Generation history
Subaru Impreza generations and next redesign.
The Subaru Impreza has been through 3 generations, starting in 1992, 2000 and 2007. The gaps were 8, 7 years, an average of 7.5. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2007. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2014 through 2016, centered on 2015. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: Subaru revealed the third-generation Impreza at the New York Auto Show on 2 April 2007—both the standard naturally aspirated Impreza and turbocharged WRX versions were revealed. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Subaru Impreza model page.
Every generation
The Subaru Impreza, generation by generation.
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|
| First generation | GM, GC, GF | 1992–2000 | Announced on 22 October 1992, the Impreza was released in Japan in November and offered in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) versions and as a four-door sedan or five-door wagon (Touring). |
|---|
| Second generation | GD, GG | 2000–2007 | Subaru introduced the "New Age" Impreza to Japan in August 2000. |
|---|
| Third generation | GE, GH, GR, GV | 2007–present | Subaru revealed the third-generation Impreza at the New York Auto Show on 2 April 2007—both the standard naturally aspirated Impreza and turbocharged WRX versions were revealed. |
|---|
The Subaru Impreza spent 7.5 years per generation on average. The current one is 19 years old. Treat 2014 to 2016 as a range, not a date.
Source: Subaru Impreza (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Subaru Impreza model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
What each Subaru Impreza generation changed.
First generation, 1992 to 2000
Announced on 22 October 1992, the Impreza was released in Japan in November and offered in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) versions and as a four-door sedan or five-door wagon (Touring). The car used a shortened version of the Legacy's floor pan. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be called the Loyale, displaying an official photograph of the four-door sedan. In late 1995, a two-door coupe was introduced.
Second generation, 2000 to 2007
Subaru introduced the "New Age" Impreza to Japan in August 2000. Larger in size compared to the previous iteration, the sedan increased its width by 40 millimetres (1.6 in), while the wagon notably increased by just 5 millimetres (0.2 in)—placing the two variants in different Japanese classification categories. The coupe body style from the first generation did not reappear for the new series, and the off-road appearance package that included contrasting-colored bumpers did carry over forward. Marketed as a separate model line, this North America-only variant was, as before, badged the Outback Sport.
Third generation, 2007 to today
Subaru revealed the third-generation Impreza at the New York Auto Show on 2 April 2007—both the standard naturally aspirated Impreza and turbocharged WRX versions were revealed. The third generation of the high performance WRX STI debuted in October 2007. This generation also saw the discontinuation of the wagon, replaced by a new 5-door hatchback body style. The wide-body variants of the hatchback and sedan are internally labelled GR and GV, respectively.
Generation notes adapted from Subaru Impreza (Wikipedia).
Today's Subaru Impreza
What the current generation is, and how it has held up.
Subaru Impreza at a glance
- Production
- 1992–present
- Class
- Compact car
- Body style
- 2-door coupe (1992–2000), 4-door sedan (1992–2023), 5-door hatchback (2007–present), 5-door station wagon (1992–2007)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel drive (1992–present, JDM), Front-engine, all-wheel drive (1992–present)
- Predecessor
- Subaru Leone
- Successor
- Subaru WRX (for Impreza WRX and Impreza WRX STI models), Subaru Crosstrek (for Impreza RV, XV and Outback Sport models), Subaru Levorg (for Impreza station wagon models)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Impreza overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (4 campaigns across the latest model years)
- November 2023, Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break. Consequence: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios…
- September 2023, Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft. Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
- August 2023, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit. Consequence: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Impreza, most often about power train (2), unknown or other (2), steering (1).