The Subaru Justy is a compact car built from 1987 to 1994 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Between 1988 and 1995 it grew 16 cm longer and gained -18 kg. Engines offered: 3-cyl. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Justy is
The Subaru Justy is a compact car that Subaru built from 1987 to 1994 — 8 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 1989. It has been offered with 3-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Subaru range: XT, SVX.
Where the Justy is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 34 Justys on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JF1, JF2 | 1988-1994 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Subaru VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Justy belongs to. What every character in a Justy VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Subaru Justy adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Justy generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Justy's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Justy that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 354 cm | 229 cm | 810 kg | - | - |
| 1989-1995 | 370 cm | 229 cm | 792 kg | +16 cm | -18 kg |
Between 1988 and 1995 the Justy gained 16 cm in length (+4.5%) and -18 kg in weight (-2.2%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Justy that is -18 kg against 16 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Subaru Justy tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Justy owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Subaru Justy have? Power & range
The Subaru Justy is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.2L 3-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Subaru Justy, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-cyl | 1.2L · 3-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Justy by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Subaru Justy. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Justy | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 12 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 50 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Subaru Justy?
The Justy is a compact car, built from 1987 to 1994 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 3-cyl.
Where is the Subaru Justy made?
Across 34 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Justy have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1989. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Justy grew 16 cm longer and gained -18 kg.
What is the Subaru Justy warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Justy reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Justy?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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