Used 2012 Subaru Impreza Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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One of the bettter vehicles, but not perfect
nyken, 09/21/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
51 of 53 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Impreza Sport Premium two months ago and have put almost 2K miles on it . In general I am very pleased with the Impreza. The styling is far better than for past Impreza models. The interior is roomy and comfortable.Visability is excellent. It drives and handles very well, almost sport like. Gas mileage has been just about what is advertised. I am getting 30 MPG for a mix of highway and city driving. Now all that being said there are a few things about this vehicle that I am not that impressed with. First is the amount of road and tire noise. It is downright loud on some road surfaces. There is also a delay in shifting from reverse to drive.
Oil consumption problem
gailbk, 03/05/2014
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
42 of 44 people found this review helpful
I am experiencing a significant problem with my Subaru Impreza 2012 with excessive use of oil and the oil light going on. I understand from the service people that this is caused by "blowback" past the cylinders, causing excessive oil use, inconvenience to owners, and an inflated cost of ownership (synthetic oil is $8/qt.) Subaru insists this is normal but when I traded in my Lexus at 257,000 miles with never an additional drop of oil between oil changes, I certainly didn't expect to trade it in for an oil guzzler like the Subaru Impreza. Subaru will do nothing and insists this is normal - - at least for them! Any ideas how to pressure Subaru? It was fixed for the 2014 model.
2012 Subaru Impreza for sale near you
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- WRX Limited SedanMSRP: $9,990115 mi away
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Very Disappointed
greg1971, 01/10/2015
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
I purchased my car in February of 2012. Like a lot of other users I noted that my oil usage was terrible. On January 6, 2015 I was in a serious car accident in which I struck the rear end of a truck. My airbags did not deploy and the vehicle immediately caught fire after impact. I am very lucky to be alive, but cannot get any kind of straight answer from Subaru as to why the airbags failed and why a fire started, nor have they expressed any interest in examining the car further.
Big Improvement
bng77, 01/13/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
52 of 57 people found this review helpful
This car is light years ahead of the previous generation Impreza. It looks better, has a much nicer interior, has more room for both passengers and cargo, and handles much better. The 2nd generation CVT is much smoother and more efficient than the old 4 speed automatic transmission it replaces. I just drove it about 60 miles in a snow storm, and even with the lower resistance tires Subaru has switched to, it handled great. I have been averaging 31 MPG in mixed driving which is right where the EPA says it should be. I was able to coax 35 MPG out of my last tank of gas by driving the car more like you would a Prius i.e., easing up on the gas pedal while cruising letting the CVT do its thing.
Exactly what you're expecting
iliketoshift, 01/13/2014
updated 07/19/2021
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
I think my dates were off by a year 0. The car had it's first real issue at about 105K - o-ring in the AC system failed. Only needed a replacement and recharge. -- at 10 years it's at 111K, burns about a quart of oil per oil change. Needed some work on the rattling heat shields . Used mostly for short trips in town and very local commuting. Also needed a small AC service last summer. Still feels fine. The interior don't show much wear. I don't think it's so useful that edmunds pings you every 6 months to update your review, but whatevs. at the 9 year mark the original owner had an opportunity to pass this car to someone else in the immediate family. however it's still driven by me a few times a month. I think everything I've said holds. it's at 100 K miles and some change and no problems. At 8.5 years, I'll add: The car is just under 100000 miles, and there have been no problems with it at all. Yet, I still dislike this car every day because it's loud on the inside, underpowered, and doesn't have much character. No one wants to drive in my car either, even though the interior is in fine shape. I added a Carplay compatible stereo with backup cam, and it's been a nice addition. I also added LED headlights - the verdict is still out about that. I truly hope I get a different car next year, but that's a tough decision because this Impreza has cost so little to operate. At 5.5 years, here's my honest appraisal. This Impreza is the best AWD appliance vehicle out there. If you want a car that's no frills on the inside, sticks to the road like glue in rain and snow, and gets pretty good millage - this is the car for you. Unfortunately I've come to terms that this vehicle is not for me. I have several ergonomic nits to pick, the drive is pretty lifeless, the engine is adequate, the AC barely keeps up on a 95 degree day, the interior is loud compared to most other vehicles, and the rear defroster barely melts anything but the slightest frost. If you're simply using your car to get groceries, go on a road trip, or drive into the city for a night the Impreza will be fine. If you're a commuter and you don't ever take a few seconds to think about what you're driving, go Impreza! But if you often reflect upon your ride, it will be a disappointment. That's where I am. OTOH, mechanically the car is solid with no failures in 5 years and probably about 34 MPG overall. Because the car excels at the major task it needs to accomplish, I just can't get rid of it. So if you're an average driver who prioritizes AWD hatchback, go for it. But if you think some of the wrx pedigree is going to wear off - or this car is close enough to the refinement and thoughtfulness of a best-in-class-high-trim compact, you should look elsewhere. If you like cars and talk about cars, don't get the Impreza. But if you like cars and someone comes to you for a recommendation of a solid, safe, reliable automobile, have the Impreza on your short list.
