Compare the2024 Mazda 3VS 2024 Subaru Impreza

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Mazda 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360-Degree Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Impreza only offers a rear monitor.

The Mazda 3 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 Mazda 3 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages 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 Mazda 3 and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Mazda 3 Sedan is safer than the Impreza:

	Mazda 3	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	122	154
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.5 in	1.57 in
Shoulder Force	335 lbs.	580 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	156	194
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.87 in	1.73 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	335 lbs.	736 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda 3 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Impreza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (191 vs. 152) and 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 145) than the Impreza’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (191 vs. 182) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (250 vs. 182) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda 3 4 cyl. is faster than the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	3	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	84 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda 3 (250 HP engine) is faster than the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	3	Impreza
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.3 sec	20.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.4 sec	8.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	134 MPH	134 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Mazda 3 Sedan gets better mileage than the Impreza:

			MPG
Mazda 3 Sedan
FWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
Impreza
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Impreza doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Impreza:

	Mazda 3	Impreza
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Mazda 3 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 Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Impreza (107.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mazda 3 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Impreza.

The Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Impreza RS pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Impreza RS (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Impreza doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Mazda 3 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda 3’s 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.

On a hot day the Mazda 3’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Impreza can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Mazda 3 has standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Impreza Sport/RS offers Keyless Entry and Start.

The Mazda 3’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mazda 3’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Impreza’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

On extremely cold winter days, the Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus’ 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.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Impreza offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Impreza doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Mazda 3 Premium’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Impreza’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Model Availability

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Subaru Impreza isn’t available as a sedan.

The Mazda 3 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Mazda 3	Impreza
Consumer Reports® Recommends	Top Pick	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a