Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Toyota Corolla

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
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 Corolla doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Corolla 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 Corolla doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Impreza and the Corolla 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 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 Toyota Corolla:

	Impreza	Corolla
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	237/379 lbs.	330/310 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	117	356
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	76/57 lbs.	301/156 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Toyota Corolla:

	Impreza	Corolla
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	239

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

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Impreza its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corolla is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Impreza has a standard 530-amp battery. The Corolla’s standard 295-amp battery and largest (SE/XSE) 360 amp battery aren’t as powerful.

Engine

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 Corolla doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Impreza	Impreza Sport	Corolla
Front Rotors	10.9 inches	11.6 inches	10.8 inches
Rear Rotors	10.8 inches	10.8 inches	10.2 inches

The Impreza stops much shorter than the Corolla:

	Impreza	Corolla
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan handles at .82 G’s, while the Corolla XSE pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corolla XSE (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The Impreza 5-door is 6.3 inches shorter than the Corolla, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Corolla (.31) 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 Corolla 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 Corolla is rated a Compact.

The Impreza Sedan has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla (99.8 vs. 88.6).

The Impreza Sedan has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 3.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla.

The front step up height for the Impreza Sedan is 1.8 inches lower than the Corolla (12.7” vs. 14.5”). The Impreza Sedan’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the Corolla’s (14” vs. 14.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Corolla (20.8 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Impreza easier. The Impreza’s trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Corolla’s liftover is 27.1 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Impreza’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Corolla’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Impreza. The Corolla 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 Corolla. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

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 Corolla doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

Economic Advantages

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 Corolla is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the Corolla because typical repairs cost much less on the Impreza than the Corolla, including $21 less for a muffler, $99 less for fuel injection, $30 less for a fuel pump, $555 less for a timing belt/chain and $191 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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