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Oil Burner, MPG not as advertised
movingon1, 03/15/2014
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought the hatchback with a manual because I was looking for versatility with good mileage. Functionality wise, I'm happy. I'm 6'2" and the car is comfortable on long road trips and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the back, especially with the seats down. Also, the car is amazing in the snow. BUT- as others mentioned, the car has started burning oil at 30,000 miles! Almost 2 quarts between oil changes. Add to that the well known not-as-advertised MPG, and I am thinking about trading it in. I have logged every single tank on Fuelly. In the winter, 22 city, 27 highway. In the summer, 25 city 30 highway. It's rare to do better than 30 on the highway, but I drive 70-75.
Exactly what I was looking for
mountaintundra, 02/12/2013
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I haven't been this excited about a car since I had a Citroen CX GTi (in England) in 1982! And the amazing part is that it's a fairly basic car that I love. It has leg room and head room that you expect from a bigger car, comfy seats, decent handling, AWD, and awesome gas mileage (35 average in the summer). It's not perfect, but it does everything I want it to do, including starting at -27F without a block heater and going through snow without drama. Very impressive. This is our 4th Subaru. We drove the competition and there is nothing available that I would rather have.
My experience with my 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport
Loren Rochester, 07/30/2015
updated 02/04/2016
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful
I was very excited to get this car... good gas mileage and All-Wheel drive seemed like a perfect fit for Wisconsin. I liked everything about the car except three things: 1) The transmission went out at 66,000 miles, 6000 miles out of warranty. The dealership told me it would cost $8500 to replace it with a new one, or they could put a used one in for $4500. I called Subaru Corporate and after three days of investigation, they said it was up to the service manager. I went to the dealership and raised hell. Virtually all of my miles were interstate travel with very little elevation change, no stop and start traffic. After some phone calls, the service manager got the price down to $1500 for a new transmission. I was still mad, but didn't feel I had much choice; $1500 was better than $8500, and I still had to make payments on the vehicle. 2) I was surprised one day when the oil light came on early in my ownership. The car didn't have that many miles on it. The car was, in fact, low on oil. From that point forward, I went through a quart of Mobile 1 0W20 about every 3000 miles. I checked it every time I filled it up. I am over 60, and have never had a car that went through a quart of oil between oil changes. Recommended oil changes were 7000 miles with synthetic oil. The dealership wanted $85 for an oil change. I bought Subaru filters from the dealership for $5-$6, and bought Mobile 1 0W20 from Walmart for about $26 for a 5 quart jug, and changed the oil myself religiously every 7000 miles. I just traded the car in, three years old, and it was going through a quart of oil every 2000 miles. I had this problem when the transmission went out, and talked to the service manager about it. He did not act the least bit surprised. BTW, if you buy quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic, they are about $8 a quart, so this is not paltry change being spent on oil, I obviously bought 5 quart jugs and had them on hand all of the time. 3) For about the last 9-12 months, the car did not start very well. I usually had to crank it for a few seconds, quit, then crank it some more with the gas pedal pressed down, then it would start. The oil thing and the starting thing I have found are common complaints. I traded the Impreza in on a Ford Focus. I put about 33,000 miles on a car per year, and the Impreza had 99,920 miles on it. This is the first time in decades that I got rid of a car with fewer than 170,000-180,000 miles on it. I didn't trust it. I'm not sure that the Focus will be any better, but I got a 4 yr.-100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on it. I'm sure it won't be as good in the snow, but I can work around that. IMHO opinion, Subaru should have replaced the transmission gratis. Using the 0W20 oil is not a good idea in my opinion. They are doing it to improve gas mileage, but I think it is blowing past the pistons. The Focus uses 5W20. As far as starting difficulties goes, I don't have a clue what the problem is. If they would have taken care of the transmission and they had proven that they had solved the oil thing, I would have considered another Subaru. This was my first, and there seems to be a lot of loyal Subaru owners out there, but I will probably not consider another.
