2012 SUBARU Impreza

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PRICE ALERT

$7,499
$3,610
below average
168,738 Miles
53,044
Miles above average

Vehicle Details

Mileage: 168738
Color: White
Body Style: Wagon
Transmission: Automatic
Engine Type: 4 Cyl
Drive Train: AWD
Fuel: Gasoline
Location: Oregon City, OR
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Option & Equipment

CD (Single Disc)
MP3
3-Point Seat Belts
Anti-Lock Brakes
Anti-Theft System
Daytime Running Lights
Engine Immobilizer
Front Airbags (Driver)
Front Airbags (Passenger)
Head Airbags
Rear Head Airbags
Side Airbags
Adjustable Steering Wheel
Air Conditioning
Keyless Entry
Power Locks
Power Steering
Power Windows
AM/FM

Recalls & Defects

VIN JF1GPAA65CH211158 may have been recalled. Check full report for more information

AIR BAGS: OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - OCS (FRONT PASSENGER)

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012 model year Subaru Impreza 4-Door and Station Wagon vehicles (except WRX/STI models) manufactured April 21, 2011, to February 16, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may deactivate if a front seat passenger operates a device that is plugged into the power outlet such as a music player or cell phone, or touches a metal part of the vehicle such as the forward/rearward seat adjuster lever.



Vehicle Rating & Owner Reviews

Overall Rating
3.8
  Based on 79 reviews

Bad Engine/ CVT

1
Mark webster on 07/17/2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 2

It's a o.k. car, wouldn't buy another. Problems with the boxer engine, burns oil. Transmission is weird, brakes when coasting down hill. Outside of car easy to dent, thin metal. Very loud when driving, turn up the tunes. Just had a wheel bearing and the front brakes replaced, cost about $900, so repairs are not cheap. What I do like is that the seats are easy on the back, corners well, and good speakers.

2012 Subaru Impressa

5
david watts on 07/05/2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 4

This is a very reliable and likable car. One owner, regular maintenance, mostly freeway driving. Looks fine. Never been in the shop for unscheduled maintenance.

Not What I expected in a Subaru

2
Bob on 06/02/2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: Performance Rating: Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

I have had this car for 4 short years and am very disappointed in this vehicle, already back for 3 recalls, and 3 times back to dealership for warning light problems. The car is noisy inside when traveling a highway, made rather cheaply as I have already lost one of the fog light covers, it just fell off, too low to the ground as you feel each bump and very hard to drive through snow as the car bottoms out on the snow. A/c doesn't get car cooled enough in Summer heat. Already have a hole in driver seat because of metal inside the seat, dealer won't even acknowledge it. The shift got stuck in park and won't go into reverse or drive until I took a screwdriver and pushed it into the emergency release switch. Bringing the car back in once again next week for warning lights and now the shift. Would not buy Subaru again

I Hate This Car

2
Stephanie on 05/05/2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 2 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 3

I had a used 2005 Subaru Legacy that I LOVED but it died (I put a lot of miles of cars quickly because of my commute.) I thought I'd be replacing it with something of similar quality when I bought the 2012 Subaru Impreza slightly used with 25k miles. I decided to spend the money on a newer car because of this. First of all, I got into a slowww speed fender bender where the front of my car has all kinds of damage and cracks--the other persons car didn't have even a slight dent or scratch. You'd never know their car was hit and they drove away without my info after surveying the damage-- I think it was a Honda. Also, I drove over a small piece of loose metal laying on the highway which I didn't recognize as something solid until it was too late and it tore up my back bumper as it exited. I realize things like this happen but the amount of damage is way out of proportion. Most vehicles I see have a plate in that area to protect the underside. This Subaru back bumper is nothing but curved under, thin, cheap plastic. Second, this thing burns oil. Imagine my surprise when I was something like 4k miles away from the recommended oil change and my oil light came on. Thirdly, I have never gotten anywhere close to the estimated MPG. I drive at constant highway speeds. My legacy got the same, if not better, gas mileage and the engine had a lot more strength. Fourth, at 73k miles the engine is now making a low, stressed whining sound with acceleration. I had my transmission serviced at the recommended 60k miles. But now I'm wondering if it's going out. I am fixing the damage to the front and getting rid of this thing before it falls apart completely.

