What are the Best Years for a Subaru Impreza?

Most people know Subaru as a safe, comfortable family car company. According to Consumer Reports, this is correct. 

Subaru’s Impreza model is no different than the other vehicles the company makes, and it’s got quite the reputation for being a comfortable, eco-friendly model. 

But like any model, Subaru has continuously made changes to the Impreza over the years  – some that don’t last more than a year, and some for the best.

If you’re considering the Subaru Impreza, here are the best years for this car model. 

What are the Best Years for a Subaru Impreza? 

The redesigns for the 2015 Subaru Impreza and beyond are a better investment – especially the 2018 and 2022 models.  All models from 2015 to now are all great but 2018 to 2022 are better. The 2017 Impreza gets the best bang for your buck. 

This model is quiet and comfortable, even in the back seat. This all-wheel-drive, four-door sedan has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Impreza is ranked above four stars in comfort, interior design, performance, value for the money, exterior styling, and reliability on cars.com. Overall, it has a 4.7-star rating, with 100% of Impreza drivers recommending it. 

This car is also considered a “green choice” across almost all models. 

Consumer Report’s “green choice” is a designation given to the top 20% of cars that have the lowest emissions. 

These can be eclectic, gas, or hybrid cars. 

The Subaru Impreza has been around since 1992. It started as a wagon-style car then developed into the design we have today over 11 generations. 

In this article, we will look at the best years for the Impreza, the cost of the best years, and the worst years of the Impreza. 

Best Years for Subaru Impreza 

2015 Subaru Impreza 

One of the biggest improvements for the 2015 year was the rear camera, which became a standard for this vehicle after 2015. 

There were also small improvements to reduce cabin noise while you drive, an EyeSight system that became available, and better gas mileage than the years before. 

The biggest complaint about this model is that this is the year that Subaru decided to switch to acoustic glass, and some drivers found that it was more susceptible to cracking or pitting. 

2017 Subaru Impreza 

In 2017, the Impreza went through another complete redesign, where the company added more safety equipment to the vehicle and an even more powerful engine that packed more horsepower than before.

And, with a more spacious cabin, you’ve got a roomier interior and more straight-line stability than 2016 or 2015 models had. 

It’s also important to note that this was the first Impreza model to be underpinned by Subaru’s new global architecture, and many of the newer Imprezas are variations of the original 2017.

Keep in mind that the 2017 model does still use the same acoustic glass you’ll find in the 2015 Impreza, which some drivers thought cracked too easily. 

2018 Subaru Impreza 

After the redesign in 2017, the 2018 model doesn’t see a lot of changes – although it does include automatic headlight activation, which may be a perk worth upgrading for. 

2022 Subaru Impreza

The next great year for the Subaru Impreza is 2022. 

There are a couple of reasons for this – while there’s not a ton of interior or exterior changes from the 2017 or 2018 model, the price for this year is a little more affordable. 

And, if you’re someone who likes to ride in style, you won’t find the Sapphire Pearl Blue paint color for the 2022 Impreza in most of the previous models. 

Cost for the Best Year Subaru Impreza

When it comes to price, most of the best Subaru Imprezas rank pretty affordably compared to the competition. 

While the 2022 model has a listing price of $18,795, the 2017 may be priced closer to $17,000 to $18,000. 

Of course, the cheapest option will be the 2015 model at $14,000 to $15,000, but you’ll miss out on the 2017 redesign if you opt for this year. 

Worst Years for Subaru Impreza 

Like any car company, Subaru has had a few models that have turned out to be lackluster for their year. 

If you’re thinking of getting an Impreza, you may want to avoid these years: 

2008 Subaru Impreza

This was the year that got the most overall customer complaints. 

One of the most seen issues was visibility through the windshield. 

The design on the original Impreza had a film on the windshield that ultimately made it hard to see in bad weather conditions. 

The other major issue with this model is a head gasket failure in the engine, which can be an expensive issue to fix. 

Besides some of those customer complaints, the 2008 Subaru Impreza just wasn’t up to par, despite some of the significant redesigns that Subaru tried to do with this model.

There’s some cabin space, but you won’t see any improved gas mileage or engine power. 

2012 Subaru Impreza

Most complaints for this year had to do with the engine using too much oil and sudden accelerations. 

These two issues come from two of the most expensive areas to fix on a vehicle: the engine and transmission. 

Part of this may have to do with some of Subaru’s redesigns for their 2012 Impreza. There’s a new four-cylinder engine in this model, but some drivers felt the performance was lackluster even with the extra power.

Ultimately, the 2012 Impreza suffers a lot of the same issues that the previous generation of Imprezas had, and as a result, this model just isn’t up to par. 

2013 Subaru Impreza

As the year prior, one of the complaints was that the engine was using too much oil and sudden acceleration. 

However, the 2013 model also had the issue of not shifting to the right gear. Again, these are expensive issues. 

Two of which are dealing with the transmission alone. 

The 2013 model does have good fuel economy, but overall, this model lacks reliability and has a higher cost of ownership, which is why we’re placing it in one of the Impreza’s worst years. 

It is important to note that from 2009 – 2014, the Impreza was made with a 2.5-L turbo four-cylinder engine. 

This engine was part of a lawsuit due to the pistons and PVC overheating and malfunctioning. 

As a result, any Subaru Impreza from the year 2009 to 2014 tend to be less reliable and have complaints of failing long before they’re supposed to – so, you may want to steer clear of these models. 

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, some of the older Subarus from 2008 to 2014 tend to have more defects that make them more expensive to own and less reliable. 

While not every model may be worth considering, any Impreza beyond 2015 and especially after the 2017 redesign could be a worthy addition. 

The spacious cabin and added safety features are what make many of the newer Subaru Imprezas reliable, comfortable rides.