Search

Subaru Impreza road tests and consumer car reviews

Subaru Impreza

4 stars - average customer rating
Read all 9 reviews
Have your say!
Recent responses | Recent questions | Recent answers
Contract hire and leasing prices

The Subaru Impreza has everything you could want from a compact family sized car; with symmetrical all-wheel drive and Subaru boxer engine, the Impreza delivers stunning performance and handling. The sporty exterior and flexible interior with 60/40 split fold down seating offers good looks and spacious comfort for you and your passengers, with plenty of space for all their luggage.

Subaru Impreza consumer reviews by year of make:   1998  2005  2008  2009  2010 

What Do You Say...?

Subaru Impreza consumer car reviews

Alberto R Vázquez, Spain

Subaru Impreza diesel 2010

4 star review

My wife and I bought this car last year. We love cars, and we wanted something a bit different from the usual, with good handling. We got the diesel and I have to tell you it was a great choice. In spite of the weather you know this car sticks to the tarmac. The engine is efficient, refined and it’s got some sporty feeling though it’s a diesel; it revs fine. Sometimes you may think this is a V6 the smoothness is so great. Take into account that this engine is not isolated in a bubble like other diesels, and it is still is very quiet. The dashboard probably doesn’t feel as well finished as those found in European cars, but everything is well put together and you know it is going to be like that for a while, with reliability being a strong point in Subaru.

Submitted: 09/11/2011 09:59:54 | ID: 8554

Respond to this review | Have your say

Martin Heidenreich, Australia

Subaru Impreza WRX sedan 2010

4 star review

I recently bought the 2010 WRX sedan version after having owned and loved the 1997 model, and find it quite a different machine. The striking differences are the extra power and reduced turbo lag - other than that, the handling was the same - still magnificent. The pickup is really funny actually, the time spend in first gear is so short its almost unusable - hilarious zipping around ensues. The dash visuals are also brilliant, love the red glow. The dash plastic is horrid though, its just a big lump of plastic and mine has since developed two vibration rattles. Fortunately Subaru offer a 1-year rattle fix guarantee, so I got the first one fixed perfectly for free - the second, new one is very rare and I can live with it. But, the build quality dash on the older version was much nicer. The steering wheel is also quite low and forces me to sit with it between my legs like a go-kart, tall people should test drive this properly first! As for the appearance, I like the more spacey look as opposed to the previous model’s aggressive style which didn’t really suit me. Hate the tail lights and rear spoiler though.

Submitted: 16/05/2011 13:19:04 | ID: 7730

Respond to this review | Have your say

Amanda Thornton, England

Subaru Impreza Diesel RC spec 2010

5 star review

Recently bought a 2010 Impreza diesel - RC spec. I’ve had an old petrol Impreza and a WRX before and loved them both but fuel consumption and insurance on the WRX meant high running costs - awesome to drive though! I ended up buying a Toyota RAV as a "practical, economical" car with 4WD but in spite of the fact that they get decent reviews I hated it. About as exciting to drive a sliced, white bread and 3 mths after 3 year warranty expired it developed an engine fault which Toyota couldn’t identify but may have been the catalytic converter. I had clear criteria for the replacement - 4WD or AWD to cope with muddy fields and snow, reliable. not too large, cheap to insure, tax and fuel and fun to drive. Extensive research kept bringing me back to Subaru and the diesel Impreza ticked all the boxes. The expert reviews I’ve read mainly say great car, great engine and handling but some query the premium compared to other diesel hatchbacks such as Golf and Ford and wonder is it worth it for AWD? Well trust me if you like driving and appreciate how a car handles then it’s worth every penny extra. Love it.

Submitted: 24/02/2011 11:49:34 | ID: 7197

Respond to this review | Have your say

Adrian Baker, Hampshire

Subaru Impreza wrx turbo 2009

4 star review

Went into dealer originally to buy the new diesel version but as grunt did not match looks tried turbo petrol wrx, made me realize what I had been missing in my driving. Besides effortless power what struck me most was the wonderfully absorbent suspension, uncanny stability and engine smoothness. Running costs higher than my old Octavia Vrs diesel but insurance only slightly higher at around £300 and fuel consumption around 30 most of the time. Being wider and with a longer wheelbase than the Skoda interior has useful volume. Seats v.good but dash could have been designed more attractively though the big central rev-counter maintains the performance image. Car relatively cheap to buy but first drive leaves you in no doubt where the money has gone- the wonderful engine and drivetrain.

