Description
Subaru had a long history with its all-wheel-drive vehicles, and there was no surprise to see the little Justy transformed into a crossover vehicle, but behind the badge, it was a Suzuki.
Both Japanese car companies were known as big manufacturers of small vehicles. While Suzuki was known for off-road vehicles, Subaru was recognized as a world rally-winner with the Impreza range. The alliance between them resulted in the birth of the 2004 Justy.
Small, with higher ground clearance, the Justy was unusual for its class and times. The front fascia featured rectangular headlights swept-back over the hood. A noticeable difference from Suzuki Ignis was the grille and the bumper. Subaru installed bigger fog-lights, resembling the Impreza's round headlights, and the blue badge in the grille's middle. A tall greenhouse with a straight roof, but ascending beltline, were some of the two siblings' specific design cues.
Inside, it was room enough for four adults due to the high roof, but not that much legroom in the back if all the occupants were above 6 ft (180 cm) tall. With its small trunk, the Justy was good enough for a city vehicle. The rear split-folding bench seatback could add some more room for a long trip if only two passengers were on-board. Like the Ignis, the Justy featured a small instrument cluster designed in a binocular style.
Since Subaru had only boxer engines, which were unsuitable for the little car, the Justy's engines were carried-over from its sibling, the Ignis. Suzuki installed three engine choices, depending on the market and paired exclusively with a 5-speed manual gearbox and, since it was a Subaru, all versions featured all-wheel-drive systems.
