Looking for a Reason to Buy a Used Impreza? We’ve Got 7 of Them

The Subaru Impreza has earned a loyal following since first hitting the market in 1992. On its surface, the Impreza might seem like just another compact, but once you dive into some of the model’s superlatives, the appeal quickly becomes clear. For example, the Impreza includes all-wheel drive (AWD) as a standard feature, which is an especially generous inclusion considering that AWD is rarely even offered as an optional feature in the compact class. For those in Albany and the upstate NY area in the market for a used Impreza and are looking for an Albany used Subaru dealership, look no further than Subaru of Troy, conveniently located in Troy, NY.

Whether you choose the hatchback or sedan version, the Impreza also combines some of the best attributes of the compact segment—fuel efficiency, resale value, low ownership cost, a sporty approach, and some novel features like an optional manual transmission that helps to elevate the driving experience. These features make the Impreza a particularly good value on the preowned market, allowing drivers to save money while still enjoying one of the best compacts in the game. Don’t just take our word for it—here are 7 reasons to get a used Subaru Impreza.

1. Race-Ready

The Impreza has a strong history of off-road performance, making its debut in the World Rally Championship as far back as 1992. The racing circuit was the perfect testing ground for Subaru’s new compact model, which quickly outperformed its WRC predecessor, the midsize Subaru Legacy. The Impreza earned a podium in its very first race and brought the automaker three consecutive WRC titles from 1995 through 1997, beginning a legacy in the racing scene that’s only grown stronger over time. Case in point: the Impreza is now tied with the Lancia Delta for the most WRC event wins of all time.

The WRC versions of the Impreza featured a number of upgrades over the consumer model in terms of components and tuning, but Subaru made a concession to civilian drivers with the high-performance WRX and WRX STI models. Short for World Rally eXperimental, the WRX has a number of the performance upgrades found on the Imprezas competing in the WRC, including stiffer suspensions and turbocharged engines. The STI version takes it one step further, adding a performance-tuned engine and transmission to the mix, along with carbon fiber strut bars, forged pistons, and more. The STI also has a mechanical limited-slip style differential paired with an electronically controlled differential that goes a long way in improving torque transfer. The model can be customized at the push of a button, allowing drivers to deactivate traction control, stability control, throttle mapping, and torque vectoring to deliver whatever type of ride they’re looking for.

Subaru split the WRX and WRX STI off from the Impreza badge following the 2014 model year, giving the race-ready compacts their own models, but there are still plenty of pre-2015 Impreza-branded WRX and WRX STI models on today’s used vehicle market. Regardless of which version you choose, every Impreza is built with an exceptionally low center of gravity thanks to its flat-four boxer engine layout. Sitting much lower in the chassis than a conventional engine, the engine’s position gives the Impreza dramatically improved handling, ensuring exceptional control even at higher speeds.

2. Standard All-Wheel Drive

Offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature across its lineup has allowed Subaru to carve out a unique niche in the market. From its smallest compact to its largest SUV, almost every Subaru model includes the automaker’s unique symmetrical AWD system. The Impreza is particularly noteworthy given its sub-$20,000 price tag, which makes the compact the least expensive AWD vehicle on the market today. Generally speaking, AWD allows vehicles to excel in challenging road conditions by increasing the vehicle’s overall traction. This is accomplished by continually monitoring each wheel and delivering extra traction when slippage is detected. While different AWD systems solve this issue differently, this is usually accomplished by transferring power between the front and rear axles. Whether you find yourself facing ice, snow, mud, or rain, AWD ensures you’ll feel safe and in control behind the wheel.

Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system takes it to the next level with a system that doesn’t just wait until wheel slip occurs before jumping into action but deals with the issue proactively. The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system continually sends extra power to all four wheels, allowing Subaru models like the Impreza to address wheel slip much faster than a traditional AWD system. Another difference that elevates Subaru’s system above the standard AWD offerings is how that power is transferred. While we mentioned that most AWD systems shift power between the front and rear axles to address slippage, the Subaru system can transfer power to each individual wheel and deliver power exactly where it’s needed. The AWD system also makes the Impreza an instant contender in any off-road scenario, vastly improving cornering and giving drivers the confidence to aggressively tackle the road ahead.

