Overview
The 2022 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback impress with their roomy interiors and standard all-wheel drive. Both Subaru body styles have anonymous styling and fail to preserve fuel as well as other compact cars. Still, the Impreza has a playful driving demeanor that transcends many alternatives thanks to its quick steering and assured composure. Power comes from an anemic flat-four-cylinder engine that can be paired with a manual transmission, but it’s one of the few that we’d avoid due to its imprecise action. Those looking for popular driver-assistance options and infotainment features will appreciate the small Subie’s well-stocked roster. Although the 2021 Impreza is far from perfect, it does have a handful of desirable qualities.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Impreza is a tortoise in a class of hares, with a four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. With little low-end punch, the Impreza requires considerable goading to keep the engine where it needs to be to make power. Although the five-speed manual transmission on our Impreza Sport sedan performed less lethargically at our test track compared with the CVT of our long-term Sport hatch. The Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Impreza strikes a near-perfect balance between ride and handling. The body doesn’t lean in turns and the quick steering gives the compact car an additional sense of verve. We found the Impreza Sport’s relatively firm brake pedal and short stopping distance during emergency-braking situations to be exemplary for the class.
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.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Impreza’s interior may be short on style, but it is tops in its design. Easy-to-read gauges, simple controls, and an intuitive climate-control system make the Impreza easy to operate. Additionally, the Impreza’s cabin benefits from soft-touch plastics, cushy armrests, and impressive fit and finish. Its interior space is class competitive, and taller drivers will appreciate the model’s ample front-seat legroom. The cargo areas of both the Impreza sedan and hatchback are on the smaller side of the class. Still, both body styles benefit from a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat that allows for additional cargo storage. Limited storage cubbies within the Impreza’s cabin means that there are few places to store smaller personal items.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every Impreza includes key infotainment features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. While base and Premium-level models feature a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Sport and Limited models are equipped with a bigger 8.0-inch touchscreen. Both systems boast logical menu structures and crisp graphics.
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. Key safety features include:
- Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
