Japon
Subaru
Subaru is the automotive division of Subaru Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer with roots in aviation. The company descends from the Nakajima Aircraft Company, one of the main aircraft suppliers to the Japanese government during the Second World War. After Nakajima was dismantled, five companies that emerged from its ashes merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., officially incorporated on July 15, 1953. The name "Subaru" refers in Japanese to the Pleiades star cluster, in the constellation Taurus, and symbolizes the union of the six entities behind the group; this is why the logo features six stars. The first significant automobile, the Subaru 360, appeared in the late 1950s as a people's car. In 1966, the Subaru 1000 introduced the flat Boxer engine, a mechanical signature still used today. In 1972, the brand introduced all-wheel drive, which would become its distinctive trait and bring it closer to drivers in harsh climates and rural areas. In May 2016, Fuji Heavy Industries announced its corporate name change to Subaru Corporation, effective April 1, 2017, aligning the group's name with that of its best-known automotive brand. The manufacturer has built a significant presence in North America, one of its major markets. Its only assembly plant outside Asia, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) in Lafayette, Indiana, produces about half of the Subarus sold on the continent. In Canada and Quebec, the brand enjoys strong recognition among fans of all-wheel-drive vehicles capable of tackling winter, snowy roads and forest trails. Over the decades, Subaru has forged a clear identity around three constant technical pillars — the Boxer engine, symmetrical all-wheel drive and, more recently, driver-assistance systems — that structure its entire lineup and set it apart from other mainstream automakers.
ActivePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitairePopulairesJaponaises
History
History of Subaru
Subaru is the automotive division of Subaru Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer with roots in aviation. The company descends from the Nakajima Aircraft Company, one of the main aircraft suppliers to the Japanese government during the Second World War. After Nakajima was dismantled, five companies that emerged from its ashes merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., officially incorporated on July 15, 1953. The name "Subaru" refers in Japanese to the Pleiades star cluster, in the constellation Taurus, and symbolizes the union of the six entities behind the group; this is why the logo features six stars. The first significant automobile, the Subaru 360, appeared in the late 1950s as a people's car. In 1966, the Subaru 1000 introduced the flat Boxer engine, a mechanical signature still used today. In 1972, the brand introduced all-wheel drive, which would become its distinctive trait and bring it closer to drivers in harsh climates and rural areas. In May 2016, Fuji Heavy Industries announced its corporate name change to Subaru Corporation, effective April 1, 2017, aligning the group's name with that of its best-known automotive brand. The manufacturer has built a significant presence in North America, one of its major markets. Its only assembly plant outside Asia, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) in Lafayette, Indiana, produces about half of the Subarus sold on the continent. In Canada and Quebec, the brand enjoys strong recognition among fans of all-wheel-drive vehicles capable of tackling winter, snowy roads and forest trails. Over the decades, Subaru has forged a clear identity around three constant technical pillars — the Boxer engine, symmetrical all-wheel drive and, more recently, driver-assistance systems — that structure its entire lineup and set it apart from other mainstream automakers.
Public founding or origin of Subaru.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Subaru stands out for its consistent mechanical architecture. The Boxer engine arranges the pistons flat, at 180 degrees, which lowers the center of gravity and improves balance; Subaru and Porsche are the only manufacturers that use it widely. Symmetrical all-wheel drive, laid out along the vehicle's central axis, distributes weight evenly and delivers strong traction, a valuable asset on snow and ice. The EyeSight driver-assistance system, based on front-facing cameras, handles emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The lineup is modernizing with electrification: hybrid variants (notably the Crosstrek Hybrid) and fully electric vehicles such as the Solterra, joined by new electric models to come. Recent platforms prioritize rigidity and safety. Flat Boxer powertrain (often 2.5 L), standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and continuously variable transmission. EyeSight driver-assistance with front-facing cameras. Rigid Subaru Global Platform; off-road-oriented Wilderness trims; hybrid variant available on the Crosstrek. Naturally aspirated Boxer engine on the Impreza, turbocharged Boxer on the WRX. Symmetrical all-wheel drive. Manual or continuously variable transmission depending on the model. EyeSight driver-assistance depending on the version. Subaru Global Platform geared toward rigidity and handling. Fully electric Solterra with lithium-ion battery and dual motors on certain versions, offering all-wheel drive. Hybrid variants pairing a 2.5 L Boxer engine with an electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery. EyeSight driver-assistance; a dedicated electric-vehicle platform for the battery models.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A Japanese manufacturer focused on all-wheel drive, reliability and winter capability, popular with active and northern drivers.
Reputation
Subaru enjoys an excellent reputation for reliability. Consumer Reports ranked the brand among the most reliable for 2024-2025, ahead of benchmarks like Lexus and Toyota, and named it the best overall automotive brand. Several models — Outback, Forester, Crosstrek and Ascent — earn recommended status. Resale value is one of the brand's strengths: the Forester, Outback and Crosstrek retain a good share of their value after three to five years. Maintenance costs are sometimes slightly higher than at some rivals, but longevity and residual value make up for it. The general perception associates Subaru with durability and winter capability.
Strengths
Subaru's strengths lie in standard all-wheel drive across nearly its entire lineup, ideal for the Quebec winter, and in reliability praised by independent organizations. The brand offers strong resale value, a reputation for durability, effective driver-assistance systems and a consistent mechanical identity built around the Boxer engine and balance.
Points to watch
Points to watch include maintenance costs that are sometimes higher than at some mainstream brands, Boxer-engine fuel consumption that isn't always the most economical, and continuously variable transmissions whose character isn't to everyone's taste. The electric lineup remains young compared with some competitors, and certain models favor ruggedness over interior refinement.
Models
Subaru models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Subaru produces the majority of its vehicles in Japan, where its main historic plants are concentrated. In North America, its key site is Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA), in Lafayette, Indiana — the brand's only assembly plant outside Asia. SIA began as a joint venture with Isuzu (Subaru-Isuzu Automotive) before Subaru took full control of it in 2003. The plant assembles the Ascent, Crosstrek and Forester, among others, and supplies a large share of the Subarus sold on the continent. It is recognized for having become, in 2004, the first American automotive plant to achieve "zero landfill" status. Its capacity has reached the order of 400,000 vehicles per year.
Tires and wheels
For Liqui Pneus, Subarus are natural winter-tire customers: all-wheel drive is best exploited with four winter tires of the same size, essential in Quebec. Common wheel diameters range from about 16 to 18 inches depending on the model and trim, sometimes more on certain sporty versions. As for bolt pattern, many recent models use a 5-lug layout; depending on the model and year, you'll find 5x100 (e.g., Crosstrek) or 5x114.3 (Outback, recent Forester). Always verify the exact size, bolt pattern, offset and center bore for your specific model, year and trim before purchase.