Compare the2023 Toyota PriusVS 2023 Subaru Impreza

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Prius have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Subaru Impreza doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Prius 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.

The Prius Limited offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Impreza only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Prius has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prius has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and its not available on the Base and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Prius and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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 Prius is much safer than the Impreza Sedan:

	Prius	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Peak Forces	no contact	55 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.54 in	1.89 in
Shoulder Force	335 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.46 in	2.01 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.42 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	692 lbs.	825 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Prius its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Impreza was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Prius for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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 Prius’ warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Prius is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Prius’ battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Impreza’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Prius’ reliability 34 points higher than the Impreza.

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 Prius’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 42 more horsepower (194 vs. 152) than the Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 44 more horsepower (196 vs. 152) than the Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Prius
FWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	57 city/56 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	52 city/52 hwy
AWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	53 city/54 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	49 city/50 hwy
Impreza Sedan
AWD	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	23 city/31 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/36 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/36 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Prius’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Impreza doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Prius’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Impreza:

	Prius	Prius AWD-e	Impreza	Impreza Sport
Front Rotors	11.1 inches	12 inches	10.9 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11 inches	11 inches	10.8 inches	10.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prius LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Impreza. The Prius XLE/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Impreza Sport.

Suspension and Handling

The Prius has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Prius 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 Prius’ wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Impreza (108.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Prius is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Impreza.

For better maneuverability, the Prius LE’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Impreza’s (34.4 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Chassis

The design of the Toyota Prius amounts to more than styling. The Prius has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the Impreza (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Prius get better fuel mileage.

Cargo Capacity

The Prius has a much larger trunk than the Impreza Sedan (23.8 vs. 12.3 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Prius Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Impreza doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Prius Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Impreza doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Prius’ 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 Prius and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Prius 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 Prius’ 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 Prius 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 Prius LE’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Prius XLE/Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Prius’ 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 Prius’ headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Impreza’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Prius’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited.

Both the Prius and the Impreza offer available heated front seats. The Prius Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Impreza.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Prius Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Impreza doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Prius XLE/Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Prius XLE/Limited has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Impreza doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Prius’ optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Impreza doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Prius is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Toyota Prius outsold the Subaru Impreza by 20% during 2022.