Offered in four- and five-door body variants since beginning production in 1992, the sporty and speedy Subaru Impreza is used by police forces around the world and has become a rally racing champ. We review its best model years.
With roots tracing all the way back to 1992, when it began production before landing on American shores in 1993, the Subaru Impreza has cemented itself as a mainstay of Subaru’s lineup.
Forming the basis for the early Forester and later XV models, the widespread use of its underpinnings meant it needed to be solid and reliable. Fortunately for Subaru, it’s been just that.
From the first-generation model all the way to the fifth-generation version on sale today, it’s a car that Vehicle History users have consistently rated highly in owner reviews. Met with praise for its standard all-wheel-drive system, the Subaru Impreza was an immediate hit and continues to be a strong seller today.
As many as 86,043 were sold in 2017, Car Figures reports, which is impressive given compact cars have generally lost favor to SUVs.
With the Impreza having been on sale for so many years, we wanted to investigate whether it really is the good, reliable car it has a reputation for being. In doing so, we also wanted to let you know which is the best Subaru Impreza you can buy, along with which ones you should avoid. Curious? Read on.
How Good is the Latest Subaru Impreza?
With 28 years of history and development behind it, it’s perhaps no surprise that the current-model Impreza is a rather good thing.
Launched for the 2017 model year, Motor Trend notes it was the first Subaru model based on the company’s then-new Subaru Global Architecture platform that now underpins all its models.
Bringing advances such as additional steel reinforcements in its unibody chassis, crash energy absorption was increased by 40 percent and structural rigidity by 70 percent compared to its predecessor.
Thanks to this, Motor Trend highlighted that “over the road, the Impreza feels really solid,” and that it “felt more comfortable and more solid. A quicker steering ratio of 13:1 versus 16:1 also improved its dynamic abilities.”
The safety gains could also be clearly seen, as it was awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, although this was dropped to a Top Safety Pick rating when the facelifted model arrived in 2020.
Its “FB20D” 2.0-liter flat-four engine has also been highlighted as a strong point of the fifth-generation model.
As Car Engineer points out, changes to the piston and connecting rod designs and the bore and stroke, along with the addition of direct injection, reduced emissions, increased fuel economy, and delivered some minor torque gains compared to Subaru’s older engines.
Although mechanical reliability is quite strong, 2017-19 models were subject to multiple NHTSA recalls for failures with the engine control module. Faulty positive crankcase ventilation valves were also another recall-warranting issue. However, these issues seem to have gone away with 2020 models, a sign of kinks having been ironed out.
It’s no wonder that users here on the Vehicle History site love it, then, with the 2017, 2018, and 2019 models all receiving an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars across hundreds of owner reviews.
Are Older Subaru Imprezas Worth Considering?
The Impreza didn’t earn its reputation overnight, and many of the models that preceded the current iteration are worth looking into for those on a budget – or for those who are after something that offers up more in the way of performance.
Before the WRX was spun off into its own standalone model, the second-generation Impreza WRX marked the first time the rally-bred budget performer was offered stateside.
It’s this era of WRX that is considered by many to be the best as well. Powered by the turbocharged EJ20 2.0-liter engine, Motor Biscuit notes that while earlier 2002-03 models (known as the “bug-eye”) suffered from transmission strength issues, these were ironed out by 2004, and the arrival of the “blob-eye” facelift.
As such, Motor Biscuit names the 2004 Impreza WRX the best of the bunch, while noting that 2005-2007 models shouldn’t be passed up either. “Regular” Imprezas from this era also rank highly, too.
Edmunds users have given the 2002 model, as an example, an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars, with 70 percent of its 310 owner reviews scoring it a perfect five.
The fourth-generation model, first launched in 2012, also garnered praise upon its launch. Consumer Reports points out that the 2012 Impreza “shot to the top of the small car rankings,” noting that this is “thanks to nimble handling, a roomy interior, improved fuel economy, and a comfortable ride that rivals some luxury sedans.”
The 2012 model was the first to feature the new FB20 flat-four engine which has proved to be more reliable than the EJ25 of its third-gen predecessor.
However, if you can justify the slightly higher price for a 2015 or 2016 model equipped with the EyeSight active safety system, you’ll be given the peace of mind of an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ safety rating.
Which Subaru Impreza Years Should Be Avoided?
While many Impreza models rank rather impressively, every line of cars can have its weak points, and some versions of the Impreza certainly haven’t been Subaru’s finest hour. If there’s one particular year that stands out, though, it’s the 2008 Impreza.
Marking the launch of the third-generation model to the North American market, the third-gen Impreza was only offered with a range of ‘EJ25’ 2.5-liter engines.
Highlighted by Car Complaints as being one of the most troublesome Subaru models, head gasket issues plagued the company’s EJ25 engines such as those the third-gen was offered with.
Noted as being a common failure, it can cost around a grand to fix on average. The clutch throwout bearing is also noted as something that can be a premature and expensive failure on manual models.
Even older EJ25-powered models are also worth being weary of if they have a sketchy maintenance history. Olive notes that 1998 Impreza 2.5RS models powered by the EJ25D suffered from internal head gasket leaks.
Later versions up to 2003, meanwhile, suffered from external oil and coolant leaks. This is something that can be attested to the shorter lifespan of these engines’ single-layer graphite-coated head gaskets that would only last around 100,000 miles. Ensuring these are leak-free or have been replaced is an important pre-purchase check if you are looking at an older, cheaper Impreza.
Overall, is the Subaru Impreza a Good, Reliable Car?
When it comes to reliability, it’s safe to say that Subaru can be a bit hit-or-miss. Some engines the company has produced are hailed for their reliability, while others are known universally to have fundamental issues.
Some recall issues have also plagued more recent models including the 2017-19 Impreza, although the current crop of Subaru models is faring well when it comes to reliability.
Ultimately, whether a Subaru Impreza will be a good, reliable car for you depends on which engine you go for. If there are any reliability issues, they will be with what’s under the hood.
If you’re going new, the FB20D engine in the current model is relatively renowned for its reliability. Cash Cars Buyer even proclaims that this engine “[makes] the Subaru reliability myth of being unreliable just a myth,” thanks to its strong performance in Consumer Reports‘ testing.
In many circles, such as on the Pistonheads forum, you’ll hear people stating that 2.0-liter Subaru engines are more reliable than 2.5-liter versions. Certainly, there is some merit to this as the EJ25’s issues are well-documented.
However, if you know it’s been maintained correctly in the past and you continue that good upkeep, getting a long life out of an EJ25 engine is certainly still possible. Check out the video below to see some of the most common failures suffered by the turbocharged versions of the EJ25.
Which is the Best Subaru Impreza?
When it comes to the Subaru Impreza, it really pays to do your research as it’s clear that the model’s has a bit of checkered past with engine and transmission issues. However, if you get the right one, it should prove to be incredibly reliable and satisfying to drive.
Plus, if you get the right one, it’s likely you’ll only want to upgrade to another, as J.D. Power has found Subaru to have the highest rate of customer loyalty in the U.S. market.
To single out one generation, though, the current fifth-generation Subaru Impreza from 2017 to today stands out from the rest. With drastically improved dynamics, safety, and importantly reliability, it’s a really solid bet that stands up well against its compact-class competition.
For those after something cheaper on the used market, though, the second-generation “blob-eye” Impreza stands out as another solid bet for those on a tighter budget.
Photos: Subaru
