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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  Less than 13 mpg. instead of Subaru advertised 16mpg - 2012 Subaru Tribeca
  By careviews2 - October 19 - 12:09 pm

  We bought a 2011 and from the begining had back support problem, we decided since coulnt get our money back to get a 2012 (design is better) but now we are stuck with 7 years paying this gas eater.

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  Smart Buy - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Kent - October 17 - 5:26 am

  Good value, drives more car like than truck like. Car drives well and has good power with turbo. A person could get buy with out turbo,but may be a little under powered for some. Gas mileage avg 19-21 mpg back and forth to work. Transmission and all wheel drive work fine. Hood scoop and chrome like pedals and foot rest are a little kiddish on a Forester. People looking at Forester would want power passenger seat more. Good handling for SUV, seems nimble. Rear window overhang creates more dust and dirt on window and would be better without that design. Traded in BMW 325xi which is the most overrated car I have ever driven. Glad I purchased Forester over Toyota or Hondas equiv.

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  Mostly a Great Car - 2013 Subaru Impreza
  By zentec - October 16 - 3:52 am

  I have moved from a Honda Civic to the 2013 Impreza. Car drives much better than the Civic, about the same gas mileage with a lot less road noise. Seats are better than the Civic, most of the interior is on par or better.

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  Enjoyable drive - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By arnab1 - October 13 - 10:06 pm

  Got my first Subaru (Outback 2.5i Premium). Decided it over CX-7 and CR- V. Took a test drive and we (my wife and I) really loved it. Bought the next day. Ride is really smooth. Gas, hmm, getting about 25 mpg in city traffic. Loved the compass on the mirror. Less noisy than the last model. Overall its a sport SUV with a sedan like handling.

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  Overall impressed - 2016 Subaru Forester
  By Forester Loaner - October 13 - 7:22 am

  I own a Highlander (08 & driven 13 my g/f owns) and also currently driving the 16 Forester to get my 13 WRX serviced. Its the first time Ive driven a Forester and after Subaru really designed these cars including the Outback to be a crossover than the old wagon. I was pleasantly surprised at the visibility of the Forester as soon as I got in. The sunroof is HUGE! Its almost too bright (not a bad thing) without any sort of tinted window but felt both very naked but comfortable as I felt as though blind spots were almost non-existent. While its narrower than the Highlander I was surprised the ride height felt very similar; maybe couple inches or so lower but also didnt feel like the Forester was an enormous car having to be extra careful when parking. Highlander sometimes can be tricky in that sense. I buckled my daughters car seat & a booster and it was very easy to install. They both sit nice and flat on the seat so the adjustment was easy to do. The cargo space was also great hauling a cart of groceries without any issue. The height of the trunk was also perfect as it doesnt sit as high as most SUVs. I do feel for a family of four this would be the perfect vehicle. If packing extra load for camping Im sure you can get a cargo carrier and strap them on top. Considering the price of the Forester I didnt expect a ton of technology built in but also was surprised. Bluetooth pairing was I hate to admit x10 easier than my WRX. The touch screen and all the bells & whistles thats built in are far better than whats in my g/fs 13 Highlander. While I dont care too much for the Nanny devices like the lane drifting alert and EyeSight, if youre looking for added safety features its not a bad thing to have. It has the emergency SOS (Starlink) button which I do feel is a good feature in case of an emergency and need assistance. While I wasnt impressed with the overall control and design of the interior, I guess for the price you would pay its not horrible. The dial knobs for the temp controls felt stiff and very generic. Back up camera is a very nice touch with the great display for the fuel economy. And speaking of which this car has been getting 28 mpg with mix of city & highway driving. Ive yet to see the gas gauge (all digital) go down by a mark. Not a bad thing as my WRX with a turbo get a gas mileage that of a Highlander. Now onto the driving experience, I have a mixed review. Its not race car or V6 power and does have decent power band for the most part. If you have the car packed and need to get out quick, the Forest may not be the fastest car to pull out. Its not terrible either but I felt like it could use a little bit of boost. The ride overall is very comfortable. Its not too noisy and can still have normal conversation. I felt that the Highlander did better in terms of lower frequency noise like the road noise itself. Suspension isnt stiff nor too plush. Cornering and braking was predictable. The brakes are awesome in this car by the way. I almost nose dived not being used to driving this vehicle on the first day. One thing I thought it was odd is the Forester Im renting after backing out in reverse then shifting back to Drive, theres a weird 2-3 second delay before the drive engages to move forward. And then there was this odd pocket where if you dont have gas going in, the car seems to almost stall like it was a manual car. I had to sort of punch it to get the car going again. It may have been a fluke but considering this vehicle at the time of rental only has 3,400 miles total it may just be the way this car is perhaps. So theres a little bit of lag on the power/drivetrain front but the car excels at the overall ride comfort, visibility, excellent fuel economy and what it offers. Of course if you want more power, I would get either the turbo version or a different model with a 6-cylinder (which I havent driven like the Outback 3.6R). Headlight is halogen and the high beam was very bright. I felt it was brighter than my 13 WRX. Sitting up higher may have helped also. Overall I would recommend this car; for a small family but not for a family of 5+ (Outback then?). I would love to try this car in the snow but know with Subarus AWD you cant go wrong (as long as youre not trying to push through heavy unplowed snow.

