Subaru Impreza Reliability Ranked: Every Generation from Worst to Best

The Subaru Impreza has built a loyal following thanks to standard all-wheel drive and practical performance but not every generation has been equally reliable. Some years are rock-solid daily drivers, while others are known for costly issues. In this video, we rank every generation of the Subaru Impreza from least reliable to most reliable, based on long-term ownership data, common problems, and expert reliability trends.

2008–2011 Subaru Impreza (3rd Gen)

ugh. this one. it’s like Subaru decided “let’s make it sad.” something about that generation felt soft. the bug-eyed energy was gone, it looked like a Corolla that went to therapy but never healed. engines blew gaskets like they were allergic to coolant. reliability? yeah, not great. you could find one for like seven grand now, which… yeah, says a lot. still, I’ll defend its comfy seats though. smelled weirdly like crayons when it got warm though, no idea why.

2012–2016 Impreza (4th Gen)

so they fixed stuff, kinda. CVT showed up, and that’s when things got, uh, soulless. like it’s trying but half-heartedly. I remember driving one, it felt like the car had a cold. quiet, but sluggish. price was around twenty grand new back then I think? now maybe six. reliable-ish but boring, like a toaster that occasionally farts. (subaru please don’t sue me).

2002–2007 Impreza WRX (2nd Gen)

now this one, oh boy. the bug-eye, blob-eye, hawk-eye era. loved it, hated it. depends on which day you ask me. fast? yes. reliable? not unless you baby it. I had a friend who thought oil changes were optional. engine went boom at 80k. but god, the sound. the smell of hot clutch after a hard drive. back then you could snag one around thirty grand new, today you’ll pay that for a rusty one with stories (and probably three owners named Kyle).

2020–Present Impreza (5th Gen facelift)

this one’s weird ‘cause it’s fine. like, genuinely okay. nothing spectacular, nothing awful. solid tech, still AWD, still eats oil if you forget who it is. about twenty-four grand new. I borrowed one once, and I swear it smelled new but tired. like synthetic leather and existential exhaustion.

1993–2001 Impreza (1st Gen)

ah yes, the OG. blocky, weird, charming. the one that started it all, rally dreams and cigarette burns on the seats. I kinda love it even though it breaks all the time. think about it, those 2.2 engines were basically held together by good vibes and rust. you could buy one now for, what, two grand if it runs? smells like rain and oil, like nostalgia in car form.

2017–2019 Impreza (5th Gen original)

a return to “we’ll try again.” engine’s still meh but the build feels slightly better. reliability? not bad, actually. like Subaru sobered up a little. I once spilled coffee in one and it stained the plastic weirdly, like, permanently darker. around twenty grand new, which wasn’t terrible for AWD that actually worked.

2006–2007 WRX STI (GD)

okay, spicy take, this one sits mid. it looks mean, drives meaner, but maintenance is hell. thirty-something grand new back then, but you needed a monk’s patience to keep it happy. still, cold starts in the morning? that boxer rumble. unmatched. every mechanic I know either loves or hates this thing, no in-between.

2015–2021 WRX STI (VA)

this one’s like the last true Subaru rebel. no turbo whine faked through speakers, just mechanical honesty. not bulletproof, but solid. maybe the closest thing to reliability in a turbo Subaru world. cost around thirty-five grand, give or take. drove one once in the rain, it feels like it was born for that.

2012–2014 WRX STI (GR Hatch)

honestly, underrated. people forget it existed. funky shape, angry rear, fun as hell. few issues but not catastrophic ones. plus, you could chuck your groceries in it and still outrun traffic. thirty-something grand, yeah. have you ever heard one idle in a parking lot? that uneven pulsing sound, hypnotic.

2004–2005 WRX STI (GD facelift)

maybe the golden child. that one screams reliability relative to the nonsense Subaru usually pulls. it just works. people are still beating on them and somehow they don’t die. thirty-two grand back then, worth almost the same now because cult status. it’s like the Subaru every Subaru wants to be when it grows up.

2017–Present Impreza (Base models)

you’re shocked, I know, but hear me out. the normal base Impreza is boring as drywall but it works. it just keeps going. slow as sin, but reliable. barely asks for oil, quietly hums along. got a buddy’s mom still driving hers from 2018 with zero drama. she doesn’t even know it’s AWD. around twenty grand new and just pure chill. nothing breaks because nothing tries too hard.