Skip advert
Advertisement

Subaru Justy

Costly windscreen chip repairs are spoiling our enjoyment of city car.

I’m tearing my hair out with our long-term Subaru Justy – but you can’t blame the car!

It’s not the lack of pace that’s bothering me. Nor is it the poor motorway refinement. In a city runabout, such concerns are easy to forgive. What’s much harder to excuse is its tendency to pick up stone chips.

Advertisement - Article continues below

My regular weekend trip back home from London to Bournemouth is the problem, and the M3 motorway is the culprit. The Justy has been bombarded by debris, whether it’s from slow-moving HGVs, family filled people carriers or speeding repmobiles – and this is taking its toll.

Thanks to Autoglass in Camden, north London – branch manager David Reeve is always able to fit me in at short notice – the windscreen has only needed replacing once. But I’ve had three separate minor repairs, and a further two chips are now waiting to be fixed.

The damage is probably down to the car’s upright windscreen, but I feel as if I’m running the gauntlet every time I head to the south coast! In most other respects, living with the Subaru couldn’t be easier. Tell most people you drive a Justy and their reaction is usually one of confusion or amusement, but that only adds to its appeal. Although the wider public doesn’t realise it, my long-term car is a real diamond in the rough.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A3 Sportback

2016 Audi

A3 Sportback

96,230 milesManualDiesel2.0L

Cash £6,299
View A3 Sportback
Countryman

2022 MINI

Countryman

33,376 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £21,697
View Countryman
XC40

2022 Volvo

XC40

43,868 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,797
View XC40
Grand C4 SpaceTourer

2019 Citroen

Grand C4 SpaceTourer

42,142 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,197
View Grand C4 SpaceTourer

It only has 68bhp, yet there’s more to life than straight-line performance, and I’ve got used to the Subaru’s lack of speed. Besides, you can make up for its slow responses on motorways by anticipating lane changes and other traffic in advance.

The concentration this requires does take its toll, though, turning longer trips into driving marathons. I still haven’t tired of the characterful three-cylinder engine, however. It combines with sweet alloys to ensure the Justy looks and sounds the part.

And I’ve got no complaints about fuel economy, either. The Subaru’s fantastic return of 44.1mpg is more than welcome, and helps to keep running costs to a minimum. Let’s just hope I don’t have to spend any more on windscreen repairs – or I’ll start to wonder if I’ve walked under too many ladders...

Second Opinion

The Justy is a fun little car to drive and great around town. It’s incredibly easy to manoeuvre, although as soon as you head out of an urban area, the trade-off is the amount of body roll in corners. Other concerns for me include the modest performance of the small 1.0-litre unit, plus the surprisingly loud engine note. Still, inside, the car is spacious and comfortable, the dashboard is stylish and there’s lots of room in the back for two. So, all in all, much better than I expected.

Conor Mills
Motoring writer

Skip advert
Advertisement

More reviews

Long-term tests

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £3,189 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,538 off RRP*Used from £14,000
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,576 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,788 off RRP*Used from £11,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried
BYD Seal 6 Touring - front tracking

New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried

BYD’s latest arrival isn’t an EV, but efficiency is still key
Road tests
3 Sep 2025
New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025