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I Hate This Car
Stephanie, 05/05/2016
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I had a used 2005 Subaru Legacy that I LOVED but it died (I put a lot of miles of cars quickly because of my commute.) I thought I'd be replacing it with something of similar quality when I bought the 2012 Subaru Impreza slightly used with 25k miles. I decided to spend the money on a newer car because of this. First of all, I got into a slowww speed fender bender where the front of my car has all kinds of damage and cracks--the other persons car didn't have even a slight dent or scratch. You'd never know their car was hit and they drove away without my info after surveying the damage-- I think it was a Honda. Also, I drove over a small piece of loose metal laying on the highway which I didn't recognize as something solid until it was too late and it tore up my back bumper as it exited. I realize things like this happen but the amount of damage is way out of proportion. Most vehicles I see have a plate in that area to protect the underside. This Subaru back bumper is nothing but curved under, thin, cheap plastic. Second, this thing burns oil. Imagine my surprise when I was something like 4k miles away from the recommended oil change and my oil light came on. Thirdly, I have never gotten anywhere close to the estimated MPG. I drive at constant highway speeds. My legacy got the same, if not better, gas mileage and the engine had a lot more strength. Fourth, at 73k miles the engine is now making a low, stressed whining sound with acceleration. I had my transmission serviced at the recommended 60k miles. But now I'm wondering if it's going out. I am fixing the damage to the front and getting rid of this thing before it falls apart completely.
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Best Subaru Yet!
jcricket, 07/02/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
21 of 24 people found this review helpful
This is my third Sooby. It is the most fun. For a car with small dimensions on the outside, it is huge on the inside. I like the ergonomics of the interior - the dash and steering column controls are easy to use; intuitive. Lots of pep, very spirited off the line. With winter tires on (see suggested improvement below) this car can go places my 4x4 pick-up can not go. Good gas mileage too. It started off getting 30 in town and after breaking in for 13,000 miles I get over 40 on highway/country driving trips. This from an AWD! Its a great car to take to the beach or to the mountains with friends. Two of my friends bought Imprezas this year.
Traded 2011 Outback Sport (Lemon Law) for 2012 Sport Premium
tornado542, 03/01/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
29 of 34 people found this review helpful
My 2011 Impreza Outback Sport was bought back by Subaru due to 5 suspension issues in the first year of ownership. Subaru gave me all my money back and paid off my loan so I went and bought a 2012 Impreza Sport Premium. This is everything I loved about the OBS, but with a nicer interior, and better MPG!
good things and frustrating things
Bill Kowalewski-Barrera, 02/18/2015
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
This is our fourth Subaru. We do like the CVT transmission, quiet enough, and the car is peppy. The gas mileage is just what is published. What bothers me? I don't like the leather seats, too cold in the winter, too stiff. With cloth, you don't need seat warmers. In the 25k miles we've owned it, the fog, tail, and headlight bulbs have burned out, and both front half-shafts and the brakes were replaced. The dash has developed an annoying rattle. And twice a year, we need to take it back to the dealer to get the tpms switched between the summer and snow tires. The dealer has to reprogram it. Still a reasonable car, but not quite up to our Subaru expectations.
