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Subaru Forester

SHJStock varies — page stays live

Introduced during the minor facelift of the third-generation Forester, the SHJ chassis is notable for adopting Subaru's then-new FB20 boxer engine, which utilized a chain-driven valve train for improved efficiency and lower-end torque.

Engine
FB20 2.0L DOHC NA
Displacement
1,995 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Subaru Forester SHJSubaru Forester — representative 3rd gen (SH) image

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,560 mm
Width
1,780 mm
Height
1,675 mm
Weight
1,440 kg
Shipping volume
13.6 M³

Manufacture year vs. registration year

Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:

Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
SHJ-1XXXXXXOct 2010 – Oct 2012Late Model with FB20 Engine

Import eligibility by country

Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This SHJ was produced 2010–2012; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).
TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.
ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.
MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.

Common questions about the SHJ

How does the SHJ differ from the SH5?
The SHJ features the newer FB20 naturally aspirated engine with a timing chain, whereas the early SH5 featured the older belt-driven EJ20 engine.