Used 2019 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan Review

On snowy and icy roads, vehicles with traction-enhancing all-wheel drive are invaluable. But what if you don't want to get an SUV? Check out the 2019 Subaru Impreza. Not only is it the least expensive all-wheel-drive vehicle on the market, but it's also the only compact sedan to offer AWD — and it's standard.

Even if you don't expressly need all-wheel drive, the Impreza is still worth checking out. Redesigned just two years ago, the Impreza is one of the newer compacts and features the latest tech gadgets and driving aids that buyers have come to expect. This is especially true of this year's model since Subaru has increased the availability of its EyeSight suite of advanced safety aids. Now, any Impreza can be equipped with EyeSight, which includes traffic-adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

The Impreza has other advantages, including secure handling, an excellent infotainment system, a comfortable ride, and a cabin with room for four adults. It's not competitive in all areas, however. Acceleration is slow, and real-world fuel economy is subpar. Overall, though, we're fond of the Impreza. It's worth considering, especially if you want all-wheel drive.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru Impreza as one of Edmunds' Best AWD Sedans for this year and is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds owned a Subaru Impreza for one year and nearly 20,000 miles. To learn more about our experiences, visit the long-term page for our 2017 Subaru Impreza Limited. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy. All-wheel-drive performance was a staff favorite, but we were less impressed with its engine responsiveness and interior materials. If you have questions, chances are good we've answered them during our long-term test. There are no significant differences between the 2019 Subaru Impreza and our long-term car, so our observations still apply.

Like many compacts, the 2019 Subaru Impreza is available as a sedan or a four-door hatchback. Features on the four available trims are nearly identical between the two body styles. The base 2.0i is sparsely equipped, but it does have power windows and a touchscreen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay capability. The Premium counts alloy wheels and heated seats among its additions. Upgrade to the Sport and you get larger wheels, sporty suspension tuning, keyless entry and ignition, and a larger touchscreen. The Limited keeps some of the Sport's luxury features and adds leather and automatic climate control.

Every Impreza is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. (The related, high-performance WRX and WRX STI are reviewed separately.) A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the 2.0i and Sport models, and a continuously variable automatic is optional on those and standard on Premium and Limited trims.

The base 2.0i comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, daytime running lights, remote locking and unlocking, cloth upholstery, carpeted floor mats, a rearview camera, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a driver information display, a height-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with a USB port and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

The available EyeSight suite of driver aids adds adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, automatic reverse braking, and lane departure warning and mitigation. This option also adds an upgraded driver information display.

The Premium trim is better equipped, with alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, heated mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a sound-reducing windshield, heated front seats, Subaru Starlink services, and a six-speaker audio system with a CD player, satellite radio and a second USB port. Models equipped with the CVT also get steering-wheel-mounted paddles with seven simulated gears, while hatchback models add roof rails and a cargo cover.

An available package combines blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, cornering lights and the EyeSight suite. This package can be ordered with or without a power sunroof.

For drivers who want a more exciting version of the Impreza, there's the Sport. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension, keyless entry and ignition, an 8-inch touchscreen, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, unique interior and exterior trim, and active torque vectoring for improved traction.

EyeSight, the sunroof and blind-spot monitoring are bundled into a package that also includes an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

At the top of the Impreza range, there's the Limited model. It builds off the Premium trim, adding 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, foglights, keyless entry and ignition, the 8-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a six-way power driver's seat, a rear armrest, automatic climate control, the EyeSight system and reverse automatic braking.

Blind-spot monitoring and the sunroof are bundled into a package. It can be ordered with or without the Harman Kardon system and navigation.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Subaru Impreza Limited Sedan (2.0L flat-4 | CVT automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, there have been no significant changes to the Subaru Impreza.