Subaru Impreza hatchback (2014-2017) - MPG, running costs & CO2
The Subaru Impreza is only available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine and four-wheel drive, so it’ll cost more to run than many cars in the class above
Subaru Impreza MPG & CO2
The main weakness with the Subaru Impreza is the fact that it’s only available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine and fuel-sapping four-wheel drive. There's no diesel option, which limits its popularity in the UK. Subaru claims just 44.1mpg fuel economy, which is some way off the class leaders. You only need to compare that to the faster, more powerful Mazda3 2.0-litre petrol (which will do 55mpg) to see how thirsty the Subaru really is. And depending on the version you choose, the Mazda doesn't cost any more to buy.
As you’d imagine, that increased fuel consumption translates to high CO2 emissions. The Subaru Impreza emits a disappointing 147g/km of CO2, so it'll cost you £145 to tax every year. Automatic models are slightly cheaper to run, on paper at least, thanks to improved fuel economy and fractionally lower CO2 emissions, but you'll need to cover many miles before you recoup the extra cost.
Those figures put the Impreza on a par with the super-quick Volkswagen Golf GTI, which emits 139g/km of CO2 and returns 47.1mpg. Not to mention the fact that the Golf will do 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds – nearly half the time it takes the Subaru to do the same sprint.
Residual values weren’t available at the time of writing, but it’s safe to say that a Subaru Impreza will lose its value faster than the equivalent SEAT Leon or VW Golf.
Insurance group
If you’re worried the Subaru Impreza will cost you a lot in terms of fuel and road tax, you’d better look at a few insurance quotes before you sign on the dotted line. It sits in group 13, and while this isn't that high, a basic Volkswagen Golf is only group 7 and an entry-level Ford Focus Studio falls into group 11.
Warranty
The Subaru Impreza’s five-year/100,000-mile warranty does count in its favour. Only Kia's seven-year deal can beat it for cover. If it’s dependable motoring you’re after, you could do a lot worse than a Subaru.
Servicing
Servicing for both the manual and automatic versions of the Subaru Impreza is due every 12 months or 12,000 miles – whichever comes sooner. There are currently no pre-paid service plans, making maintenance slightly more expensive than for its European rivals. And Subaru dealers aren't ten-a-penny like Ford or Vauxhall dealers, so taking your car for a service might mean a long journey.
