From 1978 to 1987, Subaru bought a enjoyable little pickup truck that was quirky proper all the way down to its title, BRAT. And whereas the title could conjure up photos of Bart Simpson or Dennis the Menace, it was simply an acronym for Bi-drive Leisure All-terrain Transporter. Subaru marketed it as a “Enjoyable within the Solar” automobile with “On-Demand” 4WD and a pair of rear-facing leap seats within the mattress.
If you happen to assume a pair of seats within the mattress is unusual, wait till you pop the hood and see the spare tire sitting on high of the flat-four engine. However the compact truck was comparatively cheap and environment friendly, and folks cherished it. Subaru bought about 100,000 of them in North America whereas they had been in manufacturing. Even President Ronald Regan owned a Subaru BRAT. And now can be the right time for Subaru to carry it again.
In fact, a 2026 BRAT can be fairly completely different. Don’t maintain your breath for these leap seats. The Seventies had been a distinct period. Heck, we might throw metal-tipped garden darts at one another again in these days. But when the spirit of the Subaru BRAT could possibly be revived, it might most likely promote fairly nicely. Under are 4 the explanation why that is the right time for the Subaru BRAT to re-enter the American market.
4
Booming compact pickup market
Ford and Hyundai made them in style once more
The compact pickup truck market is booming once more. The Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick had been launched inside months of one another again in 2021. They’ve confirmed fairly in style, they usually simply maintain getting extra in style annually.
In 2025, Ford bought a document 155,051 Maverick pickups. Subaru bought roughly the identical variety of Outbacks final yr, and the Outback is its third-most-popular mannequin, simply behind the Forester and the top-selling Crosstrek. Subaru would like to have a well-liked mannequin just like the Maverick be part of its lineup.
Pickup vehicles are getting larger, extra complicated, and dearer. Individuals nonetheless purchase them, however as Maverick gross sales show, there’s a vital marketplace for smaller, extra fuel-efficient vehicles. These smaller vehicles deal with like automobiles and, as such, are simpler to maneuver and park. Most truck homeowners don’t have to tow a Caterpillar D4 Dozer round each day, so a small truck mattress and modest towing potential are lots.
Different automakers see this chance and are already creating compact vehicles to rival the Maverick and Santa Cruz. Toyota has already confirmed that they’re engaged on a compact truck that may slot beneath the Tacoma in its present truck lineup.
Quiz
8 Questions · Take a look at Your Information
The Subaru BRAT
Assume you recognize the scrappy little truck that charmed farmers, surfers, and even a U.S. president — put your BRAT information to the take a look at!
OriginsDesignHistorical pastGross salesLegacy
Start
What does the acronym BRAT stand for within the Subaru BRAT’s official title?
ABi-drive Leisure All-terrain TransporterBFinances Leisure All-terrain TruckCBi-drive Rugged All-terrain TransporterDPrimary Leisure Journey Truck
That is proper! BRAT stands for Bi-drive Leisure All-terrain Transporter. Subaru crafted this title to spotlight the automobile’s dual-drive functionality and its versatility for outside adventures.
Not fairly — BRAT stands for Bi-drive Leisure All-terrain Transporter. Subaru selected this title to emphasise the automobile’s part-time four-wheel-drive system and its attraction to outside fans.
Proceed
In what yr did Subaru introduce the BRAT to the American market?
A1975B1977C1979D1981
Appropriate! The Subaru BRAT made its American debut in 1977. It was a part of Subaru’s technique to supply one thing distinctive in a market that was more and more taken with small, fuel-efficient automobiles following the Seventies oil disaster.
Not fairly — the BRAT arrived within the American market in 1977. Its timing was shrewd, capitalizing on American customers’ rising curiosity in fuel-efficient automobiles after the oil disaster of the mid-Seventies.
Proceed
What uncommon function was constructed into the BRAT’s cargo mattress particularly to assist Subaru keep away from U.S. import tariffs on vehicles?
