Subaru Impreza

The Impreza is Subaru's long-running small sedan and hatchback, serving for years as the Japanese automaker's smallest and most affordable model. The current-generation Impreza made its debut in 2017, and while that doesn't seem all that long ago, Subaru has updated most of its other models since 2017, including

For 2022, the Impreza is essentially unchanged, though we predict a full Impreza redesign next year. However, if you need a compact sedan or hatchback with all-wheel drive before the all-new model arrives, we think the Impreza is a smart option. You might also check out the Mazda 3 or the Nissan Sentra. Explore all the details on the Impreza in our Expert Rating below.

Which Impreza does MatoCar recommend?

While the base Impreza is relatively well equipped, the Premium trim adds several desirable features, including heated front seats and Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver safety aids, without a substantial price increase.

The 2022 Subaru Impreza is available as a sedan or a four-door hatchback. Features are generally the same for both body styles. The four trims available are the base, Premium, Sport and Limited. For 2022, the Limited trim level is only available in the four-door hatchback body style.

Base The Impreza starts out with:

2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft)
Five-speed manual transmission or continuously variable automatic (CVT)
All-wheel drive
16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers
Cruise control
Cloth upholstery
Power windows and door locks
6.5-inch touchscreen
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility
Four-speaker stereo with a single USB port
60/40-split fold-down rear seat

Premium Has some more desirable equipment such as:

Selectable drive modes (Subaru's SI-Drive; adjusts throttle response and powertrain characteristics)
16-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlights
Foglights
Roof rails
Upgraded suspension for more stable handling
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (for CVT models)
Heated front seats
An extra USB port
Six-speaker stereo with single CD player

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 (maintains a driver-set distance between the Subaru and the car in front)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Impreza back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Sport Gets you a sportier take on the Impreza with:

18-inch alloy wheels with wider tires
Sport tuning for the suspension and all-wheel-drive system
Keyless entry and push-button start
Upgraded interior trim
Short-throw shifter (manual-transmission models only)
8-inch touchscreen

Limited Only available as a hatchback, the top-line Limited adds:

Standard CVT
LED headlights
Automatic climate control
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Automatic climate control
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

Premium and Sport trims are also available with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and a sunroof. Sport and Limited models have the option of a sunroof and a Harman Kardon audio system that includes a navigation system.