2012 Subaru Impreza Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
27 City / 36 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
148
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Maria C
The Impreza is the greatest starter car you could imagine.
Pulleys get loose overtime. Very reliable. Good gas mileage. I have had one problem with burning oil. The car is overall rated great for safety compared to others. Very comfortable. Is all wheel drive. Love the sound system. Heated seats. Easy to drive. Not many issues. Beautiful exterior. Great headlights.
accountCircle Alyssa P
Will last forever and you'll never get tired of it.
Very reliable. I wish it didn't have a delay or burn so much oil. Great size.
accountCircle Kendall S
An awesome car with great gas mileage!
I love this car!! It is so great on gas mileage, and rides super smooth! I have had it for a year and haven't had any major issues besides regular maintenance. The only thing is that I think my tire pressure system light has stopped working, it blinks when the vehicle has first started.
accountCircle Michelle G
Beautiful Blue Subaru Impreza Limited was a great purchase
The car feels very stable and I love the leather interior. It runs great and you can feel it. Very reliable and not needing to fill up too much. Very comfortable and love the color and how it drives. In the winter, the seats can heat up the black interior looks very modern. I am happy to have purchased a reliable and beautiful vehicle.
accountCircle Kayla B
Bluetooth radio, clean and attractive look. Detailed dash alerts
Bought this car for my daughter and I to use for transportation to work, daycare, etc. I love the size of the car not to small not too Big. Easy for me to take my child in and out of the car seat. Very large truck space for all baby essentials. Large back seat for a child's car seat. I'm very short so seeing over the dash has been an issue for me until now This car is a perfect fit. Great gas mileage, great AWD for bad Maine winters. I've had the car over a year now, no issues at all! Sporty, great looking mommy car.
accountCircle BETH A
Very Amazing Car, works well and run great!
Performance is outstanding! It's a very good car. It runs well, and has been with me through many years. Comfortable especially for being smaller. Very reliable and has great features. It includes being able to connect to your phone for music! Overall this car is great and the mileage is very good.
accountCircle Jessica M
Fun, sporty and reliable!
My car just wants to get up and go! It is fantastic in all weather plus has that sporty look I love. I am proud to own a Subaru. In fact I will not buy anything else now. It is been a really great car! It is comfortable, reliable and has all the features I need and love!
accountCircle Julia F
Just moved to the mountains? Do you need a car that can handle the snow?
Let’s put it this way: I went from being strictly a Jeep/SUV gal, to a Subaru lover! It is a fast, safe, and reliable car. I love my Bluetooth speaker, even though I know that that is something that everyone has in the newer cars. The interior is easy clean, and it has a nice posh but funky look to it.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle William Kalal
Engine Problem
I bought the Impreza for all wheel drive and overall reliability. My 2012 model has 83,000 miles. There is a serious engine problem. The car burned oil causing the oil light to come on continuously, especially on longer drives. I always carry a can of oil and have to fill up even after an oil change. After several trips to the dealer and many complaints, a Suburu engineer told us there was a problem with the O-rings in the engine and they had to be replaced. Luckily, the engine is still under warranty. The car has been at the dealer for a month awaiting a qualified mechanic to rebuild the engine. I am very concerned about the car's condition when I get it back. I will never buy a Suburu again.
accountCircle Bob R.
One thing after another
Too many problems with this car since the year I bought it brand new 2012, Burns oil, seats ripped in drivers side, noise, a/c doesn't cool car, paint is lousy, rusting in places, I'm now having transmission problems right after the extended transmission warranty ended. Never mind the lousy 5-6 recalls that I have had to bring the car back for ..
accountCircle Justin E
Like it, but wish it was a Crosstrek.
Very reliable and comfortable, does not have a lot of power struggles to gain speed if you have the a/c on. Very good on gas get about 30 a gallon in the summer and about 34 in the winter. Manual transmission sometimes has troubles going into reverse not sure if that is normal it is my first manual car. Beast in the snow.
accountCircle Kristina B
Nothing but one issue after another. Worst vehicle & big money pit.
Bought brand new & had issues from the start. Ended up getting new motor. As burned oiled, new seats as weren't built right, new CD player as it scratched CDs, Bluetooth does not connect & does horrible in snow. Plus constant rattles even after taking in to get fixed. Worst car I ever owned & would never own another Subaru again.
accountCircle Michelle K
You can always rely on the car to get you through the snow
I'm not happy with this car because it eats oil. Although there is a class action, the most I can get back is $65. I have to add oil every month or sometimes every other month, synthetic. I had another Subaru before, it's great in the snow, reliable, a little noisy on the road, light weight, it moves with strong winds, sometimes it's scary
accountCircle Jj M
Great first car that has been reasonably reliable. Best point is the price.
Comfortable vehicle that is easy to drive and smooth on the roads. It gets good gas mileage and is not too expensive to refuel. Moderate acceleration which makes it a good option for both city and suburban driving conditions. Downsides are, that its a older car so the maintenance is very high which can be costly.
accountCircle Brittany H
It has heated seats, it is a manual, nice interior, sunroof.
Found out after purchasing that there was a lawsuit regarding oil consumption on this vehicle.. Uses more oil than an older model car we own. It runs fine, but I worry about engine performance in the future. I hope it can last the years I was expecting from it.
accountCircle vera h
Low gas mileage, horrible calipers
Performance is great but brake calipers need replacing frequently. Great gas mileage. To low to the ground but very roomy inside

