Used 2016 Subaru Impreza Hatchback Consumer Reviews

Lots of potential

First, I'd like to point out that I originally had a 2015 base model Impreza that got destroyed because of someone on their phone, and thanks to the high resale value, got a 2016 with some spare change. On that note - I was hit at roughly 45MPH, and I got away with nothing more than a couple bruises and a stiff neck. I didn't have any passengers, but if I did, all of them would have survived too. If you want something safe, this is a great car. Anyway, since this car is effectively the same as the 2015 model, this review counts for both. I'd also like to point out that some of the flaws with the car are easily addressable: 1. Bluetooth is highly dependent upon your device. I have experimented with multiple phones and they all had different levels of audio quality and reliability. What's also interesting is if you're having issues with any of the car's apps, it is still possible to play media through the Bluetooth "channel", but you lose the steering wheel controls to operate the app. Different phones behave differently via USB too; iPhones have the most functionality. Some phones will charge via the USB port, some don't. 2. If you have the hatchback like I do, you can reduce noise level with a solid trunk cover. I made one out of fiberglass and cloth. It looks decent and lowered the overall noise level by about 1 or 2 dB. I'm guessing the sedan model is slightly quieter, since the trunk (and the wheel well in the trunk) isn't exposed to the cabin. 3. The sound system is actually a lot better than critics claim. The problem is the car's default sound settings are dull. But, this is one of very few cars in it's class that has a pretty good equalizer. With a little adjustment, you can make the sound quality go from mediocre to enjoyable. The audio still won't be amazing, but you can make it good enough. 4. The complaints about noise and performance can really be pinned down to the CVT model. The manual has very average performance and doesn't drone. On the other hand, the CVT model can keep the RPMs lower, so that model is likely quieter at speeds below 20MPH. 5. The interior and user controls may be plain, but they're practical. You can operate them with gloves. You can operate them without taking your eyes off the road. They'll stand through wear and tear without looking so tarnished. Would you rather have something that looks cool now but tacky a decade later, or something that looks bland but doesn't embarrass you? 6. It'd be nice if the car was slightly more powerful. But, you can tune the engine to make it a little more responsive at lower RPMs. I figure for most people, that isn't worth doing. Anyway, this is a very comfortable and practical car. Other cars in it's class are hardly more fuel efficient (while lacking AWD), have less passenger and cargo space, have worse visibility, have considerably less ride comfort, and less reliability. This car isn't exciting, nor is it meant to be. It's competitive but also has a niche. I would not recommend this car for anyone who lives in hot/dry climates, but the effects of AWD are very noticeable. If you do anything off paved roads, get the Crosstrek. There's enough info out there about what makes this car good. But, I do have a few complaints about it that you might not have heard: * The rear windshield wiper intermittent timer is way too short, and using the spray for the rear wiper will sometimes be a little drippy if you recently used it. * Shifting from 1st into 2nd is pretty difficult to do smoothly without wearing out the clutch. All other gear shifts are fine. * Reverse doesn't have synchros, so it can be a bit tough sometimes. * Some panels feel incredibly cheap. A little bit of underlying structuring wouldn't add much to the cost or weight of the car but would make these thin plastics feel more solid. * The exhaust pipe starts to rust within weeks. Pretty much everything else looks good, but I wonder how long this exhaust will last. * If you don't use the key remote, you may find the alarm system to be pretty obnoxious (it can be turned off though). The seatbelt chime is also annoyingly loud. * During the winter, the car takes longer to warm up than anything else I've been in. It can take as much as 15 minutes until I start feeling a little bit of warmth through the vents. You could consider that a good thing in terms of efficiency and friction within the engine. * Coldness really hurts fuel economy. You might lose as much as 4 MPG (compared to summer temperatures) if the temperature is below freezing.

