Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2021 Volkswagen Golf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Impreza are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Golf doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Impreza has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Impreza Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Golf doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Impreza has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Golf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Impreza Auto’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Golf doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Impreza Auto’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Golf doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Impreza and the Golf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Volkswagen Golf:

	Impreza	Golf
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	198	286
Neck Stress	247 lbs.	336 lbs.
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	61 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	117	256
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	43%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	210 lbs.
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	76/57 lbs.	169/97 lbs.

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

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 Subaru Impreza is safer than the Volkswagen Golf:

	Impreza	Golf
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	185
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.2 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	363	368
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	201	274

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Impreza, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 3.9% less likely to roll over than the Golf, which received a four-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Impreza the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Golf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Impreza’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Golf’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Impreza’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Golf’s camshafts. If the Golf’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Impreza has a standard 530-amp battery. The Golf’s 480-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 16 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (152 vs. 147) than the Golf’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Golf doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Transmission

The Impreza offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Golf doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Impreza Sport	Golf
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11.3 inches
Rear Rotors	10.8 inches	10.7 inches

The Impreza stops shorter than the Golf:

	Impreza	Golf
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Impreza Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf (225/40R18 vs. 205/55R16).

The Impreza Sport’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Golf’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Impreza Sport has standard 18-inch wheels. The Golf’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Impreza’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Golf (105.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Impreza is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf.

Chassis

The design of the Subaru Impreza amounts to more than styling. The Impreza has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the Golf (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Impreza get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Impreza Sport/Limited uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Golf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Impreza Sedan a Mid-size car, while the Golf is rated a Compact.

The Impreza Sedan has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Golf (99.8 vs. 93.5).

The Impreza Sedan has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf.

Cargo Capacity

The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Golf with its rear seat up (20.8 vs. 17.4 cubic feet). The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Golf with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 25 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Impreza. The Golf doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Impreza Auto offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Golf doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Impreza’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Impreza Base). The Golf doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Impreza Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Golf doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Impreza Premium offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Golf doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Impreza Limited also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Impreza has standard extendable sun visors. The Golf doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Impreza’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Golf offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Golf doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Impreza Auto has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Golf doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Model Availability

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Volkswagen Golf isn’t available as a station wagon.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the Golf because it costs $82 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Impreza than the Golf, including $102 less for a water pump, $79 less for a muffler, $8 less for front brake pads, $158 less for a starter, $39 less for front struts and $145 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Impreza and the Volkswagen Golf, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Impreza outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.