Item: 2023 Subaru Impreza
Rating: 3.1
Author: Joel Patel

Overview

What's New

Subaru has not made any changes to the Impreza for the 2023 model year. The compact vehicle continues to be offered in sedan and hatchback body styles with all-wheel drive standard on both. Despite being a carryover model, pricing for the Impreza has increased for the new model year.

Choosing Your Subaru Impreza

The Impreza is available as both a sedan and a hatchback. Both are available in base, Premium, and Sport trims. The hatchback is also available in Limited trim.

Pricing for the sedan ranges from $20,815 to $25,615 (prices include destination). The hatchback is slightly more expensive with a price tag that starts at $21,315 and goes up to $28,415.

Engine Choices

Subaru offers the Impreza with a single engine. The compact car comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. A continuously variable automatic transmission is available for $1,300 on the base and comes standard on higher trims.

All Imprezas come with AWD as standard. With the manual transmission, the Impreza is rated to get up to 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. With the CVT, the Impreza can get up to 28/36/32 mpg (city/hwy/combined).

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

Regardless of body style, the Impreza can seat up to five people. The Impreza sedan offers up to 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space in its trunk. The hatchback has a roomier cargo area with up to 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded.

Safety Features

The only standard safety feature the Impreza comes with is a rearview camera.

Opting for the Impreza with the CVT brings Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety features. The suite includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, and a rear-seat reminder. The Premium trim is available with the Convenience Package that adds blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert for $1,970.

The range-topping Limited trim comes with reverse automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam assist as standard.

Connectivity

Every Impreza comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, four audio speakers, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

The Sport trim is the first in the Impreza lineup to get an 8-inch touchscreen and voice recognition as standard. The Sport is also available with a Convenience Package that adds an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Navigation and the Harman Kardon audio system are available on the Limited trim with the Convenience Package.

2023 Subaru Impreza Base – MSRP From $20,815/$21,315

The base trim doesn’t come with a lot of features but has 16-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, power accessories, cloth upholstery, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, air conditioning, traction control, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, and keyless entry.

Adding a CVT costs $1,300.

2023 Subaru Impreza Premium – MSRP From $24,214/$24,715

The Premium trim adds 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fog lights, transmission paddle shifters, six audio speakers, Wi-Fi hot spot capability, heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, automatic headlights, remote engine start, and upgraded suspension.

The Convenience Package adds a moonroof, push-button start, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and some more advanced safety features. The package costs $1,970.

2023 Subaru Impreza Sport – MSRP From $25,615/$25,015

The Sport trim adds 18-inch wheels, larger all-season tires, a stainless exhaust outlet tip, a spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum alloy pedal covers, a color multifunction display, keyless entry, push-button start, dual USB charging ports, active torque vectoring, and sport-tuned suspension.

Consumers can also specify the Sport trim with the Convenience Package which costs $2,470.

2023 Subaru Impreza Limited – MSRP From $25,615

The range-topping Limited trim is only available as a hatchback. Standard features on the trim include leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a rear center armrest.

The Limited trim is available with the $2,350 Technology Package. It adds a moonroof, a larger touchscreen, an upgraded audio system, and navigation.

Compare Impreza Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

With the 2023 Subaru Impreza hatchback being a far more versatile vehicle than the sedan body style and being a relatively reasonable upgrade for an extra $500, it’s the body style we recommend. The Premium trim offers a great mix of features for its starting price tag, while the available Convenience Package is worth the cost, as it adds a few more convenience and tech features to feel more upscale than lower trims.

Joel Patel

Automotive Editor - September 28, 2022

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Expert Review

Pros

AWD comes standard
Available with a manual transmission
Good safety features
Roomy cabin, especially with the hatchback

Cons

Manual doesn’t come with safety features
Seriously underpowered
Disappointing base infotainment system
Subpar fuel economy

Expert Rating

3.1

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.

Joel Patel

Automotive Editor - October 17, 2022

An Aging Compact. The 2023 Subaru Impreza is entering its seventh model year on sale without any major changes. Against newer competitors like the Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Jetta, and Nissan Sentra, the Impreza doesn’t have many redeeming qualities. In the mega competitive compact car segment, that puts the Impreza on the back foot.

