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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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR! - 2012 Subaru Outback
  By Anonymous - January 10 - 3:31 am

  Around 120,000 miles everything major breaks and cost BIG $$ to fix. In 4 months we have had to sink $6,000 into this car to replace the clutch, head gasket, thermostat, etc. We bought this car new in 2012 because Subarus are known to last for 200,000-300,000 miles and we intended to keep it for a while. Normal repairs and upkeep are expected but this many MAJOR repairs in such a short period of time right after it turns over 120,000 miles is NOT right. Also, 80-90% of the 124,000 miles we have put on the car are highway miles. We will N.E.V.E.R. buy another Subaru.

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  Lovely but tough car! - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By postdoc - January 8 - 10:00 am

  This compact car possesses feature of AWD, safety, tougher underparts fit for outdoor, enough space, Bluetooth and USB. The front mask looks ordinal but the rear style looks nice. 5-sp AT is desirable but there may be some reasons why 4-sp is applied for this size of AWD car as Matrix-AWD and Vibe- AWD also apply 4-sp AT. I hope that professional car reviewers will consider this point. The audio system may be improved in 2011. If FWD is OK, Mazda 3 and Golf may be more attractive, but I like this car more and more day by day.

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  Best car weve owned - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By dbk - January 8 - 10:00 am

  First time Subaru owner and have driven about 15,000 miles since January purchase. Getting excellent 28 MPG which is about 40% freeway - 40% mountain - 20% in town. This Outback was rock solid when driving over 250 miles in a bad Calif. coastal storm last winter. Previous car would have been all over the road, especially in the mountains. We have hauled a lot of stuff in the spacious trunk. Weve owned a lot of cars but so far this is the best overall vehicle.

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  Not happy - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By unhappy owner - January 8 - 10:00 am

  First day-blue smoke came out of the tailpipe on startup. Salesman said it should disappear after few hundred mi. After 1 wk it was in service w/ 400 mi with the same problem. Subaru service MGR said "the blue smoke is normal and part of breaking in." Service changed oil & filter for an OC test. This brand new car still blows blue smoke everyday on cold start and even if its been sitting for few hrs. Been going to service once, twice, & even 3x/wk and service MGR keeps telling my that my car is "normal and its part of breaking in." I lose a lot of oil within a wk (1qt+) & still waiting for Subaru to do something. Service refuse to fix the car. 1st time buying new car & not happy with Subaru.

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  First Subaru - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Sunshine State - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Drove it down the interstate and it handled well. I was impressed with the 4 cylinder engine, once you get moving it seems effortless (Driving in Florida, so most of the driving on flat area. Somethings I would recommend: 1. Automatic Door locks should be included. 2. 2 AC vents near the radio should be placed in a different location. 3. Mud flaps should be included on limited model. 4. It would help to improve flexibility of seating if back seat could be adjusted back or forward a few inches (similar to GMC Terrains back seat). 5. Warranty on drive train should be more competitive with other car manufacturers (many are 100,000 while Subaru is 60,000).

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  Excellent car! - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By VLY - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Traded 2007 Outback 2.5i for 2011 2.5i Premium with All weather/sunroof/rear view camera package and immediately saw huge improvements. Where do I start: interior room, rear seat with plenty of leg room and recliners, storages, fuel economy, better OEM tires, pivoted roof crossbars, automatic lights, standard stability/traction control, radio/speed control buttons on steering wheel, rear view camera, trip computer with separate outside temperature display, ride quality, up the hill assistance feature, central console arm rest. Excellent car!

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  Roll the Dice - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By new subaru - January 8 - 10:00 am

  We wanted a 4 wheel drive for the Maine winters also we needed the room have 3 kids. We also wanted better mpg than our trailblazer was giving us. Test drove 5 different cars/suvs. Really like the Volvo xc70 then again who wouldnt just to much $$$$$. The Subaru has a great feel and ride. Remember its not a luxury car. Very roomy inside for all passengers and cargo. We have less then 1000 mi but averaging around 29 mpg. Problems sunroof has a small leak which is being fixed at dealership they say they have seen this with other Subarus. Also one of the rear speakers is not working hopefully will be fixed as well. Ill let ya know.

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  First car! - 2013 Subaru Outback
  By lynncy - January 7 - 12:27 pm

  As this was my first car and Im a highly practical person who wants to make sure I make the absolute best decision for me, I drove, drumroll please... 30 cars. I even drove the 2012 and 2013 outbacks back to back to see if I could notice significant differences in the way it drove. I did. Much less body roll and more pep with slightly better gas mileage did me in. So far Ive driven 1500 miles, mostly city. City, Ive been averaging 23 MPG and on the highway I did about 28 with two large adults and all our junk for a vacation. I havent done much off-roading, but I can tell this car would handle it no problemo.

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  After almost 2 yrs - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Suby04 - January 7 - 8:26 am

  After almost 2 years and 40,000 miles, I still love it. No major issues; the fog lights burned out at 20k, and the brake light on the spoiler got water in it and burned out at 30k. Fuel economy great - its increased to 33hwy, 29 city all on regular! Other than that, routine maintenance, and still looks and feels like the day i drove it off the lot - minus the stone chips from old man winter! :(

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  no buyers remorse - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By RSH - January 6 - 10:08 am