News
Posted Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 9:38pm
When it first launched an “Outback” as little more than a trim level for the Legacy wagon, Subaru possibly didn’t expect it to become arguably as much of a brand icon for the company as the rally-bred WRX. It should have, however, because all-wheel-drive wagons are part of the genesis story of the brand, specifically the eight special-order FF-1 wagons built as service vehicles for the Tohoku power company of northern Japan. Go-anywhere wagon practicality… Read More →
Posted Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 10:46pm
Subaru is one of the most well-known Japanese automakers. It’s most well-known for creating the brilliant Impreza and Legacy, as well as its successful exploits in rallying with both those models. The Impreza has retained a strong following thanks to its WRX and STi variants, and several versions of the Legacy are revered by JDM enthusiasts. Subaru wasn’t all about its rally cars and sporty sedans and wagons back in the ’90s, though. Early on… Read More →
Posted Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 10:03pm
All-wheel drive (AWD) is an attractive feature in areas where winter conditions prevail for much of the year or when additional traction is required. Every major automaker acknowledges this and provides some form of AWD. Mercedes-Benz has a 4MATIC system, Audi features the legendary Quattro, and BMW offers the xDrive technology. Each of these systems aims to improve traction and stability, with their functionality ranging from basic on-demand systems to sophisticated setups that deliver independent… Read More →
Posted Friday, February 21, 2025 at 9:31pm
Subaru thrust its way into the mainstream in the 21st century thanks to its rugged, reliable, all-wheel-drive vehicles, including crossovers that drive more like normal cars than the truck-based SUVs of yore. As the traditional sedan was beginning to get replaced by the onslaught of these incredibly versatile crossovers in the late 1990s, Subaru applied the lifted all-wheel-drive treatment to its midsize sedan the Legacy to see if buyers would bite. Read More →
Posted Friday, February 14, 2025 at 9:49pm
Last month, Subaru of Japan offered skiers a more fun way to get to the top of the hill than the usual chair lift. Over four days at the Naeba resort, situated a couple of hours by car or transit northeast of Tokyo, snowsports enthusiasts could hop in a Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and have a pro driver slew it through the snow on the way up. Subaru calls this event the Gelande Taxi, and it’s… Read More →
Posted Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 10:02pm
Subaru thrust its way into the mainstream in the 21st century thanks to its rugged, reliable, all-wheel-drive vehicles, including crossovers that drive more like normal cars than the truck-based SUVs of yore. As the traditional sedan was beginning to get replaced by the onslaught of these incredibly versatile crossovers in the late 1990s, Subaru applied the lifted all-wheel-drive treatment to its midsize sedan the Legacy to see if buyers would bite. Read More →
Posted Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 9:07pm
Iconic nameplates like Corvette and Mustang have rabid followings, but that devotion doesn’t necessarily spill over into automaker mania. There are people who are loyal to Chevrolet and Ford, mostly truck owners, but again, these aren’t brand zealots, just faithful fans. Subaru, on the other hand, has built a cult following that makes Trekies seem sedate, and they did it on the strength of their affordable, practical, and sometimes stylish all-wheel-drive vehicles. Read More →
Posted Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:24pm
As a professional car reviewer and a recent Subaru owner, I am always a little surprised at the exuberance everyone else seems to have for the brand. I’m not alone. Many, if not most, of my automotive peers seem to feel this way. Yet, talk to a regular person and the feelings they have for Subaru are strong. Talk to a new Subaru owner and those feelings are even stronger. I call this the “Subaru… Read More →
Posted Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 10:10pm
Standing out. This is perhaps the motto that has forever described Subaru as a brand. First, there’s the company’s unique approach of adding AWD and a boxer engine in every vehicle, which combine through engineering brilliance to create a unique driving experience. There’s also the company’s thirst to compete at the highest level and make high-performance machines that enthusiasts would crave. However, there is more to Subaru’s story, which now spans more than 70 years. From… Read More →
Posted Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 10:00pm
In 2000, at the age of 16, Travis Pastrana was already one of the most accomplished motorcyclists on Earth. He won the World Freestyle Motocross Championship in 1997 at the age of just 14, and would continue winning that championship every year through 2003. He’d won freestyle motocross gold at the X Games and the inaugural Gravity Games in 1999. There were precious few places left for Pastrana to prove himself on two wheels. He’d… Read More →
