2020 Subaru Impreza Review

Name: 2020 Subaru Impreza
Brand: Subaru
Rating: 4.2 (64 reviews)

Price Range: $13,995 - $24,997

Subaru Impreza Sport 4dr Hatchback Exterior Shown

The 2020 Impreza is roomy and provides extra wet-weather traction because of its standard all-wheel-drive system. But the engine and transmission are a bit of a letdown.

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Average price: $20,461

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Appraise My 2020 Subaru Impreza

Subaru Impreza model years

Subaru Impreza for Sale

Subaru Impreza types

Hatchback
Sedan

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive delivers secure handling and wet-weather traction
The roomy cabin is quiet and comfortable
Plenty of advanced driver safety features
Available manual transmission for those who want to row their own gears

Cons

Slow and noisy acceleration
Interior materials are lower-quality compared to many rivals
Hard to match fuel economy estimates in the real world

What's new

EyeSight Driver Assist is now standard on Premium and Sport sedans
Revised headlights, grille and front bumper on hatchbacks
Other features are now standard for select trims
Part of the fifth Impreza generation introduced for 2017

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

1/16/2020

The fifth-gen Subaru Impreza has been on sale for a few years. Now, for 2020, Subaru is giving it a minor update to help keep things fresh. The changes include more standard equipment and updated front-end styling. As before, you get standard all-wheel drive, which is rare for this class of car. The increased traction can be compelling to those who live in wet or snowy climates and don't want to own a crossover SUV.

For sale near Ashburn, VA

29 listings

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2020 Subaru Impreza
Limited 4dr Hatchback
$13,995
good price
$1,322 below market
- 102,519 miles
- 28 City / 36 Hwy MPG
- 232 mi away
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Middletown, NY
CarFax No Accidents Reported, CarFax 1-Owner, Rare Find,Apple CarPlay,Back-Up Camera,Blind Spot Monitor,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Heated Seats,Keyless St...
Features and Specs:
31 Combined MPG (28 City/36 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
4S3GTAU62L3709221
Stock:
L3709221T
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
2020 Subaru Impreza
Sport 4dr Hatchback
$20,998
fair price
$543 below market
- 46,367 miles
- 27 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- 2,022 mi away
- Delivery available*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Meridian, ID
Wanna drive? CarMax puts you in the driver's seat-and that includes transparency and pricing without document or processing fees. Certain cars may hav...
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
4S3GTAM61L3734241
Stock:
27964912
Certified Pre-Owned:
No

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That said, the basic package of the 2020 Impreza is still the same. That means most of our praises and complaints about the 2019 model carry over to 2020. The engine is noisy and still feels underpowered for the class, and the lackluster real-world fuel economy makes it worse. The quality of the interior also comes across as a little low buck, especially compared to some of the newer competitors.

Do some test drives and you'll likely find rivals such as the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra more well-rounded. But that's not to say we don't like this Subaru. It's comfortable and roomy and comes with lots of advanced driver safety aids. Add in the standard all-wheel drive and you've got a pretty compelling small car, especially if you frequently drive in poor weather.

2020 Subaru Impreza trim level differences

Like many compacts, the 2020 Subaru Impreza is available as a sedan or a four-door hatchback. Features on the four trims are roughly identical for both body styles. The trims — base, Premium, Sport and Limited — are all powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft) and pack all-wheel drive. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic. Compare the 2020 Subaru Impreza trim levels in-depth.

Which Impreza trim does Edmunds recommend?

The Impreza in Base trim is pretty spartan and lacks a lot of features most people have come to expect. We recommend stepping up to the Premium trim. The extra money gets you features such as heated seats, an extra USB port and a better audio system. Some other little things, such as the Premium's extra sound insulation, painted exterior trim and alloy wheels, help make it feel like far less of a budget model.

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Reliability

The 2020 Subaru Impreza has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #35 out of 46 among Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#35 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$514/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

1x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

16.4%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 21V587000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: WRG-21
Number of vehicles affected:: 175968
Defect Description:: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Defect Consequence:: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Subaru Impreza Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

64 reviews

5(58%)

4(22%)

3(5%)

2(9%)

1(6%)

See all 64 reviews of the Subaru Impreza

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Fun and high-tech daily driver!

Andrew , 01/06/2020

2020 Subaru Impreza Sport 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

I recently bought a 2020 Impreza Sport hatchback with manual transmission. Compared to my 2017 base model Impreza, this one is MUCH nicer. I notice road and wind noise is significantly quieter, and the sound of the boxer engine is softer as well, so Subaru must have added more insulation to the car to make it quieter. My wife and I also love the heated front seats. My old Impreza took …