My First Subaru

I traded in a 2013 Ford Focus due to various issues with the car and decided on a Subaru not only for the AWD but the reliability and decent price tag. I really love the car and got my Subaru in IceSilver with the Sport Premium all weather package because it had just the right options for the price. I paid a little over $22K here in Virginia Beach. I want to first start out with the Bluetooth connectivity because in my opinion it could be better. At times it will just stop working or will lower the volume when listening to music for no apparent reason. I do have an iphone 6s+ so maybe there is some issue there I dunno. Secondly, I want to mention the backup camera because I feel the video is a bit choppy/sluggish at times and could be improved like the one that's equipped on my 2015 Toyota Corolla. Thirdly, I would have really liked to see LED headlight's as an option because after driving my Toyota Corolla which has LED headlight's the Subaru looks bland in comparison. I think LED's would make this a much more beautiful car and I could have saved some money since I opted for the fog light option to brighten up the roads a bit more. I really like the black interior and the red light's on the instruments accent it well. The cloth seats are probably the most comfortable seats I've sat in. They are very soft and the heated seats work great. I've read other reviews stating there is to much road noise but to be honest I have not experienced anything out of the ordinary when comparing it to my other cars. As far as the CVT and only being 148HP this thing is very quick off the line and has no problem what so ever getting around other cars. It's peppier than my Corolla for sure. This car really does handle well but I do have the upgraded 17" rim and tires. All in all I'm very happy with my purchase and it feels great driving the car during my daily commutes.

Best Decision I ever made!

Traded my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited for the 2016 Sport Premium. What an upgrade! So quiet inside on the country roads and interstate. I got an extended warranty for cheap from the dealership and great service. This feels like driving a Bmw but better with the AWD.

Safety First

Highest safety rating from Consumer Reports; I added front collision avoidance (EyeSight is Subaru name.) Car is only a week old; limited driving but so far so good. I did a lot of research, wanted to downsize from a Jetta station wagon (not diesel), wanted hatchback & moonroof. Surprisingly limited choices for a short elderly driver.

20,000 miles in

i have been very impressed with this car. just went on a 4000 mile trip to the west coast, averaged 32 mpg @ 80-85, and was very comfy with a couple of added seat cushions. the car handled grades very well, and the eye sight was handy. the hatch back is roomy, and our dog was comfy in the back seat ( in the hammock) i researched this car before buying it, and remember people talking about lack of power, noisy engine, and poor stereo. i have not experienced any of these issues. i have not had the chance to test the AWD, because when it gets bad, we take our 3500 dually 4/4 ( just because), but im sure it will do fine. i bought this car for my wife so she wouldnt have to drive the 1 ton around town, while im working and she loves it. i have been looking to upgrade to an outback but cant find a reason.

Recovering Honda Addict

I used to love my Honda Accord which I bought new 15 years and had 222k almost trouble free miles- I swore I'd be a Honda driver for life since mine was so reliable! Lately it was just starting to show its age-just little things but they were starting to add up. I'm looking forward to retiring in a while and wanted a car that could handle the snow where I plan to retire. I knew several owners that swore by their Subaru but I'd read some reviews that made me question whether I would like the CVT transmission. I'm glad I did the test drive with the salesman because it was 'different'- it revved very high trying to go up a hill but the salesman reassured me just keep accelerating and let it adjust. The car is breaking in nicely now and I find I typically have plenty of power whenever I ask for it but I'm still a bit cautious if I need to change lanes on a hill and pass a car if I need instant acceleration. I tried out a freeway onramp that was on a hill and I easily exceeded the speed limit by the time I'd entered the freeway. The salesman had me do a sharp U turn on a deserted street-Wow- its handling was impressive! By the time I got the car home I realized that I'd already become a Subaru fan! I only have 200 miles on it so I can't really rate its Repair/Maintenance costs since nothing has been done to it yet so that part of the review is misleading. Just a bit noisier in the cabin than I'd like but all in all I've become a huge fan of driving Subaru and can't wait to go exploring with it.

HAD TO TRADE

Had to trade my 2012 Impreza Limited with CVT as it already had 3 CVT transmissions installed in under 56,000 miles. I hope this 2016 Limited with CVT has a better reliability record.

STILL Subarutiful!

After almost a year, I am still loving my purchase. GREAT handling, especially in snow, excellent mpg, peppy get up and go, braking not bad. The heater takes a little long to get going and is very loud on high. There is some road noise but no regrets. Lots of storage (room for dog crates) and great bluetooth. Audio quality 7 out of 10. Overall, still very happy and would purchase again.