AA fold-down software storage compartmentBRear-facing leap seats molded into the mattressCA fiberglass cargo cowl that categorized it as an SUVDA detachable heart console to imitate a passenger automobile
Precisely proper! Subaru put in rear-facing leap seats within the cargo mattress so the BRAT could possibly be categorized as a passenger automobile somewhat than a truck, cleverly sidestepping the 25% ‘Rooster Tax’ tariff on imported vehicles. It was a artistic little bit of regulatory judo.
The proper reply is the rear-facing leap seats bolted into the cargo mattress. By including these seats, Subaru reclassified the BRAT as a passenger automobile, legally avoiding the steep 25% Rooster Tax tariff that utilized to imported mild vehicles.
Proceed
Which U.S. president was famously photographed proudly owning and driving a Subaru BRAT on his ranch?
AJimmy CarterBGerald FordCRonald ReaganDGeorge H.W. Bush
Spot on! Ronald Reagan owned a Subaru BRAT and was photographed driving it at his Rancho del Cielo property in California. The affiliation with Reagan gave the BRAT a big publicity increase and an all-American, rugged picture.
The president in query was Ronald Reagan, who drove a BRAT on his Rancho del Cielo ranch in California. The pictures of Reagan behind the wheel had been wonderful free promoting for Subaru and helped cement the BRAT’s rugged, outdoorsy popularity.
Proceed
What kind of drivetrain system did the unique Subaru BRAT use, which was thought-about revolutionary for a small pickup of that period?
ARear-wheel drive with a locking differentialBFull-time four-wheel driveCHalf-time four-wheel drive with a high-low switch caseDEverlasting all-wheel drive by way of a symmetrical format
Appropriate! The BRAT used Subaru’s signature everlasting all-wheel drive system with a symmetrical format, which was fairly superior for a small pickup on the time. This gave it superior traction in comparison with conventional rear-wheel-drive opponents with out requiring a separate switch case.
Truly, the BRAT used Subaru’s everlasting all-wheel drive with a symmetrical drivetrain format — an indicator of the model. In contrast to typical part-time 4WD vehicles of the period, the BRAT delivered energy to all 4 wheels repeatedly, giving it an edge in traction on different terrain.
Proceed
The BRAT was constructed on the platform shared with which Subaru mannequin that was already promoting nicely in the USA?
ASubaru LeoneBSubaru JustyCSubaru XTDSubaru Loyale
That is proper! The BRAT was developed utilizing the platform of the Subaru Leone, which was already a well-recognized and confirmed automobile within the U.S. market. Sharing parts with the Leone helped Subaru maintain the BRAT’s manufacturing prices down whereas leveraging current engineering.
The proper reply is the Subaru Leone. The BRAT’s improvement was rooted within the Leone’s platform, permitting Subaru to share mechanical parts and cut back engineering prices. The Leone was already established within the U.S. when the BRAT launched in 1977.
Proceed
In what yr did Subaru discontinue the BRAT in the USA market?
A1985B1987C1990D1993
Appropriate! U.S. gross sales of the BRAT ended after the 1987 mannequin yr. By that time, the small truck phase had turn into more and more aggressive, and Subaru selected to not proceed updating the getting old design to fulfill newer security and emissions requirements.
The BRAT was truly discontinued within the U.S. after the 1987 mannequin yr. The compact truck market had grown fiercely aggressive by the mid-Eighties, and Subaru in the end determined to not spend money on modernizing the BRAT’s getting old platform for the American market.
Proceed
Which Subaru govt is broadly credited with pushing the event of the BRAT and championing its introduction to the American market?
AKenji KitaBHarvey LammCMalcolm BricklinDYuji Kawashima
That is proper! Malcolm Bricklin, the colourful entrepreneur who initially introduced Subaru to North America, was a key champion of the BRAT idea for the U.S. market. Bricklin had a expertise for recognizing unconventional automobiles with area of interest attraction, as he additionally demonstrated with the Bricklin SV-1 sports activities automobile.
The reply is Malcolm Bricklin, the entrepreneur who first launched Subaru automobiles to North America and was instrumental in pushing the BRAT for American audiences. Bricklin had a knack for unconventional automobiles — he additionally created the gull-winged Bricklin SV-1 sports activities automobile within the early Seventies.
