2015 Subaru Impreza

The 2015 Subaru Impreza sedan is available in three trims, namely the Base, Premium, and Limited. The price for the Base trim starts at $18,195 and goes up to $22,295 for the top-of-the-line Limited trim. The Subaru Impreza is a capable offering from Subaru, and it faces serious competition from the likes of the 2015 Nissan Versa, 2015 Kia Forte, and 2015 Honda Civic.

The 2015 Subaru Impreza sedan is available in three trims, namely the Base, Premium, and Limited. All three trims are equipped with the same engine but differ in transmission and available creature comforts. You get the taste of comfort features like leather upholstery, satellite radio, and automatic climate control from the Premium trim, and the list elongates with the Limited trim.

We Recommend 

We recommend the Premium trim as it comes with an optimum balance of features and value. It does not include leather upholstery, automatic climate control, auto on/off headlights but surely does its job well with available features. If you are looking for every creature comfort the Impreza has on offer, you can surely opt for the Limited trim by paying an extra $1,300 over the Premium trim. 

All the trims of the 2015 Subaru Impreza are equipped with a 2.0-Litre flat-four engine. It produces about 148 HP and 145 lb-ft of torque. The figures aren’t exciting, and the performance isn’t too. It’s not a slouch, but the adrenaline rush is missing that you would expect from a boxer engine. The engine is mated to a 5-Speed manual transmission in the base trim, while the higher trims are mated to a CVT transmission equipped with manual mode via pedal shifters. However, all the trims come with Subaru’s legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System.

The performance is not one of the USPs of the 2015 Impreza. The 2015 Honda Civic with similar power output comes second in the acceleration test. It does 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds, a whole second quicker than the Impreza. The Kia Forte wins the performance game with its better power output and 0-60 mph time of just 7.6 seconds. The Versa comes last in the acceleration test and loses out in the game owing to a smaller capacity engine and meager power output from it. 

The 2015 Subaru Impreza might be underwhelming in performance, but it definitely offers good fuel economy. It offers 28 mpg in the city, 37 miles on the highway, and about 31 mpg in mixed driving conditions. With a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons, you can expect a driving range of 406 miles in the city and a whopping 537 miles on the highway. In combined driving conditions, one can expect about 450 miles on a full tank. The Subaru is an all-time 4WD vehicle, and hence these figures are commendable. 

As expected, the Nissan Versa with a smaller 1.6L engine is the most fuel-efficient, and even with a smaller 10.8-gallon fuel tank, you can expect about a 378-mile range with a full tank. The Honda Civic was a surprise performer and offered about 33 mpg in mixed driving conditions. With a fuel tank capacity of about 13.2 gallons, you can expect about a 436-mile range with a full tank. Despite being the most powerful, the Kia Forte offers nearly 29 mpg in combined driving conditions.

The 2015 Subaru Impreza sedan comes with modest interior space and seats five passengers in total. The lower trims get cloth upholstery as standard, and the seats are comfortable for most body types. The Limited trim gets leather upholstery, and the steering wheel along with the shifter knob also gets some leather treatment. The two-tone dashboard looks well laid out but is not very modern as that of some cars in the segment. It gets the job done, but the design is unexciting and seems to be a decade old. 

From the Premium trim onwards, you get many features like dual-mode heated front seats, paddle shifters, a center console with a sliding armrest lid, etc. The Limited trim gets you leather upholstery, automatic climate control system, optional keyless access with push start button, etc. The cargo capacity is on the lower side with just 12.0 cu-ft of available space. However, it can be extended by folding the 60/40-split flat folding rear seatbacks.

The Kia Forte and Nissan Versa offer better cargo capacity as compared to the Impreza or even the Civic in that regard. The front and rear headroom space are good in the Impreza, but the second-row passengers may feel cramped owing to lesser legroom. The passengers on the rear seat of Nissan Versa have better legroom and will feel comfortable over long journeys. Some of the standout interior features of the Impreza are :

• Center console with sliding armrest lid
• Audio And Cruise Controls On Steering Wheel
• Automatic climate control system (Limited)
• Optional Keyless access with push-button start (Limited)
• Leather upholstery (Limited)
• Remote trunk release

How intuitive is the 2015 Subaru Impreza’s infotainment unit?

The Impreza’s infotainment system is powered by Subaru’s Starlink interface. It is equipped with a 6.2-inch high-resolution LCD touchscreen display which is easy to use. The Limited trim gets you a bigger 7.0-inch high-resolution LCD touchscreen display. You also get access to SiriusXM services but only with the Limited trim. The lower trims get a 4-speaker audio system, while the Limited trim comes with a 6-speaker setup for enhanced output.

You can also opt for a Navigation package in the Limited trim which will give you access to various navigation services like GPS navigation system with integrated audio system, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, NavTraffic, NavWeather, etc. The connectivity features are pretty standard. You get audio streaming and hands-free phone connectivity via Bluetooth. You also get a 3.5-mm AUX jack and USB-port/iPod control port for better connectivity. Some of the standout infotainment features of the Impreza are :

• STARLINK Infotainment System
• HD radio
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Optional Navigation System
• 6.2-inch touchscreen display 
• 7.0-inch touchscreen display (Limited)
• 4/6 speaker audio system 

The 2015 Impreza looks like a well-rounded compact sedan package. It has got the right dimensions which would help it to be efficient, engaging, and maneuverable in the city. The front fascia imbibes two modest-looking halogen headlamps, and the signature Subaru grille with chrome inserts adds to its minimalistic design approach. The sides are a plain affair with not much of a visual drama. 

The rear profile is subtle as well and houses two squarish tail lamps. The rear spoiler on the tailgate adds a bit to its sporty appeal. The wheels can either be 16-inch steel/alloy ones or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the trim you opt for. Overall, the whole package is good-looking but not the best for sure. 

The 2015 Impreza is the heaviest rival here owing to a full-time AWD system. The Nissan Versa is the lightest, and hence it offers spectacular fuel efficiency. The Kia Forte has a longer wheelbase which aids in high-speed stability on the highways. The Impreza is the longest in comparison to the competition, but that does not help with its lower cargo capacity. The Civic gets a higher ground clearance, thus making it more usable over bad surfaces. Some of the standout exterior features of the Impreza are :

• Rear Spoiler
• Heated side mirrors 
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Fog Lights (Limited)
• Optional Steering responsive fog lights (Limited)
• exhaust outlet with stainless tip (Limited)

Subarus are known for their robust construction, and the 2015 Impreza is no different. It is made from a ring-shaped reinforcement frame to help protect everyone inside the vehicle. With more IIHS' Top Safety Picks than any other car brand for 2014, you can definitely count on its safety. The NHTSA has given an overall 5-star safety rating to the Impreza, which is impressive and a testimony to its safety. It also gets 7-airbags to protect the occupants from every possible angle. Some of the standout safety features of the Impreza are :

• Lane departure warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Forward collision warning

The Subaru Impreza is not a flamboyant sedan but does its work well. It checks most of the right boxes and offers a total family sedan experience. The availability of a standard AWD system is a good thing and can lead to some weekend fun around the twisties. The safety features are one of the USPs of the Impreza, and the built quality is that of a typical Subaru. So if aesthetics don’t bother you, there’s nothing much to think about before buying the 2015 Subaru Impreza.