Years, specs, prices and problems
The Subaru Sambar kei truck is Subaru's mini truck, built by Subaru from 1961 to 2012. Its 4-cylinder engine sits at the back, so in Japan it is nicknamed "the Porsche of farm roads".
Engine658cc 4-cyl.
4WD modelKS4
Hauls772 lb
You can importUp to 2001
Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons ↗
From what owners say (more below).
19.3 ft
10.8 ftDrawn to scale: length, height and wheelbase. The trucks are our illustrations, not photos. Sources: Wikipedia ↗ (Sambar), Ford spec sheet ↗ (F-150 SuperCrew 4x4). The shortest F-150 is 17.5 ft.
Kei truck size, weight and payload: all five trucks → · Camper? What a shell leaves →
See the version, the engine, and if you can bring it into the US.
Year-by-year guides: 1997 Sambar
Most Sambars for sale in the US are 1990–1999 trucks (KS3 and KS4). The wider 1999 trucks are old enough to import too, and more turn 25 every month.
4th generation (550cc)
Spot it in a photo: round headlights in a flat front and a black bumper with a grille.
Photo: DY5W-sport, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons ↗
KS3 (2WD), KS4 (4WD)
Spot it in a photo: rectangular headlights set low in a flat white front, above a big black bumper with orange lights.
Photo: Calreyn88, CC0, Wikimedia Commons ↗
TT1 (2WD), TT2 (4WD)
Spot it in a photo: a short nose with larger headlights, a black grille between them and a body-color bumper.
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0, Wikimedia Commons ↗
Since 2012, the Sambar truck has been a rebadged Daihatsu Hijet, built by Daihatsu. Those can't be imported until 2037.
The version name is on the export certificate, and often on a badge on the truck.
Gas mileage, top speed and hauling first: the numbers buyers ask about most.
| Spec | 1990–1999 (KS3, KS4) | 1999–2001 (TT1, TT2) |
|---|---|---|
| Gas mileage | Subaru never published a US figure, and we have not found a reliable Japanese one yet. | |
| Top speed | Subaru doesn't publish one. Owners report about 50–65 mph for stock trucks; supercharged ones are faster.Most owners cruise at 45–55 mph. | |
| Hauls | 772 lb (350 kg) in the bed: the legal limit for kei trucks | |
| Length × width | 10.8 ft × 4.6 ft | 11.1 ft × 4.8 ft |
| Engine | 658cc 4-cylinder (EN07). Some supercharged (EN07Y). | 658cc 4-cylinder (EN07), all fuel injected. Some supercharged. |
| Power | About 39 hp; 54 hp supercharged | About 45–47 hp; 57 hp supercharged |
| Engine sits | At the back, under the bed. Independent suspension on all 4 wheels. | |
| Weight | About 1,500–2,180 lb | About 1,610–2,230 lb |
| 2WD / 4WD | KS3 = 2WD, KS4 = 4WD | TT1 = 2WD, TT2 = 4WD |
| Gearbox | 5-speed stick, 3-speed automatic, or a CVT until Oct. 1995 | 5-speed stick or 3-speed automatic |
| Wheels | 12-inch on most trucks. Owners say 12-inch tires are hard to find in the US, so many move to 13-inch. | |
Sources: Subaru Sambar data from Wikipedia; top speed from owner and buyer-guide reports. Subaru never rated the Sambar in mpg for the US. Weight and size converted from metric.
US sellers asked $4,430 to $10,000 for the 11 Sambar trucks we found in November 2026. The middle price was $6,900.
We found only 11 Sambars for sale, so treat this as a rough guide. If you import one yourself, add shipping, a 25% import tax and fees.
What sellers are asking (11 Sambar trucks)
Kei truck prices for all five models, by dealer →
Asking prices for this Subaru kei truck seen Nov. 7–10, 2026 in 6 states. Not offers or guarantees. Tap a place for that state's dealers and road rules.
