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VERDICT · A GENUINELY SAFE, MODERN SUBARU CHOICE

Subaru Impreza 2.0L
is it a safe used buy?

A genuinely practical all-wheel-drive compact, paired with the meaningfully improved FB20 engine — free of the older EJ25's defining head gasket concern covered elsewhere on this site.

GENERATION4th gen (2012–2016)
ENGINE2.0L
POWER148 hp
USED PRICE$7,500–13,000

How the engine fits this car

A genuinely practical all-wheel-drive compact, paired with the meaningfully improved FB20 engine — free of the older EJ25's defining head gasket concern covered elsewhere on this site.

The WRX's more mainstream sibling, sharing little beyond the Subaru badge and all-wheel-drive layout with that performance-focused model.

Subaru Impreza-specific pros and cons

This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.

WHAT HOLDS UP WELL

  • Different, meaningfully more dependable engine architecture than the troubled EJ25
  • Genuine all-wheel-drive security as standard, a Subaru hallmark
  • Low purchase price and running costs for an all-wheel-drive compact
  • Strong safety ratings consistent with Subaru's broader reputation

WHAT TO WATCH

  • Modest power output, typical of a naturally aspirated compact car engine
  • CVT-equipped versions carry the separate Lineartronic considerations worth checking
  • Interior material quality, while reasonable, trails some rivals
  • Resale value, while reasonable, trails the more popular WRX

Pricing on the used market

Mileage band
Typical price
What to expect
Under 60,000 mi
$11,000–13,000
Lower-mileage, well-kept examples
60,000–100,000 mi
$9,000–11,000
Sweet spot, minimal additional risk
100,000+ mi
$7,500–9,000
Still a confident buy with documented maintenance

The engine itself

This Impreza is a defining application of the FB20. Full detail on this engine's meaningfully improved reliability track record lives on the dedicated engine page.

FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNSubaru 2.0L FB20 Flat-Four — Reliable or Not →

Pre-purchase checklist for this generation

Check oil level yourself if possible, given the minor consumption reports on a subset of examples.

If the car has a CVT, test drive under both light and firmer acceleration, feeling for shudder.

Beyond general maintenance history, there's little else specific to flag.