The Top 10 Models in the History of Subaru Motor Corporation

Subaru has always been known as the reliable, sturdy vehicle that all the eccentrics own. After working for a Subaru dealership in Fairfield, Ohio. I would always say, "That Subaru could get hit by a train and keep on going". This is much to its testament after having an office that was close to the body shop at Busam Subaru, and seeing the likes of the models that appeared to be nearly destroyed and how they survived the worst of the worst accidents. When this opportunity became available to write about Subaru's top ten models, I decided to delve into it head first and learn a little bit more about them since Subaru has quite a history.

The first Subaru on my list is the Ladybird. According to my father, this was Subarus first production vehicle. I had no idea that they were initially an aircraft company, so this production took place after the war during 1954-1969. The Ladybird is one of the top ten models made because it was eagerly purchased by many due to its affordability, design and performance.

The second Subaru on my list is the 1000. Wikipedia states that the Subaru 1000 was a sedan which made it practical, but it was also a step up the manufacturing of their vehicles. This makes the top ten models because it was the first Subaru to have a boxer engine, coupled with front wheel drive. This was an exclusive combination in 1966, as they were the first to develop it, but they had not used it before along with front wheel drive. This car was what helped Subaru make its way to the front of the line with Japanese car makers. so the Subaru 1000 gets two thumbs up!

The third Subaru on my list is the Leone. Motorimages says the Leone makes the grade because it was the first four wheel drive commercial vehicle in 1972. This was important for those traveling in winter weather, because prior to this no one had any option other than to just stay in during blizzard conditions. The four wheel drive was a critical turning point for Subaru and this puts the Leone on the top ten model list.

The fourth Subaru to make the top ten is none other than the Subaru Impreza. According to Dave Jones at Busam Subaru, this model has been known for years a favorite at the World Rally Championships. If you have seen images of this vehicle, you will see everything from the basic sedan to the modified vehicle for racing. In 1990, this model came out as Subaru was planning to expand its range of models. The Impreza was noted for its chassis, and thus became a drawing board to use this chassis for its other vehicles. In addition, the Impreza has always been known for its better gas mileage as a four cylinder vehicle, and its safety record.

The fifth Subaru on the list to make the top ten, is the Subaru Forester. According to Wikipedia in 1997 the Sport Utility became popular, and so the Forester was built on the same chassis as the Impreza. Once we hit the new millennium, the Forester was redesigned to be more attractive. When it first came out it wasn't all that appealing, but it was well received because it wasn't a minivan, but it offered the space to stow away camping gear and other items, while providing room for the family. In addition, all the vehicles became four wheel drive, so this too was noted as being able to trudge through the snow.

The sixth Subaru on the top ten list is the Legacy. In a conversation with Bill Bangert, a salesman at Busam Subaru, the Legacy was initially introduced in 1989, and was known as a wagon. This was the model that separated other Subarus from the pack. The Subaru was known for its distinct design, and the Legacy showed up at the same time as the Lexus. The Legacy was more aerodynamic in its design because of the wagon shape, and it was the first Subaru model to use five lug nuts instead of four. The Japanese car maker found that this would help with increasing its horsepower and torque when going over rough terrain.

The seventh Subaru on my top ten list is the Subaru XT. As told in Carfolio, this car was introduced in 1985, and was a major departure from their standard design. This Subaru model was inspired by the manufacturer's original love of aircraft. The XT was lower to the ground and had a cockpit inspired front seat. Remember those pop up headlights? Yep, the XT had them! This car was great for those looking for something compact, but a little sporty. This model was available with an automatic and a standard transmission and a push button option for four wheel drive. Last but not least, the XT was known for its standard features that were not common during that period of time. It had retractable door handle flaps, single front wiper blades, and a steering wheel that had tilt. This XT with these cool features makes the top ten list.

The eighth Subaru on my list is the Baja. This is definitely one of the most unique cars ever made by Subaru and I am sad to say it no longer exists. Dave Jones educated me on this car when I first moved my office to the Subaru store. For those who wanted a truck but couldn't do without a Subaru this was the vehicle of choice. The Baja was definitely quirky and didn't have the amount of space you expect to find in a truck as we know it. The Baja didn't have a huge load capacity, partially because of its unibody design just wasn't accommodating. The Baja still makes the list because of it's unique design, with recessed bed rails to accommodate hauling bikes or wood planks. Despite its size, it still was able to tow a capacity of 2400 pounds.

The ninth Subaru on my list is the Outback. I never thought I would say that I love a wagon, but this car is one of the nicest I have ever driven. We sold this more than any other model at the Subaru store in Fairfield. With its room and all wheel drive you can't go wrong. It has tons of space for the family and to hide your camping gear in back. This wagon is rugged, but is a four cylinder vehicle so it gets better gas mileage than its other all wheel drive models. The wagon is available as a six cylinder for those looking for a little more power. I know personally folks who own this car in Washington State, and they wouldn't have it any other way for climbing those mountains. In 2008, the lovers of this model got excited about a new feature on the car called Eyesight. This feature would notify the driver if they were too close to other vehicles, as well as if they had started to crossover into another lane. The manufacturer installed two cameras into this model for this feature. Amongst all the safety features and durability, this car had no choice but to make the top ten list.

Last but not least, the tenth Subaru to make the top ten list is the WRX. According to Dave Jones of Busam Subaru, this is definitely known as the hottest Subaru of all time. This model has been purchased by enthusiasts around the world and modified for racing. This car is just a turbocharged version of the Impreza, so enjoy the larger brakes and the tighter suspension. This car was first introduced in 2001 as a 2002 model vehicle. While working at the dealership I was forever getting phone calls from folks looking for any used models they could get their hands on. Because it is so well loved, forget that idea. For those who had purchased it some time ago they were planning to hang onto it as long as they could. This car makes the grade for its unique, sporty design and its turbocharged drivetrain.

I can say for sure that there is no other buyer like a Subaru buyer. These folks love their cars. They do last a long time, and finding good trades usually was never a problem. The Subaru buyer took care of their vehicles and hated to part with them, but on the other hand they were really looking forward to a newer model.