Burns Lots of Oil and Gas

2
Kirk Kraemer on 04/20/2016

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 2

Lawsuit has been settled and Subaru finally agreed that maybe I should not have to add a quart of $8 oil every 2200 miles. Car has about 118,000 miles and has burned oil excessively the entire time (dealer: "it's normal oil burn to go through a quart in as little as 1200 miles). Class action settlement extends warranty for 1 year for cars that are already in excess of 100,000 miles. Specifically traded in my previous Subaru to get the 2012 because of the 37mpg highway on the sticker. I NEVER EVER got over 31 mpg and I drive mostly flat highway with constant speeds. Total BS on the 37mpg.

Snow slaying machine with a pathetic interior

3
Jesse Nicola on 12/10/2015

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 1 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating: 2

This is my first Subaru, and quite possibly my last. The issues have been plentiful. The interior rattles to high hell. I had to go to two dealers as the first tried to bamboozle me like it wasn't an issue. Internal fan was failing and the bearing was making more noise than a duck on meth, which the dealer claimed was normal. Seat heaters stop working, dealer claims that's a safety feature... my butt. Sensors in seat to detect if a passenger is in there FAIL when exposed to water. YOU SOLD THE CAR IN THE PACIFIC NORTWHEST WHERE IT RAINS YOU DUMB *&%$#! Not only does it fail... but it fails with the AIRBAG OFF! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! Power? Gutless. Takes off from a stop like a two stroke dirtbike, abuse the clutch or don't get going at all. Uphill stop and go traffic? Burn baby burn... WHY ISN'T THEREA A SIXTH GEAR! Spins 3000 rpm at highways speeds. I've not once hit the combined MPG. I drove it across the country, and even in the flattest parts of the country, with NO ROOF RACKS OR ACCESSORIES, car already warmed up, driving a full tank on cruise control... 31mpg. &#$#% Subaru. I wish some one else made a solid AWD car or I'd never sell this off, even at a loss, and never look back.

Loved it at First, Then........

2
Joe Botelho on 07/31/2015

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 1 Reliability Rating: 2 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 2

I was looking for small, all wheel drive car, specifically a hatchback, that would accommodate my 6 foot frame comfortably and the Impreza Sport Premium fit the bill nicely. The car is fun to drive, has as much pep as I'm ever going to need on the windy roads of New England and was very serviceable in the rain and snow. I never had an issue with the car, but did have to replace the standard issue tires at only 21,000 miles. Also at that time the front driver seat seemed to wear more than I would consider normal and I probably should have paid attention to that. The car now has 43,000 miles on it and one day the horn just stopped working. Also, there is a massive hole in the front drivers seat with protruding metal and plastic parts which have already ruined two aftermarket seat covers. I never owned a vehicle where the front seat was essentially useless after 40,000 miles?? Recently, I was passing the dealership where I bought the vehicle, and stopped in to see if there was a recall regarding the front seat. Oddly, all the service rep kept saying was "Do you have an appointment?" He repeated that 5 times, when I finally suggested that I am a human being, not a robot. After the whole disinterested event where they pretty much told me "tough luck and seeya later" I decided to take my car to another dealership to get the horn fixed. And I thought it couldn't get any worse. I called the other dealership, got an "appointment" a few days later for them to check out the horn. While he was writing up the service order he explained that they also offer a "complimentary" car wash, which I declined as I wash my own vehicle. While I was at the service desk, I also mentioned that I felt my front seat was falling apart prematurely and if they would check it out......, and was totally ignored. To add insult to injury, after they checked out my car they said it needed a new "steering roll connector" to the tune of $415.00!! For a horn! I declined the their generous offer and they still charged me $55.00 to check it out. I should have taken them up on the "complimentary" car wash. And just when you think it couldn't get any worse? As I am walking out to my car, I noticed a huge scrape on the corner of the front bumper. I went back in tell them about it and they suggested It was already there and that I was lying!!! I had taken a picture of the car earlier in the day to document my seat issues so I pulled out my camera phone and showed them a picture I had taken hours earlier with no scrape. They still suggested I was making it up!! I have never been more humiliated in my life! I loved this car at first but between its quality and support of its service outlets I will move on to another brand.....soon.

