2017 Subaru Impreza

All-new 5th-generation Impreza launched for MY2017 with a single naturally aspirated 2.0L flat-four across the trim range — modest output by segment standards.

Torque figure is on the low end for the compact hatchback class; naturally aspirated with a fairly high torque peak.

Instrumented test figure for the volume CVT/AWD configuration; manual-transmission cars run a few tenths quicker but represent a small share of sales.

The FB20 boxer is smooth-idling but coarse and vocal under hard throttle, with power delivery adequate for commuting but unremarkable for a redesigned model year; reviewers (Car and Driver, Consumer Reports) called it competent but uninspiring.

The Lineartronic CVT (standard on all but base manual trims) was well-reviewed for 2017 — programmed with simulated steps and reasonably free of the drone that plagued earlier Subaru CVTs, though still not as engaging as a real gearbox.

Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard equipment on every 2017 Impreza trim and body style, sedan or hatchback — a rarity in the compact class where most rivals offer FWD only. No low-range or terrain-mode hardware (X-Mode arrived on other Subaru models, not Impreza, for this generation), so it stops short of the top tier.

Single powertrain for the redesigned 2017 model year — the 2.0L naturally aspirated flat-four paired with 5-speed manual or CVT; no turbo, hybrid, or performance variant (WRX/STI are separate model lines).

EPA combined rating for the volume CVT/AWD Impreza 5-Door — solid for a standard-AWD compact, though below FWD-only rivals like the Corolla or Civic hatchback.

EPA city figure for the CVT/AWD volume configuration.

EPA highway figure for the CVT/AWD volume configuration.

Range is on the shorter side for the segment — a modest 13.2-gallon tank rather than a lower combined MPG figure is the main driver.

EPA estimate at standard 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city / 45% highway assumptions.

Naturally aspirated 2.0L flat-four runs on regular unleaded across every trim — no premium requirement or plug-in complexity.

NHTSA's official test of the all-new-for-2017 (5th-gen) Impreza returned a perfect 5-star overall rating across frontal, side, and rollover.

All-Good crashworthiness scores (small overlap front driver & passenger, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraints) earned the 2017 Impreza sedan and 5-door IIHS Top Safety Pick+ — but only when fitted with the optional EyeSight front crash prevention system and specific (steering-responsive) headlights, neither of which is standard on the volume trim. IIHS's later-added updated side test rates this generation's structure Poor, a caveat not reflected in the contemporaneous 2017 award.

No active driver-assistance is standard on any 2017 Impreza trim. AEB/ACC/LKA (EyeSight) is an option bundled into upper-trim packages, and blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic alert are likewise option-package items — the base 2.0i volume-adjacent trim offers none of it, only a standard rear camera and reverse automatic braking.

IIHS rated the optional EyeSight system 'Superior' for front crash prevention, avoiding the collision in both the 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests; IIHS did not publish a pedestrian AEB rating for this model year, so nighttime pedestrian performance is unconfirmed.

Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert are alert-only (no braking intervention) and confined to an options package unavailable on the base trim, so coverage across the lineup is thin.

This first-generation EyeSight (pre-2019 refresh) offers lane departure/sway warning plus a basic Lane Keep Assist that nudges toward center rather than truly centering; contemporary reviewers described it as functional but noticeably less refined than rivals' lane-centering systems of the era.

EyeSight's adaptive cruise control covers the full speed range including stop-and-go with the CVT, but this generation's calibration was widely reported as conservative, with late braking and slow resume behavior compared to newer systems — and it's an option, not standard.

No hands-free highway driving system was offered on the 2017 Impreza or anywhere in Subaru's 2017 lineup.

IIHS rated the standard halogen headlights Marginal on base/Premium/Sport trims (the volume configuration); only the range-topping Limited with the optional steering-responsive LED headlight package achieved a Good rating, with plain Limited headlights rated Acceptable.

