If you want an all-wheel drive car with excellent safety scores, the 2022 Subaru Impreza should be on your list of possibilities. The Impreza offers a coupe or a practical hatchback with all-wheel drive (AWD). However, the Impreza isn’t alone in the compact car segment, and options like the Mazda3 are formidable. So, is it worth it to pick the 2022 Subaru Impreza?

How much is a brand new Subaru Impreza?

The 2022 Subaru Impreza starts at $20,290, making it a cost-effective commuter compared to other compact cars. For instance, the Mazda3 starts at $22,215, nearly $2,000 more than the Impreza. However, if you want the more efficient Impreza 2.0i Premium or the range-topping 2.0i Limited, you’ll have to spend more. Specifically, the 2.0i Premium starts at $23,690, and the Limited starts at $27,890. 

Still, if you want the 2.0i Sport performance-focused variant, it starts at $23,955, putting it just ahead of the Premium. 

Is the 2022 Subaru Impreza fuel efficient?

The 2022 Subaru Impreza is fuel efficient, but not compared to some of its fellow compact car competitors. For instance, the most efficient Imprezas are the 2.0i Premium and 2.0i Limited, which manage 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg at highway speeds with their flat 2.0L four-cylinder engines. However, a comparable 2022 Honda Civic EX will squeeze 33 mpg city and 42 mpg highway out of its 1.5L inline-four-cylinder engine. Of course, the Civic fails to offer AWD, which many Impreza shoppers will likely include in their must-haves list. 

The news gets worse with the performance-leaning 2022 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport. Although every Impreza in the marque’s lineup produces 152 horsepower, the Sport manages to drop its fuel economy to 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Part of that reason may stem from the standard manual transmission instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) standard in the Premium and Limited. 

Is the Impreza good in the snow?

The 2022 Subaru Impreza has a party piece that most other cars in the compact segment fail to match: standard AWD. Instead of an option on vehicles like the Mazda3 or absence like in the Honda Civic, Subaru has a car with a hatchback option and sure-footed AWD exclusively. Pair that with a library of standard driver aids like Brake Assist and Traction Control, and you have a compact car that will handle commutes in the snow better than most direct competitors. Furthermore, standard all-wheel drive means that power to all wheels isn’t an upcharge, and potential owners can possibly save.

Is the 2022 Subaru Impreza a good buy?

The 2022 Subaru Impreza is a good buy. However, Car and Driver suggests that its party piece, standard AWD, is its only standout feature. As a result, potential owners may want to consider a Mazda3 with its optional AWD. Furthermore, depending on how noncompliant your climate is, a front-wheel drive (FWD) car like the Honda Civic with appropriate tires will be quite sure-footed. 

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