Overview
The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback boast spacious cabins and all-wheel drive as standard, making them stand out from the crowd. The exterior styling may be unmemorable, but the driving experience is anything but-- with fast steering response and confident handling that elevate it above many competitors in its class. Fuel economy could still use some improvement however; luckily this playful ride helps to make up for it!
The 2021 Impreza has an underpowered flat-four cylinder engine that can be paired with a manual transmission; however, due to its lack of accuracy this pairing is best avoided. For those looking for popular driver assistance and infotainment features, the small Subaru should suffice as it offers quite the selection in these areas. Although not perfect, there are certainly desirable qualities which lie within this particular vehicle.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Impreza may be a slow-moving creature amongst its speedy counterparts, but still packs plenty of power with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft torque. Unfortunately, this engine requires some ‘goading’ to make sure it reaches peak performance levels. However, our test track comparison between the five speed manual transmission on the Sport sedan and CVT on the longer term Sport hatch revealed that the manual version was significantly more responsive than its counterpart.
The Impreza was equipped with all-wheel drive as a standard feature, providing an outstanding balance between ride and handling. This is evident in the vehicle's ability to negotiate curves without leaning excessively - paired with its responsive steering it gives this compact car remarkable finesse. We were also especially impressed by the firm brake pedal of the Impreza Sport model, which allowed for swift response during emergency braking scenarios; making it one of its class' best performers.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Choose any Impreza with the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and you'll be thoroughly impressed with this all-wheel-drive compact car's fuel economy. Opt for the manual transmission, though, and you'll visit your local gas station more frequently. The most efficient Impreza earns EPA ratings of 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway; the least efficient—a hatchback with a manual transmission—is rated for 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Our manual-equipped Impreza Sport sedan was particularly inefficient, managing 30 mpg in our real-world highway fuel-economy test. For context, the nonhybrid Toyota Corolla managed an impressive 41 mpg, albeit with an automatic transmission.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Every Impreza earns top marks in crash tests conducted by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS is based on vehicles equipped with Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies, which is only available on models with the automatic transmission.
Is Subaru Impreza a reliable car?
The Subaru Impreza enjoys average scores in major reliability ratings. RepairPal rates it a 3.5 out of 5.0, putting it 33rd out of 36 compact cars. While the 2008-2011 model years consumed more fuel because of their all-wheel-drive powertrain, Imprezas in general enjoy good fuel economy.
Why is the Subaru Impreza so good?
All in all, there aren't many cars that can compare to Subaru Impreza. It's a rugged, safe Japanese performance car perfect for tracks, off-roading, and even family leisure. Boxer engines aren't the most pleasant to work on, and fuel efficiency is way off, but it's the only way to discover a bit of Colin McRae in you!
Why did Subaru stop making Impreza?
Subaru of America decided to shut down the 2022 Impreza compact sedan and hatchback production to make more room on the production line for the number one selling Subaru Outback. The 2023 Outback arrives this fall with a refresh while Impreza remains unchanged.