3. Resale and Reliability

The Impreza isn’t just the most affordable AWD vehicle on the market; it’s also one of the best when it comes to retaining its value. Subaru’s reputation for reliability and the Impreza’s low starting price means that the compact is a particularly good investment whether you’re looking to pick one up on the used market or unload your Impreza for a newer model. In fact, the Impreza has taken home the Best Resale Value Award from Kelley Blue Book (KBB) in 6 of the last seven years, with the industry expert lauding the model’s well-rounded appeal.

It’s the compact’s reliability that has the biggest effect on its considerable resale value. The Impreza is built to last, with 94 percent of models sold in the last 10 years still adding miles to the odometer. This makes the Impreza the clear standout among passenger vehicles, but especially in the compact class where the Honda, Toyota, and Mazda entries simply can’t compete. As is often the case, the value is even more pronounced when exploring the used market, with drivers saving almost $3,500 compared to buying new. Take the 2021 Impreza, for example. While drivers will still be able to enjoy 92 percent of the vehicle’s expected service life, they’ll pay just 89 percent of the cost when compared to a new model. This reputation for reliability and resale potential tends to have something of a knock-on effect, which enhances the Impreza’s value even further since any interested buyer will find no shortage of articles and reviews lauding the compact’s value.

4. Fuel Economy

Compact vehicles are often some of the most fuel-efficient on the market, and despite its sporty reputation, the Impreza is no exception. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily extend to the WRX and WRX StI versions, which nix fuel economy in the name of raw performance, but the base model stacks up particularly well against the competition. This level of efficiency isn’t unique to the Impreza, with Subaru being ranked as the third-best automaker in terms of lowest greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy by the EPA. The current 2022 Impreza is a great example of Subaru’s green reputation, offering a combined average fuel efficiency of 32 MPG. But just how does the Impreza post such impressive fuel economy stats? It all comes down to a few key technologies, including Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT, boxer engine and aerodynamic design.

Subaru’s Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) might play the most significant role in helping the Impreza achieve its notable fuel economy. Unlike traditional transmissions, which can be slow to shift between gears, the CVT system quickly adjusts to match the vehicle’s acceleration. By eliminating the need to shift between distinct gears, the Impreza can maximize its fuel efficiency, delivering ample power without draining the gas tank prematurely. Imprezas sold with a manual transmission instead of the CVT will see a modest decrease in fuel efficiency, but even in manual mode, the compact still ranks up within its class.

The Boxer engine is another boon to the Impreza’s fuel economy thanks to a novel design that uses horizontally-opposed pistons in a 180-degree configuration. Unlike a normal engine with vertically-opposed pistons, the Boxer’s pistons don’t need to travel as far, with these shorter strokes having a noticeable effect on increased acceleration. Acceleration takes more of a toll on your tank than maintaining a constant speed, so the quicker you can get up to cruising speed, the better for your wallet. Contrary to popular belief, a vehicle’s fuel efficiency doesn’t necessarily degrade over time. In fact, if a vehicle is well cared for with suggested maintenance schedules being met, there’s no reason for a vehicle to ever see a notable decrease in fuel economy. The Impreza’s fuel economy ratings have stayed fairly consistent over the last half-decade, with models sold between 2017 and 2019 posting 38 MPG on the highway and 28 in the city when paired with the CVT.

5. Manual Transmission

The manual gearbox has long gone the way of the dinosaur, but Subaru is one of the few automakers keeping the feature alive across much of its lineup. The Impreza, along with the WRX, STI, BRZ, Crosstrek, and Forester, are all available with manual transmissions. This, combined with the brand’s reputation for including AWD standard across much of its lineup, goes a long way in showcasing Subaru as an automaker that’s not about nickel-and-diming drivers who are just trying to enjoy their driving experience.