Burns Lots of Oil and Gas
Kirk Kraemer, 04/20/2016
updated 04/24/2018
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Lawsuit has been settled and Subaru finally agreed that maybe I should not have to add a quart of $8 oil every 2200 miles. Car has about 118,000 miles and has burned oil excessively the entire time (dealer: "it's normal oil burn to go through a quart in as little as 1200 miles). Class action settlement extends warranty for 1 year for cars that are already in excess of 100,000 miles. Specifically traded in my previous Subaru to get the 2012 because of the 37mpg highway on the sticker. I NEVER EVER got over 31 mpg and I drive mostly flat highway with constant speeds. Total BS on the 37mpg. Update as of 5/2017. Car failed oil consumption test and Subaru replaced the engine. No oil lights between oil changes any more. I still can’t break the habit of carrying a couple of quarts of oil with me though. Still gets crappy gas mileage. Never got anywhere NEAR the 37 on the sticker, no matter what the driving conditions were.
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Bad Engine/ CVT
Mark webster, 07/17/2016
updated 01/20/2017
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
It's a o.k. car, wouldn't buy another. Problems with the boxer engine, burns oil. Transmission is weird, brakes when coasting down hill. Outside of car easy to dent, thin metal. Very loud when driving, turn up the tunes. Just had a wheel bearing and the front brakes replaced, cost about $900, so repairs are not cheap. What I do like is that the seats are easy on the back, corners well, and good speakers.Burns lots of oil, more on a long trip.
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Overall good car but issues with tires, oil light
thebeann, 09/22/2014
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2012 Subaru Impreza sport (wagon) new. Loved the cargo room (I have 2 60-lb dogs) and nice, smooth ride. Gas mileage is decent, I travel VA to MI every month and it helps. However, right from the get-go I had issues with one of the Yokahama tires. TPS kept coming on and pressure was definitely going down. Dealer said "tire issue, can't help" while tire place said "dealer issue." Finally had to replace all 4 at 10,000 miles. The other issue is oil level light coming on (started at around 30,000 miles). Known issue with this make/model on excessive oil issue (google it, there is a lawsuit). Overall I am 75% satisfied but the other 25% make for disappointment.
Excellent value, wish there were more luxury and safety options
gtp3, 08/02/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
Overall I'm happy with this car and it's an excellent value. It's fun to drive, has plenty of space for a small car, and is very practical. But there is also significant room for improvement; I wish there was a way to pay more to get more but Subaru doesn't offer any higher options. When I was shopping for a new car I wanted a small, efficient hatchback, wagon, or SUV with RWD or AWD (I'm sick of FWD cars). Audi A3 and Nissan Juke don't have enough driver head room. Toyota Matrix is totally outdated and just lame. Mini Countryman is unreliable and ugly. So that left the Impreza as the only remaining option. (I would have preferred a BMW 1-series hatchback but they're not sold in USA.)
Subaru's half baked effort
Jack, 04/23/2017
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
After owning the vehicle for 5 years and putting 10K miles (weekend/beach car) I have mixed feelings about the vehicle (I've owned over 30 vehicles in the past thirty years). Consumer Reports voted it higher than Mazda 3 and there was lots of hype around the new Impreza that year. THE BAD: low to the ground for an AWD (a handicap when at the beach or camping), noisy and coarse sounding engine, exposed electrical wires in the engine bay (not very neat), no engine sound deadening panel under the hood, slow in first and second gear, hard shifting 5 speed transmission, huge windshield absorbing lots of sun (thus heat), fabric on seats (very thin material) that collects dog hair (and it won't release it), noisy climate fan, no temperature or fuel gauge (light and digital read out only), questionable paint quality, delicate exterior body parts, roughly 8 fl. oz. oil consumption per 1,200 miles (acceptable according to Subaru). THE GOOD: nice looking, nice suspension, good visibility, great resale value, happy with the dealer, glad it is out of our garage.
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Loved it at First, Then........
