Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Fiat 500X

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 500X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the EyeSight™ System optional in the Impreza as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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 500X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Impreza and the 500X 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 500X last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impreza’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Impreza has a standard 530-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Impreza’s reliability 31 points higher than the 500X.

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 500X doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Impreza 5-door gets better mileage than the 500X:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Impreza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Impreza higher (7 out of 10) than the Fiat 500X (6). This means the Impreza produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 500X every 15,000 miles.

The Impreza offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 500X doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Impreza offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 500X doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Impreza stops shorter than the 500X:

The Impreza’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 500X AWD’s standard 60 series tires. The Impreza Sport’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 500X Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Impreza’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the 500X (105.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door handles at .80 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 500X (27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the 500X’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 350 pounds less than the Fiat 500X.

The Impreza is 6.4 inches shorter in height than the 500X, making the Impreza much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The design of the Subaru Impreza amounts to more than styling. The Impreza has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the 500X (.35) 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 500X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Impreza 5-door has 9.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (100.9 vs. 91.7).

The front step up height for the Impreza Sedan is 6.7 inches lower than the 500X (12.7” vs. 19.4”). The Impreza Sedan’s rear step up height is 5.6 inches lower than the 500X’s (14” vs. 19.6”).

The Impreza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (20.8 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Impreza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 39.8 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 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Impreza. The 500X doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 500X. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 500X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Impreza has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 500X doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The 500X Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Impreza Limited’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 500X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Impreza Limited has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Impreza has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Fiat 500X isn’t available as a sedan.

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 500X is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

The Impreza will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Impreza will retain 53.58% to 57.04% of its original price after five years, while the 500X only retains 36.13% to 38.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the Impreza than the 500X, including $89 less for a water pump, $182 less for fuel injection, $148 less for a fuel pump and $244 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Impreza will be $10500 to $10530 less than for the Fiat 500X.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Subaru Impreza outsold the Fiat 500X by over 35 to one during 2022.