What engine did the Subaru BRAT have?
The Subaru BRAT (Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) was Subaru’s compact pickup that spanned the late 1970s through the 1980s in various markets. The engine lineup across its production run was built around Subaru’s flat-four (boxer) engines from the EA family, with displacement and power stepping up over the years.
Engine family and evolution
The BRAT was powered by horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines from Subaru’s EA engine family. Early U.S. models relied on a 1.6-liter setup, and as the model year progressed, larger displacements were introduced to meet demand for more power. Here is how the engine options evolved by era and market.
Early BRATs (roughly 1978–1980): 1.6-liter flat-four
In the original BRATs, a 1.6-liter flat-four formed the powertrain backbone. This engine emphasized reliability and efficiency, delivering adequate performance for light-duty pickup tasks and everyday driving.
- The 1.6-liter flat-four (EA-series family) typically produced around 70–80 horsepower, depending on tuning and emissions equipment.
These early engines established the BRAT’s reputation for simple, durable power and easy maintenance, aligned with Subaru’s engineering philosophy at the time.
Transitional period (early 1980s): 1.8-liter flat-four
As Subaru updated its lineup, some BRAT models adopted a larger 1.8-liter engine, increasing torque and overall performance for better acceleration and highway use.
- The 1.8-liter flat-four (often part of the EA-81 family) delivered roughly 80–90 horsepower, depending on market variations and tuning.
This shift reflected Subaru’s broader trend in the era toward higher displacement engines in compact vehicles and light-duty trucks.
Later years and markets: 2.2-liter flat-four
In the mid-to-late 1980s, select BRAT configurations and regional variants used a 2.2-liter flat-four, aligning with the more widely used 2.2L engines in the contemporary Subaru Leone/GL lineups.
- The 2.2-liter flat-four (EA-82 family) typically produced about 90–110 horsepower, depending on emissions controls and tuning.
The 2.2L option provided a noticeable performance boost while preserving the BRAT’s utilitarian character and all-terrain capabilities.
Context and impact
Across its production, the BRAT leveraged Subaru’s signature horizontally opposed engines, offering a low center of gravity, smooth operation, and balanced weight distribution in a small pickup format. The engine evolution paralleled Subaru’s broader strategy in the 1970s and 1980s to emphasize reliability, efficiency, and practical performance over high power outputs.
Summary
In short, the Subaru BRAT used a progression of flat-four engines from Subaru’s EA family. The lineup started with a 1.6-liter engine, moved to a 1.8-liter variant, and in some markets included a 2.2-liter option later in its run. This engine lineage defined the BRAT’s character and utility across its model years.
