Subaru Exiga: the seven-seat Subaru MPV

The Subaru Exiga was a seven-seat MPV introduced in Japan in 2008 and built until 2018. It was sold only in a few markets, never in North America, and was known in Australia as the Liberty Exiga.

Subaru Exiga at a glance

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Subaru Exiga.

History of the Subaru Exiga

The Exiga appeared as a concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and went on sale in Japan on 17 June 2008, replacing the Subaru Traviq in the seven-seat market. Its name is a made-up word combining “exciting” and “active”, taken from two earlier Subaru concepts, the Alpha Exiga of 1995 and the Exiga of 1997. Because its exterior dimensions broke Japanese rules for compact MPVs, it was not classified as one.

Packaging

The cabin used theatre-style seating, with the second and third rows set progressively higher than the front. Rear doors opened to almost 90 degrees for access to the third row, the second-row seats slid 180 mm individually and folded with one touch, and the rear suspension used a double-wishbone layout to free space for the third row and luggage area. An optional fixed panoramic glass roof covered the first two rows, and blue indirect LED lighting was fitted in the overhead console, centre tray and foot wells.

Safety equipment included front airbags, front side airbags and side curtains for the first two rows, anti-whiplash seats and a collapsible brake pedal. There were no air vents for the second and third rows; the front outlet was shaped to channel air along the headlining.

Engines and equipment

The Japanese range had four trims: the naturally aspirated 2.0i, 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S and the turbocharged 2.0GT with an intercooler. The grille told them apart, chrome for non-turbo cars and dark metal mesh for the turbo. Non-turbo cars used active torque split, the turbo a variable torque distribution system, and all-wheel drive was optional on the naturally aspirated versions but standard on the turbo. The 1994 cc turbo engine was based on the Impreza WRX unit and paired with the five-speed automatic from the Legacy and Tribeca.

On 2 September 2009 the Lineartronic CVT became available on four-wheel-drive cars and EyeSight was offered on the 2.0GT. In November 2009 a limited edition of 300 cars, the 2.0 GT tuned by STi, added a front spoiler, alloy wheels, a sports exhaust, firmer suspension, half-leather seats and a Momo steering wheel. An Exiga Crossover 7 was announced in April 2015, and the model was discontinued in Japan in March 2018.

Australia

The Exiga reached Australia in November 2009 as the Liberty Exiga, using the 2.5-litre EJ25 engine in 2.5i and 2.5i Premium trims. It was also sold in Singapore alongside the Tribeca, but Subaru never offered it in North America, preferring the Tribeca and later the Ascent.

Design and features

• Seven seats: three rows with theatre-style seating rising towards the back.
• Panoramic glass roof: an optional fixed roof over the first two rows.
• Turbo 2.0GT: an intercooled flat-four with variable torque distribution.
• EyeSight: stereo-camera assistance offered from 2009.
• Double-wishbone rear suspension: packaged to leave room for the third row.

Subaru Exiga versions

• 2.0i, 2.0i-L, 2.0i-S: naturally aspirated Japanese trims.
• 2.0GT: turbocharged version with all-wheel drive as standard.
• 2.0 GT tuned by STi (2009): 300 cars with chassis and trim changes.
• Liberty Exiga (Australia): 2.5-litre engine in 2.5i and 2.5i Premium form.
• Exiga Crossover 7 (2015): a later version announced for Japan.

The Exiga shared its automatic gearbox with the Legacy and its turbo engine with the Impreza. More Subarus are in the Subaru collection.

Video: 2012 Subaru Exiga exterior and interior

Video by Driver’s High Channel on YouTube.

Sources

• Subaru Exiga, English Wikipedia: development, packaging, engines, trims, markets