My experience with my 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport

3
Loren Rochester on 07/30/2015

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating:

I was very excited to get this car... good gas mileage and All-Wheel drive seemed like a perfect fit for Wisconsin. I liked everything about the car except three things: 1) The transmission went out at 66,000 miles, 6000 miles out of warranty. The dealership told me it would cost $8500 to replace it with a new one, or they could put a used one in for $4500. I called Subaru Corporate and after three days of investigation, they said it was up to the service manager. I went to the dealership and raised hell. Virtually all of my miles were interstate travel with very little elevation change, no stop and start traffic. After some phone calls, the service manager got the price down to $1500 for a new transmission. I was still mad, but didn't feel I had much choice; $1500 was better than $8500, and I still had to make payments on the vehicle. 2) I was surprised one day when the oil light came on early in my ownership. The car didn't have that many miles on it. The car was, in fact, low on oil. From that point forward, I went through a quart of Mobile 1 0W20 about every 3000 miles. I checked it every time I filled it up. I am over 60, and have never had a car that went through a quart of oil between oil changes. Recommended oil changes were 7000 miles with synthetic oil. The dealership wanted $85 for an oil change. I bought Subaru filters from the dealership for $5-$6, and bought Mobile 1 0W20 from Walmart for about $26 for a 5 quart jug, and changed the oil myself religiously every 7000 miles. I just traded the car in, three years old, and it was going through a quart of oil every 2000 miles. I had this problem when the transmission went out, and talked to the service manager about it. He did not act the least bit surprised. BTW, if you buy quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic, they are about $8 a quart, so this is not paltry change being spent on oil, I obviously bought 5 quart jugs and had them on hand all of the time. 3) For about the last 9-12 months, the car did not start very well. I usually had to crank it for a few seconds, quit, then crank it some more with the gas pedal pressed down, then it would start. The oil thing and the starting thing I have found are common complaints. I traded the Impreza in on a Ford Focus. I put about 33,000 miles on a car per year, and the Impreza had 99,920 miles on it. This is the first time in decades that I got rid of a car with fewer than 170,000-180,000 miles on it. I didn't trust it. I'm not sure that the Focus will be any better, but I got a 4 yr.-100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on it. I'm sure it won't be as good in the snow, but I can work around that. IMHO opinion, Subaru should have replaced the transmission gratis. Using the 0W20 oil is not a good idea in my opinion. They are doing it to improve gas mileage, but I think it is blowing past the pistons. The Focus uses 5W20. As far as starting difficulties goes, I don't have a clue what the problem is. If they would have taken care of the transmission and they had proven that they had solved the oil thing, I would have considered another Subaru. This was my first, and there seems to be a lot of loyal Subaru owners out there, but I will probably not consider another.

Big Disappointment - Oil Burning and Other Problems

1.9
jbv1105 on 05/02/2015

Performance: 2 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 2 Fun To Drive: 2 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 1

This car, with only 26,000 miles on it, has not lived up to my expectations for build quality and reliability. The car burned oil at an alarming rate. One dealer claimed there was nothing wrong, then a second finally agreed there was an issue after the car failed an oil consumption test. They replaced the entire engine under warranty. Also I had an ignition problem, which had to be addressed due to the car not starting. Additionally, the car's battery was defective and had to be replaced. The Bluetooth on this vehicle is terrible, won't connect and has had to be replaced. There are unsettling rattles in the dashboard and excessive wind and road noise. I plan to get rid of this car.

Good company, fun car, but maybe not for 75-80 MPH driving or long commutes

3.9
cbtx01 on 04/27/2015

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

Bought my Impreza in Sept of 2012. has been a good car, great on rain slick texas roads. CVT gave out at 80k miles, Subaru assisted with most of cost to replace. I recommend the company, but maybe not impreza CVT, which is not the same CVT as Legacy and Forrester according to what I have read.

good things and frustrating things

3.9
Bill Kowalewski-Barrera on 02/18/2015

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

This is our fourth Subaru. We do like the CVT transmission, quiet enough, and the car is peppy. The gas mileage is just what is published. What bothers me? I don't like the leather seats, too cold in the winter, too stiff. With cloth, you don't need seat warmers. In the 25k miles we've owned it, the fog, tail, and headlight bulbs have burned out, and both front half-shafts and the brakes were replaced. The dash has developed an annoying rattle. And twice a year, we need to take it back to the dealer to get the tpms switched between the summer and snow tires. The dealer has to reprogram it. Still a reasonable car, but not quite up to our Subaru expectations.

Very Disappointed

2.4
greg1971 on 01/10/2015

Performance: 1 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

I purchased my car in February of 2012. Like a lot of other users I noted that my oil usage was terrible. On January 6, 2015 I was in a serious car accident in which I struck the rear end of a truck. My airbags did not deploy and the vehicle immediately caught fire after impact. I am very lucky to be alive, but cannot get any kind of straight answer from Subaru as to why the airbags failed and why a fire started, nor have they expressed any interest in examining the car further.

made of cheap plastic

2.1
neveragain70 on 01/04/2015

Performance: 4 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 1 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 3

Driven 46k. Mtor and drive OK, But burns oil, doesn't delver promise mpg and airbag and track warning lights continual go off and on due to poor engineering and sensor designs. Particularly digusting is fact that the outer body is made of thin cheap plastic with parts held on without screws. As such fog light covers are continually failing off and the body parts break with even gentle contact. I have been driving for 40 plus years and I have never seen such poor quality.

