2023 Subaru Rex Debuts With Naturally Aspirated 1.2-Liter Engine
It's essentially a rebadged Daihatsu Rocky and revives a name last used 30 years ago.
The Subaru Rex debuted in 1972 as a rear-engined kei car with rear-wheel drive that was followed by a second generation in 1981 that switched to a front-mounted powertrain and FWD. The Japanese automaker transitioned the pint-sized vehicle to the Mk3 model in 1985 with supercharged engines before pulling the plug in 1992. The Rex is back for 2023, and this time around, it's not a Subaru per se since we're looking at a rebadged Daihatsu Rocky.
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-gen Rex is 3995 millimeters (157.3 inches) long, 1695 mm (66.7 in) wide, and 1620 mm (63.8 in) tall, with a wheelbase measuring 2525 mm (99.4 in). Although the Rocky is sold with an optional all-wheel-drive system, the Subaru version is strictly front-wheel drive.
2023 Subaru Rex
Power is provided by a naturally aspirated 1.2-liter gasoline engine rated at a mighty 87 hp (64 kW) and 113 Nm (83 lb-ft) of torque. The three-pot mill sends its muscle to the front axle via a continuously variable transmission. It's worth mentioning Daihatsu also sells the Rocky with a more potent turbocharged 1.0-liter engine with 98 hp (72 kW) and 140 Nm (100 lb-ft) but it's not available for the Subaru Rex.
While the engine seems anemic, the Rex is a light car considering it tips the scales at less than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). Subaru is confident the three-cylinder mill is capable of delivering "powerful and smooth acceleration" while providing excellent fuel economy. There are even driving modes available for what will primarily be a city car.
Available in G and Z grades, the new Rex starts at 1,820,000 yen (about $13,000 at current exchange rates) and rises to 2,171,100 yen ($15,600) for the better-equipped model. Subaru doesn't project it will be a huge seller as the target is to move only 150 cars per month.
Meanwhile In Japan:
Source: Subaru
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
‘Saved My Battery’: Subaru Driver Goes Camping. Then She Discovers A Trick To Keep The Trunk Open WIthout Draining The Battery
Watch A New Chevy Blazer Demolish An Old One In A Crash Test
Woman Buys Used Subaru. Then She Realizes It Has A Secret Feature: 'It Took My Mechanic Telling Me'
Which 2026 Honda Civic Should You Buy? Every Trim Explained
Subaru Is Putting A Manual Gearbox In Three New Cars
Tow Truck Driver Picks Up Mustang. At First She Thinks It’s Covered In Bird Poo. Then She Realizes It’s Something Else Entirely
Lamborghini Just Built Its Most Powerful SUV Ever