Whenever you think about reliable cars, chances are, Toyota and Honda immediately come to mind. After all, they are the two largest Japanese brands in the United States, and they are also some of the most reliable brands out there. The thing is, while Japanese brands are inherently known for reliability, some brands attract more attention than others.
For today’s article, we’re going to take a look at a surprisingly reliable car that most buyers overlook. It may not be the most reliable car, period, but it’s one of the most overlooked, surprisingly reliable cars. Sales-wise, the lack of attention is reflected, as it only reached the hands of 1,156 customers in January 2026, lower than even the Mazda 3. The question is, does this surprisingly reliable car deserve more attention, or is its lack of attention a sign of the vehicle’s lack of competitiveness?
Hope You Remember The Subaru Impreza
Apart from Toyota and Honda, Subaru is also another brand that’s known for excellent reliability. What is this Subaru that deserves more attention? The 2026 Subaru Impreza. It is the original all-wheel drive (AWD) sedan, as it wasn’t until recently that cars like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3 started offering AWD versions.
Strong Reliability
Toyota and Honda are on top of almost everyone’s minds when it comes to reliability, but Subaru, as a brand, is right up there as well. iSeeCars rates the Subaru Impreza to have a reliability score of 7.7 out of 10. This ranks in line with the Mazda 3’s 7.9 out of 10, the Toyota Corolla’s 7.8 out of 10, while the most reliable compact passenger car, according to the publication, is the Honda Civic at 8.1 out of 10.
iSeeCars also determined that the Impreza has an average life span of 133,800 miles or 10.3 years, though weirdly enough, the hatchback version (aka the only version sold in 2026) is slightly better at 139,026 miles or 10.9 years. The probability of reaching 200,000 miles is 4.9 percent and 6.7 percent for the sedan and hatchback, respectively.
Why It’s Reliable
In typical Japanese brand fashion, its strong reliability is attributed to its drivetrain’s long production cycle and also its mechanical simplicity. Okay, so boxer engines are slightly harder to work on, with a few components being harder to reach. Spark plugs, for instance, are harder to access in a boxer engine, while the Symmetrical AWD system adds a slight layer of maintenance complexity. Everywhere else, the boxer engine is very robust and extremely reliable, so even if the vehicle itself is more complex than a Corolla or a Civic, the level of complexity isn’t at the same level as German luxury cars would usually be.
Also, since the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engines have a long production lifecycle—having been fitted to so many Subaru models, parts for the Impreza are therefore abundant. Remember, the Crosstrek is essentially a raised Impreza hatch, and so the mechanical similarity between the two models is very high. A longer production life cycle also means that the vehicle’s quality or production issues should have been resolved by now, especially through past recalls of the previous-generation Imprezas, which also used a similar engine and Subaru Global Platform to today’s model.
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Compelling Or Uncompetitive
The 2026 Subaru Impreza‘s sales of less than 2,000 units mean that it has even fewer sales than the Mazda 3, equally a left-field choice. Does the Impreza really deserve more attention, or is it a sign of being an uncompetitive vehicle?
No Hybrid, No Sedan Option
Our friends from CarBuzz were able to tabulate the sales numbers of passenger cars sold last year and thus were able to put out a list of the 25 best-selling passenger cars of 2025. Out of the 10 best-selling sedans in the United States, five of them come with a hybrid option. Three of them occupy the top three in a full sweep, while the fifth-best-selling sedan with a hybrid option is in number six.
This leaves us with the Subaru Impreza, whose lack of a hybrid and even a sedan option makes it less appealing. Okay, so with the Impreza not being sold with a sedan anymore, it certainly won’t make CarBuzz’s list, but even with that factored in, you can see that the Civic, which also has a hatchback with a hybrid version, sells in far bigger numbers. For reference, Subaru Impreza sales last month stood at just 1,156 units, versus the Civic, which is at a whopping 16,563. Though Honda doesn’t reveal a breakdown of Civic sales, in 2021, the company says that 25 percent are hatchbacks. If that were the case today, it means 4,141 may have been sold last month—four times more than the Impreza.
