2008 Subaru Impreza Review
- 88,449 milesTitle issue reported, 2 Owners, Personal use4cyl AutomaticReineke Honda (80 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Findlay, OH
2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Satin White Pearl **LOCAL TRADE**, NO ACCIDENT AUTOCHECK, NO ACCIDENT. 20/27 City/Highway MPGAWDGet your Key from Reineke!
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Title issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GE61658H528996
Stock: HC240463A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-05-2024 - 205,399 miles3 Accidents, 2 Owners, Personal use only4cyl AutomaticRoyal Family Motors (95 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in North Canton, OH
This unit is available at Royal Family Motors in Canton 2**-2**-2***
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GH63688H837771
Stock: 4074
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 10-28-2023 - $11,063fair price$366 below market134,061 milesNo accidents, 4 Owners, Personal use only4cyl ManualMarshall Dry Ridge Toyota (133 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Auto Climate Control
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
Close
Located in Dry Ridge, KY
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GH74648G810500
Stock: 16680B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 11-09-2022 - $6,995fair price$207 below market138,601 milesNo accidents, 5 Owners, Personal use only4cyl AutomaticMain Street Pre-Owned Autos (138 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Mannington, WV
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GH61648H829217
Stock: 829217
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-14-2024 - $4,959fair price$244 below market164,480 miles1 Accident, 2 Owners, Personal use4cyl AutomaticMike Anderson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (152 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Marion, IN
Recent Arrival! Climate Package, Clean Local Trade, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD player, Power windows, Remote keyless entry.Newport Blue Pearl 200...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GE61668H512905
Stock: P9221A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-08-2024 - $5,500good price$383 below market145,000 milesNo accidents, 1 Owner, Personal use only4cyl AutomaticCompact Cars of Pittsburgh (153 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
Excellent body. Clean interior. 1 owner. In way above average condition. Warranties available
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GE61628H511167
Stock: 511167
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-10-2024 - 18,000 milesInsurance loss reported, 2 Owners, Personal use only4cyl AutomaticHuffmans Auto Sales (178 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Mount Pleasant, PA
S Salvage Certificate, A Actual Mileage, RS Right Side, RD Runs and Drives on Lot
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Title issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GH61648H804110
Stock: 32688
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-18-2023 - $20,991good price$915 below market42,404 milesNo accidents, 4 Owners, Personal use only4cyl ManualMidwest Motors (183 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Upgraded Headlights
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Auto Climate Control
- Alarm
Close
Located in Indianapolis, IN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
19 Combined MPG (17 City/23 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GR89638L825959
Stock: 825959
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-22-2023 - 234,516 miles1 Accident, 3 Owners, Personal use only4cyl ManualMidwest Motors (183 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Auto Climate Control
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
Close
Located in Indianapolis, IN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1GH75618G806984
Stock: 806984
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-29-2024
Edmunds' Expert Review
Pros
- Standard all-wheel drive, WRX and WRX STI's punchy turbocharged engines, roomy seating in front and rear.
Cons
- Missing some higher-end convenience features, behind-the-times transmissions, below-average fuel economy, sleepy styling except for extroverted STI.
What’s new
The 2008 Subaru Impreza has been completely redesigned. Roomier and more refined on the inside, the restyled Impreza is meant to appeal to a more mainstream audience. Sedan and hatchback body styles are again available, as are the turbocharged WRX and ultra-high-performance WRX STI.
Edmunds says
Apart from the boisterous WRX STI, the finger-in-the-air attitude is gone, replaced by a 2008 Subaru Impreza trying to put its finger on the pulse of the mainstream market.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 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 $3.52 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Vehicle overview
In the 1990s, not too many Americans paid attention to the Subaru Impreza unless they followed the World Rally Championship or had Gran Turismo loaded in their Sony PlayStations. But that all changed with the release of the U.S.-spec 2002 WRX. Here was an all-wheel-drive sedan or wagon with sport coupe-slaying performance, a budget-friendly price and plenty of aftermarket tuning potential. Japanese performance car enthusiasts rejoiced.
Now, six years later, the fully redesigned 2008 Subaru Impreza has arrived. One would think it's time for those Subie fans to hire a DJ, blow up "Rex!" balloons and get out the chips and dip. But one might be wrong. For the third-generation North American Impreza, Subaru corporate has a slightly different plan -- an Impreza for the masses.
Not surprisingly, the 2008 Impreza is bigger. The wheelbase has been extended almost 4 inches for both the sedan and hatchback body styles to increase rear seat legroom. There's also more interior width for passengers and, thanks to a switch to a compact double-wishbone rear suspension design, a wider cargo space.
Subaru has also upped the quality of the interior design and materials, made changes to reduce wind noise, improved the ride quality and added new features like a navigation system. All well and good, we say. A more controversial aspect, however, is the car's exterior styling. Not because the new Impreza looks bad in a Pontiac Aztek sort of way, but because it doesn't look like, well, a Subaru. The slightly goofy but possibly endearing style of the previous Impreza (including all three of its fascias) has been replaced by a sanitized-for-your-protection front end and an uninspiring profile.
Underneath the new skin is some familiar hardware. Once again, the all-wheel-drive Impreza has a horizontally opposed 2.5-liter engine that's normally aspirated in 2.5i trim levels and turbocharged in WRX and WRX STI models. Slight adjustments were made to improve power delivery, but apart from the STI (which gained 12 horsepower) overall horsepower and torque specs are pretty much the same. Subaru has also largely carried over the previous six-speed manual, five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions. With just four cogs to work with, the automatic tranny lags behind a few rivals that offer five or even six speeds.