Joe Botelho, 07/31/2015
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 25 people found this review helpful
I was looking for small, all wheel drive car, specifically a hatchback, that would accommodate my 6 foot frame comfortably and the Impreza Sport Premium fit the bill nicely. The car is fun to drive, has as much pep as I'm ever going to need on the windy roads of New England and was very serviceable in the rain and snow. I never had an issue with the car, but did have to replace the standard issue tires at only 21,000 miles. Also at that time the front driver seat seemed to wear more than I would consider normal and I probably should have paid attention to that. The car now has 43,000 miles on it and one day the horn just stopped working. Also, there is a massive hole in the front drivers seat with protruding metal and plastic parts which have already ruined two aftermarket seat covers. I never owned a vehicle where the front seat was essentially useless after 40,000 miles?? Recently, I was passing the dealership where I bought the vehicle, and stopped in to see if there was a recall regarding the front seat. Oddly, all the service rep kept saying was "Do you have an appointment?" He repeated that 5 times, when I finally suggested that I am a human being, not a robot. After the whole disinterested event where they pretty much told me "tough luck and seeya later" I decided to take my car to another dealership to get the horn fixed. And I thought it couldn't get any worse. I called the other dealership, got an "appointment" a few days later for them to check out the horn. While he was writing up the service order he explained that they also offer a "complimentary" car wash, which I declined as I wash my own vehicle. While I was at the service desk, I also mentioned that I felt my front seat was falling apart prematurely and if they would check it out......, and was totally ignored. To add insult to injury, after they checked out my car they said it needed a new "steering roll connector" to the tune of $415.00!! For a horn! I declined the their generous offer and they still charged me $55.00 to check it out. I should have taken them up on the "complimentary" car wash. And just when you think it couldn't get any worse? As I am walking out to my car, I noticed a huge scrape on the corner of the front bumper. I went back in tell them about it and they suggested It was already there and that I was lying!!! I had taken a picture of the car earlier in the day to document my seat issues so I pulled out my camera phone and showed them a picture I had taken hours earlier with no scrape. They still suggested I was making it up!! I have never been more humiliated in my life! I loved this car at first but between its quality and support of its service outlets I will move on to another brand.....soon.
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Oil Consumption
csl12, 01/03/2014
updated 07/05/2016
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Update on previous review (see below). It took over 2 years but Subaru finally agreed the car was burning oil. They replaced the engine block. Since then it has burned less oil, but still does consume more than I would expect. Still occasionally get other warning lights/sensors that have to be checked. We've put far too much time and effort into a 4 year old car with only 35,000 miles than we should. A real disappointment from Subaru. As I said in my earlier review, my 2010 Forester has been AWESOME!!!! I've only had to do normal maintenance on that vehicle (fluids, filters, brakes, tires). Subaru got it right on that car!!!! We bought the 2012 Impreza after our 2004 was totaled. We also own a Forester and have owned 3 others. We have had check engine, oil pressure, and low oil warnings 7 times in two years. In particular, we've had low oil 5 times within the past 7 months and only 7,000 miles. The car is definitely burning oil. Dealer agrees it's burning oil and is not leaking. It doesn't leak "enough" and is considered to be "normal" by the service manager. As a 25 year Subie owner, I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in the vehicle and Subaru's inaction. I doubt we'll be another Subie- but I do LOVE my 2010 Forester (before the engine change!!!)
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First Brand New Car
darkblash, 03/14/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 26 people found this review helpful
Buying a Brand New car is never an excellent value. However, Subaru is not only well know for their exceptional reliability, saftey, and customer loyalty, they are also one of the top brands listed for resale value. When comparing the 2012 impreza on paper to its closest competitors it is not definitively going to jump off the page as the best choice in the segment. That is dependent on what your needs are; if you live in the snow belt, and are interested in upgrading or trading the car 5-10 years down the road, the impreza is a great choice. Many complain about the MPG not reaching 36mpg hwy.
