Back in the 1940s, during the early days of WWII, one of the most prominent manufacturers of aircraft in Japan was Fuji Heavy Industries. Like a lot of other similar manufacturers, after the war, Fuji Heavy Industries spawned an automotive brand. Several companies merged to create this new automotive JDM brand, which was symbolized in the name and the logo; Subaru, named after the Pleiades M45 star cluster, hence the stars in the brand's logo.

Subaru is most known for their boxer engine, offering AWD on pretty much all their models, and their illustrious rallying history. Subaru owners really love their cars, for a variety of reasons. Obviously, their most famous endeavor is the Impreza WRX and WRX STI, their flagship performance car where all their rally car expertise and chassis engineering meet up in one spot. Thanks to the STI's fame, tons of other really cool and interesting Subaru models have been swept under the rug. That's a shame, because some of them are really cool, and we'd definitely like to take them for a spin.

10 Baja

Front 3/4 view of the Subaru Baja
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Hyundai Santa Cruz who? Ford Maverick what? Before those two mid-size pickups arrived at the market at nearly the same time, back in the early 2000s, Subaru offered something very similar; a small pickup truck to be used as more of a lifestyle vehicle, rather than an actual pickup. That car was the Baja.

Rear 3/4 view of the Baja
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RELATED: Here's How The Subaru Baja Predicted The Future Of Small Trucks

It was based on, and used most of the same components, as the Legacy and Outback. But, instead of a rear hatch of some kind, the Baja had a real truck bed. It even had a fold-out extender, so the bed can be used for longer items. What made it even cooler is that Subaru offered it with a turbocharged engine and a manual transmission.

9 SVX

Back in the 1990s, Japanese automakers were knocking out sports cars left, right, and center. Mazda with the RX-7, Mitsubishi with the GTO/3000GT, and Nissan with the 300ZX. Not to be outdone, Subaru also decided to join in on the party, but their take was a little bit different.

Instead of a focused sports car like the others, Subaru decided to lean the SVX more on the grand touring side. It had a creamy smooth flat-six engine, and it was only available with an automatic transmission. The styling was also spectacular, with split windows like a Lamborghini Countach, and very flowy lines. Unfortunately, as cool as the SVX was, it didn't do all that well.

8 Forester STI

The front of a Forester STI
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Unfortunately, this awesome SUV was only available in Subaru's homeland of Japan. It's unfortunate that the Forester STI of this generation didn't get to see a release overseas, because it was just as awesome as it sounds.

The rear of the Forester STI
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There's no hidden philosophy in the naming of this car; this really is a Forester STI. It was more akin to a station wagon than an SUV, but it used the exact same engine, transmission, and AWD system as the Impreza WRX STI of the era. With an added dollop of practicality. There is an alternative if you're based in North America, but more on that later.

7 Legacy Spec.B

Front 3/4 view of the Legacy spec.B
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Available as both a sedan and station wagon, the Legacy spec.B was the most powerful version of this generation Legacy. Since there was no full-on Legacy STI, think of this as the BMW M340i of the Subaru Legacy lineup.

Rear 3/4 view of the Legacy spec.B
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Like the aforementioned German sedan, the spec.B also used a six-cylinder engine. A 3.0-liter with a boxer layout, specifically. It produced 242 hp and 219 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 151 mph. It was also great fun to drive, and it's a great sleeper car.

6 Outback 3.6R

Front 3/4 view of the Outback 3.6
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We can partially thank the Outback (and the excellent marketing strategy) for Subaru's success in North America. The Outback was the first to bring the lifted wagon to the mainstream, since the Audi Allroad was more centered around the luxury/premium segment.

The rear of the Outback 3.6
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RELATED: This Is The Coolest Feature Of The 2021 Subaru Outback

The Outback has always been a great car; practical, versatile, capable, and reliable. But, for a while, Subaru offered a 3.6-liter flat-six as an optional powertrain. It developed 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, giving the Outback decent acceleration on any surface, while also producing a great sound. What's more, this is a fantastic bargain sleeper. A used Outback is a great investment.

5 R1

What conversation about a Japanese automaker is complete without mentioning at least one of their kei cars. In Subaru's case, we have to single out the R1. Launched in 2005, it was also adorned with Subaru's controversial corporate face of the era, like the B9 Tribeca and the Hawkeye Impreza.

There was also a four-door model called the R2, as well as an STI model, which added a supercharger to the 660cc four-cylinder engine. The most interesting thing about the R1 is that it formed the basis for the little-known sports car prototype; the Prodrive P2.

4 Levorg

The front of the Levorg
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You can't talk about the Levorg without mentioning how admittedly terrible its name is. It sounds like a cartoon villain introducing himself to the hero. Nomenclature aside, the Levorg is one of the coolest Subaru models that North America, unfortunately, can't have.

The rear of the Levorg
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Don't be confused by the name; all the Levorg is a Legacy station wagon. That means it has all the good qualities of the Legacy, of which there are many, but in a much more practical body and with an added dollop of cargo space.

3 Exiga

The front of the Exiga
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We all know the original Toyota Venza and the lesser-known Honda Accord Crosstour. What you may not know is that Subaru had their own version of the bizarre minivan/station wagon mutation; the Exiga. Sold only in RHD markets, the Exiga is Subaru's only attempt at a proper minivan.

Rear 3/4 view of the Exiga
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Even more practicality and versatility than their wagons, the Exiga may look a little funky, but it's still a Subaru at heart. The turbocharged model (yes, that exists) is paired with AWD by default. The Exiga is sure to attract a lot of attention in markets where it isn't seen very commonly.

2 Forester 2.5XT

Front 3/4 view of the Forester 2.5XT
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Let's say that you live in a foreign market, say, North America, where you can't import a Forester STI. That's not as bad as it sounds, because foreign markets got an alternative to the STI; the Forester 2.5XT, based on the same generation of the Forester which came out in 2002.

Rear 3/4 view of the 2.5XT
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As the name implies, the 2.5XT used a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger. It was essentially the same unit as in the WRX STI of the time, but slightly detuned. Still, the 2.5XT was really fast for what it was, surprising a lot of journalists when it was new. It's definitely a sleeper car, and a bargain one at that. Subaru seems to agree, as they still offer the Forester with an XT trim level.

1 The "Saabaru" (Saab 9-2X)

Front 3/4 view of a red 9-2X
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What happens when you combine General Motors' wisdom, their ownership of Saab, and their controlling stake at Subaru? The Saab 9-2X. Even though this is technically a Saab, it really is just a Subaru Impreza WRX wagon with a few light retouches. Look at it this way; you know it isn't an actual Saab because the key goes in by the steering column, not by the shifter.

Rear 3/4 view of the 9-2X
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RELATED: Saab 9-2X Aero: Costs, Facts, And Figures

The "Saabaru" has received quite a cult following over the years, and rightfully so; Saab as a brand already has a pretty loyal cult following, so combining the badge kudos with the fun driving dynamics of a WRX made the 9-2X a fantastic performance car. It's a shame that it didn't sell that many units.