Sedans & compacts · Buyer's guide

Used Subaru Impreza:
what to buy and what to skip

The Impreza is the only compact car that comes with all-wheel drive as standard, which is why it's the default choice across the snow belt and mountain west. That capability comes with two generation-specific taxes: the older EJ-series engines are famous for head gasket failure, and the FB-series engines that replaced them went through a period of burning oil serious enough to trigger a class-action settlement.

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Best years to buy

Generations where the known problems were already fixed and the price hasn't caught up yet.

2017–2022

The Subaru Global Platform generation. Much stiffer, much quieter, and the oil consumption issue was behind them. EyeSight driver assist is excellent.

2015–2016

Late in the previous generation, after the worst of the oil consumption. A good compromise if the budget won't reach a 2017.

2004–2007 WRX

A different proposition entirely — enthusiast car, not economy car. Well supported, but assume it has been modified and driven hard.

Years to avoid

Not "these are bad cars" — these are specific years with a specific, documented failure that costs real money.

2008–2011

The EJ253 engine's head gaskets fail with enough regularity that you should assume the job is either done or coming. It's $1,500–2,500.

2012–2014

The first FB-series cars, covered by the oil consumption class action, and the earliest examples of Subaru's CVT.

Common Subaru Impreza problems

The failures that actually show up, and roughly what each one costs to put right.

01 Head gasket failure (EJ25, roughly 1999–2011)

External coolant or oil seepage at the head-to-block joint, often first seen as a sweet smell and slowly dropping coolant. Budget $1,500–2,500 with the timing belt done at the same time.

02 Oil consumption (2011–2015 FB20/FB25)

Subaru settled a class action and extended coverage on affected cars. A quart every 1,000–1,200 miles is the pattern.

03 CVT durability (2012–2016)

Subaru extended CVT warranties to 10 years/100,000 miles on many of these. Shudder or a whine that tracks engine speed are the symptoms.

04 Wheel bearings (all generations)

A droning hum that changes when you sway the car left and right at 45 mph. $350–600 per corner.

What a used Subaru Impreza costs in 2026

Private-party asking prices for average-mileage, clean-title cars. Dealer retail runs roughly 15–25% higher.

Years	Typical price	What you're getting
2008–2011	$4,000–8,000	Assume a head gasket job is in the price unless there's an invoice.
2012–2016	$7,000–12,500	Ask about oil consumption and the CVT warranty extension.
2017–2020	$13,000–20,000	The one to buy. EyeSight-equipped cars are worth the premium.
2021–2024	$19,000–27,000	Sport and Limited trims run at the top.

What to check before you buy

Model-specific. Bring this list to the test drive.

Look along the seam between the cylinder head and block on both sides for coloured coolant crust.
Smell the engine bay after a drive. Sweet coolant smell without a visible leak is classic head gasket.
Ask specifically how much oil it uses between changes on any 2011–2015 car.
Sway the car left and right at about 45 mph on an empty road and listen for a hum that changes pitch.
Confirm the timing belt history on EJ-engined cars — it's an interference engine and a snapped belt destroys it.

Subaru Impreza questions

Do all Subarus have head gasket problems?

No. The problem belongs to the EJ25 engine family, roughly 1999–2011. The FB engines that replaced it don't share it, though early FB engines had an oil consumption issue instead.

What is the best used Subaru Impreza year?

2017–2022. The Global Platform cars are quieter and better built, and they sit after both the head gasket and oil consumption eras.

Is Subaru all-wheel drive worth the extra cost?

If you deal with snow or unpaved roads, yes — Subaru's symmetrical system is genuinely good. If you live somewhere flat and dry, you're paying for capability and fuel economy you won't use.

How much does a Subaru head gasket job cost?

Typically $1,500–2,500, and it's worth doing the timing belt and water pump at the same time since the engine is already apart.