Compare the2025 Hyundai ElantraVS 2025 Subaru Impreza

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Elantra 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist 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 Elantra and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Subaru Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	222
Neck Injury Risk	21%	22.4%
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	99 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	265/291 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Elantra is much safer than the Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	158	277
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	112/180 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	112/180 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Subaru Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	194
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	423 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	184	254
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	47 G’s

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

The Hyundai Elantra (Built after October 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Elantra comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Impreza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Impreza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Impreza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Impreza’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai 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 over 32 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Elantra’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Elantra has a standard 760-amp battery. The Impreza’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Elantra third among compact cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Elantra is faster than the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Elantra	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	84 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the Impreza:

			MPG
Elantra
	FWD	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/39 hwy
Impreza
	AWD	2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Elantra stops much shorter than the Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Elantra 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

The Elantra has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Impreza (107.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Impreza.

The Elantra Limited 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 Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Impreza RS (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 pounds less than the Subaru Impreza.

Passenger Space

The Elantra has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Impreza.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra SEL Sport/Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Impreza doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Elantra and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra 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 Elantra’s driver power window, power lock 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Elantra and the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Elantra second among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Impreza isn’t in the top three.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Impreza has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Subaru Impreza by over four to one during 2024.

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