Used 2012 Subaru Impreza Consumer Reviews
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Horrible gas mileage!!
I bought the 2012 Impreza hatchback in January 2012. I've had the car for 4 months now, drivin it 4000 miles, and has not gotten ANYWHERE near the bosted gas mileage they said. The only reason I bought this vehicle was becuase they stated that gas mileage was suppose to get 27-30 city and 35-40 highway. In all reality...it gets 18-22 city and 27-30 highway. So, if anyone is going to buy this for the advertised mileage, don't do it!! I also don't like the fact that the heated seats don't stay on. It turns on and off periodically.
Just Delighted!
Just ooh delivery of my Impreza Sport Limited. I've been a diehard stick-shift driver, but have found the CVT really zippy and fun to drive. I commute 50 miles in each direction, nearly all highway. Out of the box, I've consistently been getting an average 37-38 MPG. Sometimes the average momentarily settles over 40! Inside finishes are great. My only complaint is that road noise is noticeable. Extremely happy with my purchase. SO glad I didn't get an prius!
- 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,995102 mi away
- 2.0i SedanMSRP: $6,495102 mi away
- WRX SedanMSRP: $12,995109 mi away
Caveat Subaru
First tank: 17mpg, second tank: 22mpg. Third tank ave 24.3 so far. Mileage 600 ish with 65% city and 35% highway. Hoping for higher. Tire noise quite loud. Doors very thin and light. Long shift delay from reverse to drive when cold, puts passengers at risk. Subaru says its normal essentially placing blame with owner. Tilts in crosswinds at 65mph. Leans too much in corners, but still feels predictable. Overall handling is good. Ride is supple. Brakes feel mushy but work fine. Steering is too heavy at all speeds. Paddle shifting with CVT works well.
2012 So Far So Good
I've had the Impreza for about 5 weeks now and I don't have any complaints (except for the cheap vinyl on the sun visors). For the price, it meets my expectations. This car replaces our older 00 Legacy GT Ltd. It is light and nimble. We also tested in comparison: Volvo S60 T6; Audi A4 Avant; Toyota Venza; Ford Edge SEL; Kia Optima, Sportage, Sorento. My wife decided to choose the car on a pre-order sight unseen as she is happy with her decision. We could easily afford more car, but she is very satisfied with the new Impreza.
2012 Subaru Impreza - Premium - 4 door
First of all - let me say that when we went looking for a new car we looked at everything in this car's price range. The Subaru ( imho) provides the best value for the dollar and does everything we want it to do. Great power, good fuel economy ( 34 mpg on first tank ) and seems built like a little tank. Easy to get in and out of - huge trunk - great visibility - and all weather dependability. Our car has the CVT and we find it very smooth - the car has done nothing wrong since we bought it - zero defects and looks good sitting in the garage. We're very satisfied !!!!!!!
I love my Impreza!!!!!
For years I've been driving Toyota's. When it came time for me to buy a new car though, I wanted something different. I found the different in a brand new 2012 Subaru Impreza Premium. So far, it is AMAZING!!!! I've never been excited about a car, but this I'm pinching myself going, "Hey, this really is your car....this isn't a dream." I realize that I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but I do plan to update this review in time to point out any problems or issues I've come across.
First Subaru
This is my very first Subaru, and I was a bit hesitant since all I've owned were Hondas and toyotas. But I have to say, I'm impressed with my purchase thus far. This car feels very safe and is a great value for an awd. Fuel efficiency is good, getting on average 29 mpg mostly highway. Not anywhere near the EPA ratings at the dealer, but i anticipate it to improve as its broken in more as I just have 3000 miles (5000 km). Seats are nice and supportive, better than our previous civic which constantly gave me back pains. Styling at the front is kinda boring looking, but the rear looks real sporty. As for acceleration, I won't be in any street races, that's for sure.
Constantly Amazed With This Car
I have 4300 miles on my 2012 Limited Sedan and I could not be happier. I read some of the bad reviews and don't understand how anyone could give this car a bad review. It was very inexpensive and I am amazed by the overall experience. It rides great, handles very well, looks good, has many great features, performs well for it's class, and returns excellent gas mileage. And let's not forget the AWD. Really folks, this is not a $60,000 premium sedan. It is however, an excellent car for a very reasonable price. I consistently get between 33 and 35 miles to the gallon with a mix of highway and country road driving. Buy this car before Subaru realizes they priced it too low!!!
