The Subaru Rex made its debut as a rear-engined kei car with rear-wheel drive in 1972. A second generation of the Subaru Rex, with front-mounted powertrain and FWD, followed in 1981. Before ending production in 1992, the Japanese automaker converted the miniature car to the Mk3 model in 1985 with supercharged engines. The Rex is back for 2023, but this time it’s a rebadged Daihatsu
Also sold as the Toyota Raize and Perodua Ativa, the subcompact crossover is much bigger than the three Subaru kei cars before it. The third-generation Rex measures 3995 mm (157.3 inches) in length, 1695 mm (66.7 inches) in width, and 1620 mm (63.8 inches) in height. Its wheelbase is 2525 mm (99.4 in). Although an all-wheel-drive system is available for the Rocky, the Subaru model only has front-wheel drive.
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A powerful 1.2-liter gasoline engine with naturally aspirated combustion produces 87 hp (64 kW) and 113 Nm (83 lb-ft) of torque. The front axle receives power from the three-pot engine through a continuously variable transmission. A stronger turbocharged 1.0-liter engine with 98 hp (72 kW) and 140 Nm (100 lb-ft) is also offered by Daihatsu for the Rocky, but it isn’t offered for the Subaru Rex.
Although the engine seems underpowered, the Rex is a light vehicle given that it weighs less than 1,000 kilogrammes (2,200 pounds). Subaru is certain that the engine’s three cylinders can deliver “powerful and smooth acceleration” while still achieving excellent fuel efficiency. Even the driving modes are available for the vehicle, which is primarily a city car.
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The new Rex is offered in G and Z grades, with the G grade starting at 1,820,000 yen (roughly $13,000 at the time of this writing) and the Z grade costing 2,171,100 yen ($15,600). Subaru estimates that it won’t be a big seller because it only plans to move