Overall good car but issues with tires, oil light

3.6
thebeann on 09/22/2014

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

I bought a 2012 Subaru Impreza sport (wagon) new. Loved the cargo room (I have 2 60-lb dogs) and nice, smooth ride. Gas mileage is decent, I travel VA to MI every month and it helps. However, right from the get-go I had issues with one of the Yokahama tires. TPS kept coming on and pressure was definitely going down. Dealer said "tire issue, can't help" while tire place said "dealer issue." Finally had to replace all 4 at 10,000 miles. The other issue is oil level light coming on (started at around 30,000 miles). Known issue with this make/model on excessive oil issue (google it, there is a lawsuit). Overall I am 75% satisfied but the other 25% make for disappointment.

Oil Burner, Sits Too Low

2.1
knahs39 on 06/23/2014

Performance: 2 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 1 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 2 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

I bought the 2012 Impreza hatchback new in July 2012. Since about 12,000 miles, I can't go more than 2,500-3,000 miles without needing a quarter of oil. Dealer says that is typical usage but manual says 7,500 miles between changes. The car does not have the pep my 2004 Impreza had and yet, gets the same gas mileage as the 2004. It also sits too low so you hit every curb or concrete parking barrier. I'm looking to get rid of it and based on this, my third Subaru, will never get another Subaru again.

Updated: Four Year Ownership Review

3
i4collin on 03/25/2014

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 2 Value Rating:

Editing my 2 year review of this vehicle, I've had to lower the rating from 4 stars to 3, mostly due to reliability scares. While proving to be rather comfortable, great in all seasons, decently economical, and safe, after only 35000 miles the vehicle has begun to burn oil at an alarming rate. We are currently waiting for the dealer to do a compression test on the engine to see if they need to replace it. This is the second Subaru in the family that has had engine issues, despite regular oil changes. It is a nice little car, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you absolutely need the all-wheel drive. There are much better options in the compact car class nowadays.

Oil Burner, MPG not as advertised

3.9
movingon1 on 03/15/2014

Performance: 3 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 3

I bought the hatchback with a manual because I was looking for versatility with good mileage. Functionality wise, I'm happy. I'm 6'2" and the car is comfortable on long road trips and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the back, especially with the seats down. Also, the car is amazing in the snow. BUT- as others mentioned, the car has started burning oil at 30,000 miles! Almost 2 quarts between oil changes. Add to that the well known not-as-advertised MPG, and I am thinking about trading it in. I have logged every single tank on Fuelly. In the winter, 22 city, 27 highway. In the summer, 25 city 30 highway. It's rare to do better than 30 on the highway, but I drive 70-75.

Oil consumption problem

3.3
gailbk on 03/05/2014

Performance: 2 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

I am experiencing a significant problem with my Subaru Impreza 2012 with excessive use of oil and the oil light going on. I understand from the service people that this is caused by "blowback" past the cylinders, causing excessive oil use, inconvenience to owners, and an inflated cost of ownership (synthetic oil is $8/qt.) Subaru insists this is normal but when I traded in my Lexus at 257,000 miles with never an additional drop of oil between oil changes, I certainly didn't expect to trade it in for an oil guzzler like the Subaru Impreza. Subaru will do nothing and insists this is normal - - at least for them! Any ideas how to pressure Subaru? It was fixed for the 2014 model.

Great AWD, some annoying weaknesses

4
hughk4 on 03/05/2014

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5

Bought this because I needed AWD, but didn't want a truck or an SUV. When conditions make AWD necessary, I love this car. Other times I like it a lot, but there are several things that keep me from loving it. See my suggested improvements for these comments. If you need AWD, this car has very few competitors in its price range. Of the 4 cars I own, when weather is bad, everyone wants to drive the Impreza.

