There are plenty of affordable cars on the market, but some have much more to offer than others. That’s the case with the 2021 Subaru Impreza, whose base model boasts impressive features for its price. Here’s a look at why this new Impreza offers such amazing value.

An affordable all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza

As MotorTrend mentioned, the 2021 Impreza is one of the most affordable sedans on the market. But that’s not what gives this compact car an amazing value for its price. The 2021 Impreza’s base MSRP is roughly $19,000, Subaru says. And for that price, all-wheel drive comes standard on every trim level.

Because most cars don’t offer all-wheel drive as standard, this feature at that low price proves the 2021 Impreza’s amazing value compared to its peers. Indeed, MotorTrend says the 2021 Impreza is the most affordable all-wheel-drive sedan. Not only that, but the 2021 Impreza is also one of the most affordable cars with all-wheel drive in any segment. 

So customers who absolutely need an all-wheel-drive vehicle might want to consider the 2021 Subaru Impreza. With that being said, although the base Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, it doesn’t boast every feature under the sun. And like many other cars, the Impreza offers impressive options at an up-charge. 

Smart safety features cost more

Subaru is well known for making safe cars. One reason is because of the number of smart safety features that come standard. However, the base-model 2021 Impreza doesn’t offer many of those features.

If you want Subaru’s EyeSight suite of smart safety features on your 2021 Impreza, you’ll have to cough up an extra $1,300, MotorTrend explains. That being said, the up-charge also brings an automatic transmission.

Safety features aside, the more expensive trim levels also offer far more standard features than the base 2021 Impreza. The most impressive trim, the Sport, starts around $23,600. It comes with a slew of smart technologies that make it sportier, including active torque vectoring, Subaru says. But those features come with a slight drawback: The Sport trim’s fuel economy isn’t as good as that on the other trims.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza has plenty to offer anyway

Regardless, the standard 2021 Impreza is still an impressive car, even compared to its premium trims. That’s because Subaru offers the same engine on all Impreza trims. Every Impreza comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing about 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. 

This engine also gets about 36 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg in the city. Plus, the 2021 Impreza also comes standard with the automaker’s StarLink infotainment system. It features a 6.5-inch touchscreen display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

And though the most affordable Impreza is a four-door, Subaru also offers a five-door hatchback. This trim costs about $500 more, and it greatly expands the Impreza’s cargo space.