Subaru models

Who is Subaru?

Subaru is a Japanese carmaker and part of Subaru Corporation, whose roots lie in the aircraft industry. The company took the name Subaru Corporation in 2017; Subaru is also the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster. Its cars are best known for the horizontally opposed Boxer engine and a long association with all-wheel drive. That engineering identity runs through practical family cars, crossovers and sports models.

Which Subaru models define the range?

The Forester, Outback and Crosstrek are the main crossover and all-weather choices. The Forester is a roomy family SUV; the Outback pairs estate-car practicality with a raised, rugged stance; and the Crosstrek, known as the XV in some markets, is a smaller crossover based on the Impreza. The Impreza itself is a compact car, while the Legacy has been offered as a saloon and estate. The BRZ and WRX bring a sportier side to the range, and the Ascent serves as a larger SUV in North America.

The model history stretches from the small, utilitarian BRAT and XT of the 1980s to long-running lines such as the Legacy, Impreza, Outback and Forester. Newer additions include the BRZ, the Crosstrek, and the Solterra, Subaru’s first battery-electric SUV. The range also includes shorter-lived names such as Tribeca, Levorg and Trezia, reflecting how Subaru has adapted its line-up for different markets and kinds of driver.

How has Subaru’s range changed over time?

Subaru’s range has grown from compact cars and distinctive utility models into a broad mix of family cars, crossovers and SUVs. The Outback helped establish the raised estate format, while the Forester became a central family SUV. Across these changes, Subaru has kept its Boxer engine and all-wheel-drive layout as defining features in many combustion-engine models.

Electrification arrived in stages. The e-Boxer combines a Boxer petrol engine with an electric motor, while the Solterra is fully electric. Subaru has also announced further electric models for Europe, including the Uncharted and Trailseeker; the latter is called the E-Outback there. These sit alongside the established petrol and hybrid-powered lines.

Where are Subaru cars sold?

Subaru models appear in official figures across the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Canada. The EU registration picture is led by the Forester, followed by the Crosstrek, Legacy and Outback; the Impreza also has a substantial presence. The mix varies by region: some names are familiar across several markets, while models such as the Ascent are primarily associated with North America.

Fuel economy and emissions figures need to be read in the context of each market’s test. European figures use WLTP or, for older cars, NEDC; the United States uses EPA ratings, while Canada uses the five-cycle test. Results from these procedures are not directly interchangeable.