Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2021 Volvo V60

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 V60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Impreza. But it costs extra on the V60.

Both the Impreza and the V60 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Volvo V60:

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Volvo V60:

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

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the V60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impreza’s warranty.

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 Volvo vehicles. With 65 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

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 V60 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Impreza 5-door gets better mileage than the V60 running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Impreza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The V60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Impreza higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo V60 (5 to 7). This means the Impreza produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 every 15,000 miles.

The Impreza offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The V60 doesn’t offer a manual 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 V60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Impreza stops shorter than the V60:

The front and rear suspension of the Impreza uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the V60’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 pounds less than the Volvo V60.

The Impreza 5-door is 11.2 inches shorter than the V60, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 V60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Impreza 5-door has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V60 (100.9 vs. 94).

The Impreza 5-door has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the V60 with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 50.9 cubic feet).

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 V60 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 V60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Volvo V60 isn’t available as a sedan.

Insurance will cost less for the Impreza owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Impreza with a number “1” insurance rate while the V60 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the V60 because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Impreza than the V60, including $124 less for a water pump, $167 less for a muffler, $53 less for front brake pads, $177 less for fuel injection, $429 less for a fuel pump, $27 less for a timing belt/chain and $141 less for a power steering pump.

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

The Subaru Impreza outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over two to one during the 2021 model year.