Which Subaru has a boxer engine?
The boxer engine is a defining feature of Subaru, and virtually all of the brand’s current gasoline-powered models rely on this horizontally opposed design. From compact cars to family SUVs and the BRZ sports car, the boxer layout underpins Subaru’s powertrains today.
Boxer engines—also known as horizontally opposed engines—place pistons in opposite directions, which helps reduce vibration and lower the engine’s center of gravity. Subaru has integrated this architecture across its lineup for decades, pairing it with symmetric all-wheel drive to deliver the brand’s characteristic balance and stability.
What is a boxer engine and why does Subaru use it?
A boxer engine uses pairs of pistons that move in opposite directions, creating a smoother, quieter operation and a lower overall engine height. This geometry allows Subaru to position the engine lower in the chassis, which, when combined with its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, contributes to improved handling, balance, and road feel. The design has become synonymous with Subaru in the eyes of many buyers and enthusiasts.
Key benefits
Lower center of gravity, reduced vibration, and balanced packaging are core advantages of the boxer engine. When paired with Subaru’s symmetrical AWD, these factors translate into predictable handling and confidence-inspiring driving dynamics in a wide range of conditions.
Which Subaru models currently use a boxer engine?
Here is a look at the main gasoline-powered Subaru models that employ boxer engines in the 2024–2025 model years. The list focuses on the brand’s passenger and performance lineups.
- Impreza (compact car/hatchback)
- Crosstrek (subcompact crossover)
- Forester (compact SUV)
- Outback (wagon-style SUV)
- Legacy (mid-size sedan)
- Ascent (three-row SUV)
- WRX (performance sedan/hatch)
- BRZ (sports coupe, developed with Toyota)
These models use various boxer-displacement engines (typical examples include 2.0L and 2.4L flat-four configurations). The BRZ stands out as a dedicated Subaru sports car co-developed with Toyota, but it shares the same boxer-engine philosophy that defines Subaru’s lineup.
How the boxer engine has evolved in Subaru’s lineup
Subaru’s boxer engine family has progressed from earlier EJ designs to newer FA and FB engines, offering a mix of naturally aspirated and turbocharged configurations. Over the past decade, Subaru has refined these engines for efficiency, power delivery, and compatibility with modern emissions standards, while maintaining the core boxer architecture that underpins both performance models and everyday drivability.
Historical context
Since its early adoption, the boxer engine has been a hallmark of Subaru’s engineering identity. The design’s emphasis on vibration reduction and weight distribution has helped Subaru align its powertrains with its all-wheel-drive philosophy. Even as engine families evolve, the boxer layout remains central to the brand’s image and performance characteristics.
Summary
In short, Subaru’s current gasoline-powered lineup—across sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and the BRZ—uses boxer engines. This design choice remains a core part of Subaru’s engineering approach, contributing to its distinctive driving dynamics and brand identity.
Is the Subaru 2.5 a Boxer engine?
If you choose a new Subaru Forester or Outback model, you'll get a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine with 182-horsepower and 176 pounds-feet of torque.
Which Subaru models have Boxer engines?
The following Subaru vehicles are equipped with the BOXER engine:
- Subaru Ascent.
- Subaru BRZ.
- Subaru Crosstrek.
- Subaru Forester.
- Subaru Impreza.
- Subaru Legacy.
- Subaru Outback.
- Subaru WRX.
Is the Subaru 3.6 a Boxer engine?
3.6-liter Flat-6
The largest SUBARU BOXER® engine available, this 3.6-liter 6-cylinder serves up 256 horsepower and 247 lb. -ft. of torque.
Is the Subaru 2.4 Boxer engine reliable?
Subaru's 2.4-liter turbocharged engine has been known to last over 150,000 miles with routine maintenance. All of the issues mentioned here can be avoided entirely with proper care. This makes this engine hard to beat.