Oil burner

2
fredjohnson on 03/02/2014

Performance: 2 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 2 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 2 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating:

My 2012 Impreza is beginning to really bother me. 25k miles on it and it burns 2 qts of oil every 3k miles now. Yes, the CVT is noisy as can be, but I knew that when I bought it. In winter, my highway gas mileage does drop to 27 mpg which is almost 10 mpg lower than EPA sticker. Overall, I'm dissatisfied with the car, especially after finding out Subaru won't do much to help with the oil consumption other than to say its "normal". And to that I say BS. Never had a Toyota or Honda---I've owned 8 new ones--- burn oil. Update: 60k on odometer now. Still burns same amount of oil. Will stay away from future Subarus because of excessive oil burn. Subaru won't back up their product which adds to dissatisfaction. Otherwise, car is reliable. Mpg no change. Still below stated number in window sticker. Engine still noisy, especially in winter. Anemic acceleration from 0 to 60.

More Daewoo than Subaru

2
stillyourking on 02/25/2014

Performance: 3 Comfort: 1 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 1 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 1 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 1 Reliability Rating: 2 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating: 2

As an owner of a '12 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Premium, I wouldn't recommend the purchase of this car. The quality is far less than that of the '08 - '11 Impreza. The engine is loud, and has intense vibration, weatherproofing is shoddy, road noise/wind interferes with conversation at low speeds, interior materials rattle, and scratch easily. The seat fabric has folded in some parts, and became unwoven in others, the driver seat squeaks when your body shifts (only 165 lbs). Seats are uncomfortable on long trips (my Pontiac Vibe had more comfortable and supportive seats). Gets a combined 28 MPG (rated as 27/36 MPG). It's 25 MPG in the winter.

Exactly what you're expecting

4
iliketoshift on 01/13/2014

Performance: 4 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: Value Rating: 4

At 4.5 years, here's my honest appraisal. This impreza is the best AWD appliance vehicle out there. If you want a car that's no frills on the inside, sticks to the road like glue in rain and snow, and gets pretty good millage - this is the car for you. Unfortunately I've come to terms that this vehicle is not for me. I have several ergonomic nits to pick, the drive is pretty lifeless, the engine is adequate, the AC barely keeps up on a 95 degree day, the interior is loud compared to most other vehicles, and the rear defroster barely melts anything but the slightest frost. If you're simply using your car to get groceries, go on a road trip, or drive into the city for a night the impreza will be fine. But if you are constantly considering your car, it will be a disapointment. That's where I am. OTOH, mechanically the car is solid with no failures in almost 5 years and probably about 34 MPG overall. Because the car excels at the major task it needs to accomplish, I just can't get rid of it. So really if you're an average driver who prioritizes AWD hatch, go for it. But if you think some of the wrx pedigree is going to wear off - or this car is close enough to the refinement and thoughtfulness of a best-in-class-high-trim compact, you should look elsewhere.

Oil Consumption

2.3
csl12 on 01/03/2014

Performance: 4 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

We bought the 2012 Impreza after our 2004 was totaled. We also own a Forester and have owned 3 others. We have had check engine, oil pressure, and low oil warnings 7 times in two years. In particular, we've had low oil 5 times within the past 7 months and only 7,000 miles. The car is definitely burning oil. Dealer agrees it's burning oil and is not leaking. It doesn't leak "enough" and is considered to be "normal" by the service manager. As a 25 year Subie owner, I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in the vehicle and Subaru's inaction. I doubt we'll be another Subie- but I do LOVE my 2010 Forester (before the engine change!!!)

Great AWD Hatchback!

4.4
macj123 on 12/30/2013

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

This is a great all-wheel drive hatchback! I would recommend it to anyone who has to drive in the snow, this is built for snow, cold and ice. I have a manual and my winter driving conditions are very harsh so my MPG is not that great. Still better than SUV's so I'm not complaining. Engine has started beautifully in many days below 0, even in the -20's! Great cargo space, roof rails roof rails are nice.

2012 Impreza 2.0i Premium CVT

4.4
hardcheck2704 on 08/09/2013

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I have had the vehicle for 4 months and love the gas mileage. It is way above the rated 27 city / 36 highway. i am averaging 34.8 city and 45.4 highway. The back seat is roomier than the 2008 outback we have. Really enjoy the iPod hook-up, no need for CD's anymore, I have all music, Pod cast and books at my fingertips. The only really negative I could find for the short time I have had the vehicle, is the truck space.

Enjoying my Impreza Sport

4.3
jd_24 on 06/05/2013

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

15 Monthes and 23,000 miles of ownership and no issues. MPG has slowly increased to now over 37mpg on highway trips. Cold weather and short trips do greatly reduce MPG. Have used it for 300+ mile trips wth 2 adults and 3 kids. Back seat is roomy and comfortable for 3 despite the small size.