The all-new Subaru Global Platform brought thinner pillars and a lower beltline versus the outgoing generation, and period reviews of the 2017 redesign praised the Impreza's sightlines as a strong point for a compact hatchback.

IIHS gave the 2017 Impreza its top 'Good' LATCH ease-of-use rating with extra lower-anchor positions, making it one of the easier compact cars of its era to fit multiple child seats in.

Standard 5-passenger seating across all 2017 Impreza 5-Door trims.

All-new Global Platform for 2017 widened and lengthened the cabin, giving generous front headroom for the compact-hatchback class.

Wheelbase grew 1.0 in. for the 2017 redesign, adding front legroom over the outgoing generation.

Mid-pack rear headroom for a compact hatchback, roughly midway in the segment band.

Reviewers note the wider, longer 2017 cabin lets two adults sit comfortably in back without excelling versus segment leaders.

Solid mid-pack cargo capacity for a compact hatchback, expanding well with the 60/40 split rear seat folded.

Console, door pockets and a covered center bin are competitive for the class but nothing distinctive versus rivals with bespoke storage features.

Reviewers found the standard cloth seats flat and only so-so, though optional power leather seats on Limited improve matters; rear seats are roomy enough for two adults.

The redesigned Subaru Global Platform brought a stiffer body and refined suspension; reviewers praised the ride as absorbing bumps 'with the grace of cars costing twice as much.'

The stiffer new platform measurably reduced NVH versus the prior Impreza, but this remains an economy-priced compact car, not a hushed cabin.

Heated front seats, heated mirrors and a wiper de-icer arrive only via the optional All-Weather package starting on Premium; no rear climate, ventilated seats, or remote preconditioning are offered on the volume trim.

Entry 5-door (hatchback) trim as announced in Subaru's official 2017 Impreza pricing release.

Premium is the best-selling Impreza trim, pairing the CVT with the popular equipment package (heated seats, upgraded infotainment) most buyers chose.

Blended from RepairPal's Subaru-brand average annual repair cost (~$617/yr, above-average for the class) plus CarEdge's compact-segment maintenance schedule cost; no year-specific Edmunds TCO figure could be retrieved (403).

Multiple depreciation trackers put the Impreza at or above class-average retention; the redesigned 2017 generation and standard AWD have historically supported resale versus front-drive-only rivals.

Standard mainstream-Japanese-brand basic warranty term, at the floor of the segment normalization band.

Standard 5/60 powertrain term, at the floor of the segment band; note this is the original factory term — Subaru later extended CVT coverage on 2016-2017 models to 10yr/100k via a 2019 goodwill campaign, but that is not part of the as-sold MY2017 warranty.

Subaru includes 1 year/12,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance (oil, filters, tire rotation, inspections) plus standard roadside assistance for the life of the 3-year basic warranty — a real but modest package next to rivals offering 2+ years of free maintenance.

$22,515 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (65% retained, or about $14,635) leaves about $7,880 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $13,680 in total.

2017 was the launch year of the all-new (Subaru Global Platform) fifth-generation Impreza, and Consumer Reports rated it less reliable than other cars from that model year — a step down from the outgoing generation's outstanding reliability record. The dominant trouble spot was in-car electronics: owners reported rearview camera displays freezing or going blank, poor radio reception, and unreliable phone pairing.

Subaru was already trailing the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study around this period — 164 PP100 vs. a 156 industry average in the 2017 study, worsening to 167 vs. 142 in 2018 — placing the brand in the bottom quarter for long-term dependability rather than the top tier its all-wheel-drive reputation implies.

NHTSA lists 7 recalls touching the 2017 Impreza, an above-average count for the generation's debut year, with a recurring stall-risk theme: a 2017 fuel pressure loss/vaporization campaign, two separate PCV valve separation recalls (unexpected power loss), and two ECM software recalls (ignition-coil short circuit causing stalling), plus a rearview-camera-display recall and a headlight reflector recall. Owner reports also cite an oil-leak issue serious enough to require engine removal and a brake-fluid seepage campaign with free hose replacement — more numerous and varied than the typical 'nothing systemic' pattern.

