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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  Better in Most Ways - 2010 Subaru Forester
  By Roger - February 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the Third Subaru We have purchased. I use a 2006 Forester for commuting. We have had the 2010 for about three weeks now and have put on some 1000 miles. We have come up with the following improvements with the new Forester; Much smoother ride, much quieter cabin, very comfortable seats, More leg room, rear seats are much more comfortable with more leg room especially with the reclining feature. when exiting the vehicle, you dont have to climb up out of it like the older versions. We found we didnt like lack of snappy response the older models had, no temp gauge, and less interior storage. That said, we have found the Forester to be a much better vehicle than the last version.

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  Sirius Radio missing - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By Golferjak - February 13 - 10:00 am

  I had an 03 Outback with 140,000 miles and traded it for the new design 2011 Outback - First distance travel was to Syracuse NY through NJ and PA 390 miles each way. I use cruise control when I can and got 29.5 miles per gallon both ways. And we traveled with two bikes and luggage for a week.

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  Scooby Rex! - 2002 Subaru Impreza
  By DrDray - February 13 - 7:46 am

  Excellent car! Fun to drive, reliable, and good mileage for turbo charged vehicle.

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  Very Overlooked - 2008 Subaru Tribeca
  By mercuryhater - February 12 - 4:22 pm

  Wow i cant believe this car isnt popular. We just bought used with 41000 miles on it the flat 6 sounds good at start up and has a nice dual exhaust. The Sport mode doesnt do anything. Acceleration is very good. Ours is Gray on black which is kind of boring because our last 2 car were silver/ gray. The Tribeca is very agile and feels sporty. the glove box has no room. We like the sunroof visor because you can have it shut with the glass tilted. the navigation works well it is very calming and doesnt sound like a computer

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  Very happy owner !!!!! - 2012 Subaru Impreza
  By 7887 - February 12 - 2:58 pm

  Ive only have had this car two weeks and so far its great.My first tank I drove 450 mi. mixed cuty/highway.That came out to 31.1 mpg huge diffrence from my 08 Buick at 17 mpg.

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  Great Features and Value! - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
  By taris128 - February 12 - 12:36 am

  My wife is a loyal Subaru customer, this B9 is her 3rd Subaru. The interior of this vehicle is superb. The standard features like power moonroof, AWD, curtain airbags, fog lights make it a great value. We really like the B9 styling, the exterior is very unique.

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  Owned it for a month. - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Jim Martin - February 11 - 3:35 am

  Owned it for a month. Its been great so far.

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  One of the best! - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By wizeguySI - February 8 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a new wrx, and i am absolutely thrilled with the car. The performance is unbelievable, the looks are extremely sexy, it handles amazingly, and the AWD is probably the greatest feature of the car. I never lose traction in this car and i have to say, its much better than the previous cars I have owned. My last car was a 1999 Acura Integra Gs-r, with many modifications done to it, and it still is slower than this wrx. The wrx is so much fun to drive, and the momo steering wheel and boost gauge really top everything off.

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  One hot car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By CAinAL - February 5 - 3:43 pm

  I bought my Sub after seeing so many in the mountains of California. I now live in Alabama and I love driving it all year round, but it is definitely a cold weather car! The vents blow warm air so I have to keep the AC on all the time in the spring, summer and fall. The AC has a hard time keeping up with the 100+ degree weather and high humidity. But it handles great in the torrential downpours we get here and I wouldnt trade it.

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  An Outback Sport review - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Bob - February 5 - 2:40 pm

  This car is a lot of fun to drive, and if your drive normally pits you against the elements, it is especially worth considering. So far, Im enjoying it a whole lot. Premium features incorporated in the Outback Sport are very worthwhile. VDC/TCS addition in an under $20,000 AWD car is impressive. Yes, I have a 2000 RS 2.5 that beats this car in handling, but that is not something that happened between model years. From my perspective, whatever compromises were made were worth it. You need to see it and drive it.