1992 Subaru SVX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Car came out in the 90's and was ahead of its time with the options that came with it. Nice design, low in the front so good view of the road. Love the window within a window setup, only the middle part of the window go up or down. That keeps the wind down and the rain out. Engine is very reliable and is a non interference engine. Which means if the timing belt breaks it will not damage the engine and you can still make it back home. Idle is very quiet, like the engine is not even on. I like how comfortable the front seats are including legroom. The car is fast so watch out for those speeding tickets. The awd makes this a year round daily driver, very good in the snow, very stable. Very good car if you don't mind the maintenance cost.May 24, 2013

Performance? engine partially disassembled..replacement ready to install.Interior is exellent, body very good, tires new, brakes new, Just bought off Craigs list...suspension is very good. Should be running by end of January...Hardly wait. Have wanted one since '92...Do need drivers door master window/lock switch(Pass window button missing) and remote fob....Any help out there?Dec 25, 2010

The best car i ever owned!. The subaru svx is a performance monster, boasting a boxter 6 engine, Semetrical all-wheel drive, and stunning good looks. An absolute blast to drive and you will get many looks and questions no matter where you go. I owned the rare toureing edition which came with leather interior, heated mirrors, heated seats, alarm, bose audio, cd/casset deck, and preformace geared transmission. The only thing i didnt like is the fact that they only came in automatic (easly switchable to stick if your willing to put the work and gut one out of an early 90s forister) It was basicly the subaru imprezza befor they were made. Windows for driver and passenger are desighned like a dilorian in which you are surounded by glass and only a section of it went down. There are no blind spots and it can run with the best of them! mine made it to over 400k miles befor an unforunate accident locked the transmission in first gear.Dec 07, 2009

Performance; In my opinion, top of the line. It's a heavy car, but for a heavy vehicle its light on it's wheels in terms of handling. Speeds over 60 you best have a generous amount of stopping room though. For 108k miles it's had a small amount of repairs. Tranny rebuilt once, new radiator, and in the future i see myself getting a valve job and some sensors fixed. The interior is rugged and the leather is fantastic, 17years into it's life and it still has that new car smell :']. The radio leaves a little to be desired. Premium gas puts a dent in your wallet from time to time, and since the car IS getting old i'm always on the look out for new problems to spring up - but the amount i enjoy driving it, and the looks and that "WHAT IS THAT?"'s i get just from driving down the street is worth it.Oct 06, 2009

The svx is QUICK. It launches like a rocket; however it is very hard to slow it down - the brakes aren't big enough for a 3800 lbs rocket ship; and the handling leaves a little to be desired (maybe some adjustable suspension/lowering springs would solve the problem.) Oh yeah, the thing i hated most about the car was the automatic transmission (they are very prone to failure as well). Fortunately, it now has a manual transmission transplant and a stage 2 act clutch - much better :) The automatic seatbelts suck too. It is an absolute fuel pig and near impossible to buy parts for. However, come winter time making drift brings grin to my face and i usually have no problem puling a four wheel drive truck out of a jam! Oct 05, 2009

Many don't know this, but the SVX was supposed to be the replacement for the Lotus Esprit. Money, as it was in the early Ninties, didn't permit ubaru opening the exclusive ALCYONE brand for the SVX, so from day #1 on Subaru lot, it was doomed to sales failure. Lets forget that and focus on the positives: Performance - For an erly-90s car, it HAULS. 0-60 in just under 7 ticks, 70-0 braking in 163 feet (do that 3 times though and it's time for new rotors, folks!), 0.92g around MT's ELITE skidpad, etc...maybe a bit too much body roll, but that's why you never feel harshness through the chasssis; with the rubber-isolted subfrmes, the word "harsh" never enters the brain! Build Quality - My last SVX that I got for $1,600 as a "beater" was anything BUT. Not a squeak or rattle ANYWHERE. Paint like new after clesaner waxing it. flushed all the fluids, cleaned the fuel syetem, and it ran as well as my 37,313 mile example. MANY people debate that these cars are unreliable -- NOT SO! There were rear wheel bearing problems as a result of pressing them into the shipping grease; this no longer is a problem. Next, they mention the tranny. The Subaru 4EAT-AWD unit is one of the most reliable traannies out there, but can overheat. Solution? Have a ooler put on! $100 that saves you from a $2,600 issue. Appearance - both interior and exterior styling Cost of Ownership - This vehicle is AWD and weighs 3,600 lbs.; it doesn't get Geo Metro mileage. BUT with a .29cd, it EASILY achieves 32-33mpg HWY, on PREMIUM only, of course. Oil changes are only req'd every 7,500 miles; everything else, including the timing belt, every 100k. This is a low-maintainance car! Fun Factor - THIS is a catch-twenty-two...the car is a blast to drive, but it gets annoying when you get harassed at every stoplight with someone asking something about the car. And forget about Gas Stations; I only go full-serve now. The car is a blast, period...Sep 27, 2009

