Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Safety
Engine
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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Impreza and the Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback:

	Impreza	Corolla Hatchback
	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 Hatchback:

	Impreza	Corolla Hatchback
	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 Hatchback is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 Hatchback doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Brakes and Stopping

The Impreza stops much shorter than the Corolla Hatchback:

	Impreza	Corolla Hatchback
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	135 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Impreza’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Corolla Hatchback (105.1 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan handles at .82 G’s, while the Corolla Hatchback SE pulls only .80 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 Hatchback XSE (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Corolla Hatchback’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

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 Corolla Hatchback (.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 Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback is rated a Compact.

The Impreza Sedan has 15.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Hatchback (99.8 vs. 84.6).

The Impreza Sedan has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 6.6 inches more rear legroom, 9.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Hatchback.

Cargo Capacity

The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Corolla Hatchback (20.8 vs. 17.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Impreza. The Corolla Hatchback 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 Hatchback. 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 Corolla Hatchback 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 Corolla Hatchback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Impreza Premium offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Corolla Hatchback 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.

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 Hatchback 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 Hatchback is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the Corolla Hatchback because typical repairs cost less on the Impreza than the Corolla Hatchback, including $83 less for fuel injection, $75 less for a timing belt/chain and $70 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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