The Fantastic (Flat) Four
For people outside the car world, it would be a shock to hear that a Subaru Crosstrek’s engine has more in common with a classic Porsche than it does with a Toyota Corolla’s. Both cars are famous for their use of a horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine. Before I lose you, let me explain why this is so cool! Subaru is the only car manufacturer to use a Boxer (horizontally opposed engine) in almost all of its vehicles. This allegiance to doing things differently makes them some of the most unique cars on the road.
To understand why this engine has become the obsession of Subaru and its fans, it is important to understand some basic things about the Boxer. While most engines are arranged in a “V” or inline configuration, the flat engine has pistons that face in opposite directions and lie flat (hence the name) in the block. This allows for the engine to be shorter and thus be placed lower in cars, allowing for the vehicles themselves to have a lower center of gravity. This is a huge advantage for handling, as it keeps the car from rolling. This keeps you in your seat and the car the right side up. This made the Boxer engine a favorite for Porsche, which is one of the only manufacturers to still use the engine to this day.
In 1966, Subaru began to use the horizontally opposed (or Boxer if you aren’t a nerd) engine, which Karl Benz of Mercedes-Benz claims to have invented in 1897 and was widely popularized by Porsche in the late 1940s and 1950s. The first car that Subaru made with a Boxer engine was its Subaru 1000, aka the FF1. This car featured the EA53 Boxer engine, which was a water-cooled 1.1L flat-four engine capable of producing 60 horsepower and 65 lb-feet of torque. While these numbers are hardly jaw-dropping by modern standards, it didn't stop the 1000 from becoming a huge sales success in Japan. Its low center of gravity and sleek body styling made it both a fashion statement and an incredible car to drive for an affordable price. This would lay the groundwork for Subarus becoming forever intertwined with the flat-four engine, which is still widely adored to this day.
Today, Subaru cars have become a cultural icon, and their fans come from all walks of life, with many of them having no idea their car has a quite unique engine. Their relevance ranges from the rally scene, outdoorsy folks, people concerned with safety (the Subaru Forester is ever-present in the IIHS yearly top safety picks), and they even have a certain connotation within the LGBT community. This popularity is largely due to Subaru’s commitment to all-wheel drive systems in their cars and their loyalty to the flat-four engine. As previously mentioned, the Boxer engine allows for vehicles to have a lower center of gravity, which gives them great handling characteristics and a lower chance of flipping in off-road scenarios.
Talking about the Subaru flat-four without mentioning the Impreza WRX would be a crime, so it gets its own paragraph. The WRX (World Rally eXperimental) was the product of Subaru’s dominance in the World Rally Championships and the public’s desire to get a taste of the incredible rally performance they adored. Since its release in 1992, the WRX has become a legend in its own right, winning the World Rally Championship driver’s title three times and the manufacturers’ title three times. Up until 2022, the car featured a turbocharged variant of Subaru’s EJ engine. Complete with aggressive body styling and an impressive AWD system, the WRX became an obsession for JDM enthusiasts all over the world.
Photo from @caesar_alx
The EJ engine itself also became a cult classic, but not an uncontroversial one. Its horizontal layout and turbocharged induction system made it a popular choice for tuners looking to squeeze every ounce of power from their engines. This insistence of pushing the limits has led to some issues in reliability, with many owners experiencing cracked head gaskets and broken pistons. For non-car folks, both of these issues are expensive fixes that can leave a car totally inoperable. Despite its flaws, it is still a widely revered engine known for its distinctive “Subie Rumble,” which has become synonymous with Subaru cars and a calling card enthusiasts can hear from a mile away (unfortunately for the neighbors).
Now, why have I taken time on a Saturday to write up an homage to the Subaru flat-four? Well, it's cool stuff! Doing things differently is not always rewarded, and Subaru’s loyalty to being unique is something I admire and find incredibly interesting. These engines also hold a special place in my heart as they are what got me into cars in the first place. Believe it or not, up until a few months ago, I knew as much about cars and engines as your aunt who hasn’t changed the oil in her Nissan Altima since 2007. It all happened when I decided I needed a new car, as I was tired of driving my 4Runner, which was a nightmare to maneuver around Atlanta traffic, and even worse when you got to your location and had to park.
My search for my next car started out innocently, looking into various models of Toyotas that would be affordable with cheap insurance and great gas mileage. Then the search turned into an obsession… It was about the only thing I could think or talk about for weeks. I went through hours of YouTube videos, hundreds of articles, and countless hours on CarGurus (other websites are available). For those who know me personally, you may know where this ends. After starting out my journey comparing Camrys, I found myself in a Subaru sports car with little regard for practicality, insurance price, or fuel economy (I do get 28 mpg though ;)). This was when I fell in love with cars totally. Since then, my partner has lovingly remarked, “You always find a way to get our conversation onto cars.” The Subaru flat-four is a personal favorite of mine and always will be for its formative role in my love of cars.
My Dumb Car
I’d like to give a special shoutout to a few people: my girlfriend Liliana, who always listens to hours of niche car rants; my parents, for always encouraging me to follow my passions; Engineering Explained, for being crucial to my understanding of cars; and to BigTime, for helping me see the fun in all kinds of cars.
Sources:
https://www.slashgear.com/1427259/history-subaru-boxer-engine-unique/