Subaru Impreza Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
2.0i Sedan
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Wagon
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Premium Sedan
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Premium Wagon
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Sport Premium Wagon
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Limited Sedan
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Limited Wagon
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
2.0i Sport Limited Wagon
148 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Subaru Impreza Owner Reviews

4.33
187 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 49%
4 stars 39%
3 stars 11%
2 stars 2%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Tori I on June 23, 2021
Best. Car. Ever. I will drive Subaru vehicles for the rest of my life.
At 170k+ miles I have just started having starter issues. Nothing that is stopping me from it being my everyday driver. I love this car. This is the car is take on long road trips and comfortably travel with all luggage/tents/kayaks/ and my 90 lb golden retriever. I have roof racks that add to my storage capability and also love that the back seats fold to protect the leather from luggage or other items. I am fully expecting to get another 50-80k out of this car and then I will replace it with another Subaru. It has been the greatest vehicle purchase yet, coming from a driver who has owned 5 cars in 8 years. I am a lifelong Subaru driver now thanks to the Impreza!
accountCircle Erika N on June 16, 2021
This car is great at accelerating.
I absolutely love my Subaru. I bought it with 80,000 miles on it and have not had very many issues with it aside from normal wear and tear. This car does great on gas and it only takes $20 to fill my tank, which lasts me around 2 weeks. I highly recommend this car to anyone who's considering buying it.
View All Reviews (187) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Liz S.

It is compact, it has decent mileage, it is easy to steer and is relatively safe - it is from a well-known and respected brand and it has enough room to transport things without being bulky - it is the perfect size!

likeFilled Ann M.

Subaru is good on gas. It is affordable, cheap affordable maintenance and comfortable ride. It is a 4 wheel drive so it is good on snow and bad weather. It is a reliable car. It is good for small families. It is common and has all basic needs.

likeFilled Jovany T.

Drives really well. If you open the hood, the mechanical parts and engine are spaced out well, that it makes it easy to maintain the car. Has nice features that tell you gas mileage and when you need to refill tank. It is a big car and it makes it hard to parallel park.

likeFilled Courtney C.

It is a small car so it's lighter making it more fuel efficient for a small car it has a lot of cargo space in comparison to other 5 seat small cars. The radio is great and the aux is conveniently place in the center console.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Liz S.

It is not super environmentally friendly (would be great if a hybrid) sometimes it can be a bit faulty (but this might be because it is old) - I think its age is a bit more influential than the brand/model itself.

dislikeFilled Ann M.

The cons are that there is no camera for reverse driving to guide reverse parking. There is no safety signals when changing lanes for extra protection against accidents. It is okay looking car. It could be improved.

dislikeFilled Jovany T.

Bigger than normal car for a sedan. The gas mileage is not great for city driving. Parking the car in the city can be more difficult because of the size of the car. I have noticed some belt problems and the car is new, so I am not sure if it is this specific car or how the car is made.

dislikeFilled Courtney C.

It's a small car and or family is a bigger family we are all tall big framed Dutch farm people so there isn't much leg room or headspace, the shortest amount us it 5'10' and her head just barely misses the roof. It also isn't a truck we really need a truck.

