Reliable, fuel efficient, roomy and handles well
My Subaru Impreza hatchback has proven to be very reliable, not with over 165,000 miles. The all-wheel drive is an essential feature for me and has had no problems. The car is also fuel efficient and has been great for commuting. It is surprisingly roomy inside and the fold-down back seat and wide opening of the hatchback make it easy to transport items. It also affords excellent rear visibility, even without a back-up camera. The car handles very well on winding roads and has good acceleration and braking. Because the car is low to the ground, it is easy to enter. The seats are quite comfortable.
The car could be improved in a few respects, though. My main complaint is that the low-hanging bumpers and fenders are too easy to catch on curbs and parking blocks. This, combined with flimsy plastic clips or rivets holding some pieces in place, can result in fairly expensive repairs if you overshoot a parking block. I have been told by a body shop that they frequently do these type of repairs on my model.
Other issues I have are more minor. The steering wheel is quite hard. It would be nice if there was some padding. The material covering the steering wheel also has flaked off, possibly due to using alcohol on my hands during Covid. Though nice looking, If scraped on curbs or bent by road obstacles, the wheels are expensive to replace, at almost $500 each. The hatchback latch also had to be replaced and still is occasionally difficult to open.
Considering everything, the positive features of the car outweigh the negatives, and I would seriously consider buying another Impreza, as it is generally a good fit for me.
Verified Owner