One of the more attractive things about the Impreza is that it’s available in hatchback and sedan body styles, which is something that’s disappeared from the segment – most of the Impreza’s competitors are only available as sedans. For consumers in search of a simple compact car that’s easy to drive, affordable, and versatile, the Impreza still has its place in the segment. But its place continues to fall further behind newer rivals.

One Capable Compact. The Impreza’s main selling point is that it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Whether you get a sedan or a hatchback, the Impreza’s standard AWD system is a unique feature for the segment. For drivers that live in areas of the country where rain and snow are around for a few months out of the year, having AWD can give drivers an extra sense of comfort and security.

Additionally, for consumers that want some extra versatility with their compact, the Impreza’s available hatchback model stands out as the one to get. Thanks to its hatchback rear end, the Impreza offers one of the more spacious cargo areas in the class.

Adventure seekers in need of a small car that can hold camping equipment, hiking gear, or multiple suitcases for a family vacation, the Impreza hatchback impresses with a total of 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. With the rear seats in place, the Impreza hatchback can hold up to 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space. These figures make the Impreza sedan’s trunk look tiny with just 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Subaru Impreza

Safety Costs Extra. All Subarus, even the affordable Impreza, are available with a lengthy list of safety features. Unfortunately, the standard Impreza, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission isn’t available with any advanced safety features. The only major feature the base Impreza comes standard with is a mandated rearview camera.

Pay an extra $1,300 for the continuously variable automatic transmission or move up to a trim that comes with a CVT as standard and you’ll get Subaru's EyeSight suite as standard. EyeSight includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist.

Another drawback with the Impreza is that blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam assist, and reverse automatic emergency braking are only standard on the range-topping Limited trim.

The 2023 Impreza has great crash test scores. The NHTSA gave the compact car a five-star overall safety rating. In IIHS testing, the Impreza earned a rating of Good in all of the institute’s crash tests, but the body styles differ when it comes to headlights.

If you need another reason to go with the hatchback, the body style is available with headlights that earned a rating of Good, while the sedan is only available with Marginal-rated headlights. The difference results in the Impreza hatchback having a Top Safety Pick rating and the sedan missing out on the award.

A Snooze Fest. Looking for a compact that’s fun to drive? Turn around. You’ll want to look elsewhere. While other compact cars are available in track-focused models with punchy turbocharged engines, Subaru continues to offer the Impreza with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a modest 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque.

By modern standards, 152 hp is a small amount. In the Impreza, the horsepower rating results in lethargic acceleration and incredibly difficult passing power. The available transmissions don’t help, as the manual gearbox has imprecise throws and a notchy feel. The CVT is the better option and brings much better fuel economy, though the Impreza still lags behind competitors on that front.

Final Thoughts. Against newer competitors that have more high-tech features, more powerful engines, and more available luxury features, the 2023 Subaru Impreza struggles to be competitive. Its main draw is its standard AWD system, available hatchback model, and relatively low starting price.

The Hyundai Elantra is another value-packed compact option. It has a sharp design, available high-tech features, a wide range of models that include a hybrid, and a high-quality interior.

The Honda Civic continues to be the do-it-all compact car. It’s available as a hatchback, has a refined design, features a roomy interior, comes with user-friendly tech features, and is enjoyable to drive.

Check 2023 Subaru Impreza Prices Near You

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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

23 / 31 / 27 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

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	23 / 31 / 27 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	182.7 "
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	2,976 Lbs. / 3,047 Lbs.
Wheel Base	105 "
Turning Radius	17.7 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	16.0 " Steel / 16.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote
Bumpers	Body-colored
Grille Moldings	Black W/chrome Surround / Black
Rear Spoiler
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 Stereo, 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
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning	Eyesight Pre-collision Braking Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning	Eyesight Lane Keep Assist Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection	Eyesight Pre-collision Braking Front Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert	Eyesight Sway Warning Driver Attention
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 2023 Subaru Impreza for Sale

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