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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Subaru Impreza

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Subaru Impreza

Overview

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2012 Subaru Impreza Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.8

For 2012, Subaru introduces an all-new version of its capable and dependable compact sedan and wagon. The 2012 Subaru Impreza is roomier and better-trimmed inside than many competitors, and continues as the only passenger car under $20K with standard Symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD). Courtesy of reduced weight, a new, more-efficient 2.0-liter boxer engine and continuously variable automatic transmission, the 2012 Impreza offers the best EPA-estimated fuel economy of any gasoline-powered all-wheel-drive passenger car, better even than the base-engine/automatic-transmission mileage of front-drive compacts like Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Sentra.

You'll Like This Car If...

The 2012 Impreza is the practical choice if you value the no-nonsense reliability, security and all-weather traction benefits of standard all-wheel drive combined with roomy comfort and top-notch fuel economy in its class.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If Subaru's traditionally excellent safety ratings or the Impreza's standard all-wheel drive traction isn't a big factor in your purchase decision, there are compact competitors that offer more features for less money.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.8
Driving Dynamics

6.7
Comfort & Convenience

6.7
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.3
Value

6.8
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#18

out of 24

MPG

#10

out of 24

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.4 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2012 Subaru Impreza Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

Subaru made the Impreza a comfortable, roomy, attractive place for customers downsizing from mid-size cars. The Impreza's safety credentials are bolstered by a standard driver's knee airbag for 2012. Last year's Outback Sport is discontinued, replaced by two range-topping 5-door wagon models: the 2.0i Sport Premium and 2.0i Sport Limited.

Driving the Impreza

2012 Subaru Impreza Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions Like comfortable sneakers, the 2012 Subaru Impreza offers surefooted all-wheel-drive traction under all road and weather conditions. It may lack the sharp steering response of a Focus or road feel...

of a Civic, but the Impreza imparts confidence and feels unflappable at all times. The all-new 2.0-liter boxer engine is 13 percent less powerful than last year's 2.5-liter, but acceleration is decent, especially with the available continuously variable transmission (CVT), which replaces 2011's 4-speed automatic. The CVT responds quickly to changing road grades and driver input without shift lag, although with the radio and fan turned off, a slight transmission whine is heard. New front seats offer more comfort and improved support. Outward visibility is among the best in the segment. The wagon's split rear seat folds completely flat and the rolled-up cargo cover stows under the cargo floor – two examples of Subaru's thoughtfulness.

Favorite Features

INCLINE START ASSIST
Called "Hill Hold" in popular parlance, this nifty feature keeps your Impreza from rolling back or forward as you release the clutch when starting out on an incline. It's standard on manual-transmission models.

ECO GAUGE
New for 2012, this dash-mounted analog gauge gives Impreza drivers bio-feedback on how fuel-efficient they are driving. It's simple, effective and if you keep the needle to the right, you're saving gas.

2012 Subaru Impreza Details

2012 Subaru Impreza Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Although overall length is unchanged from 2011, the 2012 model is the roomiest Subaru Impreza ever. It has more rear-seat legroom than some mid-size cars thanks to a skillful wheelbase stretch and scalloped front seatbacks. Hip and shoulder room improve courtesy of carefully contoured door panels. Larger door openings make getting in and out easier than in many competitors. Raised seat heights, increased glass area and a lowered dash help give a command-of-the-road feel. Front seats get pressure-distributing bottom cushions, increased lumbar support and new tilt-adjustable headrests. Soft touch coverings adorn the dash, door panels and console.

Exterior

The 2012 Subaru Impreza gets all-new sheet metal. Both the more-formal 4-door sedan and sporty 5-door wagon feature more sharply sculpted, Legacy-derived styling with prominent wheel arches and hawkeye-shaped headlights. In silhouette, each has a light and airy greenhouse with large windows and slimmer-looking roof pillars for improved visibility, highlighted by a more rakish windshield. With blind spots reduced or eliminated, the new Impreza is one of the easiest cars in its class to maneuver and move through traffic.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The base Impreza 2.0i rolls on smallish 15-inch steel wheels, but otherwise is cheerfully equipped with standard all-wheel drive, A/C, remote keyless entry, 60/40 split folding rear seat, carpeted floormats, wagon cargo tie-downs, auto-off headlights, 4-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo, height-adjust driver's seat and tilt/telescoping steering column. The 2.0i Premium gains 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, wagon cargo cover, sliding center armrest, and a 6-speaker audio with Bluetooth streaming, iPod connectivity, hands-free phone capability, and a USB port. The 2.0i Limited adds leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, the CVT (automatic transmission), heated seats and HD radio with 4.3-inch display. Well-trimmed and wagon-only, the 2.0i Sport Premium and Sport Limited models lack only standard navigation and a moonroof.

Optional Equipment

The only option available on base 2.0i Imprezas is the CVT. With the Impreza 2.0i Premium, the optional CVT comes with shift paddles that allow the driver to manually select six ratios. Also available on 2.0i Premium models are an all-weather package with heated seats and outside mirrors plus wiper de-icers, and a 17-inch alloy-wheel package that adds stainless-steel exhaust tips and a leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel. A power moonroof and 6.1-inch touch-screen navigation system with XM satellite radio is optional on all but the base model. Last year's removable Tom Tom nav unit is no longer offered. Neither are power seats.