In most respects, the 2008 Subaru Impreza is a better car. It's more accessible, refined and comfortable, just like Subaru wanted. But except for the brash STI version, lost in the transformation was the Impreza's spunky personality. And without personality, the Impreza must fight fair against cars like the Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Mitsubishi Lancer and Volkswagen Jetta, as well as against their associated performance variants. And in this situation -- again with the exception of the WRX STI -- the sleepy styling, behind-the-times automatic transmission and lack of high-tech features (such as Bluetooth, keyless ignition and a hard-drive-based navigation system) are significant detriments, especially for a redesigned model.
Performance & mpg
Impreza 2.5i and Outback Sport models have a horizontally opposed 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It's rated at 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. Impreza WRX models receive a turbocharged version of that engine, which produces 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque. The WRX STI ups output to 305 hp and 290 lb-ft. All engines send their power to all four wheels. Transmission choices for all but the STI are a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic with manual shift control. The STI comes with a six-speed manual only.
In testing, we timed a five-speed WRX hatchback at 5.9 seconds to 60 mph and 14.5 seconds in the quarter-mile. The WRX STI is quicker still, hitting 60 in just 4.8 seconds and breaking through the quarter in 13.3 ticks.
EPA fuel economy for 2008 is 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway for 2.5i and Outback Sport models, 20/25 mpg for the WRX and 17/23 for the WRX STI. These ratings are below average for the compact class.
Safety
Standard safety features on the Impreza include antilock brakes and side curtain airbags. Base 2.5i models have rear drum brakes. Getting a 2.5i with the Premium package is a wise idea as it adds rear disc brakes, the Brake Assist (BA) feature for the antilock brakes, stability control and a hill-holder function for manual transmission-equipped cars. These upgrades come standard on the Outback Sport, WRX and WRX STI. The 2.5i models also have active front head restraints to help reduce crash-induced whiplash.
Driving
The previous Impreza made up for much of its faults by being quite fun to drive, especially in WRX form. But where the old car was tossable, the new Impreza WRX feels soft. Standard skid pad, slalom and braking measurements are about the same, but the feel of the car through the steering and the way the car responds during cornering is noticeably less inspiring. When accelerating, the WRX's engine has impressive boost response and midrange punch, but it runs out of steam fairly early. We recommend that enthusiast-oriented drivers choose the manual transmission -- acceleration is sluggish with the four-speed automatic.
The WRX STI, on the other hand, gives enthusiasts exactly what they want -- a firm, communicative suspension, quick steering response, powerful brakes and a potent rush of acceleration whenever the throttle is tickled. Though the standard WRX may have gotten too mainstream for its hard-core fans, those Subie zealots would be hard-pressed to find fault with the new STI.
Interior
The most obvious changes for the 2008 Subaru Impreza can be found here. The big payoff for the longer wheelbase comes in the rear seat, where legroom is improved. Larger door openings and rear doors that open to 75 degrees also add to the new Subie's usability. The doors also have framed side windows -- a first for the Impreza and a rarity among Subarus -- that help quiet the interior. A new double-wishbone suspension affords a wider cargo area; a 60/40-split-folding rear seat comes in both the sedan and four-door hatch. Overall interior material quality is a big improvement over the previous car, and as such the Impreza looks and feels more grown-up than ever before.
2008 Subaru Impreza models
The 2008 Subaru Impreza is available as a compact sedan or four-door hatchback. There are four main trim levels: 2.5i, Outback Sport, WRX and WRX STI.
Base 2.5i models come with 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a CD/MP3 player, cruise control, tilt steering and full power accessories. Opting for a 2.5i model fitted with the Premium Package is a good idea. This gets you alloy wheels, an upgraded audio system with an auxiliary jack and steering-wheel-mounted controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and extra safety equipment. It's also the only way to get the optional satellite radio and navigation system. The specialized Subaru Impreza Outback Sport comes in the hatchback body style only. It features much of the 2.5i Premium package model's equipment, plus a raised suspension for extra ground clearance, 17-inch wheels, a two-tone exterior, heated outside mirrors, heated front seats, unique cloth upholstery and a windshield de-icer.
The Impreza WRX has the 2.5i's equipment plus a more powerful engine, 17-inch alloys, a sport-tuned suspension, sport front seats, automatic climate control, electroluminescent gauges and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.
There's also a premium package for the WRX. It adds exterior aero trim pieces, the upgraded audio system and the Outback Sport's cold-weather-beating features. Satellite radio and the navigation system are also available on the WRX, but not on the Outback Sport.
The WRX STI ups the ante with even more power, unique body styling, upgraded suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, a CD changer, aggressive sport seats and Alcantara upholstery. The STI also includes SI-drive, a three-mode setup for the engine and electronic throttle maps. Optional for the WRX STI is a pair of packages. The BBS Package adds BBS wheels and foglights while the BBS and Navigation Package includes the former items plus a navigation system (which replaces the CD changer with a single-CD player), a trip computer and Bluetooth connectivity.
See Edmunds pricing data
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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Subaru Impreza from 2008-2022.for Average Compact Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).for Average Compact Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).for Average Compact Car
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2008 Subaru Impreza.
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3rd Subie
Surprisingly fun
Not a WRX, but still love it
10 Years of Ownership
2008 Impreza Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $17,495 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $190/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 19.0 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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