2023 Subaru Impreza Overview What’s new: In 2023, nothing will change. In 2017, the fifth generation of Imprezas came out. Do you want a simple, affordable, reliable, and safe small car with the primary all-wheel drive because you live where the roads can sometimes be rough? Welcome to the world, Subaru Impreza 2023. The Impreza, which comes as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, needs a complete makeover immediately. Subaru keeps things the same for now, except that prices are going up. It still has a mediocre engine, an unattractive continuously variable transmission, an interior that puts function over form, and Subaru’s famously strange layout. The only car that competes with the Impreza that has AWD is the Mazda 3, and this Subaru has top safety ratings even though its lights don’t work as well as they could. The Impreza hatchback is handy and has features that other small cars can’t match. Read our total Expert Rating to learn more about the 2023 Impreza and decide if these features are essential. In what ways do they make life difficult? We drove a 2017 Subaru Impreza sedan for a year and 20,000 miles when Subaru last changed this car. Many of our 2017 Impreza comments still apply to the 2023 model. Pros vs Cons Pros: Standard four-wheel drive The cabin is big and comfortable and has many cutting-edge safety features for the driver. A manual transmission is available for people who would instead change gears independently. Cons: Jerky, slow acceleration; interior parts that aren’t as good as those of many competitors Estimates of fuel economy that are hard to meet in real life Performance How do you drive the Impreza? The Impreza’s engine is one of its biggest problems. It takes 9.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is the longest in its class, and the transmission may make the engine even noisier and less responsive. It takes more time and planning than is necessary to pass on the highway or merge into traffic. Nothing is always a sign of bad luck. The brakes are strong but easy to use, so stopping the car is quick and smooth. Compared to most competitors, the steering is faster and more sensitive without making the driver feel unstable. Body roll is well controlled, and the Impreza feels more stable than other small sedans because it has standard all-wheel drive. Comfort How is the Impreza for comfort? The Impreza is a joy to drive on the highway because it is quiet and comfortable. It’s comfortable and easy to move around, but it’s not too soft or airy. Even though there’s little wind noise, the automatic transmission is bothersome. The seats are sturdy but comfortable for extended trips—comfortable flat back seats. The automatic climate control is easy to use, but the placement of the vents could be better. Several central air vents are suitable where you’d grab the steering wheel. It means your fingers will get cold faster than the rest of the car. Interior How does the inside look? The Impreza’s interior made it very useful. The extra screen on top of the dashboard is more valuable than it looks, and the controls are easy to understand and use. Because it features a hatchback, the Subaru Impreza provides excellent visibility for its occupants. Passengers have enough space, but people over 6 feet tall may find the back seats a little tight. The doors are easy to get in and out of because they are significant. Adjustments can be made to the steering wheel to accommodate drivers of varying heights, weights, and builds. Technology How good is the tech? The touchscreen layout is a lot like the home screen of a smartphone. It is easy to find, see, and understand and works with touch inputs. The navigation commands make finding fascinating places easier. But the stereo could be louder and have better sound coming from the speakers. The adaptive cruise control part of the EyeSight system works well. It doesn’t slam on the brakes when you’re cut off or followed too closely; instead, it keeps a safe distance. Effective technology can also help you stay in your lane. Storage What about putting things away? We like the hatchback better than the sedan, the other Impreza body style. The sedan’s trunk is smaller than those of class leaders like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Even though some competitors do a better job, the storage is fine for small things. There are several cupholders, each holding a standard water bottle or soda can. There are great places to put child seats. Behind the back seat, there are three anchor points, and the latches are easy to use. Large, rear-facing child seats are easy to put in because the cabin is so big. Fuel Economy How well does it use gasoline? According to the EPA, the CVT Impreza sedan gets 32 mpg city/highway. That is right on target for the top competitors in the market. When we tested the Impreza in real life, it was hard to get even 28 mpg, which is disappointing. Value Is it wise to buy an Impreza? The Impreza is a good choice at lower trim levels if you want an all-wheel drive without spending much more. But as you move up the trim levels, the price of the Subaru makes it less appealing. The Impreza’s interior isn’t as comfy as other small sedans’. Wildcard The Impreza has all-wheel drive, which is a bonus. The engine could be more appealing. Slow for its class, the Impreza. A good car, but not the best. What is Invoice Pricing's Recommendation? We recommend the hatchback version of the Impreza Premium to get the most for your money. The Premium has an available blind-spot monitor with a rear cross-traffic warning. This system lets you know if a car drives into your blind spot when you change lanes or go backward. It also updates the infotainment system and comfort features for cold weather. Subaru Impreza models include: A four-door hatchback and a four-door sedan version of the 2023 Subaru Impreza are available. Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited are the different trims. Only hatchbacks come in the Limited trim level from Subaru. All 2023 Impreza models have all-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both the Base (sedan and hatchback) and the Sport (hatchback) come standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but you can also get a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Premium, Sport sedan, and Limited trim levels have the CVT. 2023 Subaru Impreza Video Review