Under the Hood

The 2012 Subaru Impreza sticks with its unique, compact boxer engine that's known for reliability and a low center of gravity that helps handling and safety. But while the 2011 2.5-liter Impreza had one of the larger, more powerful standard engines among compacts, the all-new 2012 2.0-liter version is among the most advanced and fuel-efficient with a 36-percent boost to its EPA combined city/highway rating. Subaru engineered the new engine for improved low- and mid-range torque, which improves around-town responsiveness. A switch to a new dual-overhead-cam configuration with variable valve control for both intake and exhaust boosts efficiency and performance. Adapted from the Legacy, the 2012 Impreza upgrades its automatic transmission to the Lineartronic CVT, which – unlike earlier CVTs that droned on – gives a more linear response to the gas pedal.

2.0-liter flat-4
148 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
145 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/34 mpg (manual), 27/36 mpg (automatic)

Pricing Notes

Despite all the improvements to fuel economy, roominess, comfort and infotainment technology, the base price (MSRP with destination charges) of the 2012 Subaru Impreza Sedan is the same as 2011, just over $18,000. Five-door Wagon models go for $500 more. Last year's top model, the Outback Sport, is replaced by a pair of loaded, wagon-only models (the Sport Premium and Sport Limited) that range from $21K to just above $23K. That puts the top Impreza models up against the better equipped VW Jetta, Mazda Mazda3, Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze models, but these competitors don't have all-wheel drive. The closest AWD rival is the Mitsubishi Lancer, with the tiny Suzuki SX4 and larger, more expensive Suzuki Kizashi and Ford Fusion rounding out the small field. As with other Subarus, we expect the 2012 Impreza to hold its resale value well. To get a better idea of what people in your area are paying for their 2012 Subaru Imprezas, check out Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Price in the "What should I pay for a new car?" section on our homepage.

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2012 Subaru Impreza Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.4

Out of 10

Based on 21 Ratings for the 2012 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

9.0/10
Reliability

9.6/10

Performance

8.3/10
Comfort

8.3/10

Styling

8.0/10

lots of zip

By impreza lover (NH) on Sunday, May 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 13,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, reliable, great gas mileage"

Cons: "It's not a luxury car, but who cares?!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I love driving this car! It has a lot of unexpected zip for a 4 cyl vehicle, goes like a tank through the snow, and gets amazing gas mileage. The features are abundant and easy to use, the heated plush seats are such a comfort, and the interior space is larger than one might think. It's easy to see why this car is so highly rated."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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Love It!

By TheDo0dBruH (CA) on Thursday, May 09, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 3,600

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "AWD, Yen is weak (can get a deal), cargo space"

Cons: "Strange sound when braking coming from rear of car"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Before '13 impreza premium 5-door I have owned '88 IROC Z, '00 Civic Si, and '06 Chevy Cobalt. After driving the car in the first rain of teh season a few months ago i wondered why they even sold 2wd cars. Great handling in wet and slippery conditions. Handles great all the time, so far I love it. Sometimes when I brake I hear a weird vibrating or grinding noise from the back, anyone else get this?"

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WRX Hatch Great Car!

By Doubleh44 (GA) on Monday, May 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 20,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "Safe, Fun, Roomy, Fast, Value"

Cons: "Stereo, BlueTooth, Road Noise"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Awesome Car except for a few minor things. Fun to drive, car is fast and handles great! Has enough room to be a family car. Blue tooth does not work well, Stereo sound could be better, a little loud in cabin but I like that. Some SPT parts not available yet."

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Great AWD value

By Bill (PA) on Sunday, March 31, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "good handling"

Cons: "CVT noise"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Car has lived up to all my expectations. Ride and handling are solid and fuel economy has been between 26 and 41 mpg. CVT noise is a drawback but not a major problem. Seats are very comfortable even on long trips. Interior is spacious."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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Over a year later and still happy with my Impreza

By Kate (MN) on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 26,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "handles nicely, AWD standard,"

Cons: "cup holders only in the doors in backseat"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have had my 2012 Impreza since January 2012. It has been a really fun car to drive. I only have two gripes about the car. First, I'm only averaging about 27mpg and that is mostly highway miles. Second, the backseat is a little small for anyone over 5'10" and there are no center cupholders. It's annoying that my passengers only have the door to place their beverages in and large beverages won't fit in the door. Some people complain about the transmission, but the engine has enough pep for me. I don't have any problems getting up to speed to merge when needed."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Impressive Impreza

By SubieNewbie (NY) on Saturday, March 02, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 2,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Very Impressed so far. I like the car a lot, and I was not sure I would at first. It handles very very well in NYC traffic and takes potholes like a champ. For its size, it feels like a larger car and is comfortable for my backseaters as well. The cargo capacity and flexibility of the hatchback are great. My only complaint would be the road noise is elevated over some other similar cars, but it is not deafening and does not really bother me. I have to agree with some of the other posters that this car and Subaru in general are severely under rated. The simplicity and functional design of the interior and exterior are a plus to me, not a minus."

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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See all 21 reviews