The naturally aspirated FB20 2.0L four-cylinder was already a known quantity, in Subaru's lineup since 2012, but paired here with a new-generation Lineartronic CVT calibration for the redesigned platform's launch year. Early owner and forum reports describe low-speed jerks, an occasionally freezing shifter, and loud noise at high revs — first-year rough edges on top of the oil-leak repairs noted above — keeping this short of the fully proven, red-flag-free record the FB20 alone would otherwise earn.

The redesign brought more soft-touch surfaces, stitched accents and better-feeling seat material than the outgoing generation, but Edmunds still lists 'lower-quality interior materials than those of some rivals' as a con — a real step up for the nameplate that nonetheless lands short of class leaders.

The new Subaru Global Platform body structure is over 70% more rigid than the outgoing car's, and Edmunds' long-term test praised solid build quality with a reassuring door 'thunk' and no significant wiggle or rattle over rough pavement — a tighter assembly than the electronics/CVT complaints elsewhere in this category would suggest.

Subaru's roughly 630-dealer US network was already established and gave adequate nationwide coverage by 2017, but the brand's J.D. Power customer-service standing sat below the industry average in this period (consistent with its below-average VDS showing), keeping this short of a top-tier service reputation.

Impreza parts are widely available through Subaru's national dealer network and shared parts with Crosstrek/WRX, with typical mainstream-compact repair costs; standard AWD hardware and the new platform's CVT add modest routine-service cost versus FWD-only rivals but are not specialty or dealer-only expenses.

The volume 2.0i Premium trim carries Subaru's base 6.5-inch STARLINK touchscreen; the larger 8.0-inch unit is reserved for Sport and Limited.

The first-generation STARLINK system introduced for 2017 is usable and adds CarPlay/Android Auto, but reviewers describe it as unremarkable with modest processing speed by class standards even at launch.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard for 2017, but only via a wired USB connection on every trim — no wireless projection was offered on this generation at launch.

STARLINK includes basic voice commands and an optional navigation app tier, but most owners were expected to rely on phone projection instead.

A harman/kardon premium audio system became available for the first time on the 2017 Impreza (Limited), while base audio is adequate but unremarkable.

The 2017 Impreza uses analog gauges with a small monochrome multi-information display rather than a configurable digital cluster, even on Limited.

Mainstream 2017-model-year infotainment predates meaningful over-the-air update capability industry-wide; the Impreza's STARLINK system offered no whole-vehicle or map OTA updates.

STARLINK Connected Services, standard from Premium up, adds a companion app with remote lock/locate, roadside assistance and collision notification, though remote start required additional hardware/subscription.

Only USB-A and a 12V outlet were offered in 2017 — no USB-C (not yet common) and no wireless charging pad, which arrived on the Impreza in later model years.

Keyless entry with push-button start is new for 2017 but limited to Sport and Limited trims; the volume 2.0i Premium trim retains a traditional key.

A rearview camera is standard across the line, but front/rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera are not offered on this generation.

No head-up display was offered on any 2017 Impreza trim.

Wider rear doors and a longer wheelbase for 2017 ease car-seat installs and standard LATCH anchors are present, but rear-seat and cargo room are modest next to larger compacts.

The 2017 Impreza earned 5-star NHTSA overall and IIHS Top Safety Pick+, but TSP+ and EyeSight driver assistance require CVT plus an optional package and specific headlights — not standard on the volume trim.

Rear-seat space fits two adults reasonably but lacks rear climate vents or rear USB power on lower trims, limiting multi-hour comfort versus larger family vehicles.

Reviewers repeatedly praised the redesigned Impreza's refined ride, sharper steering and smooth CVT for effortless daily commuting.

