2018 Subaru Impreza Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What's New for 2018?
Almost everything that came on the 2017 Subaru Impreza carries over to the 2018 model. The only real difference with the 2018 Subaru Impreza is that the Sport, Premium, and Limited trims are all now equipped with automatic wipers.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Subaru Impreza – The Pros
1. All-Wheel Drive is Standard
If you love off-roading or have to drive a lot in cold climates, having all-wheel drive come standard on the 2018 Subaru Impreza is a real bonus. It provides a good amount of traction and will keep your wheels smoothly treading over any road surface, in any weather.
2. Spacious Interior
The Impreza might be a small sedan, but it is surprisingly spacious on the interior. There is plenty of head, leg, shoulder, and hip room, and adults under 6 feet tall can fit in the rear with no problem. Even taller folks will be able to feel somewhat comfortable in the rear, although a lack of rear space is common for this class.
3. No Road or Wind Noise
The cabin is well-insulated, so you won't hear a ton of wind or road noise. Even when you take it up to highway speeds, the Impreza stays nice and tranquil. Of course, there is a little bit of engine noise when you put it at full throttle, but it is better than what you will hear on other vehicles in this class.
4. Numerous Safety Features
Subaru is known for being generous with safety features, and the 2018 Subaru Impreza is loaded with them. You can order an optional EyeSight package, which offers an Advanced Driver Assist System to help keep you safe while on the road.
5. A 5-Speed Manual Transmission is Available
Not a big fan of automatic transmissions? Not a problem! Subaru offers a manual transmission as an alternative to the CVT automatic transmission. The 5-speed manual transmission shifts well and doesn't feel clunky.
6. Confident Braking
The brakes on the 2018 Subaru Impreza are solid, and the pedal provides a good sense of the pressure. There is no guesswork with regard to how the brakes will respond at different speeds and in different driving scenarios. The vehicle can come to an emergency stop from 60 to 0 mph in about 121 feet, which is good for this class.
7. Well-Bolstered Seats
Seats in the Impreza are firm but still feel comfortable. Additionally, they are well-bolstered and make sitting for an extended period of time feel alright. Even the flattened rear seats have quite a bit of bolstering and comfort.
8. Well-Tuned Suspension
The suspension on the Impreza is incredibly well-tuned. In fact, it is quite compliant when going over crevasses and bumps both large and small. Also, the tires help to absorb some of the shock and keep the ride feeling smooth.
9. User-Friendly Controls
Just taking a look at the center stack, you won't have to guess which controls are which and what their functions are. Controls are clearly labeled, intuitively placed, and adjust as expected. Even the touchscreen interface is user-friendly and well-designed.
10. Plenty of Visibility
Visibility is almost perfect on the Impreza. The front windshield is massive and allows a great amount of forward visibility. The roof pillars are slender enough so that they don't impede your line of sight. The rear window is also pretty large, making rear visibility excellent as well.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Subaru Impreza – The Cons
1. Transmission Noise
While the 2018 Subaru Impreza doesn't have too many huge drawbacks, the biggest is that there is some transmission noise. The CVT is particularly whiny when under full throttle but is otherwise pretty docile. You will really only notice the noise when you get the car going fast on the highway.
2. Sluggish Acceleration
The Impreza struggles to get the same speedy acceleration that some of its competitors are known for. The Impreza can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.4 seconds, which puts it well behind the industry average. You will have to carefully plan your passing and merging attempts on the highway.
3. Actual Fuel Economy Does Not Match EPA Estimates
An underlying problem is that drivers are noticing that the real-world gas mileage is a little bit different from the EPA estimates. The Impreza falls short of these estimates, putting it behind some of its competitors in terms of gas mileage.
4. Interior Materials Lack High Quality
This isn't a huge complaint, but in an industry where looks matter, the interior design seems to lack quality materials. Higher-quality materials can be found in the Impreza's competitors, which can be a deterrent for some potential Subaru customers.
How it stacks up to the competition:
2018 Subaru Impreza vs. 2018 Mazda 3
Topping the list of competitors for the year is the 2018 Mazda 3. This sporty little sedan performs well in all capacities except for cargo space, which is a bit lacking. However, its steering and handling are precise, and it has some of the highest crash test scores for any 2018 vehicle. Also, the quality of its interior materials put the Mazda 3 a step ahead of the Impreza in terms of design elements.
2018 Subaru Impreza vs. 2018 Hyundai Elantra
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is another spunky sedan that is modestly priced and set to compete well with the 2018 Subaru Impreza. The Elantra has heavier steering and a meek base engine, but it is extremely quiet, comfortable, and has a high-quality interior design. Additionally, the Elantra packs in a ton of standard safety and technology features that come as options on the Impreza and other vehicles.
Conclusion
The 2018 Subaru Impreza isn't the fastest car in the world, but it puts in a good performance. The fact that AWD is standard is a huge deciding factor for many drivers who live in cooler climates or who simply enjoy off-roading. Overall, the Impreza is a responsive and cozy little vehicle that will get you where you need to go.