A great safe, small, roomy car with amazing AWD!

First I will start with the all wheel drive. All this talk about have true symmetrical all wheel drive, I wanted to test it out. I live on a big hill and all our vehicles are either 4 wheel or all wheel. When we got our first big snow and Ice this winter, I went to give it the test. I was amazing how well it stuck to the road, the road being covered with snow and ice. It has lots of going power. Its able to push through 10+ inches of snow easily ( I don't know how much more, we only had about 10 so far) on roads and parking lots not even touched. It will go, but it does not like to stop. I've heard a lot of complaints about not stopping well in the ice and snow, well its a light car and also, no matter the car, its ice! The ABS works very well! As long as you take it nice and easy, it will get you anywhere in the harsh conditions. It was able to get up my driveway with little slipping on the pure ice. It amazed me how well the AWD was. The power is alright, It gets you out on the highway and up to 60 in a decent time. If you are looking for a car with power, steer clear of the Impreza. Don't get me wrong, it has power, just enough to drive and go, not any power the WRX has though. This car is a great "first" car. It is very safe. The safety reading of this is very outstanding. And with the AWD being on all the time, it helps in the rain, rocks, gravel, wet leaves, and of course the snow and ice. I would advise to never turn the traction control off, even on try roads, because you never know when you might need it for it to kick in. The inside is roomy. I'm 6'3", I put the seat all the way back and have lots of room. The people behind me, with the seat back all the way, still have leg room! The trunk is roomy and with the seats down, you can fit lots of stuff in it! I love the Bluetooth and hands free calling, and Bluetooth audio. I love using my paddle shifters to down shift or to use when ever I want to feel sporty. The back up camera is a nice feature. The camera is great and reliable, I still use my mirrors all the time, but since the car is really low, I will never back up and hit a high curve. I use it to see exactly how close I am to the object or line behind me. ALSO, if you are backing out of a parking spot at Walmart with 2 big cars beside you to where you cant see. The camera is just wide enough to tell if a car or person is coming. I highly recommend getting the auto light demming mirror. It helps out a lot! I highly recommend this car. Its an all around safe and great car. Its my first and I have had it for 9 months. I drive 32 miles a day to work and back. It has never let me down through cold cold weather to snow and ice. And for the Impreza being the lowest model of Subaru, they did a great job. Just remember when looking at cars. Spend 22,000 to get an awesome car that is turbo charged and all the jazz inside that is front wheel drive, or spend the same to get a Subaru that is AWD and has everything to get you by. That was my choice, and I'm glad I chose my Subaru. I can drive in the snow with no problem and that turbo sure wouldn't help you!

Subaru'd in Ohio

Going from a 99 civic DX everything seems different- quieter, tighter control, more comfortable, less road noise and rattles, more power, and so on. WRX was my first choice but that will be another time. The Imprezza is very pleasing. The shifting and handling is not too different than the WRX which is my main amusement in driving. The hatch back allows me to get my occasional bale of hay or put my fishing or golf stuff. I'll have to wait till next winter to see the AWD in snow. For now it feels like all 4 wheels say go and it takes to the road. I hope it holds up a long time automobile buying is a drag.

Poor stock tires for wet/snow. Paint chips fast

I bought for the AWD but for safety in the wet/snow I replaced the poorly rated ( for wet/snow ) stock tires. ($800)Horrible paint chipping after a mountain trip with less than 6000 miles. ($2000 estimate for paint repair Subaru will not stand behind). Poor audio quality. Great rear visibility. Love the paddle shifting. Like the hatchback. I would never buy again due to paint quality and failure to stand behind their product . Back to Honda or Toyota.

AWD in a fun package

Low profile is great for easy in-and-out, and car-top carrying. Nice turning radius. Intuitive controls and fun drive. Wish it had lighted vanity mirrors, lighted glove box, rear cargo overhead light, rear seat air ducts, and 2 seatback storage pockets instead of one. I also miss the overhead storage compartment for my sunglasses and a full armrest in the front. The back has no armrest or center pass through. These are all minor conveniences I decided I could live without, though I'm missing my Mazda 6 sportwagon that had all these creature comforts.

