27mpg avg + rock solid reliability LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Love this car, but... - 2005 Subaru Forester
  By kmcglynn - March 17 - 9:31 pm

  We love our 2005 Forester! It is a ton of fun to drive, and the leatherette interior with heated seats is very good for all of the bad weather we have here in the Pacific Northwest. This is one of the better quality SUVs for the money and the AWD is great!! However I do have one small issue with it. We barely hit 80k miles on our Forester and we already need to get the head gaskets replaced, which have set us back another $2,000. This has been the only problem with the car and it is running perfectly other than this issue, however we did some research and it is a HUGE problem with Subaru engines throughout the lineup. If you can get over that though, this car is definitely worth the money!!

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  2.5i Outback LTD - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By photomel - March 16 - 4:53 pm

  Just got back from my first road trip in my new car. Enjoyed the performance and the feel of the car. There are a few things about the interior that I do not like (see below). I considered this purchase for a very long time and did a lot of research. I think it will meet my needs for a long tome to come. I am a first time Subaru owner, but based on how many people drive them here in Central Oregon I dont think I will be disappointed.

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  Retired Veteran - 2018 Subaru Forester
  By John kiley - March 16 - 3:08 pm

  Think i paid too much

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  Dont Touch My Baby!!!!! - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By oldarmywife - March 16 - 8:07 am

  I love my 2009 Forester LL Bean Edition, we have gotten a consistent 25 mpg and have had zero issues in the almost 3 years weve had it. We have three reasonably big dogs who fit easily in the back with the seats folded down (and lots of rubber matting!!) and have driven for over 12 hours at a time with the dogs extremely comfortably! I love the "driving for dummies" addition of letting me know my tires are low which has eliminated the need for me to check them and the heated seats are a gem! The drivers seat is my favorite, I can raise it so I can have a panoramic view as I drive and its sleek design makes it easy to park even in tight spots.