28/37 mpg city/highway with the CVT is strong for a vehicle with standard all-wheel drive, undercutting the running costs of most AWD competitors even if trailing FWD-only compacts.

A compact footprint and a tight-for-class 35.4 ft turning circle make the hatchback easy to park and thread through traffic, aided by a standard backup camera.

No tow rating is published and payload is limited to passengers and light cargo — the Impreza hatchback is not built for job-site duty.

The boxer engine and standard AWD have a strong general reliability reputation, but the car is unproven and not designed for heavy, repeated work-duty abuse.

No onboard power outlets, tie-downs, or upfit ecosystem exist for a compact passenger hatchback like this.

A quieter, stiffer new platform and roughly 400-mile highway range (37 mpg on a 13.2-gal tank) support road trips, though adaptive cruise (EyeSight) is optional rather than standard, and rear-seat endurance is average.

Standard symmetrical all-wheel drive across every trim gives genuine gravel/light-snow confidence uncommon in the compact-hatchback class, though ground clearance remains car-like (~5.3 in.) rather than SUV-like.

A 60/40 split-folding rear seat expands the 20.8 cu ft cargo area to 55.3 cu ft, competitive gear-hauling flexibility for the segment even without roof rails standard on lower trims.

The all-new Subaru Global Platform brought a stiffer chassis and revised suspension that reviewers singled out for sure-footed, engaging handling well above typical economy-hatchback expectations.

The redesign brought noticeably sharper, more precise steering versus the outgoing Impreza, though feedback remains modest for a mainstream compact.

No instrumented stopping-distance data was found for the 2017 model specifically; braking performance is expected to be adequate and unremarkable, consistent with the class.

The Lineartronic CVT shifts smoothly around town, but the 152-hp 2.0L boxer engine can drone and feel strained under harder acceleration, a common criticism of this generation.

The boxer engine is audible and prone to CVT-induced drone under load, though it settles to an inoffensive hum at cruise; the stiffer 2017 body did measurably cut NVH versus the prior generation.

A tight turning circle near the favorable end of the compact-hatchback band aids low-speed maneuverability.

The wider, longer 2017 cabin and, on Limited, a new six-way power driver's seat improve adjustability and sightlines over the prior generation.

Standard AWD and the sharpened new chassis make even base 2.0i models genuinely enjoyable on a curving road, though modest power keeps it well short of a true enthusiast hatch.

Symmetrical AWD is standard on every trim including the base 2.0i — a differentiator no compact rival (Corolla, Civic, Elantra, Golf) offers at any price — and the redesign added a standard rearview camera, 6.5-inch touchscreen and Starlink connectivity fleet-wide, with EyeSight driver-assist available even on CVT base trims.

Consumer Reports rated the redesigned 2017 Impreza the top compact car in its class and praised ride comfort and roominess 'that puts some luxury cars to shame,' at a mainstream price with standard AWD included.

Four trims (2.0i, Premium, Sport, Limited) across sedan and 5-door body styles with manual or CVT on lower trims — a reasonable spread but a single engine/AWD-only powertrain limits configuration variety versus rivals offering multiple engines or FWD/AWD choice.

The redesigned 2017 Impreza posted its best-ever sales year, up 32.6% in the compact segment, a standout result in a shrinking small-car market.

Subaru carried strong loyalty and a growing enthusiast/outdoors following by 2017, though the brand sits below aspirational or luxury-image marques.

With demand outpacing prior years (best-ever sales year) Subaru dealers had little need to discount the freshly redesigned Impreza; incentives were modest versus segment norms.

2017 is the first model year of an all-new, ground-up generation on Subaru's new global platform, built at a new U.S. plant — as fresh as a nameplate gets.

IIHS named the 2017 Impreza a Top Safety Pick+, Consumer Reports rated it the top compact car in its class, and Wards named it to its 10 Best Interiors and 10 Best User Experience lists — a strong multi-outlet reception, short of Car and Driver 10Best recognition.