Got rid of it after six months. Too small, too low

This is an okay car for the money. I wish it had a longer warranty like Kia or Hyundai. But the cargo space is too small and is not designed well. I couldn't get a 4x4 piece of plywood into the car any way I tried. It also bottoms out easily, is noisy on the highway, and rides roughly over anything but the smoothest roads. I traded it for a Toyota RAV4 after six months, which is a much larger car than I had ever owned previously, but does everything I want (except fit into small parking spaces).

All it needs is better interior tech

After driving a 2006 Impreza, I knew that I wanted to another Subaru, because of the AWD and road handling. This was the primary reason I got another Subaru and I wasn't disappointed. The full time AWD is superior and seamless compared to other SUV's that favor the front wheels and distribute the power to the rear as needed. The vehicle is truly amazing to drive when it comes to experiencing the road in a small car....there's no way I could drive a corolla or civic again. I got a Sport Limited and wanted every option to make it a nicer ride. The proved to be impossible though, because you start pushing 26K+ fully loaded with eyesight and moon-roof, so I had to skip those. I could have got a larger well equipped SUV for that cost from Ford, Toyota or Hyundai. I liked the look and size of the Impreza and don't like the image of the slightly higher-end Legacy. Fuel economy is better than expected with easy driving but goes down quick if you push it. My CVT experience has been good, especially coming from a manual, but it's a little slow when you need to take a quick left turn in traffic. I scored low on tech, because that's my only problem with this car. I would have loved LED driving lights and Carplay and I feel like I should have gotten more with a fully loaded car. The upgraded touch screen feels like it should be the basic audio package, but the you can EQ good sound out of the speakers. The volume control on the steering wheel is not intuitive, as is the arrow buttons, it all feels like one square button. The auto headlights are terrible, they turn off the lights too soon, then they turn on and off again and again in medium light and shade. They function day/night and I don't have to worry about lighting with driving lights and bright low and high beam lights. There is an info screen on the dash with extra steering wheel buttons to control a menu, I'm assuming for eyesight. It's useless because mine doesn't have it. There are still small circular buttons in the dash to control the center info center with MPG's, trip counter and clock and I hate them. It's like 1990 again and it should be controlled with steering wheel buttons like everything else. I cannot recommend the remote start, as the vehicle shuts off when you open the door to enter the car and honks to horn to wake up all the neighbors. That eliminates why I got the factory remote start, as I wanted the cool factor of starting the car as I walk up, in addition to warming it up on cold days. Aside with my issue with almost every piece of tech in this car, I think the AWD, handling in the snow and road experience make up for this. I believe I have avoided several accidents because of handling and brakes. It's a great car, but make sure you think about what important to you. Don't buy it for the tech...buy it for the AWD.

Windy Review

Test drove the Impreza wagon (base model). Two items that didn't impress me were the lack of electric drivers seat controls for adjustment, and the wind noise when driving on the highway. With the years I've owned and driven the Subaru models there would be NO wind noice in ANY model. Today's technology and engineering should have had a "fix" for this a LONG time ago.

2016 Impreza Sport 2.0 Hatchabck

This is an excellent city and commuter car. It is compact and very nimble. It is very well suited for city parking in compact spots and driving on crowded streets. It gets good gas mileage when driven under normal conditions. On the open highway its decently quiet. Though my only minor complaint is that it lacks any real power. The CVT sport model (and others), come with steering wheel paddle shifters (and manual mode) which is really a delight to drive! Drop a gear for more acceleration, shift back up to cruise. Paddle shifting somewhat makes up for the conservatively sized engine (148hp). But onto some of the Subaru Impreza's strengths. AWD (all wheel drive) makes it very predictable in crappy weather. It also makes it fun to drive around corners. It has one of the highest safety ratings in its class. Its interior and cargo space are built for utilitarian minded people. With the back seats folded down I am able to carry things like a full assembled Ikea shelf, gardening supplies, bikes and stuff that luxury car owners would probably frown at. Since its a Subaru it shares parts with its other Subaru brethren mainly the Crosstrek and 2008+ Impreza WRX. Therefore some aftermarket parts (if you're into upgrading your ride) will fit. My #1 upgrade part would be a larger rear sway bar to reduce body roll. There are many more upgrades for this car to increase handling, but those aren't needed if you are just commuting day to day. This makes a great work horse of a car which is comfortable, sporty, and won't break the bank. Did I mention it looks good too? I plan on keeping it for a long time!

