Compare the2022 Jeep RenegadeVS 2022 Subaru Impreza

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Renegade Trailhawk’s standard Hill-descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Impreza doesn’t offer Hill-descent Control.

The Renegade has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Renegade has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Impreza and isn't available on the not available.

Both the Renegade 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 all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Renegade is safer than the Subaru Impreza:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Renegade for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

There are almost 4 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Renegade’s warranty.

The engine in the Renegade has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Impreza has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Renegade has a standard 150-amp alternator (160-amp - Renegade Auto). The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 24th, below the industry average.

The Renegade’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (177 vs. 152) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 145) than the Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Renegade (except 2.4-liter)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Impreza doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Renegade has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Impreza doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Jeep Renegade comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Impreza.

For better stopping power the Renegade’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Impreza:

The Renegade stops much shorter than the Impreza:

For better traction, the Renegade has larger standard tires than the Impreza (215/65R16 vs. 205/55R16). The Renegade Latitude/Limited’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Impreza (235/45R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Renegade Latitude/Limited offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Impreza’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Renegade has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Renegade flat and controlled during cornering. The Impreza base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Renegade 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 Renegade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Impreza doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Renegade has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Impreza (8 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the Renegade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Renegade Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 3.6 inches higher than on the Impreza (8.7 vs. 5.1 inches).

The Renegade is 9.6 inches shorter than the Impreza 5-door, making the Renegade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Impreza is limited to 0 pounds. The Renegade 4x4 offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Renegade uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Impreza doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Renegade’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Impreza has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Renegade and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Renegade 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 Renegade’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Renegade’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Renegade’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited.

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

The Renegade’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Impreza doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Renegade (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Impreza doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Renegade Limited’s optional Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Impreza doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Renegade is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Renegade is less expensive to operate than the Impreza because it costs $64 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Renegade than the Impreza, including $99 less for fuel injection, $46 less for a fuel pump, $22 less for a timing belt/chain and $5 less for a power steering pump.

The Jeep Renegade outsold the Subaru Impreza by 72% during the 2021 model year.