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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  STi - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By MJA - January 13 - 6:26 am

  Visceral. Its the best way to describe this car. If you are looking for a practical and reliable car with super car performance on a budget this is it. Handling is top notch (more than youllever need on the street). Acceleration comes in boatloads from 2000rpm toredline. Braking is excellent thanks to the big brembos. All of that performance combined with excellent Subaru reliability, and a nicely done interior thanks to Saab and this car is the complete package.

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  What a mistake! - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By what a waste - January 11 - 10:50 pm

  Ill make it simple. RATTLES,RATTLES,RATTLES. Doesnt really matter if it drives well or not. You are so distracted by all the rattles you really dont care. Rattles started in the rear of the vehicle. The dealership tried to convince me it was the license plate. Now beside the rattles in the rear of the vehicle, the front driver side and passenger side windows rattle/hum. Only person I would recommend this vehicle to is my friend who is totally deaf!

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  Crosstrek Premium Review - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By subitrek - January 11 - 10:28 pm

  Bought the Premium Crosstrek CVT one week ago.I have been very impressed with the quality of the vehicle build, very solid and responsive. The exterior which I bought in dark gray is really sporty but sophisticated looking. The interior is very comfortable and has a very simple and useful layout. Plenty of room in the back seats with a 60/40 fold down for extra storage. Love that daytime running lights, fog lights, and heated seats are standard with the premium model. Interior lighting is very need with a calm red. MPG has been as advertised. Trade-in a pickup truck that got half of the MPG.

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  Best combination of fun and value! - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Matt - January 11 - 3:06 am

  Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, nothing rivals this car. It performs like a Corvette (actually outperforms a Corvette in bad weather) but you can get two of these for the same price. Im too old for a car with a wing-- I think they look silly-- but when Subaru added the option of a lip spoiler instead of the wing I went ahead and made the purchase. The back seat is plenty roomy for two adults (or a baby seat or two). Note that it ships with summer tires, so if you live somewhere that gets below 45 degrees youll need a second set of tires and rims. Also, youll need the center arm rest extension for comfort, but be warned that the Subaru arm rest extension will replace your nice padded carbon leather/red stitching with cheap black plastic. Get the JDM dual console arm rest extension from subispeed instead-- it gives you the same higher elbow support but it allows you to reuse the original console lid, preserving the overall look and feel.

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  LOVE my New XV Crosstreck - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By coolpool50 - January 10 - 9:03 pm

  I bought this so I would have a crossover with good gas mileage, comfortable to drive and be great in the snow and on dirt roads. Prevoulsy owned a 2006 Toyo Higlander which I loved, but gas mileage was killing me. Have owned toyota since "86" So far I have not been disapionted ! I drive 60 miles per day for work on a highway that can be very nasty in bad wheather. I got hit with a couple of snow storms right after buying this. Very nice! handled like a dream. Used the heated seats very comfortable. Getting around 27.6 combinded and 30-32 straight highway. I get allot of complements on the look (white pearl ext. w/ivory/black int.) Pick up is fine, very peppy, handles great on corners.

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  Good car, not great - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Ajluptak - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Car is OK in most respects ( handling, ride, etc. AWD system shines in poor conditions. Car is only adequately powered (165hp) and the AWD system is heavy, making the car sluggish. 4 spd auto trans geared too steeply for engine power, hunts in and out of gears. Fuel economy awful, 16 mpg average and my wife is not a leadfoot. If you can find a 5 spd manual car, get it. Lack of power should be fixed with the optional 5 spd auto and 250 hp turbo 4 in the 2005 car.

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  Patiently breaking it in... - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By midlifecrisis - January 10 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Subaru. After one week of ownership I still get a smile on my face everytime I get in and take off. The car has been flawless so far.

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  Constantly Amazed With This Car - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By dodman1 - January 10 - 4:34 am

  I have 4300 miles on my 2012 Limited Sedan and I could not be happier. I read some of the bad reviews and dont understand how anyone could give this car a bad review. It was very inexpensive and I am amazed by the overall experience. It rides great, handles very well, looks good, has many great features, performs well for its class, and returns excellent gas mileage. And lets not forget the AWD. Really folks, this is not a $60,000 premium sedan. It is however, an excellent car for a very reasonable price. I consistently get between 33 and 35 miles to the gallon with a mix of highway and country road driving. Buy this car before Subaru realizes they priced it too low!!!

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  2017 WRX Base - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By John Rosenow - January 9 - 9:12 pm

  Lots of fun driving. Good grip on wet roads.

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  Drivetrain needs update, but... - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By zulualfa - January 9 - 1:40 pm

  Love the solid feel of this vehicle. Well built. Put together well. As a six-footer, plus, lots of head and leg room. drivers seat could be a little more cushy, but not bad. Only complaint: only auto is 4-spd, so went for the five-speed manual, which leaves something to be desired. Very notchy. My Ford Ranger 5-spd is smoother. Love the little SUV.