If you’ve ever driven successful sleet oregon snow, you cognize however overmuch of a quality all-wheel thrust tin make. Unfortunately, automakers dainty this diagnostic arsenic a luxury, with you often having to wage much to get it. There is, however, an affordable car that breaks this trend.
There are fewer affordable cars that travel with all-wheel drive, particularly if you’re looking for a accepted car alternatively than a crossover. Most of the ones that do, connection it arsenic an further other that raises the price. Though, determination is 1 automaker that offers all-wheel thrust arsenic modular connected adjacent their astir affordable models.
Scouring the market, we’ve recovered the astir affordable car with all-wheel drive. We research however overmuch this compact hatchback costs and however overmuch cheaper it is than its rivals. We besides research however it aims to connection practicality without breaking the slope successful ways beyond its drivetrain.
In bid to springiness you the astir up-to-date and close accusation possible, the information utilized to compile this nonfiction was sourced from assorted shaper websites and different authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA.
Subaru’s Impreza Undercuts Its Rivals and Features Standard AWD
The compact car conception is filled with a ton of fantabulous options, each offering worth successful their ain ways. If you're connected a fund and looking for 1 of the astir affordable models, past it's apt that you've taken a look astatine the Impreza. One mode that Subaru helps merchantability their small hatchback is by continuing to connection all-wheel thrust arsenic a modular diagnostic connected each models.
2025 Trims and Pricing
Base |
$23,610 |
Sport |
$25,610 |
RS |
$28,500 |
The Impreza hatchback starts astatine an impressively debased price, adjacent for this segment. This is underscored by the information that adjacent the astir affordable exemplary comes with all-wheel drive. Subaru's main ngo with the Impreza is to connection practical, affordable transportation, and a hatchback bodystyle with plentifulness of cargo abstraction matches with the precocious traction offered by the drivetrain further this goal.
While an Impreza with an RS badge whitethorn beryllium enticing to some, we deliberation that the basal exemplary champion achieves the Impreza's mission. Its frugal terms constituent mixes with a large suite of modular features, making the Impreza 1 of the champion cars you tin bargain if you're connected a budget. Though, if you are looking for a bigger motor and a much focused chassis, the RS tin inactive beryllium fun.
Rivals With All-Wheel Drive
2025 Corolla Hybrid LE |
$25,225 |
2025 Toyota Prius LE |
$29,750 |
2025 Mazda 3 Carbon Edition |
$29,610 |
If you're looking for a tiny car that offers all-wheel thrust then, unfortunately, your options are beauteous limited. In the compact car segment, you lone person 3 cars to take from, excluding the Subaru Impreza. While each are excellent, nary are rather capable to lucifer the starting terms of the Impreza, though the Corolla Hybrid does travel beauteous close. We'd accidental this is the Subaru's strongest competitor, with the Corolla's optional all-wheel thrust lone costing an other $1,400.
The astir affordable Prius with all-wheel thrust starts astatine conscionable nether $30,000 dollars. It mightiness effort to warrant its steeper terms tag by redeeming you wealth connected fuel, owed to the information that it is exceptionally efficient. You tin besides get the sporty Mazda 3 with all-wheel drive, which volition surely fulfill those looking for a much thrilling driving experience. Though, you person to opt for the Carbon Edition. The Mazda tin besides beryllium had successful hatchback form, though the Carbon Edition past costs $31,945.
All-Wheel Drive Makes Driving successful Mud and Snow a Breeze

Front 3/4 changeable of a 2024 Subaru Impreza RS
While immoderate radical whitethorn question the dense accent connected all-wheel drive, anyone who has had to thrust done immoderate benignant of escaped terrain, particularly snow, volition archer you however invaluable the drivetrain is. When you can't debar aggravated weather, having all-wheel thrust is necessary, and the Subaru Impreza means you don't person to ammunition retired tons of wealth to get it.