2012 Impreza Sport

3.9
dead_duck on 05/06/2013

Performance: 5 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5

Good car. This is my first NEW CAR so I was looking for it to be perfect. There are a few things that you can not get a feel for when you test drive or search online. Like the fact that being a taller person, it takes a bit of a drive to realize your comfort level would be better with 3 more inches of track on the seat. Also, MPG are NEVER as advertised.

Exactly what I was looking for

4.8
mountaintundra on 02/12/2013

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I haven't been this excited about a car since I had a Citroen CX GTi (in England) in 1982! And the amazing part is that it's a fairly basic car that I love. It has leg room and head room that you expect from a bigger car, comfy seats, decent handling, AWD, and awesome gas mileage (35 average in the summer). It's not perfect, but it does everything I want it to do, including starting at -27F without a block heater and going through snow without drama. Very impressive. This is our 4th Subaru. We drove the competition and there is nothing available that I would rather have.

Oil consumption - piece of junk! BEWARE

1.8
markmine on 02/12/2013

Performance: 3 Comfort: 1 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 2 Interior Design: 1 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 1 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 1 Reliability Rating: 2

I purchased this car new and it was never abused. This is my first Subaru and the awd was appealing. This car is Very disappointing! Around 14k miles the car started burning approx 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Subaru said this is normal! I think the new 2.0 engine has problems. The car also sounded like it had a bad wheel bearing, the dealer said the sound is the cvt transmission and again normal. The stereo system is horrible! The build quality is really bad and at 19k miles the car is rattling and gas mileage dropped to 26 mpg. Don't make the same mistake I made, buy a Honda or Toyota and stay away from Subaru!

Oil Consumption

3.4
jeanette101 on 02/11/2013

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3

I have had this car since February almost a year. It is using oil and John Howard told me to bring it in every 1000 miles so they can check and add oil if it needs it and document it. My brother also has this car in the hatchback model and it is using oil too. He lives in PA and garage there told him to drive it in anytime it is low on oil so they can add it and document it. Please email me if anyone else is having this problem.

Beware of 2012 Impreza 2.0i (Base) CVT

4
tpyne377 on 11/01/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 2 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

PLEASE BE AWARE -- The CVT Automatic transmission in the Impreza 2.0i base model is NOT the same as that available in the rest of the line. It does NOT have the up/down shift function on the steering wheel. Even though it lists this version of the transmission as "CVT Auto Transmission with Manual Shift" on the order form and on the window sticker -- there is nothing "manual" about it. DO NOT BE FOOLED INTO ORDERING THIS LIKE I DID. (No 2012 Imprezas were available for test driving at the time.) There is still nothing that notes this in ANY of Subaru's online website nor in any independent review that I can find.

Disappointing

3.3
knahs25 on 10/31/2012

Performance: 1 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 1 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

Third Subaru I have owned. Less power than my 2004 Impreza with no significant increase in miles per gallon (got 28 mpg on 2004 and getting 30 mpg on this). There is a really stupid gague to let you know how to drive to get better mileage - shows I get good mileage going downhill and bad mileage going up hill. Still not designed for a short people - sliding armrest helps but still about 2 inches too short. I don't think the low profile is going to get me through a whole lot of deep snow. I wouldn't have gone with this except for Consumer Reports high rating. Wish I had gone with the Hyundai Elantra GT instead which is almost the same car dimension wise (interior and exterior).

Blue tooth

4.3
joelira1 on 10/19/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

car is great over all Handling, ease of driving, sure footed on wet roads The big problem in Imressa I own has been a defective blue tooth system The factory does not own up to problem after 7 Times of leaving car for Enginering to inspect Dealer confirms the problems over and over Factory gives every excuse put can not fix And will not replace with new car great car good dealer bad factory support

I love everything about it.

5
mqbruno on 09/23/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I drove every small car and just couldn't decide until the 2012 redesigned Impreza finally came out. It's extremely comfortable, has plenty of pickup, and is just the right size. Of course the all wheel drive is a plus and on my first all highway trip got 40 mpg.

One of the bettter vehicles, but not perfect

4.3
nyken on 09/21/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I purchased the Impreza Sport Premium two months ago and have put almost 2K miles on it . In general I am very pleased with the Impreza. The styling is far better than for past Impreza models. The interior is roomy and comfortable.Visability is excellent. It drives and handles very well, almost sport like. Gas mileage has been just about what is advertised. I am getting 30 MPG for a mix of highway and city driving. Now all that being said there are a few things about this vehicle that I am not that impressed with. First is the amount of road and tire noise. It is downright loud on some road surfaces. There is also a delay in shifting from reverse to drive.

