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Hyundai Elantra vs Subaru Impreza: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 319 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Elantra and 90 about the Subaru Impreza.

Side by side

Hyundai ElantraSubaru Impreza
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints6,7001,889
Complaints per model year31990
Recalls3843
Years to avoid2012201320172008201220132019
Best years200620212022200620102011
Most common problemEngineAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-54 mpg combined (2026)29 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Hyundai Elantra: 1552006 Subaru Impreza: 5620062007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672007 Subaru Impreza: 682008 Hyundai Elantra: 3152008 Subaru Impreza: 17620082009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552009 Subaru Impreza: 1042010 Hyundai Elantra: 3802010 Subaru Impreza: 4620102011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332011 Subaru Impreza: 582012 Hyundai Elantra: 6542012 Subaru Impreza: 24320122013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172013 Subaru Impreza: 2512014 Hyundai Elantra: 3862014 Subaru Impreza: 10920142015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622015 Subaru Impreza: 772016 Hyundai Elantra: 2932016 Subaru Impreza: 7520162017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712017 Subaru Impreza: 1252018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018 Subaru Impreza: 15220182019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532019 Subaru Impreza: 1942020 Hyundai Elantra: 2552020 Subaru Impreza: 8520202021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322021 Subaru Impreza: 142022 Hyundai Elantra: 1022022 Subaru Impreza: 1420222023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042023 Subaru Impreza: 42024 Hyundai Elantra: 572024 Subaru Impreza: 3220242025 Hyundai Elantra: 222025 Subaru Impreza: 52026 Hyundai Elantra: 32026 Subaru Impreza: 12026
Hyundai ElantraSubaru Impreza

Problems compared

ElantraImpreza
Engine1,697298
Steering1,06364
Electrical889213
Brakes886150
Airbags747379
Transmission448220
Visibility202261
Lights360191

Questions about the Hyundai Elantra vs Subaru Impreza

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Elantra or the Subaru Impreza?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Elantra has 3 years to avoid and the Subaru Impreza 4. The Hyundai Elantra has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Impreza drew fewer complaints per model year (90 vs 319), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Elantra or the Subaru Impreza?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Elantra was covered by 38 recalls and the Subaru Impreza by 43.

What years of the Hyundai Elantra and Subaru Impreza should you avoid?

Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Subaru Impreza: 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019.

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