Performance Specifications
2.0-Liter Naturally Aspirated Flat-Four |
2.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated Flat-Four |
CVT |
CVT |
152 HP |
182 HP |
145 LB-FT |
178 LB-FT |
AWD |
AWD |
8.9 Seconds |
7.8 Seconds |
122 MPH |
125 MPH |
This is wherever the trade-offs statesman to rear their head. The Impreza is simply a fund car and, thus, it has a fund engine. The basal exemplary comes equipped with a somewhat underpowered horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine. Its acceleration is connected the little extremity of the segment, and you whitethorn find it a spot sluggish, particularly erstwhile trying to get up to road speeds. The RS with the 2.5-liter motor decidedly offers immoderate improvements, but it is inactive acold from quick.
While it isn't the fastest car connected the road, the Impreza has a brilliantly tuned chassis that makes america privation Subaru had opted to enactment a bigger motor successful the small hatch. It handles expertly, and its steering is incredibly responsive. It comes modular with a continuously adaptable transmission, overmuch to our dismay, arsenic good arsenic torque vectoring, which bolsters the all-wheel thrust system.
Fuel Economy
2.0-Liter |
27 MPG |
34 MPG |
30 MPG |
2.5-Liter |
26 MPG |
33 MPG |
29 MPG |
The Subaru Impreza doesn't rather beryllium astatine the apical of the conception erstwhile it comes to substance efficiency, alternatively sitting successful the mediate of the pack. It delivers figures comparable to the Mazda 3 and the Kia K4. This is apt a broadside effect of offering all-wheel thrust arsenic standard. It is 1 of the astir businesslike compact cars if you lone comparison models with all-wheel drive.
There is precise small separating the basal motor and the larger 2.5-liter motor successful the RS, with the second lone being mildly little efficient. The Impreza performs overmuch amended connected the road than it does successful the city, meaning you'll get much retired of the hatch if you regularly commute agelong distances.
Subaru Prioritizes Function Over Form successful the Impreza Hatch

Subaru is simply a marque that is known for its pragmatic approach. They make cars that acceptable a function, and they debar gimmicks and flashy features arsenic overmuch arsenic possible. The Impreza is simply a elemental car and showcases its worth by offering a ton of modular features and a compartment that is incredibly user-friendly. Everything is designed to beryllium arsenic applicable arsenic possible.
Design and Comfort
Subaru has a beauteous wide plan ideology that permeates into each exemplary successful their lineup. Everything successful the compartment is boxy and rugged, determination is tons of interior retention space, and determination are plentifulness of carnal controls. The Impreza decidedly follows this trend. Features similar a tiny measurement adjacent the rear seats, which helps you unafraid cargo to the roof, showcase the Japanese hatch's versatility.
The seats are comfy enough, though cloth upholstery is modular connected each models. Rear seats are 60/40, and tin beryllium folded to marque other country for cargo. Being a hatchback, the Impreza's trunk is bigger than the mean car successful this segment, and downright cavernous if you stow the backmost seats away.
Interior Dimensions
Front Row Headroom |
39.8 Inches |
Front Row Legroom |
42.9 Inches |
Second Row Headroom |
38 Inches |
Second Row Legroom |
36.5 Inches |
Cargo Space (Rear Seat Up) |
20.4 Cubic Feet |
Cargo Space (Rear Seat Stowed) |
56 Cubic Feet |
Infotainment and Technology
The basal exemplary comes equipped with a seven-inch infotainment screen, oriented vertically alternatively of horizontally. This strategy is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you'll person to upgrade to the bigger surface successful the Sport and RS for wireless connectivity. The upgraded portion is 11.6-inches. Much to our liking, determination are carnal buttons and dials connected the sides of the screen, truthful you don't person to usage the interaction controls for everything.
Dual-zone automatic clime power is simply a modular diagnostic connected each models, which we applaud Subaru for. There are besides immoderate high-end features available, specified arsenic keyless introduction and a Harman Kardon dependable system, but lone connected the higher trims.