Sweet HB
kanjii, 01/13/2012
updated 03/12/2021
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
19 of 25 people found this review helpful
Loved the car when I first test drove it with the CVT tranny, but wanted the 5 speed manual. Very happy with the decision. I love the secure feel of AWD and the car is roomy inside. Stereo was OK when listening to the stations, but much better sounds from CDs and MP3. Exterior is beautiful and the rims are awesome. Engine is good, not a racy type of engine at all. Throttle response is slow, but still fun to drive, especially around curves. The Yokohama tires hold the dry pavement great, but will know soon about the wet and snow. Update 3/12/2021: It's been almost 10 years now since I purchased it on Xmas eve 2011. Overall it's still a fun car to drive. Haven't had any bad problems except oil consumption, which I immediately let my dealer know. Had the short block changed twice I believe. Currently have 72k on her and had the yellow oil light come on once in the past 30k on new block. Currently on an oil consumption test again. But that's the only problem with this Impreza. Paint and metal of the car is weak and soft, and 1st to 2nd gear is bad, but handling is great. Adding a rear spoiler made this one hot looking Subie and swapping out the rear sway bar for a STi one made it more fun to drive.
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A car built to last until the warranty expires.
WhereHaveTheManualsGone?, 06/12/2021
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
For those who don't know, Subaru is a subsidiary company of parent Company: Fuji Heavy Industries. So while Subaru promotes itself as a clean, environmentally friendly company, they're just as bad as the rest. We'll get into that in a moment. I am driving a 2012 Impreza Wagon with the CVT transmission, and it currently has around 104k miles. The interior is fairly bland, but it seems to have help up well over the last 10 years. I appreciate the simplicity of the interior, especially compared to most modern cars with overly-complicated infotainment systems. Having a normal tuner-dial for changing radio stations, and normal HVAC controls is fantastic If you've driven any mid-range car with a semi-modern infotainment system, I'm sure you'd understand this. For it's small size, it does a pretty good job at giving both front and rear passengers plenty of room, and decently comfortable seats. It was an overall good car, but... Subaru seems to think CVT transmissions are the way of the future, but this idea should be reconsidered. Almost every single CVT Impreza will have a transmission failure between 90-115k miles. My car is no exception. Right around 103k miles, my gauge cluster lit up like the northern lights, except it was just a bunch of warning lights, including a flashing "AT Temp" light. An independent repair facility did a diagnosis of the car, and said it would need a whole new transmission, costing around $8k installed (Denver, CO). Doing some research, it seems this repair usually costs between $6-9k, depending on local labor rates. But digging a bit deeper, the transmission didn't need to be replaced at all, or even removed from the vehicle. The only thing wrong with the transmission, is a golf-ball sized $80 solenoid on top of the transmission, under an inspection cover, and attached to the valve body. Quoted $8k for something that can be repaired for under $200. And I'm not the only one, this seems to be a common issue. Now back to Subaru's claim of being "environmentally friendly". The $80 solenoid I mentioned before, Subaru will not sell it to you. They don't even have a part number for it. Instead of selling you a tiny electric solenoid, Subaru will only sell you an $800 valve body, weighing in at ~20lbs, and made completely of aluminum. They won't even offer to "rebuild" the valve body inside your car, they will only replace it with a brand new one at a cost of $1,200-2,000. This is a common practice in the German auto industry, but this is the first time I've seen something this dimwitted within the lower-end Japanese auto industry. When Subaru could offer up these small parts and save the waste, they intentionally force you to discard 20lbs of aluminum for a 3oz part. How "green" of you, Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries). But luckily for those of us who experience these transmission issues, there are third-party sellers offering aftermarket replacement solenoids on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. It's impossible to know the quality or longevity of these parts, since they are no OEM parts. But they do turn a $2k repair bill into a couple crisp-Benjamins. If you're willing to get your hands dirty, shed a little blood, and have some basic tools laying around, this seems to be the best option at the moment. Disregarding some mistakes I made during the repair, it took me about 6-hours to fix. It's not a particularly enjoyable experience, but avoiding a $2k repair bill makes up for it. I'll be listing my car for sale soon, or hopefully trade it for something with a stick-shift transmission. Anybody looking for this car in particular, I'd suggest you do the same.
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Did NOT let me down!
tbuchanan, 02/21/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
I owned a 1999 Subaru Impreza and loved everything about it until it died. I just (less than a week ago) leased a 2012 Subaru Impreza Hatchback, the 5-speed. Being a lover of the stick shift I was pleasantly surprised. My last stick shift could barely make it up a specific hill in 3rd gear and let me tell you this impreza cruized on up in 5th gear - at 6mph none the less! Some claim the interior is less than perfect, but come on when has Subaru been on the leading edge of sync technology or anything like that. If you are driving a subaru it is becuase of the AWD and reliability. So far I love it, but then it has only been 3 days. I will post an update in a few weeks/months!
