Compare the2023 Toyota CorollaVS 2023 Subaru Impreza

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Impreza doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Corolla 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 blind spot warning systems 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Subaru Impreza:

	Corolla	Impreza
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	198
Neck Injury Risk	27%	39%
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	247 lbs.
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	50 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	34%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	208 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Subaru Impreza:

	Corolla	Impreza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	165
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	293 lbs.
Hip Force	330 lbs.	400 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	363
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	79 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	715 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	824 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Corolla is much safer than the Impreza Sedan:

	Corolla	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	99	245
Head Peak Forces	no contact	55 G’s
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.89 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	2.01 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	10 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	150	231
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.38 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	13 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Impreza last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

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

Reliability

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 Corolla’s reliability 25 points higher than the Impreza.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corolla second among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 7th.

Engine

The Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 17 more horsepower (169 vs. 152) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 145) than the Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	Corolla	Impreza
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	9.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.5 MPH	81.4 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla is faster than the Subaru Impreza (automatics tested):

	Corolla	Impreza
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla gets better mileage than the Impreza Sedan:

			MPG
Corolla
	Auto	LE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
		SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
Impreza Sedan
	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	23 city/31 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/36 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/36 hwy

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla stops shorter than the Impreza:

	Corolla	Impreza
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corolla’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Impreza (106.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Corolla XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla has a larger trunk than the Impreza Sedan (13.2 vs. 12.3 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Corolla’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 Corolla and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla 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 Corolla’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Impreza’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Impreza can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Impreza’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Corolla’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Impreza’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Corolla 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Corolla XSE offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Impreza doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Subaru Impreza isn’t available as a four door hatchback.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla is less expensive to operate than the Impreza because it costs $464 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Corolla than the Impreza, including $88 less for a water pump, $25 less for front brake pads, $128 less for a starter and $194 less for front struts.

Recommendations

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

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Subaru Impreza by over 9 to one during 2022.