Subaru SAMBAR SPECIAL 4WD
Built: 1996 · Series: SAMBAR
More machines from model year 1996
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Subaru Sambar – the Japanese Kei-class van: a 658cc four-cylinder engine, SDX, Special and 4WD versions, 674 to 827 kg unladen weight, 3,290 to 3,390 mm length, 1,390 to 1,470 mm width
The Sambar has been built by Subaru since 1961 as a Kei vehicle, part of Japan's small-car category with statutory limits on external dimensions and an engine displacement of up to 660cc. STD denotes the basic trim, SDX an upgraded trim, SPECIAL special editions, and 4WD the switchable or permanent four-wheel-drive version. Across its model history the Sambar moved from a rear-engine layout to a later front-engine layout, and technically became increasingly related to Daihatsu vehicles.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 5 versions from four cylinders of 650 to 658cc displacement, unladen weights from 674 to 827 kg, gross vehicle weights from 1,270 to 1,560 kg, lengths from 3,290 to 3,390 mm and widths from 1,390 to 1,470 mm.
As a Kei-class van, the Sambar is widespread in Japan in agriculture, trades and urban delivery, where the lower taxes and insurance costs of the Kei class and its small external dimensions on narrow streets and tight property entrances are decisive. The four-wheel-drive versions extend the range of use to unpaved roads and light off-road terrain.
When buying a used Kei-class van, check the floor and wheel arches for corrosion, the condition of the clutch and gearbox given the often high-revving small-capacity engines, and, on four-wheel-drive versions, the function of the drive-engagement automation. Parts are readily available on the Japanese used-parts market, but more limited in Europe.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Subaru SAMBAR, Subaru (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 658 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,410 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 1,890 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 708 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,560 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Subaru SAMBAR SPECIAL 4WD weigh?
The unladen weight is 708 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Subaru SAMBAR SPECIAL 4WD?
1,560 kg.
What engine does the Subaru SAMBAR SPECIAL 4WD have?
4 cylinders, 658 cm³ displacement.
When was the Subaru SAMBAR SPECIAL 4WD built?
Production years: 1996.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Van in 3D section
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