My First Brand New Car
jaycab, 02/03/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 19 people found this review helpful
Did not regret my decision on my purchase. Love my Subaru especially in Ohio. Awesome to be one of the first owners in this head turner. The only thing that bothers me is the MPG. I have been only averaging 28 MPG in the last 400 miles the car ran so far. And the drive is mostly highway. But other than that it is still worth every $$.
2012 Impreza Sport
dead_duck, 05/06/2013
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Good car. This is my first NEW CAR so I was looking for it to be perfect. There are a few things that you can not get a feel for when you test drive or search online. Like the fact that being a taller person, it takes a bit of a drive to realize your comfort level would be better with 3 more inches of track on the seat. Also, MPG are NEVER as advertised.
Great driving car & great MPG with AWD
sealcove1970, 06/29/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have not had the car for too long, but so far I am really pleased with it. I enjoy the ride, I like how the CVT feels, it is very comfortable for me (I am 6' 4"), and so far I am getting great mileage (averaging between 36 & 39 for mostly 40-55mph driving with light traffic and stops). I can't explain the poor mileage some report, unless it has to do with city driving and driving style. I purchased mine after getting to know two others purchased by fiends last winter, and they both report mid-30's or better for MPG. I gave it a five for reliability, but it is obviously too soon to know that. Hopeful!
Mountain moma
noku, 04/17/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
I have had the marine blue Impreza sport limited with moonroof for 10 days. We have a cabin in the NC mountains and drove up there for the first time last weekend. This car is a blast to drive. I used the paddle-shifters on the CVT to precisely control the power up and down the twisting mountain roads. The car performed beautifully...power when needed, engine-braking when required....excellent overall control. I was leery of the CVT but went with it for mpg....glad I did. The car is very well-built..bodes well for reliabilty...this is my first Subaru but friends tell me they're bullet-proof. It is good-looking too....IMHO much better than the overstyled Hundai/Ford offerings
Snow slaying machine with a pathetic interior
Jesse Nicola, 12/10/2015
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru, and quite possibly my last. The issues have been plentiful. The interior rattles to high hell. I had to go to two dealers as the first tried to bamboozle me like it wasn't an issue. Internal fan was failing and the bearing was making more noise than a duck on meth, which the dealer claimed was normal. Seat heaters stop working, dealer claims that's a safety feature... my butt. Sensors in seat to detect if a passenger is in there FAIL when exposed to water. YOU SOLD THE CAR IN THE PACIFIC NORTWHEST WHERE IT RAINS YOU DUMB *&%$#! Not only does it fail... but it fails with the AIRBAG OFF! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! Power? Gutless. Takes off from a stop like a two stroke dirtbike, abuse the clutch or don't get going at all. Uphill stop and go traffic? Burn baby burn... WHY ISN'T THEREA A SIXTH GEAR! Spins 3000 rpm at highways speeds. I've not once hit the combined MPG. I drove it across the country, and even in the flattest parts of the country, with NO ROOF RACKS OR ACCESSORIES, car already warmed up, driving a full tank on cruise control... 31mpg. &#$#% Subaru. I wish some one else made a solid AWD car or I'd never sell this off, even at a loss, and never look back.
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Not Your Father's Impreza
lowkey, 04/10/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
17 of 26 people found this review helpful
I gave my 2009 Impreza Outback Sport to my college daughter as a replacement. I thought I would go out and replace it with a new one and get the same performance and ride. Wrong. This car travels from the foothills to Denver in winter snow conditions. I don't even recognize it as a reliable snow performer Subaru is noted for. I have 3,700 miles on the Premium Sport and here's my experience. (1) The traction loss fault light flickers frequently in snow and unstable when crossing over 3 or 4 inch snow build up. It gets my heart pumping. (2) Bad manners in cross winds. After 800 miles I was exhausted. (3) The 2.0, CVT, struggles climbing grades at 8,000 ft. I have to put it in 3rd manual mode.