Review of the 2019 Impreza Hatch Base

A A, 04/23/2019

2019 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

1.5-year update: I have 34,000 miles on the car now. I've noticed that the rear tires get misaligned frequently - and this isn't just mine, but other Imprezas well. Outside of that, no issues at all! Great car! 1-year update: I have 24K miles on the clock now. This car has some big flaws when compared to a Toyota, but it has upsides that no Toyota could ever have. When I take my kid to … school and back every day, the car averages 22 mpg. Don't believe the mpg calculator - if you do it yourself, you will find the mpg to be different. Regarding assembly, there are numerous panels, doors, and plastics that simply do not align with the other side, are wobbly, or are uneven. This makes me question the assembly line - who put this car together, and will it hold-up? I have 3 Toyotas parked on my driveway, and they have flawless, perfect assembly. Also, my driver-side shock blew after only 20K miles. Now, for the pros: Subaru is definitely a lifestyle car. This car has CHARACTER. Just driving it around, people notice it. The car is COMFORTABLE, and the technology interface blows-away anything Toyota has ever made. On the highway, I'm not kidding, I get 39-45 mpg. This car handles better than any other car in the rain or mountains - it has POWER, and has saved my life several times. The engine runs just like it did on day-one. Overall, I'm more than happy with this car, and easily take it over a Corolla. Love my car! 6-month update: I've put 13,000 miles on the car so far. It's been an excellent daily driver. Suspension is stiffer than a sedan, even the Toyota Corolla. Brakes could be significantly better. This car truly is a 4-seater - taking 5 people, even with the small ones in the back, is a very cramped experience. My only major qualm has to be the amount I'm paying for gas: Adjusting for distance, you pay $53 for 400 miles in an Impreza, and $33 for 400 miles in a Corolla (a difference of $20). That's at least $80 per month more that you're paying for gas in the Impreza than in a commuter car (ie: Corolla, Civic). I feel confident in the build quality and performance of the car - I've never felt unconfident in the car when in remote areas like the Redwoods. However, long-term reliability is yet to be seen. Maintenance is easy (engine oil filter gets an 11/10 for placement), and few and far between. What gives the Impreza an x-factor is how accommodating it is of larger people: I'm 6'1", and my head is far from the ceiling. The windows are large and wide; I don't feel cramped in the car, which is a godsend when compared to a Corolla. Overall, I'm in-between about the Impreza. Gets an A+ when getting me from point A to point B. Ride quality is harsher than I want it to be. Fuel cost is significantly more than a commuter car. At the end of the day, I still take the Impreza over the Corolla. I have nightmares about getting into a Corolla and my head hitting the ceiling; if you are 5'8" or shorter, the Corolla might be better for you (plus it's a true 5-seater). Hope this helps! Original review: This car is what it is, and is not what it's not. The Impreza is an AWD, wide, roomy, and comfortable car that gets decent gas mileage. Between city and highway driving, I'm averaging 29.5 MPG. Compared to a Toyota Corolla, this car is on another level - it's fun to drive, powerful, has plush seats, amazing visibility, and is much more suitable for taller drivers than the new (2015-present) Corolla sedan. The 2015-2019 Corolla wins when it comes to MPG and rear legroom (at least in my experience), but that's about it. I bought the base model, which has hub caps, the 6.5" Starlink touchscreen (with Apple carplay and Android auto - which both work amazingly!), and cruise control. That's it for features. In the higher trims levels, you get a mix of: larger touchscreen, Eyesight technology, LED headlights, alloy rims, ski racks, etc. That raises the price of the car from about $21K for the base, to $27K for loaded. Overall, I am satisfied with my base Impreza hatchback. This car is what it is and is not what it's not. If you're looking for tons of features and the most up-to-date technology, either pay more for a premium Impreza, or opt for a different car. If you're someone who wants great visibility, more power than a normal 4-cylinder car, comfortable seats, AWD, and the satisfaction of driving a Subaru, then consider the Impreza. PS: -The car has a considerable center hump on the floor of the rear seats, making it a very comfortable 4-seater car, but a tight 5-seater car. -Although the trunk is rated to have 20.8 cubic feet of space, it's wide and deep, allowing you to easily carry 4 large suitcases and then some. For comparison, the 2017 Corolla iM also has 20.8 cubic feet of trunk space, but there's no way you're going to fit 4 large suitcases in it - it's too shallow. -There's no rear cup-holders attached to the center armrest, although the rear side doors can hold 2 bottles of water each.

Nice car, nothing great nothing bad

Raja Chava, 09/11/2019

2019 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I have had a 2007 Camry and replaced it with Impreza after 13yrs. Our primary requirement was AWD, reliability and affordability. It was easy to filter and narrow down the list of cars. We bought Impreza base model with EyeSight. We also got lifetime oil changes for $500 (2 oil changes/yr for as long I own the car) The good: Smooth ride Perfect size for our needs Lot of features in …

Subaru has stepped up its features.

Chris C, 12/11/2018

2019 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

In the past I never looked at Subaru’s because they were always behind in tech and features. They have stepped up big time. The eye sight works amazing, I use the auto cruise control daily going to work and only have to push the gas or brake pedals on side streets, it does a great job of keep you behind the car in front of you. The infotainment software is amazing, as someone coming from …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Subaru Impreza, so we've included reviews for other years of the Impreza since its last redesign.

2020 Impreza Features & Specs

Type:

Hatchback

Trim:

Base

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$19,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$183/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Impreza models:

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Sounds an audible warning when vehicles are approaching from the side, such as when backing out of a parking space.
Subaru EyeSight: Bundles several driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, emergency braking and lane keeping assist.
Reverse Automatic Braking: Applies the brakes automatically if a collision is deemed imminent while reversing.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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