2025 Subaru Impreza: 6 reasons to love it, 3 reasons to think twice

The Subaru Impreza has graced American roadways for a quarter of a century, but it’s never been a model to steal the spotlight or lag behind competitors. Instead, the model makes a name for itself as an affordably priced car with a long list of standard features. The sixth-generation Subaru Impreza arrived in 2024 with an updated design that improved overall ride quality, interior style, and served as a throwback to the 1990s.

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The Subaru Impreza doesn’t have any changes on the docket for the 2025 model year given its original full redesign in 2024 and continues to align with Subaru’s goal of providing consumers with a budget-friendly and practical all-wheel drive hatchback.

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Reason to love it #1: practical design features

The 2025 Subaru Impreza maintains its practical appeal with a roomy interior, straightforward controls, standard all-wheel drive, and an array of safety features and technology. Physical buttons, rather than touchscreen controls, ensure easier navigation of the infotainment system.

A step near the rear seats provides easy access to the roof, should your Impreza come with roof rails. A CVT comes standard across the lineup, further simplifying the driving experience while optimizing fuel economy. Altogether, the Subaru Impreza combines affordable pricing with practicality to meet the needs of A-to-B drivers.

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Reason to love it #2: standard all-wheel drive

Typically, all-wheel drive is reserved for larger vehicles, but the Impreza comes with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system out of the gate. The system’s balanced design provides better stability and distribution of power for improved handling and a quicker response time if road conditions are rough.

Other hatchbacks offer an all-wheel drivetrain at an extra cost, but with the Impreza’s already low price, it’s hard to beat it on drivetrain alone.

Reason to love it #3: available at a low price

The 2025 Subaru Impreza arrives with no changes from the previous model year, save for pricing. The 2025 model starts at $665 more than the 2024 model, but even with that minor price increase, the new Impreza’s MSRP of $23,495 is impressively low. At that price, the Impreza hatchback is one of the most affordable vehicles in the industry.

The middle-of-the-road Impreza Sport starts at $25,495. It adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a performance management system, and paddle shifters to the base model’s standard equipment.

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The rally-inspired Impreza RS comes with a $28,385 price tag and adds signature interior and exterior elements, including “RS” badging and unique interior accents. The RS rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, and includes a black front grille, side spoilers, and side mirrors. The All-Weather Package, Blind-spot Detection with Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Automatic Emergency Steering all come standard as well.

Reason to love it #4: the peppy RS trim

The base Subaru Impreza rolls out with a 2.0-liter flat-four that delivers 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. The RS ups the ante, with a more powerful 2.5-liter flat-four engine that produces 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come mated to a CVT.

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As a part of its redesign, the Subaru Impreza gained the WRX’s dual-pinion electric power steering rack. That, combined with a new electronic brake booster and a stiffer chassis, make the Impreza a tempting model for enthusiasts on a budget. With the RS trim’s more powerful 2.5-liter flat-four engine, the Subaru Impreza offers quite a bit of pep in a small package.

Reason to love it #5: coming off a redesign

The Subaru Impreza entered its sixth generation for the 2024 model year in style, with an updated cabin, stiffer chassis, and plenty of standard equipment. The new generation also marked the return of the sporty RS trim, a nod to the rally days of the 1990s.

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In terms of style, the new Impreza wears a design language similar to that of the WRX and Crosstrek. Inside, an 11.6-inch touchscreen display is available for the first time and comes standard on all but the base trim.

Reason to love it #6: roomy interior

When it comes to passenger space, the Subaru Impreza clearly aims to please. Designed with 100.5 cu ft. of room, the Impreza hatchback can comfortably seat up to five people. Rear headroom is particularly notable, making it easier for taller passengers to get in and out of the vehicle.

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Reason to think twice #1: no manual transmission

More and more automakers are saying sayonara to manual transmissions, and Subaru is following suit, at least in the Impreza. The Japanese automaker still offers a manual transmission in the sporty WRX sedan so at least the stick isn’t completely dead in its lineup.

For the 2025 model year, the Subaru Impreza comes with a standard CVT, even in the top-of-the-line RS trim. It seems practicality trumps a more engaging driving experience, although other updated features, like a stiffer chassis, imply otherwise.

Reason to think twice #2: heavy competition

The Subaru Impreza is hardly a hot hatch, even in its RS trim, but it is a budget-friendly car. There are more hatchback options to consider though, many of which are more efficient than the Impreza. For example, the Honda Civic Hatchback starts at $27,450 and has an optional 200-horsepower hybrid powertrain.

The Mazda3 Hatchback includes a punchier set of powertrain options and available all-wheel drive. It’s a bit more expensive than the Impreza, starting at $24,950, but its spec sheet punches toward higher-end competitors.

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The Toyota Prius entered a new generation back in 2023, and it’s still fairly fresh. The Prius features a hybrid powertrain that puts out over 190 horsepower, features optional all-wheel drive, and has some of the best fuel efficiency ratings in its class.

Of course, if you’re looking for a hot hatch, and money is no issue, there are always the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota Corolla GR, and Volkswagen Golf R to consider.

Reason to think twice #3: basically a shorter Crosstrek

It’s not uncommon to find vehicles similar in style and amenities across automaker lineups, but Subaru’s Impreza and Crosstrek might be just a little too similar. Both models have the same 105.1-inch wheelbase, and their length and width dimensions fall within an inch of each other.

Height is the primary difference between the two, with the Crosstrek sitting five inches taller than the Impreza and offering a 1,500 lbs. towing capacity. On paper, those are the main two differences, and Subaru even has a dedicated comparison page for the two models on its website.

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The Subaru Impreza offers a lower center of gravity and a more thrilling ride at highway speeds, but if you lean towards practicality, the Crosstrek is a better pick. Its increased ground clearance and higher seating position give it a clear edge over the Subaru Impreza.

On the other hand, if you want to save $2,100, the Subaru Impreza is basically a shorter Crosstrek without the towing capacity and ground clearance.

The Subaru Impreza comes with a pretty sweet array of features, but there are other, potentially better, hatchbacks to consider. Get behind the wheel of the Honda Civic Hatchback, Mazda3 Hatchback, and Toyota Prius before making the final decision on your next hatchback purchase.

About the author

Joseph Pudlewski

Contributing Writer, Autoblog

Joseph Pudlewski is an automotive writer and editor with over a decade of experience. While his hands-on experience spans a wide range of vehicles, his recent focus is on the EV, supercar, and motorsports segments. He brings a dual perspective to his work, blending a deep passion for high-performance vehicles with the practical insights of a family man. Based in Ohio, his portfolio includes work for publications like Hot Cars and content creation for various automotive websites and dealerships.