2019 Subaru Impreza

The 2019 Subaru Impreza is available in four trim options – Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited. The starting price of the 2019 Subaru Impreza stands at $18,595 while the top of the line, Limited trim is priced from $25,190. The car is available with AWD as standard and all the trims are decently loaded with a number of features. A number of standard safety features are also offered across the range. 

For the people who want more, Subaru has a number of optional packages to choose from that add some of the features of the higher trims to the lower trims. The Optional Package is the most popular among all the packages and adds $2,470 to the MSRP by providing power moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, power driver’s seat, and a Harman Kardon system. 

What trim should you buy?

The Sport trim is available with a long list of features and the price too is not very expensive and all this makes the 2019 Subaru Impreza Sport an extremely VFM trim in the line-up. For those who are a little tight on the budget, the base trim level too is decently equipped and will offer almost all the necessary features.

Powering the 2019 Subaru Impreza is a 2.0L boxer-4 engine which churns out a peak power output of 152 hp while the maximum torque output stands at 145 lb-ft. It is the only car in the class to offer AWD as standard across the range. A 5-speed manual gearbox is available as standard while the buyers can also opt for the optional CVT gearbox. The engine is responsive and NVH levels too are impressive.

Sticking true to its rallying history, the 2019 Subaru Impreza boasts great driving dynamics but the outright performance could have been better. The 5-speed gearbox is easy to operate while the CVT gearbox does take a toll on the overall performance. The response to the throttle is great and driving this car in traffic or on the highway is not a difficult task. 

While the 2019 Subaru Impreza is pretty powerful for the class, the acceleration remains more or less similar to the Corolla which has a healthy 13 horsepower deficit. The others have even worse timings, despite the Civic being the most powerful in the class.

How well does the 2019 Subaru Impreza handle?

The 2019 Subaru Impreza is one of the best handling sedans in the class and features a sport-tuned suspension. The ride quality too is comfortable and the passengers report a comfortable experience inside. The driving dynamics are sorted and the hardcore driving enthusiast will definitely love pushing this car hard into the corners. 

The steering is responsive and offers an impressive feel and feedback. The steering does weigh up a little as the speeds go up and the AWD also helps the car offer maximum traction in all situations. In all, the 2019 Subaru Impreza is an extremely capable car and offers sorted driving dynamics.

Braking Performance

The 2019 Subaru Impreza gets disc brakes at both front and at the rear - 10.9-inch front and 10.8-inch rear brake rotors. The car is available with a long list of safety features which also include features like ABS, EBD, etc that contribute significantly in improving the braking performance. The brake bite is decent and the braking performance is impressive in all the conditions.

The 2019 Subaru Impreza boasts an overall braking distance of just 121 ft which is as good as the Elantra, which is a lighter vehicle. The rivals like the Honda Civic, however, offer better braking performance which is aided by big front discs and the lightest curb weight in the segment. 

The 2.0L boxer engine is not one of the most fuel-efficient engines available in the market and only delivers 23 MPG for city usage in the 2019 Subaru Impreza. The highway economy happens to be 31 MPG while the combined fuel economy is claimed to be 26 MPG. The car gets a fuel tank that has a capacity of 13.2 gallons and has a decent range on a single tank of fuel. 

The 2019 Subaru Impreza is the least fuel-efficient car in this segment and offers very limited range on a single tank full of fuel. The Honda’s fuel-efficiency is impressive and provides more range despite a smaller fuel tank but the most preferred long-distance car is the Hyundai Elantra that has the most fuel-efficient powertrain and the biggest tank to aid range. 

The cabin of the 2019 Subaru Impreza is spacious and is available with a long list of features. The front seats look bulky and offer decent thigh support and lumbar support. People with a broad frame will also find these seats comfortable as the seat width is adequate. The front seats also offer a heating function. 

Side bolstering is great and the seat cushion is also on the softer side, giving a plush experience to the passengers. The rear seat bench is placed a little too low and moving in and out may not be very easy. However, once inside, the rear seat of the 2019 Subaru Impreza is spacious and comfortable.

On the features front, the car gets a 6-way power-adjustable front seat while the rear seat bench boasts a 60/40 flat fold option. Automatic climate control offers impressive performance. The insulation levels inside the cabin are decent and the passengers will feel comfortable. 

The cabin of the 2019 Subaru Impreza is decently spacious and at par with that of the rivals. The fit and finish levels however could have been better. In terms of cargo capacity, the Impreza fails to impress due to the smallest capacity but nonetheless, some of the standout interior features are as:

• 6-way power-adjustable driver seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Automatic climate control
• 60/40 flat-folding rear seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

An 8-inch StarLink multimedia system is available with the 2019 Subaru Impreza. This system is easy to use and extremely responsive. The audio system gets a 6-speaker setup from Harman and Kardon and offers good audio output. The system also gets features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in addition to the basic features like HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, etc. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• 8-inch Starlink multimedia system
• SiriusXM
• HD Radio
• USB Port
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Harman/Kardon audio system (optional)

The exterior design of the 2019 Subaru Impreza remains subtle and elegant. The LED headlights and the small grille go well with the design and the bumper too looks sporty and aggressive. The 17-inch and the 18-inch alloy wheels look great and attract a lot of attention when out there on the roads. 

The rear design too, continues the sporty design language and the spoiler adds finishing touches to the design. The build quality is decent and the panel gaps too are not wide and are even. In all, the conventional design and sporty additions make the 2019 Subaru Impreza a great-looking sedan.

The dimensions of the 2019 Subaru Impreza are at par with the class rivals. The car however features a more subtle and conventional design language when compared to the rivals. In terms of proportions, it fits in well with the other rivals and the shorter wheelbase helps a lot when carving through the twisty roads. ​​Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lights
• Rear-vision camera
• Optional sunroof

The 2019 Subaru Impreza gets the availability of EyeSight Driver Assist tech as standard across the range. In addition to this, the car also features a long list of other safety features that are mentioned below in the list. The 2019 Subaru Impreza also passed various crash tests conducted by NHTSA and IIHS with flying colors and in all, it is definitely one of the safest cars in the class. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Lane change assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Automatic collision notification
• Stolen vehicle recovery
• Rearview camera
• Reverse automatic braking
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2019 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling cars in the class and offers a striking design language in addition to powerful engine options and sorted driving dynamics. The reliability and safety levels offered by the Civic too are at par with that of the 2019 Subaru Impreza. In all, the Civic does give a strong competition to the 2019 Subaru Impreza.

2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2019 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla offers a great long-term ownership experience and is known for its supreme reliability. The car offers a comfortable cabin that boats high-quality materials and components. The fit and finish levels inside the car are commendable and after-sales support from the brand too is great.

2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The 2019 Elantra is not only a good-looking sedan, but it also offers a premium and an upmarket cabin experience. The seats of the car are comfortable and there is no dearth of features inside the car. The 2019 Subaru Impreza on the other hand offers a better driving experience.

The 2019 Subaru Impreza comes out to be an extremely well-built, fun to drive, and good-looking sedan but does have a few cons which make the rivals have an edge over it in the comparison. The car, however, is the only car in the class to offer an AWD system. The VFM pricing and availability of a long list of features have made the 2019 Subaru Impreza a great choice for anyone who is keen to get a good sedan in the market today.