A used Subaru Impreza makes sense in mid October 2026 if you want a cheap compact car with all-wheel drive and you do not care much about speed. The 2017-2023 car came as a sedan or five-door hatch with a 152-hp 2.0 and a CVT or five-speed manual; the 2024-on car is hatch-only and CVT-only, with an optional 2.5 on the RS. Check the VIN for ECM, fuel pump, and driveshaft recalls, confirm the car has EyeSight if you want it, and get a history report before the first snow.
This is the plain Impreza, not the turbocharged WRX. They used to share a name, but the WRX is a different car with different problems, and our used Subaru WRX buying guide covers it. If you want more ground clearance on a similar platform, the used Subaru Crosstrek buying guide is the better fit.
Fifth gen (2017-2023): sedan or hatch, manual or CVT
The fifth-gen Impreza uses a 2.0-liter flat-four rated at 152 hp and 145 lb-ft, according to MotorTrend's 2019 review, which also calls the engine underpowered and noisy when revved. A five-speed manual was available on some trims, and EPA data on fueleconomy.gov shows the CVT sedan as the most efficient at 32 mpg combined. Trims ran 2.0i, Premium, Sport, and Limited. So you have real choices here: sedan or hatch, and a stick if you look hard enough.
EyeSight is the thing to check on these. On 2019 cars, MotorTrend says EyeSight was standard on the Limited and optional below that. For 2020, MotorTrend says every CVT Impreza got EyeSight as standard, which means manual cars generally did not. The IIHS rating for the 2019 sedan is a Top Safety Pick+, but IIHS notes the award applies only to cars with the optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. A base 2019 car without those is not the car that won the award.
Sixth gen (2024-on): hatch only, RS returns
For 2024 Subaru dropped the sedan and the manual. MotorTrend's 2024 review says the new car comes only as a hatchback with a CVT, on a stiffer platform, and adds an RS trim with a larger 2.5-liter engine in place of the old Limited. Car and Driver tested a 2024 RS at 7.8 seconds to 60 mph, which it says is 1.2 seconds quicker than the previous 2.0 car and still slow for the class. Car and Driver also says the base trim was dropped for 2026, leaving Sport and RS. All-wheel drive is standard on every Impreza covered here.
Recalls to clear by VIN
We pulled NHTSA recall data for 2017 through 2026 Imprezas on October 14, 2026. The fifth-gen cars have the longer list. Two campaigns (19V-743 and 21V-264) cover 2017-2019 cars whose engine computer may keep powering an ignition coil after shutoff, which can blow a fuse and cause a stall. Campaigns 19V-744 and 19V-745 cover 2017-2018 cars with an aluminum PCV valve that may come apart inside the engine. Fuel pump campaigns 20V-218 and 21V-587 cover low-pressure pumps that may fail on 2018-2020 cars. 21V-675 covers 2021 cars with a left-front lower control arm weld that may fail, and 21V-024 covers 2021 CVT shifter cable nuts that may loosen.
Later cars show 22V-712 for 2022 windshields that may not be bonded properly, 23V-292 for 2023 brake light switches that may let the car shift out of park without the brake pressed, and 23V-647 for 2023 driveshaft bolts. On the new car, the NHTSA recalls API lists 23V-551 (instrument panel wiring that can rub through, short, and cut drive power) and 23V-754 (front driveshaft that may crack) for 2024 cars. Use our Subaru recall check by VIN page to see what applies to your car, then confirm with a Subaru retailer.
VIN and history report
Match the VIN on the dash, door, and title, and decode it with NHTSA's vPIC decoder to confirm the body style, engine, and transmission. Our Subaru VIN decoder guide explains the Subaru codes. A listing for an "Impreza RS" that decodes as a 2.0 is lying to you.
A cheap AWD compact tends to get used hard, so accident history is worth a careful read. A CARFAX report shows title brands, odometer readings, ownership type, and reported accidents. Through us, a CARFAX is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail in mid October 2026. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and are not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. Do not settle for a screenshot the seller texts you; a cropped image hides exactly the line you need.
On the test drive
Expect the 2.0 to feel slow and get loud under hard throttle. That matches what MotorTrend and Car and Driver both say. What is not normal is a stall, a warning light, or a shifter that feels loose, so ask about the ECM and shift cable campaigns. On salt-belt cars, look underneath for rust around the subframe and lower arms, and on a 2021, ask specifically about 21V-675. Honestly, check that all four tires match in brand and wear too; on an AWD car you may end up buying four at once. If you are cross-shopping, our used Mazda3 buying guide covers a quicker alternative, and the used car VIN check checklist keeps the paperwork in order.
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