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2018 Subaru Impreza

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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2018 2.0i 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $18,495
2018 2.0i 4dr All-Wheel Drive Hatchback Price:   -  From $18,995
2018 2.0i Premium 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $21,295
2018 2.0i Premium 4dr All-Wheel Drive Hatchback Price:   -  From $21,795
2018 2.0i Sport 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $22,095
2018 2.0i Sport 4dr All-Wheel Drive Hatchback Price:   -  From $22,595
2018 2.0i Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $24,195
2018 2.0i Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive Hatchback Price:   -  From $24,695

Overview

The compact segment is as competitive as ever, forcing automakers to pack their small cars with tons of tech and loads of new features. A great example of how far automakers are willing to go is the 2018 Subura Impreza, which sits on a new platform that makes the car more agile, safer, and more comfortable than ever. With all of the new parts, the Impreza has become a standout option in a crowded field.

What's New for 2018

After being introduced as an all-new model last year, the 2018 Impreza arrives with few changes. The Impreza lineup gets a $140 increase in pricing, which can be attributed to new automatic headlights. That feature is standard on Premium, Sport, and Limited trims.

The only other change for the 2018 model year is the addition of a short throw shifter for Sport models that are equipped with the five-speed manual transmission.

Subaru Impreza

Choosing Your Subaru Impreza

Regardless of trim, a 2.0-liter Boxer engine powers every Impreza model and generates 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The engine can be paired to either a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission – the CVT is a $1,000 option on the base Impreza, $800 on the Impreza Sport, and is standard on the Premium and Limited. All Impreza models feature the automaker’s all-wheel-drive system and, when properly equipped, can get up to 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

Available as both a sedan and a five-door hatchback, the Impreza has an impressive amount of cargo space, offering sedan owners up to 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback has 20.8 cubes to work with. With the rear seats folded down, the hatchback offers an impressive 55.3 cu ft of cargo capacity.

The Impreza is offered in five different trims, which is available as either a sedan or a hatchback.

Subaru Impreza

2.0i

The entry-level 2.0i Sedan starts at $19,355, including the $860 destination fee, while the five-door hatchback is slightly more, at $19,855.

Standard features include a five-speed manual transmission, 16-inch steel wheels, a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat, 60/40-split flat-folding rear seats, cloth upholstery, power windows, a 6.5-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a four-speaker audio system, Brake Assist, a rearview camera, and a keyless entry system.

There are no available packages for the 2.0i models.

Subaru Impreza

2.0i Premium

Starting at $22,155, the 2.0i Premium is available as a sedan or a five-door hatchback for an additional $500. The trim adds 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, body-color folding side mirrors, heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, automatic on/off headlights, paddle shifters, a six-speaker audio system, and an emergency assistance system over the base trim.

There are three available packages for the 2.0i Premium trims, including the Moonroof Package ($1,000) that adds a power tilt/sliding moonroof. The EyeSight Driver Assist Technology Package ($1,395) includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic assist. Customers can combine the EyeSight system with a moonroof for $2,395.

Subaru Impreza

2.0i Sport

The 2.0i Sport trims come with 18-inch alloy wheels, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, a stainless exhaust tip, a trunk spoiler, a leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle, cloth sport seats, aluminum-alloy pedal covers, a multifunction display, push-button start, keyless access, and Subaru's Starlink telematics and infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, as standard.

The 2.0i Sport sedan is priced at $22,955 and has one available package ($2,150) that adds a moonroof, an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, as well as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

Subaru Impreza

2.0i Limited

The range-topping 2.0i Limited models have a starting price of $25,055 and come with: 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, fog lights, chrome door handles, a power driver’s seat, leather-trimmed upholstery, folding rear seat armrest with dual cupholders, and automatic climate control.

Available packages for the top-of-the-line trim include an optional package ($2,495) that adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a moonroof, and the entire EyeSight suite.

Another optional package ($3,845) adds all of the features from the other optional package, but includes an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system and navigation.

CarsDirect Tip

With all-wheel drive as standard, the only features we recommend splurging on are the EyeSight driver assistance features. You'll at least need the Premium trim for that, while we'd recommend adding the $500 hatchback body – it's both more versatile and better looking.

Get your price on a Subaru Impreza »

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Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

Subaru has always distanced itself from the herd of other mainstream manufacturers with standard all-wheel-drive and a flat-four engine design. The brand's 2018 Impreza is no exception to this, and offers buyers in the compact segment an affordable, weather-capable runabout that is available as both a traditional sedan or a cargo-swallowing hatchback.

Best Value

While there's a few different trims on hand, we'd go with the Impreza 2.0i Sport in the spacious five-door guise. This not-quite-a-wagon in Sport trim boasts a number of unique features that are unavailable on either the lower-spec Premium or the higher-spec Limited. These include brake torque vectoring (which applies the rear brake on the inside wheel while turning to improve handling), bigger front disk brakes, 18-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped shift handle and steering wheel, and special upholstery with contrasting red stitching.