Nice, but could be more reliable

AWD and the gas mileage are amazing, it’s seems like a well-built car. However, I have run into some reliability issues. The suspension started having issues around 40,000 miles. Thankfully, Subaru paid for the $800 repairs, but they said they were doing it to be nice (if you run into this issue, they may not pay for it). I have also heard of issues with the CVT transmission, hoping that does not have issues in the future. Overall, the car has been solid for 50,000 miles, but has had reliability issues that do concern me. Infotainment system is also really lacking, and the Bluetooth takes about a minute to connect to my phone. I had a 2004 Camry prior to this and it was an absolute tank, this Subaru doesn’t seem like it will be. Thinking I may go back to a Toyota after I’m done with this car.

Price vs Contents

For the price, I expected it to feel more luxurious. The door locks clunk loudly when used. The seats are OK, but nothing special. I bought the top of the line Impreza. I expected it to have all the options available in todays cars, but it doesn't. And I'm disappointed by that. The options it does have are good. The Nav is a little difficult to operate. It does not allow you to search for places by name or type. Such as Wal-Mart or department store. The Eyesight is great! I like the ability to adjust the music to front or back, and left or right.

I don't get it

I don't understand all the hype over Subarus. I have had this Impreza for 6 months and I hate it. The audio system it terrible. There's a delay on the touchscreen every time you want to do something, and the sound is awful. The two front windows go up and down at different speeds. The front seats are too flat. The alignment is off - on a brand new car. It drives straight but the steering wheel is not centered. The aux and usb ports are in the worst place possible - in the back of the center arm rest. Interior storage is very limited. And worst of all...the CVT. The CVT has serious engine braking like you've never experienced. So, when you're trying to drive slow and let off the gas - then get back on - the car starts bucking like crazy. It's impossible to avoid and it drives me crazy. I hate this car and wish I had never believed all the hype over Subarus. I can't wait to get rid of it.

Great car!

I love this car. It is sporty yet practical. Really fun to drive, handles like a dream. Very happy with this purchase!

Good car with

Transmission delay when shifting very annoying. Scarcity of cup holders inconvenient. Location of USB port is very poor. I wish I didn't sit so low. I've added a cushion for height.

My Car

Great little wagon

Nothing fancy. But a really nice car.

I love my little car

Well for starters I love my car but tell my why my 5 year old car needed to get a new engine? To top it I purchased the gold warranty and because I didn't have all my receipts for oil changes Subaru voided out my warranty. Right when I needed a new engine which through them cost $7,000.00. No one ever told me what happened to my engine. I was left in dismay and had to figure out how to get an engine for my lil car. My car only had maybe 50 something thousand miles. I don't know about anyone else but I just can't pull 7 G's out of the sky. When I get a new car in the future I don't think it will be a subaru even tho aside from their engine I love the car.

Solid and reliable

OK - tech is mastered! Lost two tires in three months to sidewall punctures. Glad tire wear was low enough to allow a simple (but expensive) mounting of a new tire. Matching 4 tires for this kitten could be very costly! Just replaced the original battery (2/21).

super suburu

Subaru impreza love it

Bring the quotes!

love the car

its a great car. only thing i would change is that i wish there were leather seats. Also wish that navigation was built in

noisy

too much outside nose

Commuter Deluxe

4 Years in and Still Running Strong

This is my second Subaru and I have been very pleased with my 2016 Subaru Impreza Hatchback. The car has excellent gas mileage and is very comfortable for long trips. There definitely is plenty of room for storage. Sometimes the engine may seem a bit noisy but the car itself has been very reliable. The only issue I had was getting a crack in the front windshield and needing it to be replaced.