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CBA-BPE · DBA-BPE · UA-BPE

Subaru Legacy BPE specs

BPE is the model code of the Subaru Legacy / Impreza. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2004–2009 under 3 model types CBA-BPE, DBA-BPE, UA-BPE. A genuine car’s chassis number starts BPE-.

BPE at a glance

Make
Subaru
Model
Legacy, Impreza, Exiga
Model code
BPE
Model types
CBA-BPE, DBA-BPE, UA-BPE
In MLIT’s lists
2004–2009
Engines
EZ30 2,999 cc petrol
Gearboxes
5-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
Drive
four-wheel drive
Kerb weight
1,470–1,590 kg
Official fuel economy
9.5–11.6 km/L (27–33 mpg)

Fuel economy is from Japan’s official tests and is usually better than you’ll see on UK roads. MLIT doesn’t list power or torque.

CBA-BPE

Listed 2004–2006. The CBA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 50% below their limits. Check CBA-BPE against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
EZ302,999 cc petrol5-speed automaticfour-wheel drive1,470–1,580 kg—11–11.6 km/L31–33 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2004–2006
EZ302,999 cc petrol6-speed manualfour-wheel drive1,480–1,560 kg—9.5–9.8 km/L27–28 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2005–2006

DBA-BPE

Listed 2007–2009. The DBA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check DBA-BPE against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
EZ302,999 cc petrol5-speed automaticfour-wheel drive1,480–1,590 kg511–11.6 km/L31–33 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2007–2009
EZ302,999 cc petrol6-speed manualfour-wheel drive1,490–1,560 kg59.7–10 km/L27–28 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2007–2009

UA-BPE

Listed 2004. The UA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means certified to Japan’s 2000 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check UA-BPE against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
EZ302,999 cc petrol5-speed automaticfour-wheel drive1,470–1,570 kg—11–11.6 km/L31–33 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2004

Each row is one version as MLIT lists it. A version can appear twice when MLIT gave figures on two tests that year. Low-emission stars and trim names aren’t shown. MLIT gives fuel economy in km/L; the mpg figures are our conversion to UK gallons. Japanese tests are gentler than real UK driving, so expect less.

Check a BPE before you buy

Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start BPE-, and the engine and gearbox should match one of the versions above. Our free check reads the UK MOT history and compares it with the chassis code.

Other Subaru Legacy model codes

Questions

What engine does the BPE have?

MLIT lists the Subaru Legacy / Impreza BPE with EZ30 2,999 cc petrol.

What fuel economy does the BPE get?

Officially between 9.5 and 11.6 km/L (about 27–33 mpg), depending on the version, on Japan’s own tests. Real-world figures are usually lower, especially against the older 10-15 mode test.

How heavy is the BPE?

Between 1,470 and 1,590 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.

Is CBA-BPE the same as BPE?

Yes. CBA-BPE is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and BPE is the model code. The chassis number starts with BPE-.

About these figures

The model types, engine codes, capacities, gearboxes, drive, weights, seats and km/L figures are copied from MLIT’s yearly lists of cars on sale in Japan each March, so “listed” years are list years, not exact production dates. The English model names, mpg conversions, emissions code explanations and chassis number matching are ours. Lists before 2013 were printed as PDFs that we read by machine; where an older list gives an engine code that doesn’t match its capacity, we’ve used the figure the same model type has in other years. Check anything that matters against the car’s own papers. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected]. All Subaru model codes.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, fuel economy lists 2004–2026, used under the Public Data License 1.0. Edited and translated by JDM History.