Subaru XT (1987–1992) Overview: Specs, Generations, and Which Version to Buy
Overview of the Subaru XT coupe (1987–1992): full subaru xt specs, generation details, and a data-based guide to picking the right version from the 98–150 hp range.
The Subaru XT is a coupe produced from 1987 to 1992, offered with 98–150 hp, manual gearboxes, and 4x4 drive across the range. If you are checking subaru xt specs before buying, it suits drivers who want a compact all-wheel-drive coupe from the late 1980s with a choice of modest or stronger engines.
Subaru XT generations
1 generation (1987–1992)
The 1 generation Subaru XT was built from 1987 to 1992 exclusively as a coupe, with 4 modifications spanning 98 to 150 hp. Every version came with a manual transmission and 4x4 drive. The range includes two 1.8-liter (1782 cc) versions — the 1.8 MT with 120 hp and the 1.8 MT with 136 hp — and tops out with the 2.7 MT, a 2672 cc engine producing 150 hp. Both 1.8-liter versions post identical measured figures in the data: 9.2 seconds of acceleration and fuel consumption of 8.8 l/100 km, so the 16 hp gap between them comes at no recorded running cost. The 2.7 MT stands apart with an engine 890 cc larger than the 1.8-liter units, and it is the only modification in the lineup to reach 150 hp.
Which Subaru XT to buy
- 1.8 MT (136 hp) (1 generation): the mainstream choice, accelerating in 9.2 seconds while consuming 8.8 l/100 km.
- 2.7 MT (1 generation): the most powerful version with 150 hp from its 2672 cc engine.
- 1.8 MT (120 hp) (1 generation): the economical pick at 8.8 l/100 km, still reaching the same 9.2-second acceleration figure.
All Subaru XT cars on the used market are from a single generation (1987–1992), so there is no newer-versus-older generation choice to weigh — condition and history matter more than model year. The single-generation lineup with only manual gearboxes and 4x4 drive also keeps the search simple: the main decision is engine size and power. When researching subaru xt reliability, remember that every surviving example is now over three decades old, so a documented service history outweighs any difference between the 98 hp base and the 150 hp top version.
Which Subaru XT to avoid
The Subaru XT 1.8 MT (120 hp) is dominated by the 1.8 MT (136 hp): both share the 1782 cc engine, the 9.2-second acceleration time, and the 8.8 l/100 km fuel consumption, but the 136 hp version offers 16 hp more with no measured penalty in the data. Unless a 120 hp car is in clearly better condition, the 136 hp version is the stronger buy on numbers alone.