2022 Subaru Impreza

The 2022 Subaru Impreza is a humble car, and proud of it. Five years into its fifth generation, it still trades on the same trifecta of affordability, functionality and slightly left-of-the-dial appeal that put it on the map when it debuted back in the early 1990s. 

Available as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, it competes against popular compacts, including the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. The segment is grouped so tightly that the Impreza sedan’s 182.1-inch overall length (175.5 for the hatchback) is just three-tenths of an inch shorter than the Corolla and less than two inches shorter than the Civic. Though all three are commonly considered compacts, the EPA classifies the Impreza and Civic as midsize cars because both have over 110 cubic feet of combined passenger and cargo room, if just barely. 

All Impreza models are powered by Subaru’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer engine rated at 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. There is, however, a choice of transmissions, the base sedan and five-door and Sport five-door offering the option of a five-speed manual transmission. The Premium and Limited models come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The manual makes for a much more fun experience, but there is a tradeoff. The CVT costs $1,300 and $1,100 on the Sport, but getting the full suite of Subaru’s safety features requires the automatic.

All but the base model offer SI-Drive as an option (standard on the Premium), enabling two different performance modes. The standard-across-the-lineup and virtually seamless symmetrical all-wheel drive system delivers its trademark versatility in snow, sleet or rain, and fuel economy tops 38 mpg on the highway in EPA testing. 

While Impreza’s interior sets no standards for luxury, its comfortable, durable and familiar character creates a warm environment. The base and Premium trims use a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which is standard across the lineup. The Sport and Limited have a larger 8-inch touchscreen that offers built-in navigation, among other features.

The base Subaru Impreza starts at $20,815 (including the $1,020 destination fee), an increase of $1,095 over the 2021 model. The Base and Premium models offer buyers durable cloth seats, and the Sport models add a red contrast stitching. All models get 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity and dual USB ports in the front, but Sport and higher add two more for rear-seat passengers. Limited models are five-door only and get the luxe treatment with leather-trimmed upholstery and double-stitching, a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, automatic climate control, LED lamps and more. Still, even then, its base MSRP is just $27.355 with the destination fee.

Performance: 10/15

Subaru’s trusty four-cylinder boxer engine may not be the most exotic or powerful four in the segment. Still, it makes up for that in spades with a solid reputation for reliability and its endearing-to-Subaru loyalists muted thrum. Featuring all-aluminum construction, the 2.0-liter boxer churns out 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, but it takes some patience to get to its 4000-rpm torque peak, whether you’re shifting with the five-speed manual (base sedan and five-door hatch only) or the CVT. 

So, while it’s never exciting and remains one of the slowest vehicles in its class (the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are more fun to drive and the Hyundai Elantra just slightly so), it is engaging in a fun-to-drive-a-slow-car-fast kind of way. More so in the Sport, as it includes torque vectoring to sharpen turn-in. All-wheel drive is standard, but its primary benefit is poor-weather adaptability, not clawing grip. As a side note, upgrading to the CVT on the base is $1,300 and $1,100 on the Sport models.  

Fuel Economy: 10/15

The average combined EPA fuel economy across the 2022 Subaru Impreza lineup is 28.8 mpg. The Four-door sedan with the CVT leads the efficiency charge with ratings of 32 mpg combined, 36 highway and 28 city; the five-door loses one mpg in combined. In a reversal of previous norms, the five-speed manual returns lower fuel economy. It’s EPA rated at 26 combined, 23 city and 31 highway. (One mpg less in each metric for the Sport.) 

Those numbers fall a little short of its competitive set, each with 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions. The Civic is EPA rated for 33 mpg combined, 30 city and 37 highway, with the Mazda 3 checking in with 31, 28 and 36 in the same metrics. The Hyundai Elantra is the thrift meister of the group, returning 35 mpg combined, 31 city and 41 highway. Remember, the Subaru has all-wheel drive standard, while the others do not; that can reduce overall fuel efficiency. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15

The Subaru Impreza earned five out of five stars in NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) testing, and the five-door is an IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Pick+. Though similar in all crash statistics, the Impreza sedan missed the accreditation due primarily to a downgrade in headlamp quality. 