Love my Impreza Sport Limited Hatchback w/Nav and Moonroof
Ordered the Sport Limited 5dr with Nav and Moonroof back in March 2012. It arrived in June 2012. Using it as my daily commuter driving 80 - 100 miles roundtrip. I am averaging anywhere from 30 - 32 mpg in mixed driving at rush hour. We actually love the Nav system and it did take a bit of getting used to. (300+ page manual - just for Nav alone - separate manual for the rest of the car!) Enjoy the SiriusXM and HD Radio. Heater / AC work well. Driven over 7,000 miles so far.
Awesome car, love it!
I've had the car for 2 weeks, I've got just under 1k miles on it. The bluetooth connection is easy to use with my phone. It passed the "mom" test - she can never understand me on regular headsets, even jawbone. She said I was loud and clear in the car. The front seats are really comfortable, I love the shape of the seat back and the adjustable headrest. Most car seats give me headaches because they dish back for the shoulders and the headrest pushes forward giving me bad posture. This is the first one in a long time that fits me. My husband has plenty room and is comfortable too and he's a big guy. I'm averaging 33mpg as i expected, same I was getting with my civic ex.
Not What I expected in a Subaru
Updated, I've now had my car for 8 years. Had 3 recalls, the car is noisy when driving on the highway, the ac in summer barely keeps up to the heat, my drivers seat developed a pretty large tear in one area at 60,000 miles The paint has not held up good This year so far there was a huge problem with transmission, luckily it was covered until 150,000 miles, shortly after that the valve cover gaskets started leaking into the spark plugs, another 1,000.00.. My drivers seat has a huge rip in it, looking through other reviews it is common... Also be careful on your oil, it seems these little engines run hot and oil burns .. always down a quart or 2 between oil changes...
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"WOW" Move over Honda, Nissan and Toyota
First of all , its "ALL WHEEL DRIVE" a no brainer for winter driving as well as wet weather handeling (it rains just about everywhere) The build quality is top notch and I've owned Nissans, Honda and many Toyotas. Whe you drive you feel safe. The car feels lke it's heaver than it looks and it handels like a dream. Sure it could use just a little bit more powert but it's perfect for you average driver. Gas mileage is outstanding and the car rides smooth and quiet. It's a value being all wheel drive, its economical and well built and you see and feel the quality all around. Buy it and see for yourself and belive me you won't be dissapointed. Test drive it and you'll be impressed
Best car I have ever owned!
2012 WRX hatchback.....SWEET RIDE!! Handles great in all conditions and is a blast to drive.
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My second.
On my second STI, but this review is essentially for both. My current STI is a ‘15. I find the newer and current sti to be more comfortable than my limited. Also the cabin noise is also reduced. In the newer models also, more “bells and whistles” are included. I found the newer handling to be tighter, but the old handling to be more responsive. I have owned 30k Acura’s and BMW. The awd, don’t get me wrong. Anyone who plows through snow in one of these will tell you “what snow”. They are built for bad weather. I mean, they are rally cars by design. You pay for “performance”. Even the “perks” are built around said performance. Interior, for 30k, just feels cheap. Stereo, everything, just feels cheap. I know it’s not the point. You’re not buying that for that. Enthusiasts will say “you’re not buying it for that and if you are, you’re missing the point”. Listen, I’ve owned 10 subies. They are reliable and can have them fixed no matter how “fancy” they are, by any good mechanic. Plus they resale is great because they are such a fun car to drive. To each their own I guess.
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A Sweet Ride
Our basic 2012 Subaru Impreza has served us faithfully since we got it in 2017. Engine is strong enough but not overly strong. Fuel economy OK. Kind of a noisy interior. Good manual transmission, steering, brakes, HVAC, no leaks in the rain. It does lack the latest electronic features. After all it is now a 13 year old car with 111,000 miles on it. I love driving this car and the dealer service I get Liberty Subaru in Oradell is as good as the car.