Submitted: 07/01/2011 21:14:34 | ID: 6798

Respond to this review | Have your say

Jon de Quincy Walker, Shropshire

Subaru Impreza 2.0 t sl saloon prodrive 2005

1 star review

I’m really angry with Subaru GB, went over to brand new wrx in world rally blue 2.0 via Oaken Garage Subaru nr Wolverhampton. Poor preperation felt like carpet that mats are stuck to, paint finish/alloys poor, carefully driven 8k miles then like tin can, excessive engine harshness, noisey top end, infact full engine knocking; Oaken not helpfull at all. Chopped it for brand new wrx sl 4 dr prodrive Hylton Subaru, Shrewsbury; this silver car was suposed to a top spec UK car. Well, box out, clutch replaced, more suspicion Hylton had employed some clown to hand brush, rather slap on, black underseal even clutch slave cylinder Knackered, what new car 1000 miles running in? No. Beware, Hylton failed to pay finance on dy04 udg part ex altering plate to pass hpi, in effect stole it no less, then inflated new wrx sl up to 28000 UK. No way says me so cancelled agreement with capital bank, formally International Motors Finance, Chester. The car was recalled by dvla as suspicious, imported or repaired stolen/recovered wreck refinished, God knows who had s111jdw but I can only pray Subaru looked after them as failed us totally, hence litagation being served on Subaru GB and its 2 main dodgy dealers. BEWARE, BE WARNED, AVOID THEM.

Submitted: 09/05/2010 20:56:15 | ID: 5185

Respond to this review | Have your say

Shadi Moqadam, Saudi Arabia

Subaru Impreza wrx 5 doors 2008

5 star review

This car is amazing to drive, good quality and the handling is perfect. A lot of  performance parts make the car monster, the ride comfort has improved from the last model, the interior is better and for the price you have much more in this car than any of its rivals :)

Submitted: 02/05/2010 22:19:42 | ID: 5141

Respond to this review | Have your say

Stuart McGregor, Clackmannanshire

Subaru Impreza wrx sti 1998

4 star review

Great car overall, good build quality although can be expensive for parts and needs regular services at least twice a year, but from tarmac to gravel handeling is superb with performance to match(280bhp) makes this an amazing car and looks great. Insurance can be expensive at group 18 for sti version but well worth it.

Submitted: 04/02/2010 21:15:54 | ID: 4544

Respond to this review | Have your say

Kevin Price, Essex

Subaru Impreza

4 star review

I bought this car nearly new as an alternative saloon. Excellent handling & driving. Performance of the WRX is great.

Submitted: 29/10/2007 09:55:14 | ID: 425

Respond to this review | Have your say

Andy Barnet, Huntingdonshire

Subaru Impreza 1.5 RX 5dr Hatchback

3 star review

Nice spec on this car and at a good price. The handling is nice and the drive comfortable but beware this car is VERY thirsty so if you’re looking for car that’s cheap to run then this is not the car for you.

Submitted: 26/10/2007 20:43:52 | ID: 389

Respond to this review | Have your say

  Available on the App Store

Read real opinions: Thousands of consumer reviews on all major car and van models.
Make your voice heard: Submit your own consumer review about the car or van you drive.
Learn more

 Road Test Reports App screenshots

Submit your own review

Lease Buy

* Required

^ Back to Top

How does it compare?

Ford Focus

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 94 reviews )

Volkswagen Golf

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 68 reviews )


Nissan Qashqai

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 58 reviews )

Citroen C4

3 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 51 reviews )


BMW 1-Series

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 50 reviews )

Renault Megane Hatch

3 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 43 reviews )


Fiat Punto

3 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 42 reviews )

Honda Civic

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 37 reviews )


Hyundai i30

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 36 reviews )

Vauxhall Astra 5-Door Hatch

3 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 35 reviews )


More Subaru road tests

Latest Small Family Cars road tests