2020 Subaru Impreza Hatchback

Prospective buyers in the USA can set their sites on the manual-equipped base Impreza, titled the Impreza five-door, which has an MSRP of $19,195; optioning for the CVT will ask an additional $1,300. The Premium is priced at an MSRP of $22,595, the manual-equipped Sport is given an MSRP of $22,895, it'll cost an additional $1,100 to option in the CVT for the Sport. The Limited closes off the lineup with an MSRP of $26,295. All those prices are excluding Subaru's destination and delivery charge of $900 as well as any tax, registration, and licensing fees.

Fortunately, when it comes down to its ride and handling dynamics, the Impreza does manage to impress, despite its unrefined powertrain. With a suspension setup tuned for comfort, it rides with sophistication, without ever feeling too floaty. Most road imperfections and typical everyday undulations are adequately absorbed, even by the Sport's sport-tuned suspension and underpinnings. What's more impressive is that the Impreza delivers apt handling dynamics at that, Subaru having found an uncompromising balance between ride quality and handling dynamics. Body roll is mostly mitigated, whether taking sharp bends or long corners, which - along with the Impreza's sharp and responsive steering - give it a sense of verve. There could be more tire and road feedback provided via the steering, however. The brakes are good; stopping power is plentiful from top speeds and the act comfortably smooth, the pedal itself is firm and easy to modulate in everyday driving. Its permanent AWD, along with its refined chassis, avails it with some confidence-inspiring road grip and body composure at all times and is a great benefit for drivers in all-weather states.

The Subaru Impreza is simply a powertrain away from near-perfection and is possibly even a transmission short. Other than the engine and drivetrain letting it down, it is a highly appealing and value-packed offering overall and makes for a great compact family vehicle for getting from point A to point B on a daily basis. Along with an exceptional ride quality, it also manages to portray some handling prowess; that doesn't mean that the Impreza is particularly fun-to-drive, as the lackluster engines make it difficult to drive this slow car in any way that could be misconstrued as entertaining. Its standard AWD setup and refined chassis further accord it with some improved all-weather traction and control, an advantage it holds over many of its rivals.

Furthermore, the Impreza's leading safety ratings are worth noting: outfitted with a vast selection of safety and advanced driver-assist features as standard, and having received top-notch crash-test safety ratings from both the NHTSA and the IIHS. This, along with the how much highly functional tech and specifications you get for the money you pay, makes it a more than suitable family commuter and a great value for money buy, just not a very quick one.

The Impreza Premium is the model we recommend; as the mid-spec trim, it's still relatively affordable, but with a few more valuable creature-comforts that the base models don't come standard with or even have the option to equip. It also receives access to the lineup's only options package, which we do suggest including for everything it comprises - keyless access with push-button start, a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist and rear-cross traffic alert. This model doesn't have the option to the manual gearbox, but it's no great loss as the CVT - despite being terrible to use - remains significantly more fuel-efficient.

The Crosstrek is, as the name alludes, a crossover SUV; it's equipped with the same lackluster powertrain as the Impreza, and costs around $3,000 more while sharing most of the Impreza's structure. But, it offers the mighty benefit of a smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission option. While the gearbox certainly improves the driving experience overall, as opposed to that of the Impreza's, it's not as fuel-efficient as the hatch. With an impressive ground clearance and the same permanent AWD system, the Crosstrek also offers vastly improved off-road capability to that of the Impreza. Additionally, while both vehicles share the same amount of cargo room the Crosstrek offers greater practicality with its maximum tow capability of 1,500 lbs. There's a little more passenger room in the Crosstrek as well. The two vehicles are otherwise identical, but because of the six-speed manual gearbox that's available within the Crosstrek lineup and the versatility it offers, it's the better vehicle of the two. Get the Crosstrek, and go on an adventure!

The base price of the Legacy is only around $3,500 more expensive than the Impreza, and considering its more powerful engine and far more powerful turbocharged motor option, it's certainly worth the extra clams. The Legacy's powertrain as a whole feels a lot more refined than the Impreza's, it's faster off-the-line and more responsive at higher speeds, and only a little less fuel-efficient. Apart from the benefit of avoiding the Impreza's unrefined powertrain, the Legacy also offers advantages in its much more contemporary and visually appealing cabin, which comprises nicer materials, a more modern design, and an 11.6-inch vertically oriented high-res touchscreen display mounted in the dash. Both vehicles are similar in the way of features, safety, and crashworthiness - but the more potent engine, attractive, premium cabin, and loads of passenger space on the larger Legacy make it the winner of the competition here, despite the price premium.