Subaru Impreza Overview: Generations, Specs and Which One to Buy

A guide to subaru impreza generations from 1994 to present: body styles, power ranges from 90 to 250 hp, and the standout versions of each era for parts shoppers and used buyers.

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car, currently a 5-door hatchback, produced from 1994 to the present with outputs spanning 90 to 250 hp. Anyone comparing subaru impreza generations will find a consistent formula across six generations: compact dimensions, widely available 4x4 drivetrains, and a spread of engines from small 1.5-liter units to a 250 hp 2.0. It suits drivers who want all-wheel-drive capability in an everyday-sized car, and questions about subaru impreza reliability are best answered by looking at the subaru impreza specs of each specific era, because the lineup changed body style, gearbox type and engine range several times over three decades.

Subaru Impreza generations

1 generation (1994–2001)

The 1 generation Subaru Impreza was sold from 1994 to 2001 as a coupe, with power from 90 to 211 hp across 85 modifications — the widest lineup of any generation. Gearboxes were Automatic and Manual, drive was 4x4 or FWD. The top version, the 2.0 MT (211 hp) with 4x4, used a 1994 cc engine, accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and consumed 10.2 l/100km. The mass-market 1.5 AT offered 102 hp from a 1493 cc engine with Automatic gearbox and 4x4 drive. The economy pick was the 2.0 AT (115 hp), also a 1994 cc unit with 4x4, which reached 100 km/h in 11.4 seconds and consumed 9.0 l/100km. A 2.5 AT with 167 hp and a 2457 cc engine joined the range in 1994 as the freshest addition and stayed in production through 2001.

2 generation (2000–2002)

The 2 generation ran from 2000 to 2002 as a sedan with 95 to 167 hp and 28 modifications, keeping both Automatic and Manual gearboxes and both 4x4 and FWD drivetrains. The common choice was the 1.5 AT (100 hp) with FWD and a 1493 cc engine; the strongest was the 2.5 AT (167 hp) with 4x4 and a 2457 cc engine. The economy version, the 1.6 MT (95 hp) with 4x4 and a 1597 cc engine, reached 100 km/h in 12.8 seconds and used 8.9 l/100km.

2 generation, restyling 1 (2002–2006)

The first restyling of the 2 generation was built from 2002 to 2006, again as a sedan with 95 to 167 hp and 28 modifications. The mass version remained the 1.5 AT (100 hp) with FWD and a 1493 cc engine. The 2.5 MT (167 hp) with Manual gearbox, 4x4 drive and a 2457 cc engine topped the range, and the 1.6 MT (95 hp) with its 1597 cc engine improved its fuel figure to 8.2 l/100km with a 12.9-second sprint to 100 km/h. A 2.5 MT with 165 hp, the same 2457 cc displacement, Manual gearbox and 4x4 drive was also offered through the same 2002–2006 years.

2 generation, restyling 2 (2005–2008)

The second restyling, produced 2005–2008 as a sedan, spanned 95 to 175 hp across 24 modifications with Automatic and Manual gearboxes and 4x4 or FWD drive. The 1.5 MT (105 hp) with 4x4 and a 1498 cc engine became the mass version and the economy pick at once, doing 0–100 km/h in 13.4 seconds at 7.9 l/100km. The 2.5 AT (175 hp) with 4x4 and a 2457 cc engine delivered the most power in the whole 2 generation family, with a 12.8-second acceleration time and 9.6 l/100km consumption. A 1.6 AT with 95 hp, FWD and a 1597 cc engine was the freshest addition; it needed 15.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

3 generation (2007–2012)

The 3 generation, sold 2007–2012 as a sedan, covered 107 to 250 hp in 26 modifications, again with Automatic and Manual gearboxes and both drivetrains. The 2.0 AT (140 hp) with 4x4 and a 1994 cc engine was the volume version, accelerating to 100 km/h in 10.0 seconds. The 2.0 AT (250 hp), also 1994 cc with Automatic gearbox and 4x4, marked the power peak of the entire model history. The 1.5 MT (107 hp) with 4x4 and a 1498 cc engine was the economy pick at 7.5 l/100km and a 14.0-second sprint; the same 1.5 MT (107 hp) engine was also offered with FWD as the newest variant of the range.

4 generation (2011–2014)

The 4 generation ran 2011–2014 as a sedan with 114 to 150 hp and 11 modifications; CVT replaced the conventional automatic alongside the Manual gearbox. The mass version, the 1.6 MT (114 hp) with 4x4 and a 1600 cc engine, did 0–100 km/h in 12.3 seconds at 7.2 l/100km. The 2.0 CVT (150 hp) with 4x4 and a 1995 cc engine managed 11.1 seconds and 7.6 l/100km, while the FWD 1.6 CVT (114 hp) posted the lowest consumption yet at 5.8 l/100km with an 11.8-second acceleration time.

4 generation, restyling (2014–2016)

The restyled 4 generation, built 2014–2016, switched to the 5-door hatchback body with 114 to 150 hp across 10 modifications, keeping CVT and Manual gearboxes and both 4x4 and FWD drive. The 1.6 CVT (114 hp) with FWD and a 1600 cc engine served as both the mass and the economy version, keeping its 5.8 l/100km figure and 11.8-second acceleration. The 2.0 CVT (150 hp) with 4x4 and a 1995 cc engine kept its 11.1-second sprint but improved consumption from 7.6 to 6.5 l/100km.

5 generation (2016–2019)

The 5 generation was produced 2016–2019 as a 5-door hatchback with 114 to 154 hp, only 6 modifications, and CVT gearboxes exclusively. The 2.0 CVT (152 hp) with 4x4 and a 1995 cc engine was the mainstream version at 7.6 l/100km; a later 152 hp variant of the same engine improved that figure to 7.4 l/100km. A 154 hp FWD version of the 2.0 sat at the top of the range, and the 1.6 (114 hp) with FWD and a 1599 cc engine consumed 6.5 l/100km with an 11.8-second acceleration time.

5 generation, restyling (2019–present)

The restyled 5 generation has been on sale since 2019 as a 5-door hatchback, narrowed to 2 modifications with 114 to 150 hp, CVT only. The key version is the 2.0ie e-Boxer AWD Lineartronic (150 hp), a 1995 cc hybrid with CVT and 4x4, accelerating to 100 km/h in 10.0 seconds at 6.3 l/100km, produced from 2020.

6 generation (2023–present)

The current 6 generation launched in 2023 as a 5-door hatchback with 152 to 182 hp, 2 modifications, CVT only, and 4x4 only — the first generation without any FWD option. The lead version is the 2.5 CVT with 182 hp from a 2498 cc engine, the largest displacement in the current range.

Which Subaru Impreza to buy

For a used purchase, the 2 generation sedans (2000–2008) and 3 generation (2007–2012) offer the largest pools of variants — 28, 28, 24 and 26 modifications respectively — which makes finding a specific configuration and matching parts easier. The 4 generation onward simplifies the choice to CVT or Manual with fewer trim permutations, and from the 5 generation the CVT is the only gearbox offered.

Which Subaru Impreza to avoid

Within the 2 generation, restyling 1 lineup, the 2.5 MT (165 hp) is dominated by the 2.5 MT (167 hp): the same 2457 cc engine, Manual gearbox, 4x4 drive and 2002–2006 production years, but 2 hp less. With no offsetting figure in the data, the 167 hp version is the stronger pick between the two.