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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  Cant You Hear Me Knocking.. - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By USMercury - August 9 - 1:06 am

  First thing I noticed was the knocking of the engine, which they say is typical due to engine design. The knocking was unbearable, which they ultimately fixed. Knocking started to come back, but I just sold it, so it will be taken care of next by someone other than me. As with most reviews, lots of wind noise. The wind noise is to the point where you have to turn the radio up. I went from a 6 cyl to this 4 cyl to save on gas, but to tell you the truth, it got awful gas mileage. Came with a broken 6 CD changer. Minimal acceleration in this vehicle. Started making another noise, like a rattle or shaking sound. But, itÂ’s gone, so fortunately not my problem now.

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  1,000 mile report: Happy so far - 2014 Subaru Forester
  By fandango - August 8 - 9:27 am

  My initial impressions are good. The ride is quite a bit smoother and quieter than my 2007 Impreza. The handling is pretty good for a SUV. The power is quite adequate in the mountainous terrain where I live.

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  Too interactive - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Jimbo - August 8 - 7:04 am

  I love this vehicle, but I worry about the distraction of the touch screen. Yes it can be voice controlled, but I need a training program to figure out all the voice commands. I have only had the vehicle a few weeks but have had a couple occasions where I varied from my lane while trying to do something on the touch screen. To me that was scary. I love the camera screen on the 16. I traded a like 15 and that one was hard to see especially in sun light. This one is nice. I would like to be able to turn it on while moving to monitor a trailer. That would be nice. Overall, except for blind spot alerts, I love this car. My fourth Subaru.

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  Good Buy - 2003 Subaru Forester
  By Mukund - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Subara Forester X earlier this month. So far I am well pleased. I bought one with a beige color interior and a red exterior. It looks superb. And I find the drive quite comfortable. Just two little minor caveats: The ride seems to be bumpier than I would have expected. Dont get me wrong, its very nice but definitely bumpier than my other car, the VW Jetta. The backseat leg room is small. I am 5 ft., 10" and I push the front seat all the way back when I am sitting. Some one of my height would find it difficult to sit right behind me. Overall, it feels and drives just like a car and I am very happy with my decision.

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  Great Safety Features - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By David - August 4 - 2:01 pm

  Purchased the 2016 Outback Premium 4-cyl in Jan. Very impressed with the safety features (have Eyesight). Talked with about 5 Subaru owners before purchase...all were very pleased. The vehicle is great in almost every way . Had difficulty with drivers seat for a while.... Found the drivers seat more comfortable when moved my shoulders as far back as possible. Had a 1550 mile round trip and did ok. Believe the Outback is a very good value for the $$$.

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  Good while it lasted! - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By AshJWilliams - August 3 - 3:50 pm

  In the last year Ive experienced a complete engine failure due to spun rod bearing (as have 100s of others US and abroad), driven with an intermittent CEL for 2 months and been to the dealership 4 different times to have the problem resolved, I have multiple issues with the factory ECU tuning including a severe occasional hesitation, and about a dozen other manufacturer defects and dealer workmanship issues including a damaged intercooler, multiple components installed improperly, multiple components not installed at all (missing bolts, etc), and the vehicle now makes a wide array of abnormal noises. Was fun to drive when it was running properly, but trust me its not worth the hassle!

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  Fun and reliable - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Renee - July 27 - 4:47 pm

  Owned my car 2 years now. Its a fun car to drive, great handling, superior in bad weather and snow! Comfy interior, smooth drive, have not had any problems. Cargo space is great for a compact SUV. Only drawbacks is that the paint seems to scratch and chip easily, a few bad blind spots because of the slope of the car, and the car is a little loud once you get over 80 miles an hour. These are slight things in my opinion, but might annoy others.

