The world of Japanese cars is an incredible one, and the country is responsible for producing some of the greatest cars on the planet. When we think of Japanese cars, we think of all-time classics such as the Mazda RX-7 and the Honda NSX, and others such as the Nissan GT-R Skylines, both old and new. For whatever reason, though, quite a few Japanese cars go under the radar, and are often overlooked by even some of the biggest automotive journalists in the world.
A car from Subaru might be one of those cars, and that is the Subaru SVX. The SVX is perhaps one of Subaru’s most unusual cars, marketed also as the Alcyone SVX. Doug DeMuro has called it the weirdest Subaru ever, and it's certainly an odd looking car and has a few odd features. But underneath all that was actually quite a good car, and one that seems to have slipped under most people's radar for whatever reason. It might not be the most underrated car to come from Japan, but it is certainly up there as one of the countries most underrated cars as a whole.
Development Of Subaru’s SVX
The first the world knew of the Subaru SVX was when it debuted as a concept at the 1989 Tokyo Auto Show. The styling was done by famed Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign, and the car certainly caught everyone's eyes as one of the most dramatic looking Subarus in the company’s history. The SVX was powered by a 3.3-liter EG33 H6 engine and had a four-speed 4EAT automatic gearbox as its transmission, and the car was marketed as quite a high-end car, aimed at taking on the US cruiser coupe market.
That was certainly an ambitious aim, but it was one that Subaru was pretty convinced it would be able to do. The SVX had quite soft and sleek lines, thanks in part to its two-piece power side windows, which were split about two-thirds of the way from the bottom. Upon its debut, the SVX would have the EG33 engine throughout its whole production life, and this would be the largest engine produced by Subaru for its production cars right up until the 3.6-liter EZ36 engine came out in 2008 for the Tribeca. Oh, and the SVX was also quite impressively four-wheel drive.
The SVX During Its Production Run
The SVX was not without its issues early on. Its early career was hampered slightly by overheating transmissions, warping brake discs and a premature failure of wheel bearings which was caused by the temporary grease that Subaru packed into the bearings. This was under the misconception that dealers would replace it with something more permanent at the pre-delivery inspection. It wasn’t that dealers were deliberately not doing this, they simply forgot that it was something they had to do. So in fairness to Subaru, that wasn’t really their fault.
Despite these issues, the SVX was at heart a fantastic car. The flat-six engine of 231 hp provided plenty of grunts for the company’s flagship car, and the automatic transmission was smooth enough despite being somewhat short-lived. The styling as well was quite something, often being described as an aircraft-inspired glass-to-glass canopy. What was more impressive was how closely to the earlier Alcyone XT concept the SVX was, given how much manufacturers tend to lean away from concepts. You definitely weren’t going to be uncomfortable in the SVX, and it offered a relaxing and very pleasant driving experience. It absolutely performed as you would expect.
It's A Rare Machine In 2021
The SVX was sadly outgunned by the likes of the NSX and the RX-7, which meant for years it's been so underappreciated. The window-within-a-window feature the car had on its side windows was certainly brave, and brilliant. It helped reduce wind noise, ensured great outward visibility, and you could open a small window and not get wet if it was raining. The idea though did not catch on. On the highway is where the SVX excels, and it is quite happy just cruising around at 80 mph, impressive stuff, and it is such a smooth ride. This is a great cruising car and one that’s now quite rare.
Not Perfect, But Certainly Underappreciated
The SVC is certainly not the perfect car, but it's something that deserves a lot more appreciation. Its slow sale numbers meant it was never going to outdo its American rivals, but its all-wheel drive system and flat-six engine ensured that it is a great cruiser that offered good grip, and it was a very comfortable car. There is a lot of plastic in the interior, but Alcántara seats more than made up for that, and the interior is certainly not tacky. If anything, the circular gauges that feature on the dashboard offer some interior flair. The SVX was not the car that shaped the future as Subaru perhaps hoped it would. But it deserves credit for being brave, bold, and awesome.
Sources: Secret Classics, Car Styling, Classic, Autocar, Japanese Nostalgic Car