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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  2017 Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Corey Olson - February 17 - 2:24 pm

  Love this car! Best value on the market!!!

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  Amazing Car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By NHLGT - February 16 - 10:50 pm

  This car is roomy, comfortable, has awesome options, accelerates well, has great power no matter where you are, is great in the snow, gets respectable gas mpg, looks so good, the dealer service has been amazing. Nothing is wrong with this car.

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  2004 Baja Turbo - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By ScotFogie - February 16 - 2:00 am

  This puppy moves out. A great car unless you need a trunk.

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  good car and bad luck? - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By quinn2012 - February 15 - 10:29 pm

  Just have a brand new 2012 Impreza basic model for a week. Good power, smooth CVT transmission, relatively high MPG, and large interior space. Everything works great until I had a flat tire during a long trip. The tire shop cannot find any object in the tire and suggested a possible manufacturing defect. I only have 250 miles on that car.

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  Sedan with Soul - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By resipsa99 - February 15 - 4:36 pm

  The GT is lightning quick when the turbo kicks in at 3000 rpm. Need to get up to speed quickly to merge onto a crowded highway? Just open up the 250hp turbo and hold on. The handling is solid and inspires confidence -- push hard on a twisty back road and the car stays firmly planted beneath you. The exterior styling is aggressive yet clean, with much more personality than its competitors. The interior is perfectly adequate, though some pieces are cheap looking for a car of this price. Leather is almost a necessity, since the only cloth option is not very attractive. Compared to its competitors, you sacrifice some luxury and options for performance, but its well worth it.

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  Great car with room for improvement - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By dronchi - February 15 - 4:00 am

  This car is a great compromise. As such however there is no one thing that it does particularly well. For instance, acceleration is great, but the engine is prone to detonation with California 91 octane gas. Handling is decent, but the car feels a bit heavy. Noise levels are fairly low, but the stearing response is somewhat mushy due to soft bushings. If you are looking for a racer, this may not be the car for you. If you are looking for a practical car that is fun to drive then you should take a look at this car. One thing I will say is that Ive beaten the crap out of this car by driving like mad most of the time and the care still runs great.

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  good car - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By james - February 13 - 8:46 am

  So far car has been nice. But it’s not as comfortable with 5 people in it even with 3 being kids. But for me it is only a second car and used mainly to get back and forth from work. This car has been a nice surprise, going from my Jeep Grand Cherokee. That I loved (just not the many trips to the gas stations) but going to this has not been too bad. I miss some toys but this car has a lot more sporty of a ride. So far so good.

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  2002 Subaru Forester - 2002 Subaru Forester
  By Ac Cars - February 12 - 4:06 am

  Well I think it should REALLY have improved comfort/road noise!! Also it doesnt have good brakes or reliable cup holders. Mine broke in less than a year! Also those dark/light gray seats soak up way too much sun. I would not recommend it.

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  All around good - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By preacherman - February 11 - 6:00 pm

  The Limited offers all the extras and the standard 4cyld is more than adequate for average usage. Good snow and ice traction keeps you going through all 4 season. A good highway car if you dont need lots of extra space. Drives more like a car costing much more and the build quality is outstanding. Drove this car cross country MA to CA and averaged over 28mpg. With a small trailer from CA to MI the average was almost 21mpg. Speeds were up to 75mph on both trips. Take it easy and get 30+mpg.

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  shy rocket - 2007 Subaru Forester
  By Fyrecherdo - February 11 - 8:46 am

  This is my first Subaru. Ive owned mostly Toyotas. I love the Boxer engine and the feel of AWD. I put two of my buddies inside for a spin and surprised them when the front end "launched" straight up when accelerated. From the outside this car looks like a soccer-mom transport.