These types of features often come at a premium, but Subaru is bucking that trend with the Impreza standing as one of the most affordable AWD vehicles with a manual transmission available on the market. It’s also notable that a brand that’s gone to the trouble of inventing its own proprietary automatic transmission in CVT would go so far out of its way to cater to more old-fashioned drivers by including a manual option, but once again, that’s just Subaru being Subaru.

There are a number of advantages to a manual transmission over its automatic descendant, but for most drivers, it all comes down to feel. A manual transmission often enhances the sense of connection between car and driver, allowing the person behind the wheel to gain a better understanding of their vehicle’s inner workings and offering greater control. Instead of letting a preprogrammed algorithm decide when to shift gears, a manual transmission leaves the decision up to the driver, allowing them to push it to the limit or take it easy, depending on what the situation calls for.

This can often lead to improved gas mileage as drivers can optimize gear shifts for maximum efficiency, and if something should go wrong, manual transmissions are often much cheaper to fix than complicated automatic setups. Overall, manual transmissions make for a more engaging and fun driving experience, especially when built into a vehicle with the sporty feel of the Impreza.

6. Safety

The Impreza, like most Subaru models, has long earned high marks in the safety department. Between the brand’s reputation for quality construction and a long list of advanced safety features and technology, the Impreza was always going to fare well when it came to safety, but the fifth-generation Impreza earns particularly high marks.

The compact car has garnered five stars in every category from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was named as one of the Best Used Cars under $20,000 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the nonprofit scientific and educational organization that conducts independent investigations on every new model to hit the market. It’s not just newer models either, with the Impreza earning IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ honors for 14 consecutive years. It’s joined by stablemates like the Forester, Legacy, and Outback, which have their own 15, 16, and 13-year Top Safety Pick streaks going for them as well.

Imprezas produced since 2019 are packed with some of the industry’s most advanced collision-avoidance features like Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keep Assist. Branded as EyeSight, this suite of driver-assist technologies comes standard on most Impreza models equipped with CVT. Eyesight uses a network of cameras, radar, and other sensors to monitor the road’s potential hazards, alerting drivers and giving them time to react or stepping in to take over if necessary. In addition to automated features like Pre-Collision Braking and Lane Keep Assist, the Impreza also offers technologies like Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and more.

7. Comfort

It can be tough to balance safety, performance, and comfort when designing a vehicle, but Subaru has a proven track record of doing just that. The automaker’s vehicles aren’t only some of the most capable and versatile on the road; they also excel in some areas that don’t immediately come to mind when drivers are shopping for their next ride. Comfort probably tops this list: it might not seem that important when you’re admiring a new model across the showroom floor, but give it a couple of thousand miles behind the wheel, and you’ll realize just how important it can be.

Subaru has long earned high marks in the comfort department, and the Impreza, in particular, is a standout. Sure, comfort can be a hard metric to quantify, but that hasn’t stopped Consumer Reports from having a go. The nonprofit named the 2022 version of the Impreza the best new car priced under $25,000, with the model’s comfort earning specific praise.

Come See Everything the Impreza Has to Offer

The Subaru Impreza is the unheralded leader in the compact class. While it might not get the same press as some other models, those in the know tend to return to the Impreza time and again, citing its seamless fusion of reliability, performance, and fun. The compact’s AWD and optional manual transmission give drivers the confidence and control to navigate a wide range of road conditions and driving scenarios, while its reputation for comfort means you’ll enjoy every mile you spend behind the wheel.

Having made a name for itself on the rally circuit, Subaru has been able to inject some of Impreza’s racing pedigree into the consumer model, though any drivers seeking a truly hair-raising ride should check out the WRX and WRX STI spin-offs. High-speed fun aside, the Impreza’s exceptional suite of standard safety features and impressive fuel economy make the model an exceedingly practical choice for those looking to upgrade to a more serious type of compact that still retains much of the thrill of its race-ready forerunners.

Most importantly, class-leading reliability and resale value mean fewer surprises and a significantly higher payday when it comes time to sell. In truth, the seven reasons listed above don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what makes the Impreza such an impressive example of its class, so visit Subaru of Troy, and you’ll be making your own additions to our list in no time.