While a five-speed manual is standard, it is behind the times, as nearly all competitors offer six-speed manuals for their compacts. On top of that, Subaru's stick-shift is disappointing to operate, lacking in feel and engagement. Factor in that Subaru's EyeSight safety suite is only available for continuously variable transmission-equipped cars and it becomes clear that foregoing the clutch pedal is the way to go. There's not too many options available (though a good number of accessories are on tap), but here's how we'd spec out our Impreza:

  • Model: 2018 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport 5-door
  • Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer
  • Output: 152 hp / 145 lb-ft
  • Transmission: Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
  • Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
  • MPG: 27 City / 35 Hwy
  • Options: CVT ($800), EyeSight Driver Assist Technology ($2,945, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure assist, sway warning and lane keeping assist, power moonroof, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system)
  • Base Price: $23,455 (including an $860 destination charge)
  • Best Value Price: $27,200

Performance

Subaru Impreza

Despite possessing on 152 horsepower, the Impreza still manages to be a fun little machine to toss around, if not exactly fast in a straight line. This can be attributed to the car's low center of gravity, 3,000-pound curb weight, and fully independent suspension. The Sport trim lends additional nuance to the handing via the brake torque vectoring system. When you're not railing on the Impreza as if it were a WRX, the ride is comfortable and quiet.

Around town, the little 2.0-liter has no problem keeping up with traffic and running stoplight to stoplight. However, the highway proves a formidable challenge for the boxer engine. There's a dearth of power when passing at 60 or 70 miles an hour, and it's made apparent by the CVT's audible struggle as the revs climb while the speed does not.

Style

Benefiting from a full redesign in 2017, the Impreza is an attractive car regardless of body style. The lines and proportions are simple and effective: not overdone, not undercooked. It won't bowl people over who catch a glimpse of it, but the conservative sheetmetal is fitting for a car whose first job is to serve as a transportation appliance. We have no doubt that time will be kind to this design.

Inside, that same ethos continues, where drivers will find functional simplicity embedded within an unmemorable but tasteful dash. There's a slew of standard features on even the lowliest Impreza, such as a 6.5-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and cruise control. Sport and top-tier Limited models get an upgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen, and the Limited also includes luxuries like a power driver's seat, chrome mirrors and automatic climate control. Notable options on the Sport and Limited include EyeSight, navigation, moonroof, and an eight-speaker Harman-Kardon sound system.

In all Imprezas, the infotainment unit is featured prominently in the center stack, and on the top of the dashboard sits an additional multi-function display that offers a variety of data readouts . While it doesn't look out of place in it's position above the main screen, one wonders why Subaru could not have simply integrated those functions into the infotainment unit itself.

Passengers in the back will appreciate the 36.5 inches of leg room and 37.2 inches of headroom (and that's with the available moonroof). The hatchback also offers nearly 21 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats still upright, a significant improvement over the measly 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space in the sedan.

The Best and Worst Things

The all-wheel-drive is the biggest selling point here. None of the Impreza's compact competitors offer all-wheel drive, making this a great option for those motoring anywhere that isn't in the sun belt. Unfortunately, the Impreza's other novelty, the boxer engine, is the car's weakest attribute. It simply does not have the power or refinement of its rivals' four-cylinders.

Right For? Wrong For?

Subaru Impreza

Snowy-climate urban dwellers who are constantly hauling people and things can't go wrong with the Impreza's capability and practicality. That it's also affordable and has a tidy footprint only makes it even more enticing for city folk who still need a car.

Those who live where snow is something only seen on TV and do most of their driving on the interstate would be better off buying something else that's more friendly to highway commuters. The biggest flaws of the boxer engine become most apparent when traveling on high-speed multi-lanes, and there's other small cars that provide better highway manners with more capable straight-line speed.

The Bottom Line

The Subaru Impreza is an honest and unpretentious automobile. It doesn't masquerade as something it's not, but instead humbly proffers affordability and practicality to those who are looking for just that. And this is why the Impreza aptly represents what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L H-4 / 152 HP / 145 ft.lbs.
Transmission
Standard: 5-spd man w/OD
Available: Lineartronic 7-spd sequential shift control CVT w/OD
Drive Type
Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
24 / 32 / 28 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L H-4 / 152 HP / 145 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
24 / 32 / 28 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Double Wishbone
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
13.2 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$50
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
12.3 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
100 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
182.1 "
Exterior Width
70.0 "
Exterior Height
57.3 "
Front Headroom
39.8 "
Rear Headroom
37.2 "
Front Legroom
43.1 "
Rear Legroom
36.5 "
Front Shoulder Room
56.7 "
Rear Shoulder Room
55.6 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
2,974 Lbs. / 3,034 Lbs.
Wheel Base
105 "
Turning Radius
17.7 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Steel
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Surround / Black
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm, Seek-scan
Speakers
4
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver And Passenger
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
2
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front And Rear
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Used 2018 Subaru Impreza for Sale

4 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Subaru
2.0i
Color: Crystal White Pearl
Price

$12,500

Mileage

114,675 mi

Map location icon

DCH Honda of Oxnard (49 mi)

Phone: (805) 204-0454
Subaru
2.0i
Color: Gray
Price

$15,885

Mileage

52,321 mi

Map location icon

Regency USA Inc (13 mi)

Phone: (424) 287-2848
Subaru
2.0i Sport
Color: Red
Price

$16,999

Mileage

73,784 mi

Map location icon

Buena Park Honda (24 mi)

Phone: (800) 906-6142
Subaru
2.0i Sport Wagon 4D
Color: Gray
Price

$20,995

Mileage

72,324 mi

Map location icon

Quantum Auto Sales Inc (29 mi)

Phone: (714) 265-0240
See All Used Car Listings

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