Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2019 Subaru Impreza

Both the Sonic and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Impreza’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Chevrolet pays for the first scheduled maintenance on the Sonic. Chevrolet will pay for the first oil change, lubrication and any other required maintenance in the first year. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonic’s warranty.

The Chevrolet Sonic’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Impreza’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sonic’s reliability 27 points higher than the Impreza.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 24th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Sonic is faster than the Subaru Impreza (manual transmissions tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Sonic Manual gets better fuel mileage than the Impreza Manual (28 city/37 hwy vs. 24 city/32 hwy).

A six-speed manual is standard on the Chevrolet Sonic, with closer gear ratios for better performance and a lower final drive ratio for quieter highway operation, less engine wear and better fuel mileage. Only a five-speed manual is available for the Impreza.

To help the driver achieve optimum performance and fuel economy, the Sonic has a standard up-shift light to indicate when to shift based on power needs and conditions. The Impreza doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Sonic stops shorter than the Impreza:

The Sonic has vehicle speed-sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Sonic Premier Hatchback handles at .84 G’s, while the Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonic Premier Hatchback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonic LS/LT’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Impreza’s (34.5 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Sonic is shorter than the Impreza, making the Sonic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonic Hatchback a Mid-size car, while the Impreza 5-door is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The Sonic Sedan has a much larger trunk than the Impreza Sedan (14.9 vs. 12.3 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Sonic and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonic is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s available front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Impreza’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

Consumer Reports rated the Sonic’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Impreza’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Sonic has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Impreza has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sonic’s optional (except LS/RS) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonic is less expensive to operate than the Impreza because it costs $468 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sonic than the Impreza, including $217 less for a starter, $108 less for fuel injection, $30 less for a fuel pump, $223 less for front struts and $159 less for a timing belt/chain.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Sonic, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Subaru Impreza isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonic second among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Impreza isn’t in the top three.