Subaru introduced a new generation of the super-mini model Justy in 1996, but it wasn’t a genuine Subaru, even if it featured an all-wheel-drive system.
With so many challenges inside the company, Subaru’s engineers didn’t have enough time to develop a new car, so the management took a different path for a badge-engineered model. The only other carmaker that offered a suitable model was Suzuki, who already had the facelifted version for the Swift, which was available with an all-wheel-drive system as an option. But since most of them were front-wheel-drive, Subaru stepped in and filled the production lines with the Justy.

The Japanese carmaker changed the front bumper and the hood. The new front fascia sported a lower grille in the apron that resembled other Subaru models. Its narrow upper grille was split in three with two vertical slats, and the blue oval badge with stars took center stage. The car was available in a three or five-door version. In the former one, it looked sportier, mainly due to the light-alloy wheels and the roof spoiler mounted on top of the tailgate.

Inside, it was a refreshed Suzuki with a flat dashboard and a slightly rounded instrument cluster. The main difference was the badge on the steering wheel. Its front, low-mounted seats were flat without the usual bolstering from the bigger Impreza.

Under the hood, Subaru opted for an inline-four, 1.3-liter engine built by Suzuki. It paired it with a five-speed manual. Power went in all corners via an all-wheel-drive system.