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  Two weeks in - So far, so good! - 2017 Subaru Forester
  By Megan C - July 25 - 5:13 pm

  This is my first brand new car, as well as my first Subaru. I chose Subaru after considerable research and references from friends who drive and love them. They have a great reputation as being sturdy, reliable vehicles, and as I do not want to have to buy another car for at least 7-10 years, it seemed like a great, affordable option. I live in southwestern Pennsylvania, a place known for hills and bad winters, so I wanted a solid car that handles well in the snow. I chose an SUV for the snow thing and also because I have been getting increasingly into the outdoors, so I wanted a vehicle that I could take off-roading, and that will haul bikes, kayaks, camping gear, wet dogs, and maybe someday kiddos, but one that also did not destroy my fuel budget as this has to be my commuter car too. The Forester seems to check all of these boxes, though Ive only had it for about 2 weeks, so time will tell. In that time, I have taken it to and from work regularly (city driving, stop and go traffic, 40 miles round-trip) and one highway trip that was exactly 400 miles round-trip, so here are my initial thoughts: Pros: • Gas mileage is great (in my opinion, my old car got 15 city, 27 highway), I average about 27-28 on my daily commute and on the highway I was getting over 36 MPG • The upgraded models have adjustable lower lumbar support which was great on the road-trip • I love the automatic climate control, set it once and didn’t have to touch it again in 3 hours • I think it rides smooth, I did not notice the noise or roughness that other reviewers have commented on, but I test drove a base model and that particular car was a little rough and noisy, so maybe depends on the upgrade • In over 2 years I never learned how to park my old car, and now I’m convinced it was the car and not me because the Forester has an awesome turn radius and I can park it just fine • Two words: Heated seats (I’m kicking myself for not getting the heated steering wheel) Cons: • My biggest complaint is that the remote starter is a separate fob that is about the same size as the regular key fob, so you basically have to carry two key fobs or only use the remote start at home. Personally, I use it at work as well, and 2 fobs is bulky and kind of annoying. In the year 2017, you’d think these things would come standard now, and all in one fob, but I guess not. • The manufacturer’s warranty is only 3 years/36,0000 miles, I bought an additional warranty from the dealership that extends my coverage to 5 years/60,000 miles • The Limited trim option only comes in an automatic (better gas mileage than the manual though, thanks to the new CVT) with only 2 drive gears, high/normal and low/descent control. The “normal” drive gear is fine, the “low” gear, apparently designed to utilize engine breaking during a continuous descent is kind of rough if you don’t shift at the exact right time and speed (almost like driving a manual again..) • There was a bit of a burning smell that I was told by the dealership and my mechanic dad was probably some kind of manufacturer coating burning off the undercarriage, that it happens with all new cars.. over 900 miles later I’m still noticing it (even though it is growing fainter) which seems excessive but who knows. If it turns out to be an actual mechanical problem, I’ll be back on here to update my review! So like I said, so far, so good! The cons are minor annoyances, nothing that would have been a deal-breaker for me had I known before I bought it, at this point I would definitely recommend this car for someone who wants an affordable, fuel-efficient SUV. If anything changes that is out of the normal, ordinary wear-and-tear of a vehicle, I will be sure to come on here and share.

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  Excellent Small SUV - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By vkinsocal - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned this car two years now and this car has been nearly flawless. I love the low end RPM power this car has. The torque curve is very flat on Subarus 4 cyl engine. driving in snow is great. Heater and air conditioning is simple to operate. Wiper controls are fantastic and make sense. Cruise control on the steering wheel as well as radio controls are like a a more expensive car would have. Changing your own oil is a breeze as the oil filter is vertical and you can get to everything without driving the vehicle on ramps. Visibility when backing up is best in class. Paddle shifting manual mode transmission is handy holding gear downhill. For ~25K out the door a fine machine.

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  Finally satisfied - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Slo STI - July 21 - 2:00 am

  It feels like an import muscle car. Tremedous amount of torque for a 4 cylinder import. Everyone that gets a ride in my car starts grinning and giggling once they feel the power. Expressions are always the same. i couldnt tell enough about this car......Performance is lets choose the word awesome. I have had 8 sportbikes and a custom turbod S2000...