THE ULTIMATE CAR GUIDE: Car Features - Same Car, Different Names: Suzuki and Subaru

For our last Japanese car feature about changing names, we would be squeezing two brands for in one article since they represent a minority of the Japanese market. Suzuki is tops when it comes to sales of Kei cars (smallish cars with a mandated minimum size and engine displacement) which are big in Japan and Subaru has three rebadged entries which is the base car.

Unlike our previous Japanese brands, the two brands only have one dealer network which means that having multiple names in one car isn't a big chance. For a car to be counted on this list, the vehicle must have a different name using the same shell (exterior modifications are usually done) but sold under a different brand. And to avoid a super long list, we would limit vehicles which were launched from 1990s and above. Do take note the year range represents the entire vehicle line (including those of its twins) even if the original model was killed.

Let us check which of the two S brands had different names.

Subaru Forester-Chevrolet Forester

Subaru Forester

Subaru Impreza-Saab 9-2X

Saab 9-2X

Subaru Legacy-Isuzu Aska/Aska CX (1990-1993)

Subaru Legacy

Suzuki Alto (third generation model)-Daewoo Tico-Autozam (Mazda) Carol

Suzuki Alto

Suzuki Alto (fifth generation model)-Chevrolet Alto-Mazda Carol

Suzuki Alto

Suzuki Alto (2004-current)-Mazda Carol-Nissan Pino (2007-2010)

Suzuki Alto

Suzuki Alto (outside Japan, 2008-2013)/Celerio/A-Star-Nissan Pixo

Nissan Pixo

Suzuki APV-Mitsubishi Maven

Suzuki APV

Suzuki Carry/Every/Every Landy-Daewoo Damas/Labo-Ford Pronto-Mazda/Autozam Scrum-Mitsubishi Colt T120ss

Daewoo Damas

Suzuki Cultus/Cultus Esteem/Swift/Forsa II/Amenity/Esteem/Margalla-Chevrolet Swift/Sprint-Geo Metro-Holden Barina-Pontiac Firefly-Subaru Justy (first generation model)

Suzuki Cultus

Suzuki Cultus/Cultus Cresent/Esteem-Chevrolet Cassia/Esteem

Suzuki Esteem

Suzuki Ertiga-Mazda VX-1-Proton Ertiga

Suzuki Ertiga

Suzuki Escudo/Vitara/Sidekick-Chevrolet Tracker-Daewoo Vitara-Geo Tracker-GMC Tracker-Mazda Proceed Levante-Pontiac/Asuna Sunrunner-Santana 300/350 (first generation model)