DBA-SJ5
Subaru Forester SJ5 specs
SJ5 is the model code of the Subaru Forester. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2013–2020 under the model type DBA-SJ5. A genuine car’s chassis number starts SJ5-.
SJ5 at a glance
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- Forester
- Model code
- SJ5
- Model types
- DBA-SJ5
- In MLIT’s lists
- 2013–2020
- Engines
- FB20 1,995 cc petrol
- Gearboxes
- 6-speed manual, CVT automatic
- Drive
- four-wheel drive
- Kerb weight
- 1,440–1,530 kg
- Official fuel economy
- 13.4–16 km/L (38–45 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.
DBA-SJ5
Listed 2013–2020. 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-SJ5 against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FB201,995 cc petrol | 6-speed manual | four-wheel drive | 1,440–1,480 kg | 5 | 13.4 km/L38 mpg, Japanese JC08 test | 2013–2020 |
| FB201,995 cc petrol | CVT automatic | four-wheel drive | 1,470–1,530 kg | 5 | 14.4–16 km/L41–45 mpg, Japanese JC08 test | 2013–2020 |
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.
SJ5 build year by chassis number
Japan’s carmakers list the chassis numbers each code was built with every year from 2015. Find the serial below, or use the build year finder.
| Built | Chassis numbers |
|---|---|
| 2015 | SJ5-056140 to 068147SJ5-070001 to 074973 |
| 2016 | SJ5-074974 to 098488SJ5-098494 to 098495 |
| 2017 | SJ5-098489 to 098493SJ5-098496 to 102783SJ5-106002 to 118062 |
| 2018 | SJ5-118063 to 124558 |
From the JAMA chassis number lists: 車台番号一覧表. We keep only the chassis code, serial ranges and year. JAMA calls them reference information, not a certificate.
Check an SJ5 before you buy
Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start SJ5-, 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 Forester model codes
Questions
What engine does the SJ5 have?
MLIT lists the Subaru Forester SJ5 with FB20 1,995 cc petrol.
What fuel economy does the SJ5 get?
Officially between 13.4 and 16 km/L (about 38–45 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 SJ5?
Between 1,440 and 1,530 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.
Is DBA-SJ5 the same as SJ5?
Yes. DBA-SJ5 is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and SJ5 is the model code. The chassis number starts with SJ5-.
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.