Compare the2024 Volkswagen JettaVS 2024 Subaru Impreza

The Jetta has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Impreza doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Jetta has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and its not available on the Base and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Jetta and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Jetta the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 231 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Impreza has not been tested, yet.

The Jetta comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Impreza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Jetta’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Impreza’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Jetta has a standard 140-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Jetta has a standard 540-amp battery. The Impreza’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Jetta third among compact cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Subaru.

The Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (158 vs. 152) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 145) than the Impreza’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta gets better mileage than the Impreza:

			MPG
Jetta
FWD	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/42 hwy
	Auto	S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		SE/SEL 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/40 hwy
Impreza
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy

The Jetta Sport/SE/SEL has a standard space-saver spare (not available on S) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Jetta has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Volkswagen Jetta may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Subaru Impreza.

The front grille of the Jetta uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Impreza doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

When different drivers share the Jetta SEL, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Impreza doesn’t offer a memory system.

The power windows standard on both the Jetta and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Jetta is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Jetta’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Impreza’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta SE/R-Line/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Impreza can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Jetta’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Impreza doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Jetta’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Impreza and aren’t offered on the Impreza Base.

Both the Jetta and the Impreza offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Impreza.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Impreza doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Jetta SEL’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Jetta SEL’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Impreza’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Jetta, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Subaru Impreza by 24% during 2022.