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  Great car - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By Pere - October 13 - 1:30 am

  I have it for 2 months and very happy. Great feeling in S-sharp mode, only using Intelligent mode in city driving. Manual transmission is great (forget about automatic if you like to drive). I love the interior design and the HK sound system. Cant wait to drive it on snow but I drove it in very heavy rain and the feeling of stability is awesome. Best performance and better mileage than the Volvo XC70 at a more affordable price.

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  like the turbo for passing... - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By csflint - October 10 - 12:20 am

  ive had my used 09 Forester XT (~57k miles) for about 2 months now. Took it cross country (+10k miles) completely loaded inside, on top with car top carrier and behind with hitch carriage. Gas mileage so-so (23-24 mpg). my previous cars 6 cyl engine did better with gas, but had nothing on this Forester when it comes to needing a little get-up-and-go on highway and in mountains. 2 problems: front head rest and noise. Turned front head rest around to reduce neck fatigue. Noise - my dog used to be an awesome road tripper, until we got this car. She is unable to relax as long as the car is in motion. Its so bad, im considering selling just for her well-being.

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  Life is good in the fast lane - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Outback lover - October 9 - 11:56 pm

  I told the sales guy I need a family car that will satisfy this middle age mans need for speed and style. This car is amazing - if I could custom design a car from the ground up, it wouldnt be much different than the Outback. The European manufacturers arent my style. This car is very styling without flaunting it. Sound system is decent.

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  Pretty Nice - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By shaposky - October 4 - 4:00 pm

  I like my new Outback 2.5i. The only problems I have had with it so far is a malfunctioning airbag system and mediocre (but EPA accurate) gas mileage (Im getting between 23 and 24 mpg in mixed driving). I did average 31 mpg on a recent road trip to New York, though, which was impressive. People dont buy an Outback for its sportiness, but a little of that would have been nice. The cargo area is extremely useful.

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  7 month review - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By S - October 4 - 3:53 am

  So Ive had my Subie (1st time Subie buyer) for 7 months now and here are my thoughts. Overall, I love the vehicle. It handles very well (havent had any snow yet to test the all-wheel) and is quite roomy. The only "problem" that Ive had thus far is the paint on the plastic in the interior doesnt stick to the plastic. The paint literally wore off of the drivers door handle from my knee resting on it while driving! This occurred only after 3 months of ownership. The dealership immediately ordered a new door handle and handled the issue w/ the utmost professionalism. Problem is, when the car is out of warranty, Im stuck w/ the problem. The silver paint scratches off very easily.