Our road test for the 1990-1994 Subaru Justy includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the
1990-1994 Subaru Justy and highlighted the vehicle's performance
with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation
1990-1994 Subaru Justy is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Justy stood apart from other diminutive imports by offering 4-wheel drive and ECVT. Its fuel-injected engine also earned plaudits for efficiency, being one of the few naturally aspirated powerplants to eke out one horsepower per cubic inch of displacement. And, in fact, the engine is quite lively when teamed with a conventional 5-speed manual transmission. The unique ECVT transmission manages to get more performance out of the Justy's 3-cylinder engine than a conventional automatic ever could. It's nearly as good as a 5-speed in acceleration. Even so, there's little zip in the 25-50 mph range. The variable-ratio transmission responds readily, but lacks sufficient torque for quick, safe passing on flat surfaces. When heading uphill, the ECVT Justy loses its momentum rather rapidly. Though easier to drive than a stick-shift in stop-and-go congestion, ECVT can be frustrating on freeways because the engine lags far enough behind the driver's throttle foot, so you can't move as quickly as the traffic flow. EPA mileage ratings are impressive with either transmission. We averaged nearly 30 mpg with ECVT in a mix of city and highway driving, but the 5-speed Justy did better. Like other minicompacts, such as the Geo Metro and Suzuki Swift, the Justy is noisy, suffers from a bouncy ride, and has a cramped back seat. Its biggest advantage over rivals is the standard 4-wheel-drive system on the GL model, which made it one of the lowest-priced, most economical 4WD vehicles on the market. If 4-wheel-drive is a priority, few other low-cost choices exist.
Value for the Money
Apart from the ECVT unit, Justy is typical of low-priced minicompacts in most categories. With the exception of the 4WD GL, for a combination of low price and high fuel economy, other models would probably be more suitable, including the Ford Festiva and its 1994 Aspire replacement.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category |
Subaru Justy Rating |
|
Performance |
2 |
|
Fuel Economy |
7 |
|
Ride Quality |
4 |
|
Steering/Handling/Braking |
3 |
|
Quietness |
2 |
|
Controls/Materials |
3 |
|
Interior Room |
4 |
|
Room/Comfort (rear) |
3 |
|
Cargo Capacity |
2 |
|
Value within Class |
3 |
| Total Score: |
33 |
|
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.