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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  What a good buy - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By Linda Chen - April 6 - 5:19 am

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  Honda to Subaru, Never going back - 2006 Subaru Impreza
  By LLL - April 3 - 9:23 pm

  I had a 99 Honda Civic Si for the past 3 years. It was a great car and fun to drive but it was getting long in the tooth. This WRX is wonderful. The 2006 is much nicer than the 2005. I was sold on the 06 the second I drove it. Drive both the 05 and 06 before you buy. Those few numbers difference in the performance make a huge difference. If you can live with the front end it will grow on you and it is a much nicer car than the 2005 WRX.

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  Love My Forester - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Forester Lover - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Purchased new in 98 have had nothing but good luck with this car-agetting 25- 28mpg. Now has 107000 miles and is still going strong. This is without question the best vehicle I have ever owned.

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  The best car ever!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By omarkhannn - April 3 - 10:00 am

  This car will beat the crap out of the lancer

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  2.5 Special Edition Impreza - 2007 Subaru Impreza
  By elosiga - April 2 - 12:03 pm

  My 2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Special Edition in Newport blue gets a lot of compliments. It came standard with a 6 CD/MP3, sunroof, iPod connectivity, power everything, and climate control. Very happy overall, but looking back in hindsight, should have bought the WRX Limited Edition.

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  Great starter car - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Joe Goss - April 2 - 2:15 am

  Pretty basic on the technology side, drive great for having such a small engine, great fuel economy. Not sure why its called premium when there is nothing below it. However Im very happy with it. Have always owned Subarus and will continue to do so.

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  road warrior! - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By eburg - March 31 - 11:53 pm

  Traded my Mercedes: never looked back. No matter what we put on it or in it, it HAULS with class and grace. MPG 23 in town, 27 on the highway with a sportshift auto. Better in every way than my sons 2001 GT. Handles snow, ice, hard rain and speed with no problems. Family fights to drive it!

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  B9 Tribeca - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By Joanne - March 31 - 5:33 am

  Picked up my Tribeca today. Very comfortable car and ride. I was looking at this car for a while, even compared it to Murano, Tribeca has a smoother ride and the seats are more comfy. The inside is very impressive. Beautifully designed. Happy I choose the Tribeca.

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  First Subaru - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Stan Thompson - March 30 - 8:03 pm

  I like the combination of great looks (dark gray), good economy (23.5 mpg 70% city while driving briskly) and the comfort of the interior. Absolutely zero problems in 19,725 miles. Love the extra large moonroof and the AC copes easily with Phoenix summers. The car is everything I was expecting and more.

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  2017 Outback is best car Ive ever owned - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Jim Ashberry - March 29 - 7:52 pm

  The only pet peeve I have is that the doors do not automatically lock when shifting from Park to Drive; I have to remember to lock them by pushing a button. I also do not have navigation and the options that come with it, because it would have added $6000 to the cost. I never have liked built-in navigation, because none of the work as well as my portable Garmin with lifetime map updates. Other than that, and some squirrelly messages on the screen when Im playing USB music and have paired my phone with Bluetooth. It keeps flashing on/off with "audio device disconnected/connected." This might be because I have set my phone for calls only, not audio. I rarely use the radio; I listen to my own songs on one of two USB drives. As far as the ride goes, it is extremely comfortable once I figured out the seat adjustments. I love the wide angle of the rear camera. The rear storage area is the best Ive ever seen, and I love the key-controlled rear cargo door function! Like another review mentioned, you can easily fold down the rear seats, making it big enough to sleep in (with a suitable thin mattress or pad). Ive owned this car for less than two months, and have taken it on one 600 mile round trip, and got 28 mpg overall, even just driving locally. I understand it takes about 2000 miles for the computer to adjust the gas mileage, whatever that means. I like the option of using a "manual" shift with paddles, because I can actually accelerate better at times with it, and then just flip the gear shift lever back to automatic mode. All in all, I highly recommend this car for everyday use. I traded in a 2015 RAV4 on this car