Oil burner
fredjohnson, 03/02/2014
updated 09/10/2020
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
My 2012 Impreza is beginning to really bother me. 25k miles on it and it burns 2 qts of oil every 3k miles now. Yes, the CVT is noisy as can be, but I knew that when I bought it. In winter, my highway gas mileage does drop to 27 mpg which is almost 10 mpg lower than EPA sticker. Overall, I'm dissatisfied with the car, especially after finding out Subaru won't do much to help with the oil consumption other than to say its "normal". And to that I say BS. Never had a Toyota or Honda---I've owned 8 new ones--- burn oil. Update: 60k on odometer now. Still burns same amount of oil. Will stay away from future Subarus because of excessive oil burn. Subaru won't back up their product which adds to dissatisfaction. Otherwise, car is reliable. Mpg no change. Still below stated number in window sticker. Engine still noisy, especially in winter. Anemic acceleration from 0 to 60. Update: 70k on odometer. All same issues. Oil burn rate about the same. Will likely trade it for a new Honda Ridgeline Black Edition pickup in 2018 or a new Honda CRV since we've owned 3 of those already. Update: 80K on odometer. No change in engine oil burn rate. Body metal seems too thin, dents easily, scratches easily. Same for the painted wheels. Had to have them all repainted after going through a car wash because they scratch so easily. Engine still very noisy at acceleration--embarrassingly so. MPG seems to be decreasing somewhat. Winter time in MN and I'm getting around 23 mpg. Will trade car this summer. Update 88k on odometer. Small engine oil leak now. Same oil burn issue. Replaced brakes. Traded it for new 2019 Mazda CX5 Signature 2,5 liter turbo with every option. Got a class action lawsuit settlement letter from a law firm in mail saying Subaru agreed to settle and pay owners. Took 8 years for them. Car gone now, won't buy another Subaru.
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MPG ?
fracker, 03/17/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 17 people found this review helpful
On 2nd tank ,I got 32.2 mpg on a 230 mile trip. My old Honda Civic gets 37+ on the exact same trip and was originally rated at 36 mpg highway like the Impreza. I have no options on my hatcback as I read the weight of the total cruise control package decreases mpg by 22+miles per tank(over 1 mpg). Am puzzled by the car's loss of speed going down hills. I have to gas it to maintain speed where my other vehicles can coast,saving fuel. Strange. Car is good in snow. to get accurate mpg readings it is important to completely fill the tank each time.It takes awhile to get all the air out of this car's tank.
Horrible gas mileage!!
unhappy_imprez, 05/29/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
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!
djhcwctr, 04/19/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
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!
Caveat Subaru
ideafarmer, 06/02/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 22 people found this review helpful
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
bg18947, 01/14/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
33 of 59 people found this review helpful
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.
Awesome car, love it!
cbtx01, 09/13/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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
Bob, 06/02/2016
updated 12/07/2020
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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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Love my Impreza Sport Limited Hatchback w/Nav and Moonroof
j_mags, 09/05/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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.
Best car I have ever owned!
Deb White, 06/02/2018
2012 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
2012 WRX hatchback.....SWEET RIDE!! Handles great in all conditions and is a blast to drive.
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A Sweet Ride
Art Vatsky, 01/11/2023
updated 07/16/2024
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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
rickrobin, 02/12/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
16 of 31 people found this review helpful
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.
Beware of 2012 Impreza 2.0i (Base) CVT
tpyne377, 11/01/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 13 people found this review helpful
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
david watts, 07/05/2016
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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
Phil Rush, 12/09/2016
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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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Don't believe the EPA ratings
llcj727, 08/01/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 11 people found this review helpful
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.
Blue tooth
joelira1, 10/19/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
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
Great AWD Hatchback!
macj123, 12/30/2013
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
Buyer beware
Bob, 02/04/2023
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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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Enjoying my Impreza Sport
jd_24, 06/05/2013
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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 car for the money
sanirudh, 02/21/2012
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 45 people found this review helpful
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.