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Major Things Great, Some Minor Things Not, OUTRAGEOUS SOUND SYSTEM RESTRICTIONS
A very different kind of car to drive, esp with the CVT. But once you get used to it, you can make it do whatever you want, with your foot, or the shifter paddles on the steering wheel. There are some ergonomics and tire/wind/vent noise problems, though. And-ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE-YOU CANNOT USE THE TONE CONTROLS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING, nor turn on/off HD radio, nor use speed dial presets. When did Subaru replace the legislatures in this country? Meanwhile, the poorly placed front cup holders are far more dangerous. Subaru's answer to that? Manual pg. 6-6: Don't use them when the car is moving! Inconsistent, self-serving, outrageous.
New WRX Was Worth the Wait
I just picked up my 2012 WRX premium 4 door sedan last week. So far, the car exceeds my expectations. I've wanted a WRX since they came out in 2002, and this one was worth the wait. The updates and body style changes in 2011 are outstanding. My car is dark grey metallic color with black cloth interior and gunmetal grey wheels. The car looks aggressive, tough, and almost sinister. Parked next to a 2012 Impreza (non WRX), the Impreza looks as exciting as a rocking chair.
Beware of 2012 Impreza 2.0i (Base) CVT
PLEASE BE AWARE -- The CVT Automatic transmission in the Impreza 2.0i base model is NOT the same as that available in the rest of the line. It does NOT have the up/down shift function on the steering wheel. Even though it lists this version of the transmission as "CVT Auto Transmission with Manual Shift" on the order form and on the window sticker -- there is nothing "manual" about it. DO NOT BE FOOLED INTO ORDERING THIS LIKE I DID. (No 2012 Imprezas were available for test driving at the time.) There is still nothing that notes this in ANY of Subaru's online website nor in any independent review that I can find.
2012 Subaru Impressa
This is a very reliable and likable car. One owner, regular maintenance, mostly freeway driving. Looks fine. Never been in the shop for unscheduled maintenance.
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Impreza's Don't Properly Represent Subaru
The Outback and the Forester blow away the build quality of the Impreza in my opinion, unfortunately it rides on the coat tails of the entire fleet as far as ratings and resale value go...
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Oil consumption - piece of junk! BEWARE
I purchased this car new and it was never abused. This is my first Subaru and the awd was appealing. This car is Very disappointing! Around 14k miles the car started burning approx 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Subaru said this is normal! I think the new 2.0 engine has problems. The car also sounded like it had a bad wheel bearing, the dealer said the sound is the cvt transmission and again normal. The stereo system is horrible! The build quality is really bad and at 19k miles the car is rattling and gas mileage dropped to 26 mpg. Don't make the same mistake I made, buy a Honda or Toyota and stay away from Subaru!
Don't believe the EPA ratings
I totaled a 2010 Yaris in a rainstorm in early June. It's EPA ratings were 28/35. I was looking to find a car with similar ratings, but also wanted a little better styling. I drove a Civic, Accord, and the Impreza. I liked the feel of the Impreza and assumed the EPA sticker (28/36) would lead me to a overall better car. I drive very conservatively and my Yaris gave me 36-38 mpg everywhere. I have driven my Impreza the same and the best I have yet to yield is 28.6. I have 2800 miles on the car so far. The dealership claims it gets better after 4-5k miles. I doubt it. I feel the EPA stickers on these cars should be lowered in order to not mislead consumers looking for a certain fuel economy.
Very happy owner !!!!!
I've only have had this car two weeks and so far its great.My first tank I drove 450 mi. mixed cuty/highway.That came out to 31.1 mpg huge diffrence from my 08 Buick at 17 mpg.
Great Car
I travel a lot for work and I try pretty much every model in this segment. I was given the chance to drive the older model of the Impreza and I like the car capability but not the interior. At 6'2'' the new version is way better then the old one. It more refine and controls are well position. I was looking for a fun car to drive that I could rely on for the winter (+ top safety pick). I did a test drive in a middle of a winter storm and it was impressive. The car visibility is great and the car stick to the road like glue even under very strong winds. Great car recommend it to everyone.
