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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  We Love this Car - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Pilgrim - December 22 - 1:03 pm

  This is our 1st Subbie and were hooked. Heated seats, mirrors and wipers. This is a car designed for folks who live in the Great White North! Comfortable ride coupled to the security of AWD is a winning combination. The versatility of a wagon is a plus as well. Would not hesitate to recomend a test drive on a foot of freshly fallen snow!!

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  Go Everywhere and anywhere car - 2000 Subaru Forester
  By Seeingsienna - December 22 - 10:00 am

  This car doe sit all. It is my commuter car, my sporty ride car, my soccer/baseball car and my landscaping car, and now even my camping car. Other than 3 repairs to the rear wheel bearings {see other owners reporting same problem and local serviceman saying it is common for the car}, it has been trouble free. Mileage drops to 21-22 in winter - I suspect bad oxygen/gas mixture b/c tires are kept well inflated. In warm weather I get 25- 27 overall.

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  Fun to drive - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Hobbes - December 22 - 10:00 am

  Like all Subarus, the STi pushes power through all four wheels. But it offers the singular advantage of what the marketing mavens call a "driver controlled center differential." In automatic mode, sensors seamlessly divide the power among the wheels according to road surface, throttle opening, rate of acceleration and cornering force.

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  UGGGH - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Bill - December 22 - 9:00 am

  NOthing but problems with this one. Its to bad because I loved the (260,000 miles) outback I had previously. The forrester has been a nightmare. Wheel bearings, every seal the thing has. Now the head gasket. I will be giving up on this one.

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  Unbelievable car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Steve - December 21 - 11:23 am

  As an American muscle car owner, I was hesitant to purchase a foreign car. This car is absolutely unbelievable. The 2.5l Turbo has enough power to get down the road in style and still haul the kids and/or clients in comfort. My other car, a Chevrolet Corvette, doesnt mind sharing the garage with this little turbocharged piece of heaven.

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  My choice but not my wifes! - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Raymond Fentress - December 18 - 9:58 am

  Great vehicle but my wife wants a larger upscale sedan! Still searching for the one that pleases her! She drives no more than 2,000 per year, and I drive 20,000 to 25,000 a year. She even has the nerve of picking the colors. See what 51 years of marriage can do for you!

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  Total Waste of Money - 2009 Subaru Impreza
  By Sorry Customer - December 18 - 5:10 am

  Ive driven this car 7,000 miles now and its spent 6 days in the shop in 4 months. The tires have to be inflated every couple of weeks, it burns oil and the automatic shifts unpredictably. Drivers sun visor has been replaced 3 times, as it wont stay put and its broken again after only 2 weeks. On several occasions the car has refused to accelerate for several seconds when the pedal is depressed. There was a rattling noise going up hill that forced the dealer to completely reinstall the exhaust system and heat shields. The stereo system is so cheap its painful to listen to. This is the worst car Ive ever owned, a complete piece of junk. So much for Subarus quality reputation.

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  Already traded it! - 2011 Subaru Impreza
  By mamabex - December 17 - 6:30 pm

  Bought this car new in Feb 2011. Loved the looks and wanted that legendary Subaru reliability. Boy, we were sorely mistaken. We just traded it in after the last straw--and its January, 2013. We had to have the engine REPLACED at 18K. REPLACED. This is a dealer-serviced car, driven gently back and forth to work and to the grocery store, etc. Engine knocked, we took it in, and it spent the next MONTH and change in the shop. After they replaced the engine, we thought everything was okay--until a few weeks ago, when it began knocking AGAIN. We took it back in. For the last time. We traded that heap and havent looked back. This car was probably a lemon, but still disappointed.

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  Not The Best Car Ive owned. - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By caraddiction - December 17 - 12:58 pm

  Ok, Ive owned about 11 cars in the past 6 years. I bought this car (Less than 6 mo ago) to have something paid off to save money and get better gas mileage than my 2010 Nissan Xterra. It has failed me. After buying it while driving home the head gaskets failed even after they had been replaced already,2k to fix. Then cat started malfunctioning 900 bucks, head lights burn out in 2 weeks 13 dollars per headlight, I dont touch the bulbs while installing either. Only has 130k on it. It was even owned by a mechanic. I dont know if it was from poor maintenance or Subaru. Ive owned subaru in the past and this one has disappointed me tremendously. I am selling it asap.

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  Love it, fun to drive, but some problems - 2011 Subaru Forester
  By pip3 - December 17 - 9:16 am

  We love our Forester, for the most part. It is the perfect size. I dont have to sink down to get in and better yet, dont have to yank myself high up to climb into it. Driving it is fun, very responsive and great turning radius. Visibility is excellent and parking is easy. However, we have 2 strong complaints and a minor one. First, the radio is terrible! The fm sounds like hollow am radio. Next, the passenger seat is highly uncomfortable, non adjustable, and sunk down so low its hard to see over the dash. The minor complaint is storage. Glove box is tiny, cup holders are square and bottles routinely fall over. In-door cupholders are also flawed.