2019 Subaru Impreza Hatchback

The 2019 Impreza hatch starts at an MSRP of $19,095 excluding tax, licensing, registration, and an $885 destination fee. The better specced Premium version will set you back $22,095. The Honda Civic hatchback starts at an MSRP of $21,450 excluding tax, licensing, registration, and an $920 destination fee. The Subaru Impreza shows a lot of value in its price range and the carmaker has done a fine job of keeping prices low while stocking up on the features list.

Generally, buyers approach Subaru first for one key drawcard: fitment of all-wheel drive on every model with the exception of the BRZ, and the Impreza is no different giving it impressive levels of grip and seamless road-holding.

The Impreza's steering is light, but you can still point it in a direction with some accuracy, and it responds rapidly to inputs that see the compact hatch dart about the road with some vigor. On the road, the Impreza soaks up bumps and imperfections and delivers an overall ride that seems more premium than entry-level. It doesn't matter the road surface, or whether it changes midway through a corner, the Impreza can't be unsettled, and the suspension adapts rapidly enough that imperfections are kept away from the cabin and its occupants. Grip levels are high on all models regardless of wheel and tire size, and there's a depth to the Impreza's handling that rewards keener drivers wishing to push to find the extremely high limits of grip. Aiding the mechanical grip, and come the wet and snowy winter season, other compact hatch owners will rue the day they decided to buy a front-wheel drive car.

All told, it's a disappointment the Impreza doesn't have more power, as the chassis is highly capable, highly balanced, and manages to resist lean without compromising on outright comfort. The chassis is exemplary, let down by a crucially flawed powertrain.

The Impreza has come a long way since the days of agrarian-spec interiors and rally car reputations. The 2019 Impreza hatchback is a sensible and safe compact hatch that offers buyers mature and functional design, excellent safety and class-leading road holding thanks to its all-wheel-drive tech. The excellent infotainment system and ergonomic dashboard layout translate into a good real-world car, while the cargo volume is ample despite not being as good as the Honda Civic. However, a capable chassis and high levels of grip are completely wasted with a lackluster engine giving some of the worst performance figures in the segment, while neither gearbox is particularly exciting or able to make good use of disappointing power outputs. Contemporary turbocharged rivals simply offer more, and get better gas mileage to boot. Despite the allure of all-wheel drive, the Impreza's performance is a huge letdown and one that simply ruins the package, leading us to recommend other equally safe, practical, and better-performing alternatives like the Honda Civic.

The Impreza 5-door has been bestowed with a generous list of standard equipment, and those looking for a simple runaround will be happy with the base model. The Limited 5-door with the CVT gearbox offers good value for money and makes the Impreza not only cheaper to run thanks to its superior mpg figures, but easier to live with, as the CVT gets the most out of the underpowered 2.0i Boxer engine. Our Impreza Hatch of choice would be the 2.0i Sport. It costs $600 more than the premium, but gets 18-inch wheels, Active Torque Vectoring, and body-color folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals amongst others.

The Crosstrek and Impreza might share the same platform, but there is a clear distinction between the two. The Subaru Crosstrek will appeal to adventure seekers on a budget who love to instagram their hiking photos ( #wanderlust). Based on the Impreza 5-door, this compact crossover has the offroading capability to match its bold exterior. An increased ride height of 8.7 inches ain't nothing to sneeze at, and the all-wheel-drive system gets further assistance from what Subaru calls "X Mode" which helps traction in slippery conditions. You can expect more or less the same performance, as both share the 2.0 liter boxer motor and CVT gearbox. The base model Crosstrek benefits from a 6-speed manual where the Impreza only gets a 5-speed. The differentiating factor here will be lifestyle choices. The Impreza should be the choice for those who seek comfort and practicality in the form of a compact hatch, whereas the Crosstrek will lure in adrenaline seekers who like the idea of owning a small crossover 'SUV' that they can use to lug around mountain bikes and poorly folded camping gear.

The ever-popular Honda Civic is as good as ever, and any compact hatch contender should feel slightly nervous. The 2019 Civic strikes an excellent balance between practicality and driver enjoyment. The latest version has seen minor tweaks to the interior and also sports the hatch-only turbocharged 180-hp engine, a far superior unit to the Impreza's asthmatic 2.0i Boxer. The Civic's gearbox options (6-speed manual and CVT auto) are better than that of the Impreza's, in fact, the CVT found in the Civic is one of the best on the market right now. The Impreza performs slightly better in the safety department, and the fact that it's got all-wheel drive might lure a few customers away from the Civic. The base model Civic starts off at an MSRP of $21,450 excluding tax, license, registration and a $920.00 destination fee.