Subaru R1 Overview: Specs, Generations and Which Version to Buy
Subaru R1 specs, generations and buying advice: a mini car built from 2005 to 2010 with 46–64 hp engines, CVT gearboxes and a choice of FWD or 4x4.
The Subaru R1 is a mini car built from 2005 to 2010, offered in a single generation with outputs between 46 and 64 hp. If you are comparing Subaru R1 specs, the short version is: a 658 cc engine, a CVT gearbox on every modification, and a choice of front-wheel drive or 4x4. It suits city driving, tight parking and drivers who value a small footprint over outright pace.
Subaru R1 generations
1 generation (2005–2010)
The Subaru R1 1 generation was produced from 2005 to 2010 in a single mini body style and counts 6 modifications. Power ranges from 46 to 64 hp, and every version uses a CVT gearbox — there is no manual in the lineup. Drivetrain is the main choice point: the range includes both FWD and 4x4 versions. The most widespread version is the 0.7 CVT (54 hp) with front-wheel drive and a 658 cc engine, which accelerates to 100 km/h in 24.0 seconds. The most powerful option is the 0.7 CVT (64 hp), which pairs the same 658 cc engine with 4x4.
Which Subaru R1 to buy
- 0.7 CVT (54 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market version of the range, with 54 hp from a 658 cc engine and front-wheel drive; acceleration to 100 km/h takes 24.0 seconds, so it fits unhurried city use.
- 0.7 CVT (64 hp) (1 generation): the strongest version at 64 hp — 10 hp more than the mass version — and the one to pick if you want 4x4 from the same 658 cc engine.
On the used market the choice is simple: all Subaru R1 cars belong to one generation from 2005 to 2010, so there is no newer platform to hunt for — condition and drivetrain matter more than model year. With only 6 modifications and a single gearbox type, comparing specific cars comes down to power output and FWD versus 4x4.
How the versions differ
The spread across the Subaru R1 range is narrow. All 6 modifications share the 658 cc displacement and the CVT gearbox, so the differences reduce to two numbers: output from 46 to 64 hp and the drive layout. The 46 hp entry point marks the bottom of the range, while the 0.7 CVT (64 hp) with 4x4 sits at the top. Between them, the 0.7 CVT (54 hp) FWD version is the one met most often. With a documented 24.0-second run to 100 km/h in the 54 hp version, none of the versions is quick — the R1 is about size, not speed, and the sensible pick is the drivetrain that matches your climate: FWD where roads stay clear, 4x4 where they do not.