Compare the2025 Subaru ImprezaVS 2024 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Impreza 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 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Impreza are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Both the Impreza and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Subaru Impreza achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 83 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impreza’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 3 places higher in reliability than BMW.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Impreza gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Impreza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 2 Series Gran Coupe requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Impreza has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Impreza has a standard 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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Impreza stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The front grille of the Impreza uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Impreza a Large car, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe is rated a Compact.

The Impreza has 9.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (100.5 vs. 91).

The Impreza has 1.5 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 15% lower rating, BMW is ranked 13th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Impreza has a standard rear wiper. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 Impreza’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Impreza and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Impreza outsold the BMW 2 Series by almost three to one during 2023.