2023 Subaru Impreza

Subaru’s brand was built upon pragmatic and modest vehicles with all-wheel drive (AWD) capabilities. Staying true to its roots, the 2023 Impreza checks all of Subaru’s requirements, but doesn’t shoot for the stars. With a redesigned 2024 Impreza model due to hit dealerships in the spring 2023, this Impreza is in the final year of its fifth generation. While it may be on its way out, it still presents a practical package at an affordable price. 

Available as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, the Impreza is a challenger against popular compacts, including the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Kia Forte. The segment is so similar in size that the Impreza sedan’s 182.1-inch overall length (175.5 for the hatchback) is less than two inches shorter than the Civic and just three-tenths of an inch shorter than the Corolla. 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 Imprezas 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 a standard five-speed manual transmission. The Premium and Limited models come with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The manual means a more engaging driving experience, but that comes with a compromise. The CVT costs $1,300 on the base and $1,100 on the Sport, but getting the entire collection 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 nearly seamless symmetrical all-wheel drive system delivers its trademark versatility in adverse weather conditions, and fuel economy tops 36 mpg on the highway in EPA testing. Although AWD is standard, the Impreza is an on-road machine. The closely related Crosstrek, also in its final year before a redesign, offers a more adventurous take on the same basic vehicle.

While the Impreza’s interior doesn’t quite raise the bar, it’s comfortable and durable and its familiar character creates a warm atmosphere. 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 Impreza sedan starts at $20,815 (including the $1,020 destination fee), the same price point as the 2022 model year. The Base and Premium models offer buyers durable cloth seats, and the Sport models add 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 double-stitched leather-trimmed upholstery, a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, automatic climate control, LED lamps and more. Even wiht all that, its base MSRP is still just $28,415.

Performance: 10/15

Subaru’s trusty four-cylinder boxer engine may not be the most engaging or spicy four in the segment, but it partially makes up for that with a solid reputation for reliability and its endearing-to-Subaru-loyalists muted thrum. Featuring an 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 that’s in 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 Mazda3 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 battle with ratings of 32 mpg combined, 36 highway and 28 city; the five-door loses one mpg in the combined rating. 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. Plus, the Elantra has a hybrid variant, which boosts its already solid figures to 54 mpg combined, 53 city and 56 highway. But remember, the Subaru has all-wheel drive standard, while the others do not, and the added friction takes a toll on 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 the CVT transmission. 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. Notably, Honda includes many more safety features on its manual-transmission Civic models, including adaptive cruise control, so manual aficionados who want them should look there.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

Subaru typically doesn’t meddle with re-inventing interior features, instead it refines the ones it already has. 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 Mazda3 falls short at 35.1 inches. 

Manually adjustable seats are standard on all but the Limited trim. Though power-operated seats can be purchased 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 included across the board. Overall, it’s a nicely appointed vehicle with enough damping to keep the ride comfortable without negatively affecting the handling quality.   

Infotainment: 11/15

The Impreza’s Achilles heel is its outdated interior technology. Though, it makes up for it 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 larger 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. A premium Harman-Kardon audio system is available on Sport and Limited. 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability is available on Premium and above with a subscription.

Cargo Space & Storage: 11/15

The Impreza’s cargo capacity is mixed; the sedan’s trunk tops out at 12.3 cubic-feet of storage while the Civic has 14.8, the Mazda3 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 Mazda3 hatchback 20.1 and 47.1.  

Dual cup holders and a bottle holder in each door pocket handle add versatility, but in terms of raw storage of personal belongings, prospective buyers may be left with more to desire. The Impreza hatchback’s redeeming feature is its 60/40 split rear seat backs that easily fold to accommodate the occasional large item. 

Style & Design: 6/10

The Subaru Impreza’s styling is ordinary. It’s not attractive—the five-door hatch wins our vote as the best looking—but take the badges off, and it’s hard to tell who made it. But it may be too neutral for buyers who like a little more flair, and Subaru seemed to have listened. The 2024 model year will feature a more distinct design with sharper edges, to captivate a wider audience. But for 2023, the no-cost optional red pearl paint and Sapphire Blue Pearl punches it up a bit.

Is the 2023 Subaru Impreza Worth it? Which Impreza is the Best Value? 

We can confidently say the Sport Five-Door hatchback is the best value in the lineup. Priced at $25,015 ($26,115 with the CVT), including the $1,020 destination fee, it sits at a very compelling intersection of value and features.

For a $4,200 surcharge from the $20,815 Base model, buyers receive 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40 tires, the larger 8-inch infotainment screen, a six-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel, extra USB ports and heated mirrors, among other extras. 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 Mazda3 $2,138 and the Hyundai Elantra $2,079. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.