The Subaru Impreza is a estate built from 1993 to 2026 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 75.9% of those on record. Between 1994 and 2026 it grew 10 cm longer and gained 310 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Impreza is
The Subaru Impreza is a estate that Subaru built from 1993 to 2026 — 34 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2024. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Subaru range: Outback, Crosstrek, Forester.
Where the Impreza is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,382 Imprezas on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JF1 | 1993-2026 | |
| the United States | 4S3 | 2011-2023 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Subaru VIN decide which of these 6 lines your Impreza belongs to. What every character in a Impreza VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Subaru Impreza adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Impreza generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Impreza's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Impreza that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-2005 | 437 cm | 252 cm | 1163 kg | - | - |
| 2006-2007 | 447 cm | 252 cm | 1452 kg | +10 cm | +289 kg |
| 2008-2010 | 442 cm | 262 cm | 1425 kg | -5 cm | -27 kg |
| 2011-2016 | 450 cm | 262 cm | 1440 kg | +8 cm | +15 kg |
| 2017-2023 | 455 cm | 267 cm | 1379 kg | +5 cm | -61 kg |
| 2024-2026 | 447 cm | 267 cm | 1473 kg | -8 cm | +94 kg |
Between 1994 and 2026 the Impreza gained 10 cm in length (+2.3%) and 310 kg in weight (+26.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Impreza that is 310 kg against 10 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Subaru Impreza tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Impreza owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Subaru Impreza have? Power & range
The Subaru Impreza is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Subaru Impreza, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Impreza by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Subaru Impreza. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Impreza | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 183 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,752 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,306/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 2,591 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Subaru Impreza?
The Impreza is a estate, built from 1993 to 2026 across 6 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Subaru Impreza made?
Across 2,382 cars in our records the split is: Japan (75.9%), the United States (24.1%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Impreza have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2024. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Impreza grew 10 cm longer and gained 310 kg.
What is the Subaru Impreza warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Impreza reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Impreza?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Subaru
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | 2005–2026 | 159 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2016–2026 | 25 | 36 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Forester | 1998–2026 | 120 | 35 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru WRX | 2015–2026 | 12 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1990–2026 | 222 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019–2026 | 25 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |