Subaru Has Always Tried To Be A Little Different
Subaru's reputation has been built on boxer engines, all-wheel drive, rally success, and an occasional willingness to make something genuinely interesting and unusual. Some models became enthusiast favorites shortly after leaving showrooms, while others annoyed owners with questionable styling, mechanical issues, or difficult compromises. Here are 10 Subarus that became cult favorites and 10 that tested everyone's patience.
1. Subaru BRAT
Brought to market in 1978, the BRAT combined four-wheel drive with a compact pickup-style body and famously unusual rear-facing jump seats. It never achieved conventional truck success, but conventional wasn't really the goal.
2. Subaru Impreza 22B STI
Made in 1998 to celebrate Subaru's 40th anniversary and its World Rally Championship achievements, the 22B STI rose to become one of the brand's most popular and coveted models. Subaru produced only 400 numbered cars for the Japanese market, with additional examples built separately.
3. Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Coupe
Before Americans could officially buy and drive the WRX, the late-1990s Impreza 2.5RS delivered some of its visual attitude in a naturally aspirated package. Today, examples are increasingly difficult to find because so many were changed, raced, or driven into the ground.
4. 2004-2007 Subaru WRX STI
The first WRX STI officially sold in the United States arrived in 2004 with serious performance credentials. Subsequent updates changed the styling, but the entire early U.S. STI generation maintains its desirability among fans of analog performance cars.
5. Subaru Baja Turbo
The Baja's mix of four-door cabin and small open cargo bed initially confused drivers, and sales never reached Subaru's lofty expectations. Years after production ended in 2006, the Baja developed the enthusiastic following that largely eluded it upon release.
6. 2004-2008 Subaru Forester XT
Putting a turbocharged engine into a practical compact crossover made a vehicle considerably more entertaining than its sensible shape suggested. Enthusiastic drivers still seek them out for that unusual and attractive combination of speed and practicality.
Andrew Van Hofwegen on Unsplash
7. Subaru Legacy GT Spec.B
The Legacy GT Spec. B gave drivers powerful turbocharged performance without the conspicuous appearance of a WRX STI. U.S. versions received impressive upgrades, including Bilstein dampers, while later examples utilized a six-speed manual transmission. Because Subaru sold the Spec.B in small quantities, finding an unmodified example today can take considerable patience of its own.
8. 2008-2014 WRX STI Hatchback
The hatchback version of the WRX STI wasn't universally celebrated when Subaru moved away from the previous sedan-only approach. Time has treated it kindly, however, partly because its cargo capacity made serious performance unusually practical. With Subaru no longer offering an STI hatchback, well-kept examples have developed an especially loyal following.
9. Subaru BRZ
Developed in conjunction with the Toyota 86, the BRZ took Subaru in a vastly different direction by using rear-wheel drive rather than the all-wheel-drive layout associated with most of its lineup. Strong aftermarket support has helped expand its appeal since the first generation hit the road.
10. Subaru WRX STI S209
The 2019 S209 was the first Subaru S-series model offered to drivers in the United States, but production was limited to just over 200 cars. Its rarity and significance within Subaru's American performance history made collectible status nearly unavoidable.
1. Subaru 360
Subaru entered the U.S. market with the tiny 360, promoting it with one of the most memorable slogans ever: “Cheap and Ugly.” Its low weight, modest power, and odd proportions made it difficult to compare favorably with larger American cars of the period. Although a charming collectible today, it wasn't the easiest introduction for an unfamiliar Japanese brand.
2. Subaru Justy ECVT
The Justy was a small economy car that became interesting when Subaru offered its electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Finding expertise and parts for surviving examples is a serious challenge undermining this model's simplicity.
3. Subaru XT
The wedge-shaped XT arrived in the 1980s with aircraft-inspired styling, an odd steering wheel, digital instrumentation, and available height-adjustable air suspension. The very oddities that once confused drivers are also why the XT attracts avid collectors today.
4. Subaru SVX
Subaru's early-1990s SVX was an ambitious grand tourer with a 3.3-liter flat-six and distinctive window-within-a-window side glass. Unfortunately for enthusiastic drivers, it was sold only with a four-speed automatic transmission, and transmission durability was an instant concern on some cars.
5. Subaru B9 Tribeca
The 2006 B9 Tribeca entered the crossover market with a head-turning, controversial three-section grille that quickly dominated discussion. A cramped third row and tough competition hurt its case, and the Tribeca disappeared after the 2014 model year.
Connor Scott McManus on Pexels
6. Early EJ25-Powered Foresters
Older Forester models equipped with certain naturally aspirated 2.5-liter EJ-series engines became associated with issues like head-gasket leakage, which was familiar to many Subaru owners. Plenty survived for high mileage, but coolant or oil leakage demanded attention and killed any sense of optimism.
7. Turbocharged Legacy GT
The 2005-2009 Legacy GT delivered excellent performance in the body of a discreet sedan or wagon, yet neglected examples turned into expensive projects. Turbocharged Subaru engines need careful maintenance, and used cars weren't always treated gently or kept factory-standard.
8. First-Generation Subaru Ascent
Subaru's three-row Ascent gave the company a much-needed larger family crossover, but early models experienced severe teething problems that were impossible to ignore. A major recall covered certain 2019-2020 Ascents because the CVT chain could slip and even break.
9. 2023 Subaru Solterra
Subaru's first mass-market electric vehicle had a bumpy start after a wheel-related safety problem delayed deliveries. A recall addressed hub bolts that could loosen, and vehicles were held until a solution was developed and became available.
10. Early CVT-Equipped Legacy and Outback Models
Subaru expanded its use of continuously variable transmissions significantly with the fifth-generation Legacy and Outback. Some owners encountered transmission issues that were so severe that Subaru was forced to extend CVT warranty coverage on numerous models from the 2010s.