It’s Far From Cutting Edge
Lastly, the 2026 Subaru Impreza is one of the least cutting-edge models and least inspiring to drive in the segment. Even after receiving a full redesign in 2024, the Impreza didn’t bring anything new to the table. Its infotainment and tech are new for the Impreza, but if you’ve come from any other Subaru, all of its novelties will be very familiar. The 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen is something that the outgoing Outback already had for the past six years or so, only transplanted into the Impreza as part of a trickle-down effect of tech to more affordable models.
Furthermore, the Impreza’s design inside and out isn’t anything to be excited about. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just that, even next to the Corolla and Civic, there’s more visual interest in these two models versus the Impreza. Then again, design has never been Subaru’s strong point. AWD grip and the appeal of its boxer engine were always its main draws, not to mention the reliability that these components have offered over the years. Overall, the 2026 Subaru Impreza isn’t popular because it isn’t making headlines in any aspect. And if all you need is a simple car to go from A to B, a Toyota Corolla does an even better job at that, both more affordably and with a hybrid option, too.
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What A 2026 Subaru Offers
For 2026, the Subaru Impreza is now only available in two versions. Though the Impreza remains one of America’s most affordable compact cars, the discontinuation of the lower-priced variants raises its starting price.
Just-Right Style
The Subaru Impreza received a major redesign for the 2024 model year, and with it come evolutionary changes. Although still based on the same Subaru Global Platform as before, it receives significant improvements to make the chassis feel more rigid and planted. The similar chassis is reflected in the design, wherein the overall silhouette is similar to the previous model, albeit with styling refinements. Sleeker headlights, a sportier grille, along with slight tweaks to the side profile make the Impreza look better proportioned. With just the Sport and RS trims left for 2026, the Impreza also has a dose of sportiness with its two-tone or black 18-inch wheels and sporty mesh grille.
Inside, the Subaru Impreza’s changes may look pronounced, but the dashboard design is something you’ve already seen in other Subaru models. The growth from an eight-inch to an 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen may sound impressive on paper, but it’s the same Starlink infotainment that’s already fitted to other Subarus before it. Again, nothing here is groundbreaking, but more of what you’ve already seen before, and then trickled down to its most affordable model. Standard features are also impressive, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a sport-tuned suspension, full LED exterior lighting, and smart entry with push-button start, among others.
Solid, Familiar Mechanicals
Underneath its hood is the aforementioned 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engines, with the former producing 152 horsepower and the latter producing 182 horsepower. This is mated to Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT, driving all four wheels. The 2.0-liter is modest in output, while the 2.5-liter is the engine to go for if you want exceptional power. Of course, the AWD and big displacement engines mean that the Impreza isn’t the most fuel-efficient choice. Both the 2.0 Sport and 2.5 RS manage a combined 30 MPG. For reference, the Civic 2.0 does a combined 36 MPG (LX) or 34 MPG (Sport), while the hybrid does an impressive 49 MPG combined.
2026 Subaru Impreza Specs
|
2.0 Sport |
2.5 RS |
|
|
Powertrain |
2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine |
2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine |
|
Horsepower |
152 hp |
182 hp |
|
Torque |
145 lb-ft |
178 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
CVT |
CVT |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
AWD |
|
EPA Combined MPG |
29 MPG |
29 MPG |
As mentioned as well, the Subaru Global Platform of the Impreza receives rigidity improvements — 10 percent stiffer than the previous model, in fact. The remaining Sport and RS variants come with sport-tuned suspension, which incrementally sharpens handling whilst remaining comfortable. Additionally, it seems Subaru is proud of its work on the WRX’s steering, which is why almost every model in their lineup, including the Impreza, now uses the same steering rack.