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3
Toyota and Subaru partnership
Toyota might save Subaru hundreds of thousands by serving to carry the BRAT to market
Talking of Toyota, they already personal a roughly 20 % stake in Subaru. This relationship has already birthed icons just like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86. This “shared DNA” technique saves billions in R&D, and it’s the precise blueprint wanted to carry a contemporary BRAT to life. Subaru wouldn’t must go it alone; they may simply adapt the rugged, unibody platform Toyota is at present creating for its personal upcoming compact pickup.
By leveraging Toyota’s chassis and hybrid experience, Subaru might concentrate on what they do finest. That may be Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and an out of doors, on-the-go aesthetic. Think about a contemporary BRAT with the gas effectivity of a Prius, the utility of a Maverick, and the off-road soul of a Crosstrek.
If a purchaser wished to commerce a large gas-guzzler for an agile, lifestyle-oriented rig, a Toyota-backed Subaru truck is an nearly assured hit.
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One vivid spot is carrying the model by way of a tricky stretch.
2
America wants environment friendly and inexpensive automobiles
New truck costs are larger than ever and fuel costs are hovering
Automobiles and vehicles have gotten very costly, and the worth of gasoline goes by way of the roof. For the typical employee, the sticker shock is actual.
A regular Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can simply eclipse $70,000, whereas a Ford F-250 Platinum, outfitted with a high-output 6.7L diesel engine, commonly flirts with a staggering six-figure price ticket. These are unbelievable machines, however for a lot of, they’ve merely priced themselves out of attain.
The ache does not cease within the dealership finance workplace both. With gas costs remaining risky, the truth of filling a 34-gallon Tremendous Obligation tank with diesel at $5.30+ per gallon is a monetary intestine punch. Individuals want a break, and that’s precisely the place a contemporary Subaru BRAT might save the day.
A revived BRAT would not be a gas-guzzling behemoth; it might possible arrive as a high-efficiency hybrid or a totally electrical truck. By concentrating on a value bracket between $30,000 and $40,000, Subaru might provide a rugged, nimble different that handles the “actual world” completely. For the overwhelming majority of drivers, a 1,500-lbs. payload and a weekend’s value of tenting gear are all of the utility they really want.
What’s Included
M12 affect driver, hammer drill, 3/8-inch ratchet, charger, two batteries
Cordless?
Sure
If you happen to’re in search of an awesome DIY starter equipment from Milwaukee, this M12 3-tool combo equipment is it. With an affect driver, hammer drill, and three/8-inch ratchet, together with a 4Ah and 2Ah battery, this equipment is a good start line for tasks each at house and in your automobile.
1
Retro is at all times cool
Many automakers are reviving basic nameplates to attract in nostalgic patrons
Individuals love fashionable variations of basic automobiles. You solely have to have a look at the huge success of the resurrected Ford Bronco or the modernized Land Rover Defender to see that drivers are ravenous for automobiles with a soul. Even Porsche, whereas pushing the boundaries of efficiency, stays religiously trustworthy to the long-lasting silhouette of the 911.
Individuals do not simply need transportation; they need a connection to the classics. This cultural shift has birthed occasions like RADwood, a worldwide celebration of Eighties and Nineties automobile tradition that treats the quirky automobiles of the previous with the identical reverence often reserved for million-dollar exotics.
On the coronary heart of that “Rad” period sits the Subaru BRAT, a automobile so distinctive that its cult following has solely grown stronger over the a long time.
The time is correct
Credit score: Subaru
In 1978, Subaru launched the BRAT as a result of it noticed the rising demand for smaller, compact vehicles. That very same development exists in 2026.
By mixing Twenty first-century security and effectivity with the BRAT’s unmistakable heritage, Subaru might seize the hearts of Gen Xers and Zoomers alike. In a sea of nameless, outsized vehicles and SUVs, a retro-inspired BRAT can be a breath of contemporary air, proving that you do not want an enormous footprint to depart a large impression.
