Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2023 Tesla Model 3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Impreza. But it costs extra on the Model 3.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Impreza (except Base)’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited has standard STARLINK Connected Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Impreza and the Model 3 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, 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 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 Tesla Model 3:

	Impreza	Model 3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	237/379 lbs.	333/455 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	117	235
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	101 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 Tesla Model 3:

	Impreza	Model 3
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	384

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

Warranty

There are over 4 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impreza’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 12 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Brakes and Stopping

The Impreza stops shorter than the Model 3:

	Impreza	Model 3
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	141 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 Model 3; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Impreza Premium/Sport/Limited flat and controlled during cornering. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (35.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

The Impreza 5-door is 8.6 inches shorter than the Model 3, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Impreza Sedan has 2.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model 3 (99.8 vs. 97).

The Impreza Sedan has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Impreza to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

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 Model 3 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 Model 3 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 standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Impreza has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Model Availability

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Tesla Model 3 isn’t available as a station wagon.

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 Model 3 is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Impreza than the Model 3, including $535 less for a water pump, $15 less for front brake pads and $868 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Impreza and the Tesla Model 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.