Not as of November 2026. Subaru has announced no US Sambar, and since 2012 the Sambar truck has been a Daihatsu Hijet with a Subaru badge. A new kei truck doesn't meet US road-safety rules, so most states won't plate one until it turns 25. Videos about a "$7K Subaru kei truck for America" are not based on any Subaru announcement.
In Japan, a new Sambar truck starts at ¥1,254,000 including Japanese tax, about $7,940 at the Nov. 9, 2026 exchange rate. For road use in the US, the trucks to buy are the 25-year-old ones above.
Sources: Subaru Japan price list ↗ (in Japanese), exchange rate from frankfurter.dev, 25-year rule: 49 CFR 591.5(i).
Every Sambar you can import is over 25 years old. Condition matters more than miles. Check these first.
Your ticks are saved on this phone only. Take it, or a printout, to the seller.
Your DMV asks for these to title an imported kei truck. See what your state asks for ↓
Common issues reported by importers, parts sellers, repairers and owners. Not Subaru data.
4 owner reviews from YouTube comments, told in our words.
Buyer in OklahomaYouTube comment · see the original ↗Imported a Sambar and hired a hotshot driver to bring it home: about $4,000 to the door.
Owner comparing kei trucksYouTube comment · see the original ↗Picks the Sambar for its engine access, quieter ride, roomier cab and 4-cylinder engine.
Owner who wanted more legroomYouTube comment · see the original ↗Cut out the panel behind the seats, moved it back about 3 inches and welded it in. Says the extra legroom made a big difference.
Owner of a 1996 supercharged SambarYouTube comment · see the original ↗Says it has never overheated with the stock exhaust, and calls it the easiest kei truck to work on.
Watch a new owner's first drive: 2000 Subaru Sambar 4x4 Kei truck maiden voyage in the USA! ↗ (QuasiMotard, YouTube, 20 min)
| Truck | Engine sits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
 Honda Acty | In the middle, under the bed | Easy engine access, smooth ride |
 Suzuki Carry | Under the seats | Simple and tough; easy to find |
 Daihatsu Hijet | Under the seats | Jumbo cab version has the most room |
 Subaru Sambar | At the back | 4-cylinder; more knee room than the Acty |
 Mitsubishi Minicab | Under the seats | Often costs less; fits a 6-ft driver, owners say |
TapClick the blue button. Your answer shows up right here.
Many are. The 4WD codes are KS4 (1990–1999) and TT2 (1999 on). KS3 and TT1 are 2WD.
No. The Sambar is made by Subaru. People often mix it up with the Suzuki Carry, another kei truck.
Because its engine sits at the back, like a Porsche 911's, and it has independent suspension on all four wheels. Japanese owners use the name half as a joke, half as praise. The mid-engine Honda Acty got the matching nickname "the Ferrari of farm roads".
Some do. Supercharged 1990–1999 trucks make about 54 hp, and 1999–2012 trucks about 57 hp, against about 39–47 hp without it.
Subaru doesn't publish a top speed. Owners report about 50–65 mph for a stock truck; supercharged trucks go faster. Most cruise at 45–55 mph.
Subaru built its last Sambar on Feb. 29, 2012. Newer Sambars are rebadged Daihatsu Hijets.
It depends on your state. A Sambar can be imported once it is 25 years old, but each state decides whether it gets road plates: some plate it like any car, some allow it only on slower roads, and some don't plate it at all. Pick your state above to see the rule where you live.
Only used ones that are 25 or more years old. Subaru has announced no US Sambar, and since 2012 the Sambar truck has been a Daihatsu Hijet with a Subaru badge.
Used US Sambars asked $4,430 to $10,000 in our November 2026 survey (11 trucks). In Japan, a new Sambar truck starts at ¥1,254,000 including Japanese tax, about $7,940 at the Nov. 9, 2026 exchange rate, but a new one can't be plated in most US states.
Make sure you can plate it where you live, then take the inspection checklist to the seller.