Awesome car, love it!

5
cbtx01 on 09/13/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've had the car for 2 weeks, I've got just under 1k miles on it. The bluetooth connection is easy to use with my phone. It passed the "mom" test - she can never understand me on regular headsets, even jawbone. She said I was loud and clear in the car. The front seats are really comfortable, I love the shape of the seat back and the adjustable headrest. Most car seats give me headaches because they dish back for the shoulders and the headrest pushes forward giving me bad posture. This is the first one in a long time that fits me. My husband has plenty room and is comfortable too and he's a big guy. I'm averaging 33mpg as i expected, same I was getting with my civic ex.

Constantly Amazed With This Car

4.6
dodman1 on 09/12/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have 4300 miles on my 2012 Limited Sedan and I could not be happier. I read some of the bad reviews and don't understand how anyone could give this car a bad review. It was very inexpensive and I am amazed by the overall experience. It rides great, handles very well, looks good, has many great features, performs well for it's class, and returns excellent gas mileage. And let's not forget the AWD. Really folks, this is not a $60,000 premium sedan. It is however, an excellent car for a very reasonable price. I consistently get between 33 and 35 miles to the gallon with a mix of highway and country road driving. Buy this car before Subaru realizes they priced it too low!!!

Love my Impreza Sport Limited Hatchback w/Nav and Moonroof

5
j_mags on 09/05/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Ordered the Sport Limited 5dr with Nav and Moonroof back in March 2012. It arrived in June 2012. Using it as my daily commuter driving 80 - 100 miles roundtrip. I am averaging anywhere from 30 - 32 mpg in mixed driving at rush hour. We actually love the Nav system and it did take a bit of getting used to. (300+ page manual - just for Nav alone - separate manual for the rest of the car!) Enjoy the SiriusXM and HD Radio. Heater / AC work well. Driven over 7,000 miles so far.

I love my Impreza!!!!!

4.6
ryanlongacre on 08/09/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

For years I've been driving Toyota's. When it came time for me to buy a new car though, I wanted something different. I found the different in a brand new 2012 Subaru Impreza Premium. So far, it is AMAZING!!!! I've never been excited about a car, but this I'm pinching myself going, "Hey, this really is your car....this isn't a dream." I realize that I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but I do plan to update this review in time to point out any problems or issues I've come across.

Excellent value, wish there were more luxury and safety options

3.8
gtp3 on 08/02/2012

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 5

Overall I'm happy with this car and it's an excellent value. It's fun to drive, has plenty of space for a small car, and is very practical. But there is also significant room for improvement; I wish there was a way to pay more to get more but Subaru doesn't offer any higher options. When I was shopping for a new car I wanted a small, efficient hatchback, wagon, or SUV with RWD or AWD (I'm sick of FWD cars). Audi A3 and Nissan Juke don't have enough driver head room. Toyota Matrix is totally outdated and just lame. Mini Countryman is unreliable and ugly. So that left the Impreza as the only remaining option. (I would have preferred a BMW 1-series hatchback but they're not sold in USA.)

Don't believe the EPA ratings

3.6
llcj727 on 08/01/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 2 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

I totaled a 2010 Yaris in a rainstorm in early June. It's EPA ratings were 28/35. I was looking to find a car with similar ratings, but also wanted a little better styling. I drove a Civic, Accord, and the Impreza. I liked the feel of the Impreza and assumed the EPA sticker (28/36) would lead me to a overall better car. I drive very conservatively and my Yaris gave me 36-38 mpg everywhere. I have driven my Impreza the same and the best I have yet to yield is 28.6. I have 2800 miles on the car so far. The dealership claims it gets better after 4-5k miles. I doubt it. I feel the EPA stickers on these cars should be lowered in order to not mislead consumers looking for a certain fuel economy.

A great car, for the most part

3.9
nkrish on 07/30/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

When I initially got the car, it was winter and I did get some not-so-impressive mileage ratings which made me think I had made a bad decision, since mpg was one of the biggest factors for buying this vehicle. But it got better in a few months after getting it - either because the engine was broken in, or because it is summer now. I am happier now than I was then. Some minor issues prevent me from giving it an awesome rating.

Best Subaru Yet!

