Filed under: Japan, Scion, Subaru, Toyota
Leave it at home: Subaru Dex
The JDM market is apparently enamored with vehicles that look like they're stuck in the shipping crate. We saw the first generation Toyota bB here as the Scion xB before it went on an eating binge and lost all its charm. That original bB went on to another generation, and has its own scions in form of some Daihatsu models. Subaru inked a deal back in April to share models between Toyota and Daihatsu, and this hideous little box with the star-motif badges is the result. There are three trim levels, and the Dex will relieve you of $15,000-$20,000. And here we thought even Subaru had relinquished its weird years ago. Turns out it was there all along, and the Dex is the ballcap-shaped box of contrived quirk that proves it.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hyundaifans.com 8:22AM (11/14/2008)
Truthfully, it does not look that bad.
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BoneHeadOtto 8:31AM (11/14/2008)
Agreed! The reason why these cars are becoming popular is because more people are realizing their benefits. Economy, space, price. Plus they dont look like everything else out there. Go drive an xB then compare to everything else int he price range and you will have a completely new opinion about how cars should be.
s13hybrid 10:23AM (11/14/2008)
Make this AWD and this is a winner in my book.
rwcmick 12:58PM (11/14/2008)
+1 Saw the Daihatsu version at an auto show, and personally I liked it. In fact, I like it more than what our xB has become. This little bugger should have come to the States instead of the whale that we got.
P.V. 5:45PM (11/14/2008)
Agreed. I think this is what the Scion xB should have become. However, I don't think it would work at all (in the US) as a Subaru due to its AWD-only image (in the US).
BoneHeadOtto 8:31AM (11/14/2008)
Still looks better than a 2008 WRX.... sadly
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Hanoi Jane 9:24AM (11/14/2008)
Are you caraaaaaaaaaazy, WRX looks great
BoneHeadOtto 10:04AM (11/14/2008)
Well im a 2002 WRX owner and cant stand the look of the new one. I even wanted a hatch. Gone is everything that made it look like a rally car
- Huge round fog lights - GONE
- In your face hood scoop - GONE
- Swollen wheel wells - GONE
- Wide stance - GONE
If they made all WRX look like the STI, brought back the big round fogs, and made the lights look meaner, then that would be the product subaru should have made. As of now the speed3 is a far better looking package but it doesnt look rally either.
geo.stewart 8:56AM (11/14/2008)
Bonehead,
I did drive the xb, and then bought the HHR.\
but yes, the this segment is definitely for those who are after utility.
How many SUVs/CUVs ever make it offroad? I'll take the smaller, lighter, better gasmileage vehicle with more space inside since I dont ever drive so bad that I'll accidentally run over the curb and dont want to worry about the underbelly of the car.
rygar 9:03AM (11/14/2008)
"That original bB went on to another generation, and has its own scions in form of some Daihatsu models. Subaru inked a deal back in April to share models between Toyota and Daihatsu, and this hideous little box with the star-motif badges is the result."
This "hideous little box" is nothing more that said next generation bB with a new bumper. Are you insinuating that the bB and Daihatsu Materia are hideous as well? I say bring it here, so at least we can get the next generation bB in some form, rather than that Camry-wagon called the xB.
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Gregg 9:11AM (11/14/2008)
You may not like it, but it will sell very well. It is utilitarian, quirky and has personality. Not unlike the original xB, but more stylish in a young person sort of way.
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Bluestreak 9:20AM (11/14/2008)
Looks like an xB but it's a Subie? What's not to like? If it's AWD I'm game.
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kal326 9:37AM (11/14/2008)
Huh and all this time I thought the Dex was the Quest directory.
As for this impostor its a 1.3l 4spd auto with no mention of turbo or awd. This comment leaves me to think Japan can keep it, "The sole 1.3-liter engine links to a four-speed automatic transmission and offers the promise of efficient, if not exactly sparkling, performance."
AWD, its what makes a Subaru a Subaru.....in the US atleast.....
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Frank 10:07AM (11/14/2008)
is it awd? does anyone definitively know?
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bigbear7787 10:09AM (11/14/2008)
how cool would this thing be with sti performance lol
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BBBRRRR 10:36AM (11/14/2008)
and the vans that are driven around in north america aren't ugly? how about the aztek? cavalier? sunfire? new caravan? that van's design looked like it was from back in the 70s.
The Japanese might acquire a weird taste in automobiles, but they definitely last longer than all the cars made here in NA. not to mention, they actually save gas.
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happy_penguin 10:36AM (11/14/2008)
Great. More ugly boxes.
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bill jackman 10:37AM (11/14/2008)
"We saw the first generation Toyota bB here as the Scion xB before it went on an eating binge and lost all its charm."
If that "charm" you speak of was a 10 second 0-60 time, then there are plenty of Gen1 xBs you can buy on used lots. I have a Gen2, and I love it. Journalists love the Gen1 because they got to spend a half day in one and it was straight up, undiluted JDM. But live with that anemic xB1 powerplant for a few weeks, and that charm everyone laments so much disappears.
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JuniorMint 7:06PM (11/14/2008)
Anemic? You're kidding, right? The xB1 was specced just fine for its natural habit, i.e. mall parking lots. If you really want to buy a vehicle based on the the nine minutes a year you spend passing truck on the highway, go nuts: there are plenty of xB2's available.
...sitting on dealer lots, unpurchased, while its Gen 1 brethren are fetching prices - with 40K on them - equal to what they sold for new.
The trade-off was obviously not worth it. I believe that makes you, sir, in the minority.
m2c2c@hotmail.com 10:40AM (11/14/2008)
Excuse me guys , am i the onl one that noticed that this is excatly the diahatsu materia with a subaru grill & badge ?
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