LA-HB23S · TA-HB23S · UA-HB23S
Suzuki Carol HB23S specs
HB23S is the model code of the Suzuki Carol, a kei car. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2004 under 3 model types LA-HB23S, TA-HB23S, UA-HB23S. A genuine car’s chassis number starts HB23S-.
HB23S at a glance
- Make
- Suzuki
- Model
- Carol
- Model code
- HB23S
- Model types
- LA-HB23S, TA-HB23S, UA-HB23S
- In MLIT’s lists
- 2004
- Engines
- K6A 658 cc petrol
- Gearboxes
- 3-speed automatic, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, CVT automatic
- Drive
- four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive
- Kerb weight
- 650–770 kg
- Official fuel economy
- 17–30 km/L (48–85 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.
LA-HB23S
Listed 2004. The LA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means certified to Japan’s 2000 emissions rules, 50% below their limits. Check LA-HB23S against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K6A658 cc petrol | 3-speed automatic | four-wheel drive | 710–760 kg | — | 17 km/L48 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | 3-speed automatic | front-wheel drive | 660–710 kg | — | 18.8–19.4 km/L53–55 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | 4-speed automatic | four-wheel drive | 720–770 kg | — | 18.2 km/L51 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | 5-speed manual | four-wheel drive | 700–750 kg | — | 20.5–21 km/L58–59 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | 5-speed manual | front-wheel drive | 650–700 kg | — | 23 km/L65 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
TA-HB23S
Listed 2004. The TA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means certified to Japan’s 2000 emissions rules, 25% below their limits. Check TA-HB23S against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K6A658 cc petrol | 5-speed manual | front-wheel drive | 650–700 kg | — | 30 km/L85 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | CVT automatic | front-wheel drive | 670–720 kg | — | 26.5–27 km/L75–76 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
UA-HB23S
Listed 2004. The UA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means certified to Japan’s 2000 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check UA-HB23S against ULEZ and clean air zones.
| Engine | Gearbox | Drive | Weight | Seats | Fuel economy | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K6A658 cc petrol | 4-speed automatic | front-wheel drive | 670–720 kg | — | 20–20.5 km/L56–58 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
| K6A658 cc petrol | 5-speed manual | front-wheel drive | 650–700 kg | — | 24 km/L68 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test | 2004 |
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 an HB23S before you buy
Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start HB23S-, 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.
Questions
What engine does the HB23S have?
MLIT lists the Suzuki Carol HB23S with K6A 658 cc petrol.
What fuel economy does the HB23S get?
Officially between 17 and 30 km/L (about 48–85 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 HB23S?
Between 650 and 770 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.
Is LA-HB23S the same as HB23S?
Yes. LA-HB23S is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and HB23S is the model code. The chassis number starts with HB23S-.
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 Suzuki 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.