Subaru Rex Second generation
Subaru Rex (Second generation) was built from 1981 to 1986, as a 3/5-door hatchback. Powertrain: 544 cc EK23 I2; 544 cc EK23-T turbo I2; 665 cc EK42 I2. Layout: front engine, front-wheel drive; front engine, four-wheel drive. Size: 3,195 x 1,395 x 1,350 mm (L x W x H). Weight: 565 kg.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. The picture illustrates the body shape, not this car; a photograph is added when a licence-safe one exists.
Overview
In August 1981, the second-generation Subaru Rex became front-wheel drive, with all-new bodywork and independent suspension all around. At the time, it was stated that the only parts of the rear-engined predecessor to have remained were "two connecting rods and an ashtray". Power remained at 31 PS, with a twin-barrel carburettor. Three and five-door hatchback versions were available. Optional on-demand 4WD became available after October 1983, a first for the class. The 4WD system was electrically engaged by depressing an embedded switch on top of the gear shift. The option of a turbo was introduced on the 4WD Rex in December 1983, to counteract the added weight of the drive system.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other hatchback models in this database (76 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- 200 mm below the median of 3,395 mm, and shorter than 94% of the 70 other hatchback models in this database.
- 80 mm below the median of 1,475 mm, and narrower than 97% of the 70 other hatchback models in this database.
- 190 mm below the median of 1,540 mm, and lower than 91% of the 44 other hatchback models in this database.
- 135 mm below the median of 2,390 mm, and shorter than 86% of the 66 other hatchback models in this database.
Who it suits
- City and mixed driving: hatchbacks are compact outside and flexible inside.
Check before you buy
- Ask for service records: turbocharged engines are sensitive to oil changes and cool-down habits.
- Test the four-wheel-drive system (transfer case, differentials) and look for uneven tyre wear.
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the Rex
- First generation · 06.1972 09.1981
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Can I import a Subaru Rex (Second generation) from Japan?
By production year alone, Subaru Rex (Second generation) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the Subaru Rex (Second generation)?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: 544 cc EK23 I2; 544 cc EK23-T turbo I2; 665 cc EK42 I2.
How big is the Subaru Rex (Second generation)?
3,195 mm long and 1,395 mm wide and 1,350 mm tall, on a 2,255 mm wheelbase (3/5-door hatchback). For container loading, use the container packer.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
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