Some of Subaru’s technology is available on five-speed models, but getting the full EyeSight Driver Assist tech suite requires upgrading to the CVT. It includes lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, lead vehicle start alert, and rear-seat reminder. Blind-spot detection, high-beam assist and reverse automatic braking are standard on the top-tier Limited trim but are available individually on lower trims.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

Subaru typically doesn’t waste time and resources on re-inventing interior features, instead refining the ones they already have. As a result, there are plenty of soft-touch plastics and comfortable seats and armrests, all assembled with attention to detail. Front occupants enjoy 39.8 inches of headroom and 43.1-inches of legroom, nearly matching the 39.3- and 42.3-inch measurements of the Honda Civic. Rear legroom is 36.5-inches, falling a little shy of the Civic’s 37.4 inches and Hyundai Elantra’s 38 inches; the Mazda 3 falls short at 35.1 inches. 

Manually adjustable seats are standard on all but the Limited trim but can be specified on the premium and Sport trims. Leather is standard on Limited and not offered on lower trims. Heated seats are standard on Premium and up trims. Power windows, mirrors, door locks and a tilt and telescoping steering column are standard. Overall, it’s a nicely appointed vehicle with enough damping to keep the ride compliant without invoking sloppy handling.   

Infotainment: 12/15

What the Impreza lacks in cutting-edge technology, it makes up for with clear legible gauges, logical placement of controls and an intuitive climate-control system. Standard tech and features include Subaru’s Starlink 6.5-inch Multimedia system with touchscreen (8-inch screen is standard on Sport and Premium), Android Auto and Apple CarPlay keyless entry and a security system with engine immobilizer. All trims get an analog speedometer and tach; the included driver info screen is 2.4-inches on the base and premium, while the Sport and Limited get a 4.2-inch full-color screen. Navigation is optional, but only on the Limited trim. 

Base models get a single USB port while Premium and above have 2 USB ports in front; Sport and Limited add a pair in the back. A four-speaker audio system is standard, while Premium and above get a six-speaker unit. Premium Harmon-Kardon system is available on Sport and Limited. 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability is available on Premium and above with a subscription.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

The Impreza’s cargo capacity is a mixed bag; the sedan’s trunk tops out at 12.3 cubic-feet of storage while the  Civic has 14.8, the Mazda 3 sedan 13.2 and the Elantra 14.2. In five-door hatchback guise, the Impreza offers 20.8 and 55.3 cubic-feet with the rear seat folded flat. The Civic hatchback has 25.7 and 46.2 cubic feet, the Mazda 3 hatchback 20.1 and 47.1.  

Dual cupholders and a bottle holder in each door pocket handle a modicum of items, but in terms of raw storage of personal belongings, it could be better. At least the 60/40 split rear seat backs fold easily to accommodate the occasional large item. 

Style & Design: 6/10

The Subaru Impreza styling flies under the radar. It’s not ugly—the five-door hatch wins our vote as the most becoming—but take the badges off, and it’s hard to tell who made it. For the Subarista, that’s an asset and, in terms of knowing your target market, makes it a home run. But it may be too anodyne for buyers who like a little more flash. To that end, the no-cost optional red pearl paint and new-for-2022 Sapphire Blue Pearl punch it up a bit. Regardless, Subaru sales remain strong, so don’t expect any radical design changes soon.

Is the 2022 Subaru Impreza worth it? Which Impreza is the Best Value? 

With little to no handwringing, we can confidently say the Sport Five-Door hatchback represents the sweet spot in the lineup. Priced at $25,015 ($26,115 with the CVT), including the $1,020 destination fee, it sits at the intersection of value and features.

For an approximately $4,000 upcharge from the $20,815 Base model, you get 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40 tires, the larger infotainment screen, a six-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel, keyless entry, extra USB ports and heated mirrors, in addition to other items. Plus, it’s the best driving version of the Impreza bunch. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Subaru Impreza?

The Subaru Impreza should cost a little less to insure than most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium starting at $1,877 and hitting over $2,015 for top trims, including the Sport sedan, though this averages all 50 states. By comparison, the Honda Civic averages $2,100, the Mazda 3 $2,138 and the Hyundai Elantra $2,079. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.