How does the 2023 Subaru Impreza compare to the Ford Focus?

The Ford Focus is an awesome car that’s not available in the US and North America in general. However, there are several great Ford Focus alternatives available in the states. The best one is the mighty 2023 Subaru Impreza – a consumer favorite with a rallying pedigree.

The following is a review of the 2023 Impreza with brief comparisons to the 2023 Focus – in other words, it is a Subaru vs Ford debate.

What is new?

The 2023 Ford Focus sees some changes to its exterior and interior. So, what changes does the Subaru Impreza get for this year? Well, not many really. Let’s start with a bit of background.

The Impreza is currently in its fifth generation, launched in 2016. It received a complete redesign back then – the most notable changes being its dimensions and increased sportiness. Over time, we’ve seen some changes to its looks, and list of standard amenities.

As far as updates are concerned, the 2023 Subaru Impreza doesn’t receive anything significant. It is similar to last year’s model, which saw the addition of a new paint option and a change to the trim hierarchy.

What trims does it come in?

The Focus comes in the following trim levels: S, SE, SEL, Titanium, ST, and RS. It starts at about $35,000 and goes all the way up to around $49,343.

On the other hand, the 2023 Subaru Impreza is offered in four trim levels, with the top-of-the-line Limited trim level being available on the 5-door wagon. It is priced much better, starting from $21,315, going up to around $28,000.

That being said, here’s what it has to offer:

2023 Impreza Base

The 2023 Impreza gives you all the essentials needed in a small car. For example, you get adjustable cloth seats and 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks. You also get single-zone climate control, power windows and side mirrors, and electronic cruise control.

Also standard are a multi-function display, a 6.5-inch infotainment system mated to four speakers, and a USB-A port.

2023 Impreza Premium

This model adds some goodies such as heated front seats, paddle shifters, and automatic on/off headlights. Meanwhile, push-button ignition and power-adjustable seats are optional. There’s a nicer infotainment system, more speakers, USB ports, and 4G LTE.

2023 Impreza Sport

The Impreza Sport models have sportier accents and details, such as its unique cloth upholstery with red contrast stitching and aluminum pedals. It also adds niceties such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a digital instrumentation cluster, and push-button ignition.

The infotainment is even more high end, thanks to the larger, 8-inch touchscreen. There are now USB ports in the rear as well. Furthermore, you can also upgrade to a premium sound system tuned by Harman Kardon.

2023 Impreza Limited

As the name suggests, the Limited trim isn’t offered on both the body types – just the hot hatch. It adds power-adjustable front seats, leather-trimmed upholstery, automatic climate control, and a folding seat armrest with dual cup holders for the rear. Satellite navigation is optional.

View Available Inventory

Design

Both the Focus and the Impreza have always been handsome-looking cars – on the inside and outside. This generation is no different for them as they both come with aggressive stylings that look good and make them more aerodynamic.

But the Subaru gets an edge over the Focus in terms of the interior. Not only does it sport a more ergonomic design, but it has also been designed to soothe the eyes. The material quality is top notch and all the buttons, knobs, and switches are where you’d like them to be.

The cabin is quite spacious in terms of legroom and headroom. The 2023 Subaru Impreza seats up to five occupants in a roomy setting. Furthermore, the cargo levels are also decent, especially if you opt for the hatchback.

Performance

Powertrain

The Impreza has better performance characteristics than the Focus. It comes with a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine that churns out 152 hp (the base Focus offers just 125 bhp) and 145 lb-ft. This is sent to an all-wheel drive system for maximum traction – it is standard across all trims.

You get to choose from two transmissions (like on the Focus). The standard one is a 5-speed stick-shift manual transmission that’s available on the Base and the Sport hatchback. It shows how this car still adheres to automotive purists – aka those who love to drive.

The other gearbox is a CVT (which is optional on the Base) that comes with a 7-speed manual shifting mode. The 2023 Subaru Impreza is able to provide a 0-60 mph acceleration time of around 8 seconds – one of the best in the class (also about a second quicker than the Focus).

Driveability

The driving abilities of both cars have been praised by consumers and testers alike. The Impreza 2023 gets praise for its excellent handling and steering – there’s no body roll on the turns and the brakes are also perfect.

Passengers can expect a quiet and comfortable ride as well. The Focus isn’t bad either but testers such as Carwow have complained of “wind and road noise”.

Fuel Economy

Next up on the Subaru vs Ford debate is efficiency – another reason why consumers have loved the Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza. The Focus gets the win here with its much smaller engine – achieving about 52 mpg.

The 2023 Impreza can do up to 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This is if you opt for the automatic gearbox. The manual isn’t bad either with 24 mpg city and 31 highway.

Safety Features

The two are pretty similar in terms of the safety tech offered. The 2023 Subaru Impreza offers the company’s acclaimed EyeSight Driver Assist package of driver’s assistance safety amenities. It is optional on the Base model but standard on the higher trim levels.

You can hence equip the Impreza with forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking (Limited has it in reverse as well), blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. A rearview camera is available on all models though.

Why Walser

One Person. Our sales people are experts in the entire car buying process so you can be in and out in no time. One person will guide you from vehicle selection through finance and lease options to signing the final paperwork.

One Price. Our vehicles are all listed with our pre-discounted Upfront Prices so you’ll always get the best deal we offer, negotiation-free. With our One Price system you can make an informed decision by knowing exactly the price you’ll pay. Simply walk right in and get a great deal on a great vehicle.

WalserCare Warranty. FREE 8yr/100,000 mile Powertrain Warranty included on all New & most Used vehicles purchased with us. WalserCare covers Headgaskets and Piston Rings to CV Joints, Transmission Parts & MORE! Walser To You. From test drives to the final purchase papers to getting an oil change: do it all from wherever you are, on your schedule. Stop by to speak with one of our Subaru experts today! From financing to parts and service, our knowledgeable experts are here to help.