Did the Subaru Justy have a boxer engine?
The Justy did not use a boxer engine. Across its various generations, the Justy relied on inline or inline-like engines, many of which were sourced from Daihatsu, rather than Subaru’s hallmark flat-4 boxer layout.
To understand why this matters, it helps to know that Subaru’s classic boxer engines are horizontally opposed cylinders that sit flat across the engine bay. The Justy, a budget hatch produced in the 1980s and 1990s and often built in collaboration with other manufacturers, adopted non-boxer engines in order to fit its badge-engineered platform. The result is a model lineage that features inline configurations rather than the familiar Subaru boxer setup.
Origins and engine philosophy
The Subaru Justy was conceived as a compact, affordable hatchback offered in several markets around the world. Rather than relying on Subaru’s own flat-four or flat-six engines, many early Justy variants used smaller inline engines sourced from partners such as Daihatsu. The goal was cost efficiency and compatibility with subcompact platforms, rather than showcasing Subaru’s traditional engine architecture.
Generational engine overview
First generation (mid-1980s to early 1990s)
In its first generation, the Justy was commonly equipped with compact inline engines rather than boxer units. The lineup included small-displacement inline-3 and inline-4 configurations derived from or shared with Daihatsu designs, enabling the car to sit under a subcompact hood and deliver adequate efficiency for city driving.
Before this list, it’s important to note that the engines were chosen to suit a badge-engineered approach rather than to highlight Subaru’s boxer tradition. The typical configurations can be summarized as:
- Inline-3 engines (Daihatsu-based)
- Inline-4 engines (Daihatsu-based)
In sum, the first-generation Justy did not employ a boxer layout; it used small inline configurations tuned for economy and practicality in its class.
Second generation and later variations (mid-1990s onward)
Subsequent versions of the Justy continued to prioritize compact inline powerplants, with variations that reflected market needs and partnerships. Engines remained inline rather than horizontally opposed, reinforcing the model’s role as an economical, entry-level hatch rather than a showcase for Subaru’s boxer technology.
Before this list, the aim was to outline how the engine lineup evolved while staying consistent with non-boxer configurations across markets. Common options included:
- Inline-4 variants (compact, efficiency-focused)
- Inline-3 variants (compact, efficiency-focused)
Across generations, none of the Justy variants used a boxer engine; the model’s powerplants aligned with inline configurations rather than Subaru’s traditional flat-4 or flat-6 layouts.
Summary
Bottom line: No Subaru Justy ever employed a boxer engine. The car’s heritage lies in inline, subcompact powerplants—often Daihatsu-derived or shared within badge-engineered platforms—rather than Subaru’s characteristic horizontally opposed engines. For enthusiasts seeking a true boxer experience from Subaru, other models such as the Impreza, Legacy, Forester, or BRZ are the canonical choices.
Which Subaru models have boxer engines?
All current Subaru models have Boxer engines, including the Ascent, BRZ, Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, and WRX. Subaru is known for being one of the few manufacturers to use this horizontally opposed piston engine design across its entire lineup.
- Ascent: Features a 2.4L turbocharged Boxer engine.
- BRZ: Equipped with a 2.0L Boxer engine.
- Crosstrek: Comes with a 2.0L Boxer engine in base models, with higher trims offering a 2.5L Boxer engine or a hybrid powertrain.
- Forester: Comes with a standard 2.5L Boxer engine.
- Impreza: Comes with a standard 2.0L Boxer engine.
- Legacy: Comes with a standard 2.5L Boxer engine, with an available 2.4L turbocharged Boxer engine.
- Outback: Comes with a standard 2.5L Boxer engine, with an available 2.4L turbocharged Boxer engine.
- WRX: Features a 2.0L turbocharged Boxer engine, while the WRX STI uses a 2.5L turbocharged Boxer engine.
What engine is in the Subaru Justy?
| First generation | |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 997 cc EF10 I3 1189 cc EF12 I3 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual NCVT |
| Dimensions |
Did the Justy have a boxer engine?
The engine was not the usual Subaru boxer four-cylinder, but a transverse-mounted inline three-cylinder with 1.0-liter or 1.2-liter displacement, depending on the market. A three-valve SOHC head with dished pistons allowed the 1.2-liter version to produce a respectable 67 hp @ 5,600 rpm.
What was the only Subaru without a boxer engine?
The only Subaru vehicle that does not feature the boxer engine is the Solterra EV, our first all-electric offering. EVs utilize a different powertrain technology entirely, foregoing a combustion engine in favor of an electric motor. The following Subaru vehicles are equipped with the BOXER engine: Subaru Ascent.
