Subaru has spent years perfecting safe, sensible, all-wheel-drive crossovers. Yet a 1993 example of the Subaru Grand Touring coupe, the Subaru SVX, now sits on Bring a Trailer as proof that the brand once chased something far stranger. The auction closes on November 12, and it deserves a closer look.
Why This Subaru Grand Touring Matters
On paper, the SVX reads like a contradiction. Italdesign penned its swelling curves and glassy cockpit, yet the car weighs over 3,600 pounds. Its flat-six makes a relaxed 230 horsepower, and a four-speed automatic was the only gearbox offered. Japanese brands have always enjoyed flirting with the exotic, a habit echoed in the Lexus LFR concept that never reached showrooms.
Parked beside boxy Foresters in showrooms of the era, the SVX looked like it had landed from another planet. Still, the Subaru Grand Touring formula worked. Its all-wheel-drive grip and flat-six balance delivered unflappable composure in foul weather, which is exactly what loyal owners value.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 3.3L Flat-Six |
| 🐎Power Output | 230 HP |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 284 Nm (210 lb-ft) (est.) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 7.5s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) (est.) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 4-Speed Automatic / AWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | $52,000 (inflation-adjusted equivalent when new) |
Italian Styling Meets Flat-Six Pragmatism
Inside, this 25th Anniversary example carries just 16,000 miles on the odometer. It features a power driver’s seat, cruise control, automatic climate control, and a CD player tucked behind faux wood trim. Adjusted for inflation, the spec sheet would have cost roughly $52,000 when new.
Even so, the car feels more like a relaxed highway cruiser than a sports coupe. Its appeal lies in effortless distance covering rather than outright speed, and that suits the grand touring brief perfectly.
Quirky Collectible Value on the Block
Ultimately, the SVX is a fascinating modern collectible. Few were sold in their day, and fewer survive with a reading this low. In reality, prices will hinge on whether buyers value oddball character over performance credentials.
Subaru is unlikely to revive the formula, and that makes survivors like this one more precious. Browse more offbeat auction finds with Auto News Magazine, and learn more about the brand’s heritage at Subaru. The SVX proves a brand can be weird and good at the same time.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
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