4.8
jcricket on 07/02/2012

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is my third Sooby. It is the most fun. For a car with small dimensions on the outside, it is huge on the inside. I like the ergonomics of the interior - the dash and steering column controls are easy to use; intuitive. Lots of pep, very spirited off the line. With winter tires on (see suggested improvement below) this car can go places my 4x4 pick-up can not go. Good gas mileage too. It started off getting 30 in town and after breaking in for 13,000 miles I get over 40 on highway/country driving trips. This from an AWD! Its a great car to take to the beach or to the mountains with friends. Two of my friends bought Imprezas this year.

Great driving car & great MPG with AWD

4.8
sealcove1970 on 06/29/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I have not had the car for too long, but so far I am really pleased with it. I enjoy the ride, I like how the CVT feels, it is very comfortable for me (I am 6' 4"), and so far I am getting great mileage (averaging between 36 & 39 for mostly 40-55mph driving with light traffic and stops). I can't explain the poor mileage some report, unless it has to do with city driving and driving style. I purchased mine after getting to know two others purchased by fiends last winter, and they both report mid-30's or better for MPG. I gave it a five for reliability, but it is obviously too soon to know that. Hopeful!

I love my Impreza

5
impreza2012 on 06/28/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Since I don't believe all they hype in hybrids (i.e. what do you do when the battery dies and you need a new one (A $4k cost) or how do you recycle it?) This is the best normally aspirated engine out there. Yes - I know the Hyundai models are getting 40MPG - but I alternate driving the Impreza vs. my Father-In-Laws Veloster and my Impreza returns better mileage and more acceleration and better handling.

3rd times a charm

4.1
boostmonkey on 06/26/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5

This is my 3rd WRX after a 04 WRX & a 06 WRX STI. It's a great mix of comfort & performance. The STI rode like a gokart, but was lightning quick. The new WRX rides much better but still has that turbo power.

The More I Drive It the More I Like It

4.1
1stsubaru on 06/10/2012

Performance: 3 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I have a base model 5 speed Impreza sedan with over 2500 miles on it, the only options being the all weather mats (which are nice) and a jack for an ipod or something. This is my first Subaru, which I purchased as it's the first Subaru that appears to get decent fuel economy. I've only been in snow a few times, the most being about 5 to 6 inches which presented no problems in spite of the poorly rated tires. Average mileage for mainly stop and go with short highway driving has been 27 mpg to 28 mpg, which seems as rated. I drove sport bikes for over twenty years and don't expect cars that I'm willing to pay for to provide the performance levels that I was accustomed to, so for me cars are just comfortable transportation and the Impreza is fine. The Impreza hp is about the same as a Ford OHV Taurus, the torque about 20 lbs/ft less, we.ve done many road trips in a Taurus with a family of five so I expect the Impreza can do the same.

Caveat Subaru

3.6
ideafarmer on 06/02/2012

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

First tank: 17mpg, second tank: 22mpg. Third tank ave 24.3 so far. Mileage 600 ish with 65% city and 35% highway. Hoping for higher. Tire noise quite loud. Doors very thin and light. Long shift delay from reverse to drive when cold, puts passengers at risk. Subaru says it’s “normal” essentially placing blame with owner. Tilts in crosswinds at 65mph. Leans too much in corners, but still feels predictable. Overall handling is good. Ride is supple. Brakes feel mushy but work fine. Steering is too heavy at all speeds. Paddle shifting with CVT works well.

Horrible gas mileage!!

3.6
unhappy_imprez on 05/29/2012

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3

I bought the 2012 Impreza hatchback in January 2012. I've had the car for 4 months now, drivin it 4000 miles, and has not gotten ANYWHERE near the bosted gas mileage they said. The only reason I bought this vehicle was becuase they stated that gas mileage was suppose to get 27-30 city and 35-40 highway. In all reality...it gets 18-22 city and 27-30 highway. So, if anyone is going to buy this for the advertised mileage, don't do it!! I also don't like the fact that the heated seats don't stay on. It turns on and off periodically.

Amazing car

5
lovemyswagaru on 05/23/2012

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I must say that I am unbelievably pleased with my purchase. I have over 3600 miles on my Impreza now, and about to get my first oil change. The gas mileage going 70mph from Virginia beach through the WV moutains was 35MPG, not far from the EPA estimate. The car handles extremely well, and I never felt insecure even in torrential downpours. I could never ask for better brakes. Nothing feels cheap, the interior parts and pieces fit perfectly, and best of all there is absolutely no rattles. The only issue I have with this car, is that the stereo was far under par. But this issue was fixed with a new headunit. Even with the upgraded stock unit, it sounded horrible at any volume over 20.


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