A Forgotten Icon: The Subaru SVX
The Subaru SVX should have been a success story—but it quickly faded from public memory.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The world of car manufacturing often revolves around the US, Europe, and Japan. However, when you think of Japanese cars, discontinued Subarus rarely come to mind—especially the easily-forgotten SVX.
Still,
Subaru
has left a distinctive mark on racing tracks, from winning 14 of the last 16 Rally America National Championships to bagging two World Rally Championships in 1995 and 1997. During that period, the Impreza claimed the headlines. Meanwhile, the more futuristic SVX faded away. But that has changed in recent years, with the SVX becoming regarded as something of a 90s gem. So, what happened to the Subaru SVX?
The car industry was too competitive for the Subaru SVX
The world found out about the SVX in 1989 when it debuted at the Tokyo Auto Show. Everything about it suggested the SVX was destined for success.
Reactions were glowing, according to
Quantrell Subaru
. The SVX stunned consumers with crazy designs thanks to the artistic touch of the famed designer Giorgetto Giugiaro from ItalDesign—the same man who’d designed iconic pieces like DeLorean DMC-12, BMW M1, and even the original Volkswagen Golf.However, there were some glaring issues.
To begin with, the Subaru SVX was incredibly expensive. Starting at nearly $25,000, the vintage car was almost $10,000 pricier than anything else in the Subaru's showroom. In the USA, the prices could inflate to over $40,000 after factoring in inflation, tax, and transport expenses from the East to West.
Subaru tweaked production to accommodate cheaper parts in response to public outcry about affordability, but the damage was already done, and only 14,257 SVXs were ever sold in America.
Another probable reason for SVX's failure was performance. Subaru put its most powerful engine to date in the SVX, and it became rather difficult to drive. Compounding the problem is that Subaru did not have a definitive engine manual, according to
NY Daily News
.It also notoriously overheated and had issues with its wheel bearings.
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Still, the SVX was designed with racing in mind. The car was smooth, streamlined, and provided a very relaxing driving experience—especially at low speeds. Meanwhile, a 231 hp 3.3-liter engine made a gutsy noise as it propelled the SVX from 0-60 in just over 7 seconds, a reasonably quick mark.
The interior styling was quite impressive as well. A glass-to-glass canopy inspired by aircrafts created a panoramic field of view and reduced airflow noise. Additionally, the four circular gauges lent the dashboard a futuristic flair.
Wrapping up the cockpit-like interior were delightful Alcantara-like fabrics alongside Chintzy wood panelings. The Japanese were also keen to include their vintage '90s durable plastic to ensure every gauge is kept in the right place.
Why is the Subaru SVX so rare?
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After discontinued production in 1996, the SVX started to fade out of the spotlight. Even well-known auto journalists had deserted the car and turned to the by-then trending Mazda RX-7.
Almost two decades down the line, the SVX has seen something of a revival, and only a small community of collectors own it. The comparatively low price, odd looks, and brave and bold designs make the car a highly sought-after gem that can be attained for around $12,000.
You can insure your SVX
The issue is, a good SVX could cost you around $20,000 when all costs are considered. That’s a chunk of change—especially for an old car. So, the best way to keep your car in tip-top shape is by getting car insurance tailored to your personal needs.
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