Blue tooth
car is great over all Handling, ease of driving, sure footed on wet roads The big problem in Imressa I own has been a defective blue tooth system The factory does not own up to problem after 7 Times of leaving car for Enginering to inspect Dealer confirms the problems over and over Factory gives every excuse put can not fix And will not replace with new car great car good dealer bad factory support
2012 Impreza 2.0i Premium CVT
I have had the vehicle for 4 months and love the gas mileage. It is way above the rated 27 city / 36 highway. i am averaging 34.8 city and 45.4 highway. The back seat is roomier than the 2008 outback we have. Really enjoy the iPod hook-up, no need for CD's anymore, I have all music, Pod cast and books at my fingertips. The only really negative I could find for the short time I have had the vehicle, is the truck space.
Enjoying my Impreza Sport
15 Monthes and 23,000 miles of ownership and no issues. MPG has slowly increased to now over 37mpg on highway trips. Cold weather and short trips do greatly reduce MPG. Have used it for 300+ mile trips wth 2 adults and 3 kids. Back seat is roomy and comfortable for 3 despite the small size.
Great AWD Hatchback!
This is a great all-wheel drive hatchback! I would recommend it to anyone who has to drive in the snow, this is built for snow, cold and ice. I have a manual and my winter driving conditions are very harsh so my MPG is not that great. Still better than SUV's so I'm not complaining. Engine has started beautifully in many days below 0, even in the -20's! Great cargo space, roof rails roof rails are nice.
"MONSTA
It seems that if your a female and looking to buy this car from a dealer they assume that you dont know what you want nor can you handled driving a manual - I finally took along a male to just be my back up.... I love this car and the power and fun driving it provides - I am in total driving Heaven!
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Subaru unreliable
Corrosion of steering gear 2012 impreza with 110000 kil
Buyer beware
We bought a used one with 110k on it. Smooth runner, great gas mileage. Good visibility for a short daughter. Fast forward 30k miles. Lots of fancy lights on the dash going off, because it needs a NEW TRANSMISSION which will cost what the car is currently worth. ($10k give or take). Would you want to have a paperweight at 143k, or drop in another CVT? No longer a Subaru, nor an Impreza fan.
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Ru #5, Do not buy
Reviews on Edmunds.com are kind at best. The electric power assist steering definately has a dead spot at highway speed. The problem is once you steer beyond the dead spot, you're starting to over compensate. Edmunds is kind saying it's not a bad first attempt. I say nay, nay....As a happy owner of 4 previous Ru's, I never thought I'd buy one I hate, but I did.
First and probably last unfortuanately
I'm going to be that guy that probably ruins the "Subaru high" that all owners seem to have about these cars but this particular model for me pretty much wore out its welcome. It wasn't always like this, when I first got this car I was impressed by its quickness and handling, along with the exceptional gas mileage. With that being said, fast forward about a year and roughly 30,000 miles later and the first "problem arises in the form of a bad fan moter for the AC/heating. I was taken back a little bit considering these vehicles are known highly for reliability but I had that problem fixed. Now, fast forward about 3 years later and some more miles and I have a bad sensor that was affecting my dashboard with the indicator lights coming on at random...had that problem fixed after about a good 6 months of now knowing how bad the problem was. Now, onto the final chapter with this car with about 120,000 miles and I'm finding out I likely have a bad fuel pump. I'm not happy at all really. These Subaru's should really like most other big name brands only require routine maintenance. (tires, brakes, oil changes) not this bullshit of the engine falling apart! I will say that once I determine what this problem is I'm likely done with it since I've already shelled out over $1,000 outside of routine maintenance! I had my hopes high but this brand has let me down. I've been though Chrysler...Nissan and Subaru..all 3 took a [non-permissible content removed] before I could get full value. Will probably go Toyota from here on out!
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Great car for the money
I have driven the Impreza for about 800+ miles now. I find that the car handles well and keeps me on the road where many other cars would falter. The car is tremendously versatile with regards to its cargo space, with the roof rails and the foldable rear seats.
