3BA-VAG · DBA-VAG
Subaru WRX VAG specs
VAG is the model code of the Subaru WRX. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2015–2025 under 2 model types 3BA-VAG, DBA-VAG. A genuine car’s chassis number starts VAG-.
VAG at a glance
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- WRX
- Model code
- VAG
- Model types
- 3BA-VAG, DBA-VAG
- In MLIT’s lists
- 2015–2025
- Engines
- FA20 1,998 cc petrol
- Gearboxes
- CVT automatic
- Drive
- four-wheel drive
- Kerb weight
- 1,540–1,590 kg
- Official fuel economy
- 11.2–13.2 km/L (32–37 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.
3BA-VAG
Listed 2021–2025. The 3BA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2018 emissions rules. Check 3BA-VAG against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA201,998 cc petrol | CVT automatic | four-wheel drive | 1,540–1,550 kg | 5 | 11.8 km/L33 mpg, Japanese JC08 test | 2021–2025 |
| FA201,998 cc petrol | CVT automatic | four-wheel drive | 1,540–1,590 kg | 5 | 11.2 km/L32 mpg, WLTC test | 2021–2024 |
DBA-VAG
Listed 2015–2020. 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-VAG against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA201,998 cc petrol | CVT automatic | four-wheel drive | 1,540–1,560 kg | 5 | 12.4–13.2 km/L35–37 mpg, Japanese JC08 test | 2015–2020 |
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.
VAG 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 | VAG-005430 to 007090VAG-010501 to 013252 |
| 2016 | VAG-013253 to 014795VAG-018007 to 020837 |
| 2017 | VAG-018001 to 018006VAG-020838 to 022567VAG-023506 to 025988VAG-025990 to 025990 |
| 2018 | VAG-025989 to 025989VAG-025991 to 027385VAG-029001 to 031378 |
| 2019 | VAG-031379 to 032348VAG-035002 to 036982VAG-036984 to 036987VAG-036989 to 036991VAG-036993 to 036993VAG-036995 to 036995 |
| 2020 | VAG-036983 to 036983VAG-036988 to 036988VAG-036992 to 036992VAG-036994 to 036994VAG-036996 to 037747VAG-039002 to 040294 |
| 2021 | VAG-040295 to 040496 |
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 a VAG before you buy
Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start VAG-, 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 WRX model codes
Questions
What engine does the VAG have?
MLIT lists the Subaru WRX VAG with FA20 1,998 cc petrol.
What fuel economy does the VAG get?
Officially between 11.2 and 13.2 km/L (about 32–37 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 VAG?
Between 1,540 and 1,590 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.
Is 3BA-VAG the same as VAG?
Yes. 3BA-VAG is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and VAG is the model code. The chassis number starts with VAG-.
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.