Ranks #14 Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Subaru Impreza has an average owner rating of 4.33 out of 5 which ranks it #14 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
car
2012 Volkswagen GLI
4.8
2
car
2012 Volkswagen Eos
4.76
14
car
2012 Subaru Impreza
4.33

Ranks #6 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Subaru Impreza has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #6 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
2012 Volkswagen Golf
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
42 MPG
6
Tie
car
2012 Subaru Impreza
36 MPG

Is The 2012 Subaru Impreza A Good Car?

Yes, it is. It gets good gas mileage and is very comfortable to ride in. We drive it on vacations and a lot of grocery shopping and trips to the city.
Amy P.
Yes a very good car to travel in and drive everyday good on gas mileage and everything else I would love to buy another soon one day.
Jerry W.
The Subaru is reliable, safe, and gets good gas mileage. I have only had problems with burning through oil, but with it is good condition I would rather pay for more oil than a different car.
Natalie A.
Absolutely, it has amazing gas mileage along with it being extremely well with harsh weather/road conditions.
Dexter D.
It makes a lot of road noise, so much that it's very hard to have a conversation. But other than that, it's a very comfortable riding vehicle.
Karen F.
For the most part, yes. It is rather expensive to get repaired and serviced but has been a good car for me. I needed to replace the air conditioner compressor and that was pricey. Didn't expect... Read More
Colleen A.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Subaru Impreza?

It has sound issues. It does not seem like there is any insulation in the bottom of the car, so on a road trip, there is some road noise.
Amy P.
No it does not have any problems I bought the car when it had 60,000 miles and it has 168,000 in it now I love this car and I want another.
Jerry W.
The Subaru does not have many problems other than a rattling trunk and burning oil. Other than those I haven't had any other problems.
Natalie A.
Yes, it has been very reliable since the day I bought it. Only issue I have noticed is how quickly I need to change my oil.
Dexter D.
There was a recall on two parts but the dealer fixed them fast and at no charge. Living in the North, it is a great winter driving car and would not think of driving anything without all wheel... Read More
Brad C.
Yes, it is reliable for the most part. No problems other than wear and tear items, which is normal for any vehicle.
Mary B.
Very reliable. Routine maintenance, replacing the air conditioner compressor, tires, spark plugs and a rear wheel bearing.
Melody S.

Is The 2012 Subaru Impreza A Good Value?

$20,000. Yes, it is a good value. It takes us where we want to go without any breakdowns or issues.
Amy P.
It is about 30,000 new or used it is a decent price for what you pay depending on where you get it from.
Jerry W.
I spent 15,000 on the car. It was a nice value for the deal we got. Usually they are around 18,000 but we got a family discount.
Natalie A.
It was a little more on the expensive side and I am still paying it off but all-in-all with the experience in just how smooth it drives, I'd say it is worth it.
Dexter D.
It cost around $20,000. Yes, it's a good value, because it is good on gas mileage, which makes it a good vehicle to take on road trips.
Chev B.
It was around 23,000 if I remember correctly. I think it was a fair value. I purchased it new so I probably got overcharged for it but overall, I have been happy with it.
Madison R.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the 2012 Subaru Impreza electric power steering problems?

Answer: Subaru has moved to using electronic power steering in their vehicles because it is generally more reliable than the older hydraulic style of steering. There are less moving components that are in the steering...

How do i perform the 2012 Subaru Impreza yellow oil light reset?

Answer: To perform the oil light reset on the 2012 Subaru Impreza, You will need to press the display button till it shifts to the odometer. After shifting it to the odometer, turn the power off and turn it back On...

How do i perform the 2012 Subaru Impreza oil light reset?

Answer: To perform an oil light reset on the 2012 Subaru Impreza You will need to go into the menu on the main console dash. Go down to maintenance and then select oil. Scroll down to reset and hit confirm. Once You...

Does a 2012 Subaru Impreza have a timing belt?

Answer: Like most modern cars, the 2012 Subaru Impreza uses a timing chain and not a timing belt. The industry shift from belts to chains is a sensible one, as chains are a lot more durable than belts made of mostly...

What's the 2012 subaru impreza wrx top speed?

Answer: The 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX has a top speed of 155 mph. The 2.5 L4Cylinder engine is mated to A5-speed manual transmission. It has plenty of power, producinG305 horsepower and an impressive 244 lb-ft of torque....
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Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety