2020 Subaru Impreza Review

　　

2020 Subaru Impreza Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The fifth-gen Subaru Impreza has been on sale for a few years. Now, for 2020, Subaru is giving it a minor update to help keep things fresh. The changes include more standard equipment and updated front-end styling. As before, you get standard all-wheel drive, which is rare for this class of car. The increased traction can be compelling to those who live in wet or snowy climates and don't want to own a crossover SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Subaru Impreza 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$143/mo  for Impreza Base

　　Impreza Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M) - $18,695 MSRP4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M) - $19,195 MSRP4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $19,995 MSRP4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $20,495 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,095 MSRPPremium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,595 MSRPSport 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M) - $22,895 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,495 MSRPSport 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,995 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,795 MSRPLimited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,295 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　That said, the basic package of the 2020 Impreza is still the same. That means most of our praises and complaints about the 2019 model carry over to 2020. The engine is noisy and still feels underpowered for the class, and the lackluster real-world fuel economy makes it worse. The quality of the interior also comes across as a little low buck, especially compared to some of the newer competitors.

　　Do some test drives and you'll likely find rivals such as the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra more well-rounded. But that's not to say we don't like this Subaru. It's comfortable and roomy and comes with lots of advanced driver safety aids. Add in the standard all-wheel drive and you've got a pretty compelling small car, especially if you frequently drive in poor weather.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Impreza drive? The weak engine is one of the Impreza's biggest failings. Its 0-60 mph time of 9.4 seconds is near the bottom of the class, and the transmission can exacerbate the engine's buzzy and relatively unresponsive nature. Passing on the highway or merging into traffic requires more time and planning than it should.

　　It's not all bad news. The brakes are firm and easy to modulate, meaning you can bring the car to a smooth stop with ease. The steering is quick and responsive without feeling unsettled, and it's sportier relative to the steering in most competitors. Body roll is well controlled, and standard all-wheel drive helps the Impreza feel more sure-footed than some other small sedans.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Impreza? With a relatively quiet and smooth ride, the Impreza is a breeze to drive on the highway. It's comfortable and compliant without feeling too soft or floaty. There's no wind noise, but the CVT does result in some unpleasant whine. The seats are comfortable and well bolstered even if they are a bit on the firm side for long road trips. The rear seats are flat but comfortable.

　　The available automatic climate control is easy to operate, but the vents are ill-placed. A couple of the main air vents are right next to the steering wheel, right where you would grip, unfortunately cooling your fingers quicker than the cabin.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Impreza's interior is definitely functional. The controls are clear and easy to use, and the secondary screen on the top of the dash is more useful than it may seem at first.

　　The Impreza is easy to see out of, especially in hatchback form. There's plenty of room for passengers, though those over 6 feet tall might find the rear seats a little tight. The large door openings make it easy to get in and out. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes, offering plenty of adjustment for drivers of any size or shape.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The touchscreen is laid out much like a smartphone homescreen. It's familiar, easy to see and understand, and responsive to touch inputs. The navigation command structure is simple, and finding points of interest is easy. But the stereo's speaker quality and max volume could be better.

　　The EyeSight system's adaptive cruise control works well. It maintains a proper distance and doesn't slam on the brakes when you get cut off or follow too far behind. The lane keeping assist system also works well.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Between the two available Impreza bodies — sedan and hatchback — we'd recommend the hatch. The sedan has limited trunk space compared to class leaders such as the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3. Storage for small items is fine, but some competitors do better. There are plenty of cupholders, all capable of fitting a standard water bottle or soda can.

　　Child seat accommodation is excellent. The latches are easy to access, and you'll find three anchor points behind the rear seat. The roomy interior means there's a good amount of room for bulky rear-facing child seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Impreza sedan with the CVT automatic, its most fuel-efficient configuration, will get 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's right on target for the segment's top competitors. But real-world fuel economy is disappointing; our test Impreza struggled to yield even 28 mpg.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Impreza a good value? At base trim levels, the Impreza is a good way to get all-wheel drive without a big price premium. But as you move up the trim-level ladder, the rising cost makes the Subaru a less compelling offering. The interior isn't as nice as what you'll find in some other small sedans, and no features help the Impreza out in the class.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　Being one of the few cars in the class with all-wheel drive is certainly a plus. But the lackluster engine reduces desirability. The Impreza is simply too slow compared to some rivals. It's a good car but lacks the desirability of the class leaders.

　　

Which Impreza does zzdcar recommend?

The Impreza in Base trim is pretty spartan and lacks a lot of features most people have come to expect. We recommend stepping up to the Premium trim. The extra money gets you features such as heated seats, an extra USB port and a better audio system. Some other little things, such as the Premium's extra sound insulation, painted exterior trim and alloy wheels, help make it feel like far less of a budget model.

　　

2020 Subaru Impreza models

Like many compacts, the 2020 Subaru Impreza is available as a sedan or a four-door hatchback. Features on the four trims are roughly identical for both body styles. The trims — base, Premium, Sport and Limited — are all powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft) and pack all-wheel drive. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic.

　　As the name suggests, the base model is sparsely equipped. Highlights include keyless entry, a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, and a single USB port up front. The Premium counts alloy wheels, heated seats, an extra USB port and an upgraded audio system among its additions. Hatchbacks get roof rails and a cargo cover.

　　Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver aids is available on the base Impreza and standard on the Premium and above. It includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, automatic reverse braking, and lane departure warning and mitigation.

　　Upgrading to the Sport primarily gets you larger wheels, sporty suspension tuning, and a larger touchscreen. Some unique visual touches also give it a little more flair. The Limited keeps some of the Sport's feature upgrades and adds LED headlights, leather upholstery, and automatic climate control among other features.

　　

2020 Impreza Highlights

Type: HatchbackSedanHatchback

　　Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedBase

　　

Base MSRP	$19,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$140/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles