Subaru and Toyota have maintained one of the automotive world’s most productive partnerships for well over a decade. The collaboration kicked off in 2005 and ultimately gave us the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ — a pair of affordable, rear-wheel-drive sports cars that reminded enthusiasts why lightweight coupes matter. Both have since received second-generation successors, but the alliance extends well beyond that shared platform. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid brought Toyota’s hybrid technology into Subaru’s lineup, and the partnership has only deepened since. What’s fascinating, though, is how differently each brand interprets the same shared hardware — and nowhere is that more telling than in how Subaru handles all-wheel drive.
While both Japanese automakers have worked closely with the hybrid tech, the Toyota and Subaru versions of the same model vary quite a bit underneath. Specifically, Subaru was not satisfied with Toyota’s AWD drivetrain. For Subaru, all-wheel drive is king, and every model they produce which is equipped with the drivetrain must meet their rigorous standards. So, they’ve taken Toyota’s hybrid powertrain and brought it back to the drawing board for a proper Subaru-ing.
Subaru Deemed Toyota’s Hybrid AWD Design Unworthy
Three Reasons Why Subaru Altered Toyota’s recipe
- Toyota’s hybrid powertrain was seemingly not up to Subaru’s standards
- Differentiates Subaru’s and Toyota’s products more effectively
- The Subaru and Toyota brands focus on slightly different goals
As most of us know, Subaru doesn’t mess around when it comes to the all-terrain competence of its vehicles. For decades, Subaru has been continuously perfecting its legendary AWD system called Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive — refining it both on civilian models and on its past World Rally Championship vehicles.
When it comes to Subaru’s borrowed Toyota hybrid powertrain, the best examples to examine are the hybrid Subaru Forester and Subaru Crosstrek. One of the key differences built into the Subaru models involves the drivetrain. As we said before, Subaru won’t let a car with their name on it under-perform when faced with rough terrain.
The Big Difference
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If you’ve got even a rudimentary idea of how conventional all-wheel drive works, you’ll know that it’s a rather simple system when broken down into its main components. A conventional AWD setup consists of a driveshaft connecting both the front and rear axles together. In most modern systems, power is sent to only one axle under normal conditions, but the other axle engages automatically if traction loss is detected.
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD) is not the same. It’s one of a few permanent AWD systems, which means power is always going to both the front and rear axles. Toyota’s hybrid setup is different in that it’s an eAWD system — the front axle is driven by the engine, while the rear axle is driven by electric motors, with no physical coupling between the two.
There’s an obvious downside to that arrangement: once the battery is depleted, drive to the rear axle is lost, which could leave you stranded if you’re off-roading.
That’s why Subaru retains a driveshaft running from the engine to the rear axle, ensuring the rear wheels always have a mechanical power source. The hybrid powertrain also adds one electric motor mounted in the gearbox and another on the rear axle. The electric portion of the system contributes up to 118 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. Paired with the 2.5-liter flat-four’s output of 158 hp and 154 lb-ft, the combined result is a genuinely capable and responsive package.
Subaru And Toyota Have Worked Together Before
Most enthusiasts remember the introduction of the Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ. Fundamentally, both cars are exactly the same. They both sport the 2.0-liter 4U-GSE/FA20 flat-four engine in their first generation — while both motors carry different codenames, the engines are mechanically identical. The current, second-gen cars use the FA24D flat-four. The chassis is also identical, along with the drivetrain, transmission options, and even the tires used.
Really, the only difference between these two is styling. In the first generation, the Toyota version used a slightly more aggressive front bumper design, featuring an angular front grille and diagonally-placed turn signals and fog lights. The Subaru, on the other hand, used softer lines on its front fascia — its turn signal and fog lights were arranged in a vertical stack, and its grille resembled an inverted trapezoid with rounded edges.
For the second generation, the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GR86 — as it’s now known — offer a few more differences that extend beyond front-end looks. The BRZ features a stiffer front end, using slightly firmer front springs that give it a more composed, track-ready feel. The Toyota GR86’s softer suspension setup, by contrast, gives it a more playful personality: it’s more willing to step its tail out through corners and, many drivers find, a little more forgiving to catch.
Why Subaru Will Not Compromise On Its Drivetrain
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Subaru’s commitment to all-wheel drive isn’t mere stubbornness — it’s the product of more than five decades of development. The first iteration of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive appeared in the 1972 Subaru Leone Wagon, where the system was wholly mechanical, relying on a center differential and half-shafts to achieve independently controlled wheels. Rudimentary as it was, it worked remarkably well.
As time wore on, Subaru began introducing vehicles with more electronically controlled SAWD systems, such as the 1986 Subaru XT, which featured the brand’s first push-button AWD system. Then, in 1989, Subaru released the Legacy sedan, bringing SAWD to the mass market in an accessible family car. The Legacy’s ability to handle rough roads far better than any rival family sedan or wagon of the era sent Subaru’s popularity soaring.
The SAWD system was further honed on rally stages, playing a central role in Subaru’s six World Rally Championship victories. Today, Subaru’s use of SAWD continues across virtually every vehicle in the lineup. The system has become largely electronic, and part-time, push-button all-wheel drive is a thing of the past — all current models feature full-time systems. It seems that even Toyota, one of the most respected and reliable automakers on the planet, doesn’t quite meet Subaru’s strict AWD standards.
Sources: TractionLife.com, Toyota.com