Disappointing
Third Subaru I have owned. Less power than my 2004 Impreza with no significant increase in miles per gallon (got 28 mpg on 2004 and getting 30 mpg on this). There is a really stupid gague to let you know how to drive to get better mileage - shows I get good mileage going downhill and bad mileage going up hill. Still not designed for a short people - sliding armrest helps but still about 2 inches too short. I don't think the low profile is going to get me through a whole lot of deep snow. I wouldn't have gone with this except for Consumer Reports high rating. Wish I had gone with the Hyundai Elantra GT instead which is almost the same car dimension wise (interior and exterior).
buyer's remorse
I have major buyers remorse from this purchase. My husband convinced me that this was my dream car and it surely is NOT!!! The seats in this car are so uncomfortable, I have constant lower backpain from driving this vehicle. I would not recommend this car to a friend or even an enemy. There is no lumbar support even offered in the Impreza. This would probably be a better suited car for a high school kid that has absolutely no back issues is in perfect shape and does not care about comfort in a vehicle.
WORST CAR I have EVER owned - and I've owned some crappy cars
What a piece of crap. I bought this worthless excuse of a vehicle for 24,000.00 and it had 9 miles on it, that was 45 days ago. This "reliable" POS has been in the shop for repairs twice. It's "AWD" has put me in the ditch once already with a couple other near misses. I've been driving vehicles for over 20 years, I drive an ambulance for a living. I've never been in the ditch before owning this lame car. I used to own a 2001 subary impreza, what happened in 10 years. You really put your name on this POS? Most god awful, piece of junk on the road under the false pretense of 37 mpg (LOL!) and reliable? C'mon into the dealers twice in under 45 days! Get the extended warranty. 500miles
good car and bad luck?
Just have a brand new 2012 Impreza basic model for a week. Good power, smooth CVT transmission, relatively high MPG, and large interior space. Everything works great until I had a flat tire during a long trip. The tire shop cannot find any object in the tire and suggested a possible manufacturing defect. I only have 250 miles on that car.
I love everything about it.
I drove every small car and just couldn't decide until the 2012 redesigned Impreza finally came out. It's extremely comfortable, has plenty of pickup, and is just the right size. Of course the all wheel drive is a plus and on my first all highway trip got 40 mpg.
3rd times a charm
This is my 3rd WRX after a 04 WRX & a 06 WRX STI. It's a great mix of comfort & performance. The STI rode like a gokart, but was lightning quick. The new WRX rides much better but still has that turbo power.
Beautiful car
Amazing car. Great handling. Roomy but not to big. Absolutely in love.
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Subaru imprezza sucks
This car has been nothing but a bad money pit and now it needs a valve body, something subaru knew was defective and never told any one , however before the NHTSA can force them to do a Manual safety recall they did extend a warranty to 10 yrs or 100k knowing here in America we had a stay at home orders so not a lot of people we driving my Imprezza has just about 70k and subaru of America told me that my car is older the 10 yrs old time to buy a new car !!!!!!! Never sent a letter telling us about the problem my wife and children were almost killed when this happened subaru does not care about people or safety they only tried to cover their butt I will never buy another Subaru or let any one I know buy one
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Great, until it isn't!
Purchased at 112K four years ago for 12K. 20K or so into our investment it needed a transmission controller, which is apparently a weak link in this ride that will fail soon after the warranty expires. Cost to replace: $1,700. Drove it the next 40K miles during which time the cable reel failed. This makes it so your airbag can deploy and you can adjust the stereo. So I elected to have it repaired. But the airbag is ATTACHED. Cost? $2700. Final straw outside of oil changes, valve cover gaskets and normal maintenance until a part called the oil cooler, which failed and leaked oil into the radiator, emulsifying the coolant into something akin to lemon meringue. That caused the head to warp, as well the head gasket's destruction. Value currently $6K. Cost to replace engine? 12-14K. Needless to say, we cut our losses and got $650 from a wrecker. By far the worst car I've ever owned from a cost per mile financial perspective. Drank oil at a quart per 1000 mi. or so. Now we know where that oil was going. There was no obvious indication that the ride needed such serious maintenance. Other than a spacious cabin and AWD, you need to RUN from this model, based on our experience. Never again for me, Subaru.
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Love It!
Stepped up from a 03 mazda 6 and I love this Subaru! I got it yesterday only have 40 miles on it but loving it so far! I got the limited hatchback with navi/moonroof, wanted a sport limited but hard to find these cars. The seats are definitely comfortable in my car the navi is super easy but for some might have to get used to it, I am kind of tech savvy. The speakers are awesome! I dont know why people are complaining about it. The cvt needs getting used to