Its a heavy car, but handles great in all weather conditions due to the AWD. Has decent acceleration. Could use better brakes. Its a very solid car, but plagued with mechanical issues and electrical issues. Once you get most worked out they are reliable though. The split window design gets a lot of looks and compliments. The interior is nice quality. Its a fun car to drive around.Aug 12, 2009

Overall i love this car! THE GOOD: the exterior is amazing always catches the eye, acceleration is pretty good beats most of the rice rockets , handling is not that bad, pretty responsive. Fun to drive especially in the snow, you can drift really good with it in a big open parking lot. My model has the option from either being on AWD to FWD. Which i like a lot, since it wont stress the transmission as much compared to if it was on awd all the time. THE BAD: The gas mileage is terrible, and on top of that it runs on premium which is costly. the rear wheel bearings are noisy and needs new ones. The transmission failed on me already so i had to replace it. Apparently it needs an additional cooling system which i still need to install. ALso pretty heavy, which slows the car down alot. H6 is a great motor except when you change the spark plugs, it'll take u all day. other than that its pretty good! Feb 26, 2009

For a 1992 it's a great mix of comfort, handling, and cost. After a 12 hour drive you don't feel the need to stretch. Off-ramps are an absolute joy. It actually gets better mileage than my parents 2005 Forester, which weighs 300 lbs less, has a small engine, and is 14 years newer. And, like any Subaru, it lets you laugh at the worst winter can throw at you. I have yet to find snow deep enough to stop this car. On the downside, parts can be pricey (most are dealer only). The automatic transmission can make things a bit boring at times (but it is possible to convert it to manual), and the car is damn heavy (3600+ lbs), which murders the potential acceleration from a strong engine.Dec 31, 2008

The odd windows are only a part of it. It is hands down the smoothest, best driving, car I have ever driven. I drove it 21 hours in one weekend and didn't even have to stretch afterwards, all while averaging 32 MPG. Easy 220+ KPH when called for, but a bit of a snail when launching because of the weight. 192,000 KM on mine and going strong as ever. Distinctive styling that sets it apart from the rest and All Wheel Drive to leave them all behind in the snow!Jun 26, 2008

*NOTE: The Specs are for the one I own, not all models come with the same specs. Engines & Power: Standard Engine 3.3L 230 HP, H6 Horsepower 230 @ 5400 RPM Torque (lb-ft) 228 @ 4400 RPM Valves/Valve Configuration 24/DOHC Transmissions: AWD, 4-Speed Automatic Overdrive Std. Fuel Economy: City (mpg) 17 Highway (mpg) 25 Comfort & Convenience: Sunroof Std. Air Conditioning Std. Power Windows Std. Power Door Locks Std. Leather Seats Std. Power Seats Std. Max. Seating 4 Number of Doors 2 Entertainment: Cassette Player Std. CD Player Std. Safety: Driver Airbag Std. Passenger Airbag Std. Power Windows Std. Braking & Traction: 4 Wheel Drive/All Wheel Drive Std. ABS Brakes (2 or 4 Wheel) Std.Mar 28, 2008