Compare the2026 Subaru ImprezaVS 2026 Volkswagen Jetta

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Impreza are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Jetta doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Impreza has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Jetta doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Jetta doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Impreza is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Jetta, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Impreza	Jetta
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-12 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	-10 MPH	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.7 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-6 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.6 sec	No Warning

The Impreza has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Jetta doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Impreza and the Jetta have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	222	278
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	29.8%
Neck Stress	267 lbs.	272 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	170	232
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.8%	41.8%
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	136 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	291/273 lbs.	430/149 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	144 lbs.	188 lbs.
Hip Force	6 lbs.	317 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	291	306
Hip Force	423 lbs.	554 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	226
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	1.85 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	194	274
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.65 in	1.97 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Impreza, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 3.7% less likely to roll over than the Jetta, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Jetta. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Jetta ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Impreza’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Jetta’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Impreza’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Jetta’s camshafts. If the Jetta’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impreza’s reliability 64 points higher than the Jetta.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 73 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 18th.

Engine

The Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (180 vs. 158) than the Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.1 MPH	87.2 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Jetta doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Impreza has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Jetta (16.6 vs. 12.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Impreza has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Jetta doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Impreza’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.7 inches

The Impreza’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Jetta are solid, not vented.

The Impreza stops much shorter than the Jetta:

	Impreza	Jetta
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Impreza has larger tires than the Jetta (225/40R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Impreza’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta S’ standard 60 series tires. The Impreza’s tires are lower profile than the Jetta SEL’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Impreza has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Jetta S.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Impreza has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Jetta has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Impreza has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Impreza flat and controlled during cornering. The Jetta’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Impreza RS handles at .83 G’s, while the Jetta pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Jetta’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.8 feet).

Chassis

The Impreza is 10.3 inches shorter than the Jetta, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Impreza has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Jetta uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Impreza a Large car, while the Jetta is rated a Compact.

The Impreza has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta (100.5 vs. 94.7).

The Impreza has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Jetta.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Impreza easier. The Impreza’s trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Jetta’s liftover is 28.7 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Impreza’s hatch uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Jetta’s useful trunk space.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Jetta. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 67% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 31st.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Impreza’s exterior PIN entry system. The Jetta doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Impreza has standard Keyless Entry and Start that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Jetta SE/SEL offers Keyless Access.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Impreza has a standard rear wiper. The Jetta doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Impreza’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Jetta’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Impreza has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Jetta doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Impreza’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Jetta has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru Impreza’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Jetta SE/SEL.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Impreza retains 66.09% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 59.77% resale value of the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Jetta isn't recommended.

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