Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the Impreza and the Corolla Hybrid 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 Hybrid:

	Impreza	Corolla Hybrid
	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 Hybrid:

	Impreza	Corolla Hybrid
	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 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 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corolla Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Engine

The Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (152 vs. 134) than the Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Impreza has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Hybrid (13.2 vs. 11.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Impreza	Impreza Sport	Corolla Hybrid
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 Hybrid:

	Impreza	Corolla Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Impreza has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corolla Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan handles at .82 G’s, while the Corolla Hybrid LE pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Corolla Hybrid LE (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 29.1 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The Impreza 5-door is 6.3 inches shorter than the Corolla Hybrid, 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 Corolla Hybrid 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 Hybrid is rated a Subcompact.

The Impreza Sedan has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Hybrid (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 Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Impreza Sedan has a larger trunk than the Corolla Hybrid (12.3 vs. 11.3 cubic feet).

The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Corolla Hybrid (20.8 vs. 11.3 cubic feet).

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

Model Availability

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Toyota Corolla Hybrid isn’t available as a station wagon.

Recommendations

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

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